...
Nakakunot ang noo at nakakuyom ang mga palad na pinagmasdan ni Vin ang nagtatawanang si Mariel at ang unggoy na kasama nito. Hindi pa nagsisimula ang shift ng dalaga dahil nakipagpalit sa kanya ang katrabaho niyang si Xai. Mahigpit ang pagkakahawak niya sa tinidor na halos mabali na ito.
"You're acting weird Vin. Mababali na ang tinidor sa higpit ng hawak mo." Puna ni Nichol na nakatingin sa kamay niya, pero di man lang niya ito pinansin. Instead, he was throwing daggers on the table across them, kung saan naka-upo ang t'yanak niyang slave at ang unggoy.
"Jealous eh?" ngiting-ngiting tanong ni Nichol na nakatingin na rin sa direksyon ng stupid waitress na si Geriel.
Pero si Vin, NR lang as in No Response sapagkat sa kaibuturan ng utak niya ay tinotorture na niya ang unggoy na kasama ni t'yanak. Tang'na lang! Bakit ba magkasama ang dalawang iyon? Matagal na ba silang magkakilala? May relasyon ba sila? Takte! Kung anu-anong tanong na ang nabubuo niya sa kanyang magulong isipan. B'wisit na Tiyanak!
Anak ng pusang gala lang! Ano bang meron ang unggoy na iyon at nagagawa nitong patawanin si Mariel samantalang kapag sila ang magkasama ay ipinapakita nito ang pagkamuhi sa kanya? Takte lang! Nakakabanas!
"You've changed a lot since bumalik ka dito sa Pilipinas. I've never seen you acted as though you want to kill on the spot." Pagpapatuloy ni Nichol. She was trying to catch Vin's attention dahil mula ng pumasok sila sa loob ng Coffee Palace ay wala na'ng ginawa ang binata kundi ang titigan si Geriel at ang kasama nito.
"Funny how love can really change people, it can make someone stupid." Naiiling na sabi ng dalaga and this time lumingon na ang kanyang kaibigan.
"What? Sinong stupid? Ako?" halos nakasigaw na tanong ni Vin at nagsipaglingunan ang mga tao sa kanila, including Geriel.
"Tone down your voice Vinbabes, everybody's watching." Nakangiti na pagkatamis-tamis na sabi ni Nichol. She leaned closer to him and she heard somebody gasp... it must be the stupid waitress. Good!
"I'm not saying you are stupid Acosta, what I said is love can make someone stupid. So for the record, you are stupid." She whispered on his ear bago siya muling sumandal sa back rest. She chuckled at Vin's expression, nakanganga lang ito then after realizing what she said ay kumunot ang noo nito.
"Why would I become stupid?"
"Cause you're in love. Hahaha" She said still chuckling "And you're jealous as hell, I can see the fury in your eyes Acosta, you can never lie to me."
"That's.... that's..." naihilamos ni Vin ang palad sa mukha niya, he was trying to find a word to contradict what his friend said.. but found nothing.
"That's what?" She said smiling mischievously. "Huli ka boy! Hahaha!"
"Beat him. Don't make another stupid mistake. This time you should learn to fight for what is really meant for you." Biglang sumeryoso ang mukha ng dalaga na naging dahilan para titigan siya ni Acosta. "Hahayaan mo na lang ba na makuha siya ng iba gayong may pagkakataon ka pa?"
"What on earth are you trying to say?" naguguluhang tanong ng binata.
"You knew me Acosta, you knew that I don't approve of people falling in love, you just make an exception."
"You're ridiculous Nich. Let's just say I like her, but she doesn't return the feeling." At nagpakawala si Vin ng buntong hininga. At this point in time, he is sure that the weird feeling of wanting to be always beside Mariel leads to only one thing, that he likes her. Takte! Nakakafrustrate!
"Are you sure?" another playful smile formed in Nichol's lips. She leaned again to him and whispered...
"The feeling is mutual Acosta, don't be blinded by what your eyes could see for love is never blind, it's only the people that are taking the blind side. Don't be fooled."
"Huh?" Nakangangang tanong ni Vin na hindi maintindihan ang sinasabi ng kasama. Si Nichol ba itong kaharap niya o ibang tao na sinapian ng Alien?
"She likes you."
"That's impossible."
"Oh! She does and I could prove that to you." Tumayo si Nichol at inilapit ang mukha niya sa mukha ni Vin at tinitigan ang mga labi nito...
Three inches...
Two inches...
Crash!
Nichol's lips quirked up at tumaas ang isa nitong kilay. "See, I told you." Saka siya muling umupo at pinaglaruan ang tinidor.
What happened?
May nabasag lang namang baso. At paglingon ni Vin sa direksyon noon ay nakita nya si Mariel na namumulot ng bubog.
Déjà vu?
Not really! Cause this time, ang unggoy na ang tumutulong dito.
"Hey Mr. Jealous Man, papakabog ka ba sa Gentleman na iyan?" makahulugang tanong ni Nichol. But Vin only sighed.
BINABASA MO ANG
Silenced by a Kiss -To Be Published-
Chick-LitShe is the noisiest person he has ever met. Vin has never had patience for annoying females, lalo na sa nang-iistorbo ng pagtulog niya. Geriel Mariel Marasigan-Maingay had just messed up with the wrong guy. Her loudness annoyed him to hell and back...
