ETB #1: Lost in Blank Stares

Chapter 28

Chapter 28

"Give me your bag," Stefano offered as we walked together toward the parking lot.

Kumuha lang ako ng gamit para dalhin sa balak niyang puntahan. I brought casual, formal, and beach attire, just to be sure, since I had no idea where he planned to take me.

"Kaya ko," saad ko, kahit may kabigatan ang bag at tote bag na dala ko. Pero kaya ko naman.

"Alam ko, pero akin na," pamimilit niya, ayaw din magpatalo.

I groaned when he placed his hand over my bag, adding more weight so I could barely move forward. Masama ko siyang tiningnan, lalo na dahil sa nakakaloko niyang ngiti, clearly enjoying my struggle.

"Ang kulit!" Umikot ang mga mata ko at tuluyan na lang binigay ang gamit sa makulit na kapre.

He smiled in victory, a smug expression that made me want to wipe it off his face—but at the same time, I couldn't help but find it endearing.

"Saan mo 'ko balak kidnappin?" tanong ko habang sinusundan siya papunta sa trunk ng kotse.

As he placed my bag alongside his in the trunk, he smirked. "It's not considered kidnapping when I have your consent. Or do you mean because you're small?"

"Hindi porket ka-height mo yung mga kapre dito sa Pinas, may karapatan ka nang i-bully ang five feet ten na gaya ko."

He chuckled, obviously amused. "Five ten? Seryoso ka? Naka-sapatos ka ba nung nag-measure ng height mo?"

I gasped dramatically. "Hoy, natural height ko na 'yun, walang daya!"

Nakaka-insulto na siya ng very light. Niroromanticize ko pa naman dati ang height difference namin, pero ngayon gusto ko na lang maging 6'5 para ibaon siya sa sahig.

"Relax, your height suits you..." Pinasadahan niya ng tingin ang kabuuan ko. "Sakto lang," he said meaningfully.

"And what do you mean by that?"

Isinara na niya ang trunk at ipinakita ang susi ng kotse. "Wanna drive?"

Hindi man lang sinagot ang tanong ko, baka naman yun na talaga ang ibig sabihin nun. Ako lang ang nagbibigay ng malisya.

I scoffed. "I don't even have an idea where we're heading."

Natawa siya. "Right. Let's go then."

As usual, he opened the door for me. Bago pa niya paandarin ang sasakyan, nilabas ko ang hair tie para matalian ulit ang may kahabaan niyang buhok.

"Yuko," utos ko.

Tumingin siya sa 'kin na nagtataka. "Hmm?"

Pinakita ko ang hair tie, dahilan para sumunod siya. With his hair near my nose, I could already smell his rugged shampoo. His hair was soft to the touch. Nagpapa-treatment ba 'to? Mukhang alaga na alaga ang buhok niya. I gathered a few strands of his hair, smoothed down his baby hairs, and tied them with the black hair tie.

"Do you ever plan on cutting your hair?" I put on my seatbelt, and he did the same.

He started the car and adjusted the steering wheel to exit the parking lot. "It didn't cross my mind," he answered, glancing at me. "Bakit, gusto mong ipa-putol ang buhok ko?"