Conquering Territories: Completed

23

Bigla na lang akong nasamid dahil sa tanong niya. Irvin, who was now panicking, offered me a tissue to clean up. Nagulat na lang kasi ako dahil sa naging tanong niya.

"No, I don't have any," I answered after wiping the water off my lips. I don't know if it was just my imagination or his aura lightened up. "Why do you want to know?"

"I'm just curious since you acted quite nervous awhile ago when I told the girl that we're boyfriends," he casually replied. "That's why I thought you do have a girlfriend."

Napailing na lang ako dahil sa mga sinabi ni Irvin. Do I really looked like I do have a girlfriend? Quite impossible.

"Have you imagined yourself with someone before?" Irvin asked, causing me to glance on his direction. "Like, living together and such?"

He really wanted to know about that, huh? A small smile was now plastered on my lips after that. I haven't imagine those things yet. Kahit isang tao man lang, hindi ko na-imagine ang sarili ko na may kasamang iba.

Maybe not until this day.

"Not yet," I lied. "But I'd love to. May it be a girl or a boy."

Irvin's eyes focused on me after I blurted out those words. I thought he would say something but, he did not. He just smiled. A genuine one.

Minutes passed by until we finished our food. Hindi na rin kami nagtagal pa sa loob at umalis na. Irvin didn't bother to report the girls attitude either. Sabagay, kita naman na siguro ng may-ari ng karinderya ang kabuuan ng nangyari.

"So, where are you going later?" Irvin asked. The both of us were still on his motorcycle, travelling our way home. "Do you have some place in mind?"

"None, just take me home." I said before I placed my hands on his shoulder. Mahirap na at baka mahulog pa ako.

"Just show me the way, boss." I heard Irvin's soft chuckle after that. Boss. He really heard things around the place, huh?

The whole ride went smooth. Irvin told me some stories he heard when he was walking around the place. He was eager to share those things with me, making me smile.

"Here we are," I said as we reached my place. Irvin gently removed my helmet after he removed his own. "Thank you for the lunch and the ride."

"No," Irvin smiled. "Thank you for the company."

I bid him a goodbye before he travelled his way back. Hindi ko mapigilang mapangiti habang tinitignan ang papalayong bulto niya. After the thing that happened at the place awhile ago, I realized something. Maybe it wasn't just admiration after all.

"Iba na yata ang ngiti na 'yan."

My thoughts were interrupted as I heard that familiar voice. Aris' stature welcomed me with a sly grin plastered on his lips. With that emotion on his face, I knew something was running inside his mind.

"Sira," I said before averting my gaze. "Masama na ba ang ngumiti ngayon?"

"Masama, lalo na kung para kang baliw na ngumingiti mag-isa."