Hello, Yellow Fellow

Chapter 12

Hello, Yellow Fellow
Chapter 12: Strawberries n' Pain

"Ikaw?!" we both said at the same time, staring at each other in shock.

I screamed in surprise, and so did he. I instinctively covered my mouth, feeling the embarrassment wash over me just like it did the night I saw him in that car.

Anong ginagawa ni Shan dito? Magkakilala rin ba sila ni Reign?

Bigla akong natahimik at aktong aalis na sana pero hinila niya ang likod ng polo ko at binalik ako sa harap niya. Pumasok kami sa loob ng banyo, at ini-lock niya ang pinto. I couldn't bring myself to look at him. I just stared at the floor, still embarrassed by what happened that night.

"Now, why are you here?" tanong niya, seryoso ang boses na may halong pagtataka. Nakahalukipkip siya at nakasandal sa pintuan.

"I got invited," nahihiya kong sagot.

"By whom?"

"Reign," sagot ko.

Napabuntong-hininga siya, kaya napatingin ako sa kanya. Mukhang mas kalmado na siya ngayon pero nakakunot pa rin ang kanyang noo.

"Look, about what happened that night... I shouldn't have done that, but it felt like you were accusing me," I tried to explain.

"I didn't even say anything," tugon niya, dahilan para mapatahimik ako.

He was right. I was the only one who made things awkward that night, and then I just ran away. Pero the way he acts, parang inaakusahan niya ako ng kung ano, kaya ganoon na lang.

"Akala ko kasi ano..." napakagat ako sa labi at napayuko.

"You thought what?" he asked when I trailed off.

"Pinagkakamalan mo akong magnanakaw at stalker."

"Sorry, if I acted weird. Promise, hindi ako stalker or magnanakaw. Kuya ko ang nagbigay no'n kasi he's one of-" I didn't get to finish because he suddenly burst out laughing. I looked at him, confused.

"I-Im s-sorry," sabi niya, putol-putol at patuloy pa rin sa pagtawa.

Nakatitig lang ako sa kanya, pero hindi ko napigilan ang mapangiti. His laughter was infectious, and he looked so cute, holding his stomach as he laughed.

"Nah, let's just forget that," sabi niya, ngayon ay nakangiti na.

"Napatawa mo ako doon ah," he added.

Tumango lang ako at nahihiyang umiwas ng tingin, mas lalo pa kasi siyang pumopogi kapag nakangiti, ang hirap tignan.

The past few days made me forget how much I've been crushing on this guy for years. Siguro dahil sa mga nangyari kaya tinanggal ko muna sa isip ko ang pagiging fan. Pero nililike ko pa rin naman mga posts niya sa social media, pero hindi na ako ganoon ka-oa magreact pag nakikita ko siyang lumalabas sa feed ko kumpara noon.

But now, standing here in front of him, it still feels like a dream. In all the years I've been a fan, I've only seen him in person twice at ngayon ay nakakausap ko pa. Well, still lucky.

"What's your name again?" tanong niya.

"Elione Shin Harlow," nahihiya kong sagot.

"Harlow? Kapatid mo ba si Kuya Indigo?" tanong niya, tumango naman ako at napangiti noong tinawag niyang 'kuya' si Kuya Indigo. Ang cute.

Napatango siya at tila may iniisip.

"Now, I get it," natatawa niyang sabi at napailing.

"Magkakilala kayo ni Kuya?" tanong ko. Tumango siya.