The Laurier Series 1: The shades of golden sunset

04

"Aaron?" 'Di maka paniwalang tanong ko nang lingunin ko siya. He's wearing a black double breasted with 4 button suit. Halos lahat ng mga nasa museum ay napapa tingin sa kaniya.

Did he just answered my thoughts?

"Pare, nang aagaw ka na naman ng spotlight." Reklamo ni Justin. Are they business partners? Naka formal attire kasi silang dalawa na parang kaka galing lang ng kompanya. "And you know this girl?"

"Yeah. We've met somewhere." He answered while he's still looking at me. Now I'm standing in between them. Justin makes a playful smile. At dahil dito, kitang-kita ang kulay berde nitong braces. "Mind if you join us for lunch?" Aaron reach his hand out. Naka titig lang ako sa kamay niya, nagda-dalawang isip kung hahawakan ko nga ba ito.

"Or maybe, sa akin mo gustong humawak?" Nang aasar na tanong naman ni Justin. Kumunot ang noo ko. I just changed my mind and choose to leave them behind. Para silang bata eh.

"Welcome to Alkimia restaurant." A woman bow her head down to show a sign of respect to us who's their customers.

They showed us an empty table with four chairs. Justin and Aaron sat next to each other while I took the chair across them. I look at them as if I'm giving them a hint not to cause trouble. Buti naman at nakinig sila.

"Greetings, sir and madame. May I take your orders?" A waiter took the initiative to take our orders he gave us the menu list.

"I'd like to take Xisqueta lamb with glazed apricots." Justin stated.

"Mine is Green suquet with clams and plancton pil pil sol." Saad naman ni Aaron with his British American accent.

"Seafood hors d'oeuvres." Sabi ko naman. "Can I also take menjablanc with red berries and wild rabbit tart tatin as for my dessert?" I asked with confidence. Justin looks so surprise while Aaron isn't. I'm hungry, I didn't eat last night and I skipped my breakfast that's why.

While waiting for our food, we were filled with tense and awkward atmosphere. They were both staring on each other like they're trying to communicate with their eyes, telling to do the first move.

"So, you two are friends?" Ako na ang nag first move.

"Yeah, I can tell." Justin forcefully agreed.

"We're not friends. We're rivals." Aaron disagree as he gave him a death cold glare before pursing his lips together. Tiningnan ko sila na parang bang nalilito kung anong meron.

For a minute, we were filled with silence once more. Buti na lang at dumating na ang isang waitress dala ang in-order naming menus. They even put three glasses of red wine.

"Gracie." I said before the waitress left us. But before I could enjoy my food, I take photographs of it. "Comamos." I utter as I dig in.

The foods tastes good. I was enjoying the food while the other two was watching me. Napakunot noo ako. Papanoorin lang ba talaga nila akong kumain?

"Hindi pa kayo kakain?" Tanong ko saka ibinaba ang gamit kong fork and knife.

"Mas nabubusog kami pag may pinapanood kaming kumain eh." Sagot ni Justin. Aaron just let out a small smirk as he decided to start eating his food.

I looked at them innocently, not knowing what to say. Hindi na lang ulit ako nag salita at mas pinili nang kumain ng tahimik. While we were eating, someone just suddenly started playing the grand piano in front. It was some how a classic music, it sounds familiar.

I could imagine my cousin, Chandria, playing the piano when we were still kid, babysitting her. She plays it as if she's a pro.
Naputol ang pag imagine ko ng mga nakaraang scenario nang biglang tumunog ang phone ni Justin. He hurriedly pick it up and excuse himself to answer an urgent call.

I can tell, mas napanatag ang loob ko nang lumabas siya at naiwan kaming dalawa ni Aaron. He wasn't speaking, he wouldn't even dare to glare at me for once.

"So." I fake a cough. "Are you a psychologist or something?" I asked in curiosity

"I can hear people's thoughts." Casual na sagot niya na hindi man lang ako tiningnan. "I could only do that when I'm captivated with their presence." He added.

i got speechless from what he said. kung mag salita siya, para siyang nakikipag usap sa klayente niya o business partnership, napaka formal.

"I saw how you stare at those paintings inside of the museum." He stated. "It was as if you were communicating with them, like you understand the message they were trying to convey." He continues.

I found him finally looking at me with his ocean blue eyes. I barely couldn't find the right words that I can use to respond. Tahimik lang siyang nakatitig  sa akin. para akong natutunaw, the only word that's been stuck up in my mind was the "restroom". A goddamn restroom.

"Are you uncomfortable?" Nag aalalang tanong niya Saka inilapag ang hawak niyang fork and knife.

"H-Huh?, of course not! Ang sarap ng food nila dito noh?" Pag-iiba ko ng usapan before I let out an awkward laugh. Agad din akong sumubo ng pagkain para iwasan siya. Now it's awkward.

"Peony." Tawag niya. I looked at him innocently. Walang pasabi niyang pinunasan ang gilid ng labi ko. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko saa gulat. Just why is he being so unpredictable?

May gusto 'to sakin, nararamdaman ko. I was about to thank him when the other people with us were already clapping their hands because the pianist was already done playing the piano. Nakisabay na lang din ako sa pagpapalakpak para mag mulhang nakinig naman ako.

Justin didn't come back to finish his food. Nasayang lang. After me and Aaron ate, he insisted to pay for the bills, I told him that I'll pay for the other half but he did not let me.

How generous.

"There'll be a royal banquet tomorrow night." He spoke while we were still in the streets, walking back home. "I was invited."

"Hmm? Yeah? What do you want me to do?" Kunot noong tanong ko.

"A friend of mine rejected to accompany me. " He smiled a bit, trying to process things that he wanted to say. "It was a once in a life time event you'd experience in your life. Mind if you join me?" Seryosong tanong niya saka iniabot ang kaniyang kanang kamay.

I could feel my cheeks burning. He's so sincere that he really did not failed to make my heart race. He's giving me such a vibrant color in my monochromatic world I'm living in.

Is it okay if I'd expect for more?

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