Cheer Up, Captain

Chapter 09

Chapter 09

I glared at him before ignoring him because I was so painfully aware na may mga naka-tingin sa amin. I told myself pa naman that I'd enjoy this fieldtrip fully tapos ni hindi pa ako nakaka-alis sa Pilipinas, may stress na agad na sumalubong sa akin.

Couldn't catch a break!

Lumapit ako sa friends ko... which didn't seem like a bad idea at first, but then they started talking about all the shopping that they'll do. I immediately felt jealous. I wanted to do that, too. I wanted to shop without worrying about money.

Gosh.

Was I that materialistic?

Kaysa mas lalo lang sumama iyong loob ko, I excused myself na lang. It wasn't their fault naman. It's all on me. I asked my teacher if pwede na mag-ikot muna ako since hindi pa naman complete kami dito. Sabay-sabay kasi kaming magche-checkin. She told me not to wander too far. Saan naman ako makakarating? As if ang daming options dito sa NAIA.

I was dragging my luggage with me, thinking kung saan ako pupunta, nang makita ko si Finley na naglalakad sa gilid ko.

"Why are you even here?" I asked.

"Bawal?"

"Hindi ka naman sumasama sa ganito," I told him.

He shrugged. "Pano mo nalaman?" he asked back. "Are you monitoring my every activity?"

Ugh!

Was this flirting?!

How would I know?! Never pa naman ako nagka-boyfriend much less flirted with a guy! Si Finley ata iyong naging first serious crush ko, so when he avoided me like a plague before, nagka-fear na ata ako magka-crush dahil sa ginawa niya. For a moment, I thought I was repulsive until I convinced myself that I was not. Ang ganda-ganda ko kaya. So, I concluded na bulag lang talaga si Finley.

"In your delusions," I just replied.

I continued walking and he continued to follow me. Tuwing titingin ako sa kanya, he'd act as if this was a public place and that he's free to walk wherever he wanted. He also insinuated na ako ang sumusunod sa kanya. I really couldn't with him!

When we got to the escalator, I tried na ilagay sa may step iyong luggage ko, but it was too big, so it was quite a hassle. I was trying to find an angle para mailagay ko siya nang maayos when Finley grabbed the handle from me. Agad na napa-tingin ako sa kanya with my forehead creased.

"Ako na dito," he said.

"What?" I asked, confused again.

"Go ahead," he said.

I wanted to argue some more, but then napa-tingin ako sa likuran niya and may ibang mga tao na doon. Nauna na ako sa may escalator. Naka-lingon ako para tignan siya. Ano ba'ng balak niyang gawin?!

Unang nilagay ni Finley iyong luggage ko, then siya, tapos iyong luggage niya. He was holding them easily as compared sa akin kanina na nagstruggle. Bakit nga ba ako nagulat? Finley's basically a giant! Ano kaya ang pinapa-kain sa kanila sa bahay?

"You're welcome," he sarcastically said nung iabot niya sa akin iyong luggage ko.

I made a face. "I didn't ask you to do it."

He just rolled his eyes at me and began walking. And for reasons unknown even to myself, sumunod ako sa kanya. What the heck was happening?! Kanina, siya ang naka-sunod sa akin. Why was I following him now?!

Finley stopped in front of a café. Pumasok siya roon tapos ay huminto siya sa harap ng vacant table.

"What do you want?" he asked. "Coffee," he added like he foresaw the impending what that I'd reply.