Sound of Silence (Good Hearts Series #1)

Chapter 8

"I didn't know today was your birthday," nahihiya kong sabi dahil buong araw ay iniwasan ko siya.

"It's not your fault, Alison. How would you know if I didn't tell you?" We were at the restaurant and we're just alone together. He said he rented it.

Dati naman ay wala kaming pakialam sa birthday ng isa't-isa pero kasi may nabubuo nang bond. He's so nice to me and I want to do the same. I want to be good to him.

We started to eat and it's so nice because of the sound of violin. Nakaka-relax tuloy.

"How did you know I was here?" tanong ko habang kumakain kami.

"I'm sorry I followed you here," aniya at pinunasan ang bibig ng table napkin.

"But why?" I looked at him.

"I just... uhm... want to spend my day with you." He shrugged his shoulders.

Pinagpatuloy niya ang pagkain at pinagmasdan ko siya. I realized that I've never cooked for him. Lumaki kasi ako na puro noodles at prito lang ang kinakain. I was always busy. Puro trabaho lang ang inatupag ko kaya naman kapag kakain na, either mag p-prito lang ako or bibili sa convenience store.

"Favro, why am I the first woman in your life?" I asked out of curiosity.

Napatingin siya sa akin. "You were the first to come," aniya kaya natawa ako.

"What? So, hindi ka magkakaroon ng babae sa buhay mo kung walang lalapit sa 'yo? I mean, hindi ka gagawa ng first move?" natatawang tanong ko.

"Is that necessary? I don't know about romance, Alison." Uminom siya ng white wine. Iyon lang talaga ang iniinom niya. Hindi rin siya umiinom ng red wine.

"You don't know how to flirt?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko.

"Flirting is not my thing, Alison. I want a serious life," said he and he rolled up the sleeve of his polo so that his white forearm was exposed. I could also see his veins.

"So, kung hindi tayo nagpakasal, hindi ka pa rin magkakaroon ng girlfriend?" I asked.

Tumango siya. "Well, that's true. I'm not into romance," aniya.

"Aren't you interested in women?"

"Hmmm..." he hummed. "Noon." Inilapag niya ang fork and knife. "But you're here now, Alison. I should be interested in you because you're my wife."

Siguro kaya siya ipinakasal ng tatay niya dahil akala ng tatay niya ay bakla siya. Hindi ba naman interesado sa mga babae.

"But we don't love each other at mag-asawa lang tayo sa papel," diretsong sagot ko.

"That's also true..." aniya. "But I'm already interested in you, Alison," walang pagdadalawang-isip niyang sambit.

"Huh? Baka crush mo 'ko?"

Bahagyang napakunot ang noo niya. May gusto na ba siya sa 'kin? Bawal 'yon dahil maghihiwalay na rin kami. Excited na nga ako.

"Crush? As in crush? Like a highschool romance where the couple doesn't end up together?"

"Hindi naman. Napaka OA naman niyan. Crush lang. Hindi ka ba nagkakaroon ng crush?" seryosong tanong ko.

"Wala," sagot niya.

"E, 'di hindi mo ako crush?"

Sa lagay niya ay parang gusto niya nang bumuntong-hininga. "Hindi."

"Ahh." Napatango ako. "That's good, then. Malapit na rin naman tayong maghiwalay." I smiled and continued my food.