The Spaces In Between

[41] Of Demonstrations and Revelations

Chapter 41: Of Demonstrations and Revelations

Did Andreau ask me anything after that ambush hot seat?

Well.. yeah, he did.

Ang tanong niya?

"Zades, pwede ka naman siguro sa Friday, right? For the midnight church shoot?"

Yup. That's all.

Ano pa bang itatanong niyang iba, 'di ba? He already said his question. Why aren't we together? And I answered smoothly and correctly. End of story. Move on na sa ibang priorities.

Okay, okay. I admit, I wasn't expecting that from him. Ineexpect ko na makikisaya siya sa kabaliwan ni Kami, pero in a teasing and flirty way. Hindi yung seryosong tanong na tulad nun. At ako naman si loka, ba't 'yon ang sinagot ko? Iba talaga dapat ang sasabihin ko eh, pero nasa utak ko lang yung sagot kong because you never asked. May sira na siguro ang wiring ng utak at bibig ko kaya ayun, akala niya 'yon dapat ang sabihin ko.

Good lord, my inside thoughts shouldn't be outside at all.

Tama naman ang sagot ko ah. Hindi nga naman talaga nagtatanong sa'kin si Andreau. Pero.. bakit naman siya magtatanong eh wala namang something sa'min other than friendship? I couldn't see us as a couple. Seriously. Best friend pwede pa (and I'm sure aasarin niya ako for a long time kapag sinabi ko 'to sa kanya) pero yung boyfriend-girlfriend? Tipong holding hands, pasweet sweet at.. sobrang romantic? Isipin ko pa lang kinikilabutan na ako.

Don't get me wrong. Andreau's such a great catch. But not the catch for me. And vice-versa.

Ganito kaya yung feeling ng ibang artista na just friends lang pero pinagpipilitan ng fans na may something more? Hay, life.

Think about it, kung walang magtatanong, walang mabi-bring up na unwanted thoughts. Walang mababaliw sa kakaisip ng mga what if. Walang mag-aassume. Walang masasaktan.

Damn you, Kamilla Hizon! Sinasayang mo ang brain cells ko sa kakaisip dito! Ugh!!!

**

Hindi kami nagkita ni Andreau two days after ambush hot seat. It sort of... happened. Naging busy kami sa sari-sarili naming ganap: ako busy sa epal na paper ko (na deadline na next week omg) at siya naman, nagpapaka-ninja between Tila at dun sa docu preparations niya. No, hindi kami nag-iiwasan. At bakit naman kami mag-iiwasan? Okay naman kami bago kami magkahiwalay nung Tuesday night. No biggie.

In fairness, namiss ko ang Tila set. Mas pipiliin ko pang intrigahin ni Kami kesa mag-analyze ng Jane Austen films! I love Jane Austen, but this coursework sucked the life out of me. Idagdag pa dyan ang stress ng alumni homecoming namin sa org next week! Buti na lang medyo chill pa kami sa outreach program namin nina Pipo. Di ko na ata kakayanin kung sumabay pa 'yon ngayon sa batshit crazy schedule ko.

Nasa Café Feliz ako ng Thursday afternoon, nakikigamit ng wifi nila para sa research ko nang makareceive ako ng text message galing kay Andreau. Hindi ko na sana papansinin kaso...

Zades, sa Feliz ka, right? Don't leave.

Huh. Weird.

Bakit? Wait, punta ka ba rito?

I didn't wait for him to reply; bumukas na lang ng pinto ng café at pumasok siya, dala-dala ang isang large brown envelope. Removing his sunglasses (which made him more attractive), he walked towards our table, smiling widely.

"O ba't andito ka?" I couldn't help but ask. "Di ba may meeting ka?"

He plopped into his seat and stole my coffee mug. Barya lang naman sa kanya ang P100 pero kung makainom ng kape ng iba! "Yeah. Kanina pa tapos. I'm on my way to the gym now."