Love Operation: Don't Become The Villainess

CHAPTER 5: UNTIL I FIGURE THINGS OUT.

Gulat akong napatingin sa kaniya, "Leo? What brings you here?"

"Ah," he smiled, revealing his perfect set of pearly white teeth na pwede na siya para sa mga toothpaste commercial, "I was driving past by then I saw you. Uhm, saan ka galing?"

'Di ko alam kung bakit, pero bigla akong kinabahan. Siguro dahil sa katotohanan na kahit magkapatid kami sa dugo ay hindi ako sanay na makaharap siya... kasi hindi ko siya lubos na kilala.

"Galing ako sa taekwondo summer class ko," I tilted my body sideways a bit and pointed the direction where I came from behind him using my pouted lips, "Dun sa may kalapit na gymnasium."

Sinundan ng tingin niya ang direksyong itinuro ko habang tumatango-tango, "I see, I see," he looked back at me, "M-meron ka bang mga plano ngayong tanghali?"

Umayos ako ng tayo, "Kakain akong lunch sa bahay tapos wala na rin pagkatapos."

Malakas na umihip ang mainit na simoy ng hangin kasabay ng pagdaan ng mga sasakyan sa kalsadang nasa tabi namin dahilan para maihipan ang buhok niyang abot hanggang balikat. He looked so warm today, wearing a cozy cream colored shirt and jeans paired with white sneakers.

Mukhang nasa labas siya ngayon para mamasyal.

It was supposed to be like any other day for me. I wake up, eat breakfast, find something else to do, go to my taekwondo summer class, go home, eat lunch, find something else to do, eat dinner then find something else to do or just go to sleep.

Yeah, I have that much of a free time everyday while I'm having a vacation here in the Philippines.

What didn't add up today was Leo...

"Why don't we eat lunch outside?" aya niya, a nice and gentle expression on his face like he was some kind of an angel sent down from heaven, "L-Let's catch up?"

He keeps stuttering. Bakit ba at parang mas ninenerbyos pa siya sa akin? I should be the one who can't stay calm in front of him knowing how he treated the original Catherine in the novel.

Should I go with him? Parang ayaw ko man... hindi ko alam kung bakit, wala akong ibang rason maliban sa ayaw ko ngayon. Mas gusto ko sa bahay muna.

"I'm sorry," I smiled apologetically, clutching the strap of my backpack, "Nakaluto na panigurado yung mga katulong sa bahay kasi alam nila na roon ako kakain ngayon ng lunch. Ayaw ko naman masayang hinanda nila para sa akin. Maybe some other time."

Ayaw ko lang talaga sumama, huhu. Pasensya na kaila Ate sa bahay at nagamit ko pa talaga sila bilang excuse ko, pero totoo rin naman.

Kahit nagagawa kong magpakapormal at ayos ngayon ay kinakabahan at nahihiya pa rin ako kay Leo. Siguro sa ibang araw, kung gusto niya pa. Wala lang talaga ako sa mood ngayon.

Gulat pa siyang napatingin sa akin, "Why would you care about them like that?"

Na-blanko ang ekspresyon ko sa tanong niya. An empty smile on my face, "Why not?"

As if he noticed my reaction, he panicked a little, "I-I mean, they can just have the food they cooked for you."

Yeah, they can do that...

Ano pa bang pwedeng rason? Huhu, I should've just said I actually had plans for today kahit wala naman talaga. I'm so stupid sometimes.

"Nah," I waved my hand dismissively, trying not to panic, "I just really prefer to eat there."

"Then can I also join you?"

Inside, I was already dying. Why can't he just take the hint? Why is he so bent up on wanting to eat with me?

Sa huli ay malalim na lang akong napabuntunghininga, sumusuko na.

"On second thought," my shoulders relaxed, "It's been a long time since I ate outside."

Lumiwanag bigla ang mukha niya, mas maliwanag pa nga sa sinag ng araw habang ako rito'y pang tag-ulan ang ekspresyon, and I don't really like the rain.

"Let's go to my car," aniya, leading the way.

Kinunutan ko siya ng noo pero sinundan ko pa rin siya, "You can already drive?"

"Oh, no," he quickly shook his head, "I already have a car but the driver drives it for me until I can apply for a license. I can't apply for it right now pero pag dito na ulit ako nag-aral sa Pilipinas next year, tsaka ako mag-apply since I'm going to study Senior High at Westwood and I'm gonna be sixteen. I'm pretty sure you're also going to study there pero mauuna lang ako."

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad, sa tabi ng kulay itim niyang sasakyan. He opened the door for me and waited for me to get in but I just stood there, staring at him.

Una sa lahat, ganito ba talaga siya kadaldal kumpara sa istorya? Pangalawa, he really had to remind me about Westwood.

Though I can't blame him. He doesn't know anything. He's innocent. Pero hindi ko pa rin mapigilang maibahan.

"Catherine...?" nag-iingat niyang tinawag ang pangalan ko habang nakahawak pa rin sa pintuan, "Is everything alright?"

"Leo," I called his name, and his grip on the car door tightened.

"Yes...?" He waited patiently for me to answer.

Maya-maya'y bahagya na lang akong natawa. Natawa para sa kaniya pero lalo na para sa aking sarili.

My expression brightened, and I could feel my eyes sparkling at him before I entered the car first, "Let's eat in a fast food restaurant. I've been craving for some burger and fries since earlier."

Maybe I shouldn't worry too much.