All I Ever Wanted

• 13 •

Pagkatapos naming kumain ay lumabas na kami ng pizza diner. Tahimik lang kaming naglalakad, hindi alam kung saan ang susunod na pupuntahan.

I was looking at each stall when something caught my attention. There was this store na puno ng balloons and an up-beat music was blasting up. Meron ding crown of flowers na nakalagay sa labas. Not the one you see in funerals. Parang kakabukas pa lang ng store na ito. It was a milkshake store, by the way.

Suddenly, I felt an arm slung over my shoulder. Tumingin ako sa gilid at nakita si Kale na nakatingin din sa bagong bukas na tindahan. I didn't mind his hand though. Nasanay na rin akong ginagawa niya yan sa mga nakalipas na araw.

"Mukhang masarap ang milkshake nila, you wanna try?" tanong ni Kale at inilipat sa akin ang tingin.

Sasagot na sana ako ng 'oo' nang may biglang lumapit sa amin. It was a girl, and by her uniform I could tell employee siya ng bagong bukas na milkshake store. She smiled at us brightly. "Hello Ma'am. Hello Sir," she greeted us as she looked at us alternately.

I smiled back at her.

"Baka gusto niyo pong sumali sa game namin," umpisa niyang sinabi habang ngumingiti pa rin.

Tatanungin ko na sana siya kung anong laro nang maunahan ako ni Kale. "Anong game?"

Knowing that we were interested, mas lumaki pa ang ngiti ng babae. "We have this game for couples with exciting prizes. Madali lang naman po ang game, may kaugnayan sa milkshake."

I heard Kale clear his throat. "We're not a c—"

"Ano po yung prize?" I asked at the same time, cutting him off.

The girl widely beamed. "Come with me Ma'am and Sir and you'll see."

At naglakad na siya pabalik ng tindahan.

"What? Balak mo talagang sumali dun?" Kale asked me.

"Sige na, tingnan lang natin yung prize, pag di okay, wag na tayong sumali."

"Whatever."

Sinundan na namin ang babae sa loob ng store at nakita kong may ilang couples na rin na nakastand-by sa isang bahagi ng store. Siguro dun gaganapin ang game dahil may isang mahabang table ang nakaset sa gitna. There were six pairs of them to be exact.

Merong mga nasa teenage years at meron ding adult couple. Inalis ko ang tingin sa kanila at nilibot sa store, may ilan ng customer ang nakapila sa counter at ang iba naman ay nakaupo na sa table. Pero halos lahat ng atensyon ay nasa game na magaganap.

"Nandoon po yung mga prizes," sabi ng babae.

Tumingin ako sa kanya at sinundan ng tingin ang tinuturo niya. I saw paper bags but what took all of my interest were the two huge bears—pink and blue—sitting at the middle of the table. I want that.

As you could notice, may malaki akong obsession sa stuffed toys, especially teddy bears. At isa lang talaga ang gusto ko ngayon, ang makuha ang stuffed toy na yun. Agad akong tumingin kay Kale, saka ko lang napansin na nakatingin na siya sa akin.

"Kale," I said pleadingly.

He shook his head, "No Maika. We're not joining this game," he said firmly. "We're not even a couple."

Mabuti na lang at mahina ang boses niya nang sabihin niya yun. Tanging kaming dalawa lang ang nakarinig.

"Then lets pretend, please," I begged.

He sighed. "Bibilhan na lang kita ng milkshake kung yun ang gusto mo," sabi niya.

"No," I shook my head. "Hindi yun ang gusto ko, yung prize," sabi ko sa kanya.