Simply The Best

13

HINDI nakaligtas sa pansin ni Ember na pulos mga paborito niya ang inihanda ni Ivo. Paborito niyang klase ng salad, chicken and pasta, maging ang dessert na tiramisu. Maybe he asked around. Effort uli.

Natawa nang malakas ang lalaki nang pagpalitin niya ang mga pagkain nila para sigurado na hindi siya gagantihan ng lalaki.

"I won't get back to you on that, Ember. You have to stop worrying."

"Dahil aminado kang deserve mo 'yon?"

"No one deserves that punishment. It's a little extreme. And I think it's the most embarrassing thing that happened in my life."

"Kung ganoon, bakit hindi mo 'ko gagantihan? Ang sabi mo pa nga, I'd pay for it."

"Seryoso ako n'ong sabihin ko 'yon. I did intend to make you pay and more. Did you know I have to use my socks to—"

"Oh, my God, we're eating!" Pero parang gusto niyang matawa.

"Sorry," natatawang sabi ni Ivo. "Pero paglabas ko ng stall, nakita ko ang mga iniwan mo sa counter."

Yumuko si Ember at nagpakaabala sa pagkain.

"Tissues—wet and dry, a bar of anti-bacterial soap, two bottles of sports drink, a bottle of water, medicines, bananas—dalawang piraso, a sticky note swearing those were not laced and an air freshener. Who thought like that? Who thought to add an air freshener? You wanted to teach me a lesson pero nagi-guilty ka pa rin. You can't help but be kind to someone like me. I asked around. I've watched you from a distance. You are genuinely kind. And I felt small. Parang nahiya talaga ako sa inasal ko."

Hindi sigurado ni Ember kung ano ang sasabihin kaya patuloy siyang nagpakaabala sa pagkain. What could she possibly say to that? Parang nahiya siyang bigla. Ipinagpasalamat niya na hinayaan siya ni Ivo sa pananahimik. Tahimik din itong kumain.

Nang matapos sila ay niyaya siya ni Ivo sa ibang parte ng rooftop. Mas kaunti ang ilaw doon at mukhang sinadya para makita talaga ang kinang ng lungsod. May dalawang outdoor bean bag lounger. It look so soft and comfortable. Ibinagsak niya ang sarili sa isa.

The city view was exquisite. Relaxing. Somewhat tranquil. The city was so alive but she couldn't feel the chaos. Siguro dahil nasa itaas siya.

Nagpakakomportable siya. She let herself relax. Nakakapagod ang laging on guard. She realized she wanted to enjoy this evening. It was her first time and she should really experience it.

Naramdaman din ni Ember ang pag-upo ni Ivo sa katabing bean bag lounger. "I wasn't in the mood."

Halos wala sa loob na nilingon niya si Ivo. He was looking at the city below them. "Ha?"

"That day n'ong nag-away ang mga kaibigan mo. I was not in the best mood. Hindi ko na maalala kung bakit wala ako sa mood, pero maikli na ang pasensiya ko. Frida told me to go to the gym and I was not really in a mood pero mapilit siya. There is something I needed to see. Ang akala ko naman, importante. And I saw two women I can barely remember fighting."

"Over you. They were fighting over you."

"Yeah. And that pissed me off even more. So I said the things that I've said. Hindi ko gaanong napag-isipan. Hindi ko kaagad na-realize na makakapanakit ako ng damdamin."

"Okay..." Ivo looked sincere and who was she to continue to hold a grudge against him? He had already apologized to Shay and Teagan. She had already laced the food with laxative.

"This would be the ungentlemanly part," sabi ni Ivo sa boses na medyo nag-iingat. "I need to say my part of the story because I want you to know. I don't want you thinking I'm a playboy. I don't play with girl's or people's feelings. I think I'm a good boyfriend, ask Frida." Ginawaran siya ng magandang ngiti ng lalaki.