Aaron
To say na masaya ako would be an understatement. I was on cloud nine, bro. Sobrang solid ng tulog ko kagabi — the kind where you wake up still smiling — simula nang pumayag si Kakashi na ligawan ko siya. Damn, sariwang sariwa pa rin lahat ng detalye sa utak ko.
I leaned back in my chair, resting my chin on my palms, a smile playing on my lips as the memory replayed itself.
The way he sat there on his motorcycle, looking at me dead in the eye. Damn, he's so feisty, and I love it. His blue and brown eyes had this fire in them that I can't quite explain.
Sure, he looked annoyed as hell. Pero bumigay rin naman sa ka-pogian ko. Hindi pa niya ako sinasagot pero it felt like I just won the lottery.
Now that I have the chance, I'm not stopping. Hindi ako titigil hanggang sa makita niya na walang tapon sa isang Aaron Maximus Escueta.
"Putang ina mo, Ron!"
Naputol ang daydreaming ko nang bigla akong batuhin ni Kieran ng bote ng Yakult. Natamaan ang braso ko, buti na lang hindi ang mukha, or else he'd get it.
I snapped my head towards him and glared. "What the fuck, bro?"
"Kanina ka pa ngi-ngiti-ngiti diyan habang nakatingin sa akin," saad niya, nakangisi. "Crush mo 'ko, 'no? Sorry, but hindi ako papalag. 'Wag ako."
"Kapal mo naman, tol." I learned that phrase from the ever-loving... Kakashi. I'm glad at nagamit ko.
I picked up the bottle and threw it back at him — though I missed, much to my annoyance.
Dumila siya sa akin, bago bumaling ang tingin niya sa dalawang tray of food na binili ko. "Hindi mo ba kakainin 'yan? Akin na lang." He reached for it, but I slapped his hand away just in time.
"Kakainin ko 'yan," sagot ko, quickly glancing at my wristwatch. "I'm just waiting for..."
"Waiting, kanino? Nakalahati ko na pagkain ko, 'di pa rin nagalaw 'yang sa'yo," tugon ni Kieran, raising an eyebrow.
I looked around the cafeteria, scanning the crowd, hinahanap ang nag-iisang taong makakapagpakain sa akin.
"Tss, patay gutom ka lang talaga," I said, eyes still darting across the room.
"Wow, kung makahusga, ah. Sino ba bumili ng dalawang tray ng pagkain para sa sarili ko?"
I ignored him. Hindi 'to para sa'kin, bro. "I'm just waiting for... him to arrive," I murmured under my breath.
And just like clockwork, the cafeteria doors swung open, and there he was. He walked in, wearing a crisp white polo that hugged his lean frame, paired with denim shorts that stopped just below his knees.
My stomach erupted at the exact same time he stepped in, pero hindi gutom ang dahilan. This was something else entirely.
Si Abby ang unang nakapansin sa amin. She waved enthusiastically at us, smiling. I caught her leaning closer to Kakashi, whispering something in his ear.
It was enough to make him turn in our direction.
Our eyes locked, and I could feel a grin slowly forming on my lips, uncontrollable and stupidly wide. But Kakashi? Nanatiling kalmado ang mukha niya.
Hinila ni Abby si Kakashi at naglakad sila papunta sa table namin.
Maraming maraming salamat, Abby.
"Uy! Abby, Lev!" tawag ni Kieran nang makita sila. "Ngayon lang dismissal niyo?"
Umupo si Abby sa bakanteng upuan sa harap ni Kieran, umiiling. "Hindi, kanina pa. Sinamahan ko lang si Lev sa library, naghahanap ng libro."
Tumingin ako kay Kakashi. Nakatayo pa rin siya sa gilid, watching the unfolding conversation in front of him.
