Chapter 9
"Are you just getting all that?" Sy asked as she looked at my hands with one bottle of energy drink and a pack of chips.
Nagpabalik-balik din ang tingin ko sa kanya at sa mga pinili kong bilhin. I thought I shouldn't buy a lot of stuff and only get what I need for now, but it seemed like she was trying to make me buy more.
"Isn't this enough?" I asked her.
She shrugged her shoulder off. "If you're good with it, I think it's fine. I have to tell you that we will be traveling so far that that might not be enough."
"For real?"
She nodded to make me believe even more. "Yup! It would be best if you got more. I don't think may mga madadaanan tayong stores along the way. Get what you need and everything you want. Hindi mo sure baka ma-extend ng three days 'tong trip natin."
Bahagya akong natawa sa sinabi niya. "I wish, but you know I only told my parents we'll be away for three days dahil limited ang staff sa shop ngayon."
"Yeah, I know," anito sabay kindat sa akin. "Now, go grab everything you want." Tinulak-tulak naman niya ako pabalak sa shelves at wala naman akong nagawa kung hindi ang sundin ang sinasabi niya.
It took me quite a while to get all the stuff I needed. I asked for Synestine's helped in getting some of them. May mga kinuha siya na sa tingin ko raw ay magugustuhan ko. Hindi ako umangal. I don't want to disappoint her as well. Gusto ko na ang trip na 'to ay magsilbing daan para sa aming dalawa na magkakilala pa nang husto. It may not be romantically, but just as friends ay walang problema 'yon sa akin.
We've only got ourselves this summer, and we will spend it wisely before the next semester starts.
As soon as I've got all the items I need, binayaran na namin sa counter 'yon. When Synestine offered she will pay for all of it, hindi ako pumayag sa kanya. Pinigilan ko talaga siyang bayaran ang mga pinamili namin dahil mas marami akong nabili kompara sa kanya at ayoko naman siyang pagbayarin. I've got money to pay for them.
"Hindi na, Sy. I will pay for it," paninindigan ko. "I will take care of it."
Iiling-iling naman siya sa sinabi ko. "No, it's okay. Let's do it this way. I will pay for this one and then you will pay next. Would that be fine for you?"
"May magagawa pa ba ako. E, ayaw mo akong pagbayarin na."
Kinindatan naman niya ako. "Yes, so we have a deal there, Mister de Amos."
"Oh, Sy," I said, heaving out a deep sigh. "I just couldn't resist you."
She giggled. "I know you can't."
Habang binabayaran niya 'yon ay doon ko lang na-realize ang sinabi niya. Nahiya na lang ako dahil pakiramdam ko ay may ibang meaning 'yon. Synestine was the only one who could make me feel like this. I don't think anyone could understand what I'm feeling right now, but I know I can understand what I'm feeling—it's indescribable.
Binuhat ko ang paper bag na naglalaman ng mga binili namin. Most of them are snacks and drinks. May binili ring lighter si Synestine at hindi ko alam kung para saan niya gagamitin 'yon. I knew she wasn't smoking at all. Hindi rin naman ako naninigarilyo, but on the other hand, we both drink alcohol. We just didn't buy anything yet since I am driving, and we don't want to risk ourselves.
"Do you want to take a sip of your slushie?" Synestine asked as we made our way to our car.
"Sure." Inilapit naman niya sa akin ang straw nito at uminom ako. As soon as I felt the frozen drink run through my throat, I coughed so hard that Sy laughed at me. "I got a brain freeze, too!"
