Miara's Mistakes

(5) July 5, 2020

Fetch

"Hey, Almia," tawag ng lalaki kay Miara habang inaayos ang hapag.

Heto na naman po tayo sa Almia. Ani Miara sa isipan.

Hindi niya alam kung paano kumilos lalo na't iniisip pa niya kung paano sasabihin sa lalaki na nagkamali rin ito sa sinundo. Hindi rin nakatulong na kung saan-saan pumupunta ang isipan niya.

Ang kalahati ay kinikilig sa pag-iisip na boyfriend niya ang isa at pinaghahandaan siya nito ng almusal. Ang kabilang bahagi naman ay nalilito kung ba't hindi siya pinaalis ng lalaki kahapon noong pumasok siya sa kaniyang sasakyan.

Baka hindi niya rin kilala ang susunduin? Hula niya.

"It's Almia, right?" The guy spoke again, turning to her.

Napakamot ng ulo si Miara at nahihiyang nginitian ang lalaki na hanggang ngayon ay hindi niya pa rin alam ang pangalan.

"It's actually Miara..."

Sandaling natigil ang lalaki sa kaniyang ginagawa pero kalaunan ay nagkibit-balikat din. "Oh okay... sorry... Miara's nice!"

Nanatiling nakatayo si Miara, walang planong kumain dahil binabagabag siya ng kaniyang mga naiisip. Gusto niya nang sabihan ang lalaki ngunit hindi niya alam kung saan magsisimula.

The guy's phone rang. He took it from the table and leaned on the counter while answering it. Miara couldn't help but stifle a laugh when she noticed how the guy's expression turned from chill to confused and then to shocked.

"The fuck?" Anito sa mababang boses pero rinig na rinig pa rin ni Miara.

Yeah, yeah... same feels, bro! Same feels! She thought.

The whole time he was talking to the phone, his eyes didn't leave her. It was as if he's trying to dissect her while making sure that she's not stealing anything.

He probably now has a trust issue with me. Miara thought again while trying to be unaffected with the guy's intense look.

"So where's your friend? Someone else fetched her? She's okay?"

Hindi nagtagal, natapos din ang tawag ng lalaki. Nakahinga nang maluwag si Miara nang mapagtanto na hindi niya na kailangang problemahin kung paano magpaliwanag sa lalaki, at dahil na rin sa narinig na nasa mabuting kalagayan din ang taong dapat nasa pwesto niya ngayon.

"So let me guess..." Miara started. "The one who's supposed to fetch me fetched the one you're supposed to fetch?"

Napailing-iling ang lalaki, natatawa sa kanilang sitwasyon. "Seems like it, Miara..."

"So fetch!"

Hindi alam ni Miara kung bakit ganoon ang kaniyang sinagot. Iyon lang kasi ang naisipan niya dahil biglang bumlanko ang kaniyang utak nang sinambit ng lalaki ang kaniyang pangalan.

The guy shook his head again, a small, amused smile appearing on his face. And as he did, Miara took the short time in memorizing his features.

Who knows when we'd meet again. She thought.

Her eyes casually wandered around as she made a mental note. Chinito eyes, fair-skinned, messy and tousled hair, and just the right body build—tall and toned but not too bulky, just muscles in their rightful places.

Miara spent the next moments scrutinizing every detail of the guy—from the small mole under his eye to how his lips form into a thin line every now and then.

Definitely my type.

"Did you know?"

Nabalik sa wisyo si Miara nang biglang nagsalita ang lalaki. Napailing-iling siya sa sarili bago binalik ang mga mata sa lalaki na ngayon ay nakataas na ang isang kilay.

"Bago lang," sagot ni Miara. "I was about to tell you too..."

The guy shrugged, then pulling a chair. "Well... I guess you can eat first," anito at naupo na.

Kahit nagdadalawang isip, umiling pa rin si Miara. May kaunting hiya siya na nararamdaman ay ayaw niya ring maging pabigat sa estranghero. Mukha naman itong mabait pero gusto niya ring manigurado.

"Thanks for the offer but my friends are on their way," pagtanggi ni Miara. Gusto niya sanang tanungin ang lalaki ng kaniyang pangalan lalo na't malakas talaga ang pakiramdam niya na nagkaroon na sila ng interaksyon noon.

"I'll wait at the lobby," she said, then nodding at him. "Thanks for letting me stay..."