VIXEN: Meeting My Xavier [13]

Chapter 5

AWKWARD. Iyon siguro ang pinakasaktong nararamdaman niya ngayon. Kung bakit ba naman sa dami ng araw na pwedeng masira ang kotse niya, ngayon pa? At bakit bigla-bigla naman?

          Mas ibinalot pa niya ang sarili sa suot na jacket. The evening air of Tagaytay plus the airconditioner in his car is enough to make her shiver. She leaned on the glass window. She rather see the view outside than his grinning face. But her peripheral vision betrayed her.

          None of them were talking. Their small movements and the groans that his car is making are the only noise that you can hear. Definitely awkward. Ugh.

          “Pwede?” she pointed at his radio. He nodded. She turned the radio on.

          “Di ko akalaing magagawa mo sa'kin to matapos ko maibigay ang lahat-lahat sa 'yo. Iniwan mo akong nag-iisa't nagdurugo. Kinabukasan kaya'y mabubuhay pa ako?”

          Nice song... she said to herself. Isa ang kantang iyon sa heartbreak playlist niya noon. Tingin niya ay kinopya ng DJ ang playlist niya dahil pagkatapos ng “Sinaktan Mo Ang Puso Ko” ay sumunod na ang iba: “Fixing A Broken Heart”, “My First Broken Heart”, “Una”, at “Don’t Forget”. Ang nakakainis pa, sumasabay si Xavier sa pagkanta while looking at her. At nakuha pang mang-inis ng loko. Wala ba talaga itong konsensya o hiya man lang?

          She gave him her most sarcastic smile pagkatapos ay inirapan niya ito. “Harharhar. Enjoying yourself, mister?” Why did she fell in love with this man? Hindi na niya maalala.

          “Yup!” Ughhhhh!!!

          “Masaya ka talaga pag napapasama mo ang loob ko, ano?”

          “Maybe?”

          “Damn you!”

          “You know that you’re cursing the vocalist of the infamous VIXEN, right?”

          “No. I’m cursing my jerk ex-boyfriend whom I regret to fall inlove with.”

          “My? Don’t be possesive, sweetie.” Tumaas ang isang gilid ng labi nito. That endearment did it. She took a deep breath to control her anger or else, baka maaksidente pa silang pareho kapag nagwala siya. Ini-adjust niya ang sandalan niya pababa. Tutulugan nalang niya ito. “Pikon pa parin.”

          Just knowing that he’s only a few feet from her makes her uncomfortable. Hindi na siya dinalaw ng antok. Maya-maya ay huminto ang sasakyan. Parang napakabilis naman ata ng byahe. Iminulat niya ang mata.

          “Get out.” he said.

          “Huh?” she looked outside. Huminto ito sa gasoline station na maraming kainan. Hinagisan siya nito ng pera. The nerve!!

          “Buy something to eat. Hindi ka pa kumakain ‘di ba? Don’t get me wrong. I’m not worried about you. Ayoko lang na may masabi ka sa kanila. Baka isipin mo inaapi kita.”

          “Bakit hindi nalang ikaw ang bumili? Ikaw itong lalaki. How ungentlemanly.”

          “I maybe just an ex-boyfriend in your eyes, but I’m a celebrity for the others. A famous one. Kapag ako ang bumaba para bumili ng kakainin mo, lalapitan nila ako para mapa-picture at autograph. At baka malaman pa nila na may kasama akong babae sa loob ng kotse ko, which is bad for you. Gusto mo bang mawalan ng privacy?” nawalan siya ng imik. He’s right. “You get it now? That’s one of the things you just don’t understand back then.”