The Brokenhearted Heartbreaker

12

Hindi naman malayo ang isa pang branch ng Cafe M kaya nilakad na lang namin. Restaurant M gives the same vibe as that of Cafe M. Ang pinagkaiba lang nila ay 'yong pagkain na available. Restaurant M can be considered as fine dining but it still on the laid-back side.

Iouis and I settled on the table beside the glass window. Hindi naman ganoon ka-mainit tapos ang ganda pa ng view dahil nasa harap ito ng garden. May ibang nakapwesto sa garden at ani ni Iouis na doon daw kami sa susunod.

"Iouis! Hey!" I was handing the menu back to the waiter when I heard a familiar voice.

Nasa likuran ito ng waiter kaya nang umalis ang waiter ay sabay kaming napatingin ni Iouis sa babaeng nagsalita. It's Izarra Avonlea.

Iouis waved at her while I only smiled. Lumapit siya kay Iouis at mabilis na ipinalibot ang kaniyang braso sa balikat ni Iouis.

While Izarra was busy talking with Iouis while roaming her hands all over his shoulder, I looked around. Kung kasama ni Izarra ang mga ka-blockmate niya, they should be here with her greeting Iouis. Pero wala!

My hunch is that she's with her family. And if she's with her family, chances are Atty. Avonlea's here too! At paano na lang kung makikita kami ni Atty. Avonlea rito? He will surely tell Papa! And worse, he'd tell Ate Alyvia!

Sigurado ako na kung malalaman ni Ate Alyvia na may namamagitan sa amin ni Iouis ay ipapatawag niya na naman ako at pagsasabihan. And obviously, her disapproval would be because of me and not because of Iouis.

I'm sure that she thinks Iouis is too good for me! Pero ako ang kapatid niya!

I sipped on my water when I realized the kind of thought pattern I'm having. Kinalma ko ang sarili at pinilit na mapangiti. Kagat-kagat ko na pala ang ibabang labi. Buti na lang at hindi ito dumugo.

I turned to Iouis and Izarra. Nakatingin silang dalawa sa akin. May maliit na simangot sa hitsura ni Izarra at hindi na rin nakapatong ang kaniyang kamay sa balikat ni Iouis.

Ngayon ko lang napagtanto na pareho silang dalawa manamit. Classy and stylish. Napatingin na lang tuloy ako sa sariling suot. Sobrang layo sa kanila.

Surely, Izarra is the type of girl who'll pair well with Iouis. They're both in the same field and probably have similar interests. I'm sure that even my own family would agree that they're better off together.

"Cara?"

Napaigtad ako pabalik sa reyalidad nang marinig ang boses ni Iouis. Wala na si Izarra sa tabi niya. Kaming dalawa na lang ulit ang nasa table.

"Are you okay? Izarra was just asking about our group trip... hindi ko siya gusto," pagpapaliwanag niya. Nakakunot ang kaniyang noo at mukhang nag-aalala nga.

I smiled. So this is how it feels like, huh? Getting an assurance without even asking for it...

Tumango ako habang nakangiti. Hindi naman ako nagseselos o ano... sadyang may naisip lang talaga ako...

"May iniisip lang," I answered. "Just worried about something..."

He tilted his head as if trying to decipher my thoughts. Nanatili siya sa ganoong posisyon at hindi talaga inalis ang tingin sa akin.

"Is this about..." his lips formed a thin line, still looking serious. "I'm only guessing here but... are you worried about Izarra telling people that we're together?"

"Yes..." and more than that.

What if Papa doesn't approve and it would affect your internship? What if...

Napailing na lang ako. I'm getting ahead of myself again. Hindi maganda 'to!

He leaned forward and clasped his hands. He looks like a businessman ready to negotiate with a client.