"You must be very sad." sabi ko sa kanya.
"What? Why?" tanong niya
"Someone must have hurt you real bad for you to stop believing in all of these things."
"Okay, judger. I'm not sad." sabi niya. "Let's just say that I'm being rational. And see, there's your writer's optimism, right there."
"Alam mo ikaw, you told me that you think writers are optimistic and basically called me out for being a pessimist, tapos ngayon, you're calling me out for being optimistic. Make up your mind bai." sabi ko sa kanya and she chuckled.
"At alam mo, hindi pa nga tayo nagkakape pero ang bitter na ng umaga mo." dagdag ko.
"Oh! Speaking of coffee, wait here. I'll order coffee." sabi niya tapos tumayo na siya.
"Wait! Wait!" sabi ko sa kanya tapos nilabas ko yung wallet ko.
"Ako magbabayad for coffee kasi ikaw na bumili ng breakfast."
"No. Ako nag-aya, so I'll pay for everything."
I yanked on her hand bago pa siya makaalis sa upuan niya and sinubukan kong iabot sa kanya yung pera. I must have yanked her hard, cause she almost lost balance and fortunately nasalo siya ng upuan niya.
"No." sagot lang niya tapos hindi niya binubuksan yung kamay niya.
"Isa, Mikha. Take it." sabi ko sa kanya habang pilit ko pa ring binibigay yung pera sa kanya.
"Ate Stranger, let go of my hand." sabi niya.
"Take the money."
"I'm paying for everything." she replied firmly. "Now, let me go or kung hindi ikikiss kita." dagdag niya.
There was this sternness in her voice kaya binitawan ko na siya. She just smiled and walked away. Napaka-stubborn.
"Mikha Lim!" I fumed.
Habang inaantay ko si Mikha, I took the time to check my phone. I never got the chance to take it out kasi I didn't want to come off as rude habang kasama ko si Mikha. And to be honest, I didn't feel the need to check on my phone.
When I checked, may missed call na pala sa 'kin si Sheena. Bakit hindi ko narinig na tumunog phone ko kanina?
I almost jumped when my phone vibrated again and I saw Sheena's picture on the screen.
"Yes?"
'Hay nako Q, kanina pa ako tumatawag sa'yo.'
"Sorry na Mamay, di ko napansing nakasilent yung phone ko. What's up?"
'Okay na ba yung kotse mo? '
"Yeah, okay na siya. Maayos naman yung mechanic na kilala ni Colet." sabi ko sa kanya.
'Speaking of Colet, she reached out kanina and she was asking if we are free. Nag-iinvite siya sa bahay niya. Makalat daw kasi sa condo.'
"Now? And ano yan, photoshoot ba ulit? Parang behind the scenes kinemer ganyan?"
'No, bukas daw. And hindi siya photoshoot. Nakwento daw kasi ni Gwen na kumakanta din ako. Parang small jamming lang, videoke, ganyan.'
"Check ko muna schedule ko Shee. Di ako sure kung free ako bukas. Baka magalit na si Dad."
'Akala ko patapos na yung project mo? '
"Well, yeah patapos na siya today. I-finalize ko na lang once I'm in the office na."
'Sige. So, g tayo bukas? Sabihan ko na si Colet ha.'
"Wait, confirm ako sayo mamayang gabi. But do ask her saan yung house niya, para ma-plan natin yung carpooling. At, Shee, ATE Colet. Apparently we're of the same age. So bigay galang ng konti." sabi ko sa kanya.
