Bawal siya sa kape at kahit kailan ay hindi siya nagkaroon ng interes sa kape. Kaya ano ang ginagawa ng lalaki na 'to sa harapan ko? I'm sure he's here for another reason. To annoy me? Or to annoy Hiko?
Nag-iikot ang mata ng lalaki sa loob ng coffee shop; he's purposely avoiding my judging stares, but he never possessed a hint of nervousness. "I know I'm handsome, don't feast on my face." He looked at me to say that.
Umawang ang labi ko. Kung mayroon mang hindi nagbago sa kaniya, it's his confidence.
"There's nothing else to look at, Mr. Suarez. If I have options, I won't be facing you."
I'm sitting beside the instructor, while Yuri and Hiko is on the opposite side in front of us. Si Yuri ang kaharap ko dahil gusto ni Hiko na kaharap ang instructor niya. Si Yuri at Mr. Roberts dapat ang magkatabi pero ayaw ni Yuri pumayag na kaharap niya si Hiko dahil para silang mga asong nag-aangilan. Magulo, oo. Buti nga nakaupo na kami ngayon.
"And there's no way Mommy would want to lose her appetite." I didn't ask for a backup but Hiko was a lifesaver.
"Are you saying looking at me makes someone lose appetite?" He faced the kid.
"Wow, mister. Your comprehension is on another level."
"Hiko." Sinita ko pa rin ang anak kahit gusto ko siyang sang-ayunan.
I think he's being too mean at his father. Hindi naman ito ang inuwi ko sa Pilipinas. Hindi para pag-awayin o paglayuin ang loob nila. I didn't want them to meet yet in the first place.
Si Yuri naman, ang alam ko ay mahilig siya sa bata. So I don't understand why he's being childish with Hiko. Kung kailan pa siya tumanda, saka pa niya natutunan makipagtalo pa sa bata.
"I'm starting to think you know each other." Tumingin si Mr. Roberts sa akin pagkatapos ay kay Yuri. "You sound close."
"We've been seeing each other at the studio, Mr. Roberts. It's not hard to get along with other guardians."
"Get along?" Kinuwestiyon ng lalaki ang salitang ginamit ko.
Gamit ang kilay ay kinausap ko siya. Ano? Gusto niyang ikuwento ang buong nakaraan?
"Sa bagay, totoo rin naman. Actually, may mga guardians nga akong nakikita na talagang may circle na sila. The kids are friends, the guardians are friends. It's good to see that a lot of bonds are being made in the studio."
Tumango ako. "Except that Mr. Suarez and I are not friends."
"We're not really FRIENDS," agap ng lalaking hindi nagustuhan ang sinabi ko. He pierced his eyes at me and they never left my face again.
"I don't claim him as my Mommy's friend either, Mr. Roberts," si Hiko.
The instructor chuckled awkwardly. "I see. They must just know each other, Hiko." He didn't know where to place himself in the situation.
Wala kasi akong maisip na dahilan para hindi pasamahin si Yuri sa amin. Baka magduda pa siya at isipin na gusto kong solohin ang guro kung humindi ako.
"Good morning, Sirs, Ma'am. What do they want to have?"
"Have anything you want, it's on me," anang lalaking katabi ko.
"I'll pay for us," tutol agad ni Yuri.
"I invited you here so I'll pay," Mr. Roberts insisted.
"I don't let anybody pay for my food, most especially if I can afford it."
"Okay then, you can pay for your order. I'll pay for Maurice."
"I'll pay for her," si Yuri na naman. "And him too." Sinulyapan niya si Hiko.
BINABASA MO ANG
The Heaven's Wildcard
Romance[SLOW EDIT] For most people, hell is just a concept or a place where the evils fall into after death. But for the registered nurse, Maurice Severina de Morga, it is her reality, her life. Her first cry was on her mother's death, died on a hospital b...
