My Perfect Stranger

-Man's Instinct-

I stare at him for what seems like forever and he does stares back too. No one has dared to utter even a single word.

Spell awkward. (crickets)

Gosh! This is too much for a sign. Kanina lang name lang niya ang nakikita at naririnig ko but now, he's physically present and he's standing right in front of me.

I'm actually holding my breath right now.

What to do!? What to do!? Fuck!!!

Until someone from behind him broke the awkwardness between us.

"Uhmmm, aren't you going to invite him in?" Si kuya Dax together with sino nga ba ulet to? Ah, si kuya Aidan. Himala! He's here. I rarely see him here or should I say ngayon ko lang siya na-tiyempuhan. Hmmm...parang may nag-iba sa mukha nya? Ano kaya yun? Ngayon ko lang kasi ulit siya nakita. Nakalimutan ko na nga ang mukha nya eh.

"Er...ah...Come in. Kuya, may bisita ka." I shouted and led them inside the livingroom. I gestured them to sit then Gonzales appears in the sala and loudly says,

"Uy, dre ang agang manligaw ah." looking at Bricks.

Suddenly, all eyes are on me. I immediately darted my head towards the kitchen. Shit! Baka marinig nila papa. Bwisit talaga tong Gonzales na to! Gugupitin ko na dila nito.

To my relief, di ko sila matanaw. Thank God!

"Ligaw? May nanliligaw na sa'yo Anna?" kuya Aidan said it with a hint of astonishment. Wow! What a question! Bakit wala ba akong karapatang maligawan?

"Anong masasabi mo naman dun Keith. Payag ka na ba?" kuya Dax added. Kuya was already sitting beside Bricks at inakbayan pa.

"Oo naman. Basta ba kung ano ang kay Anna, meron din ako. Walang kaso sa akin yun. Di naman ako pihikan sa pagkain." he smugly said.

"Ibang klase ka ring kuya, basta may suhol ka ibebenta mo kagad ang kapatid mo." kuya Aidan retorted.

"Chill lang bro, hehe. Aga-aga highblood. Alam mo naman tong si Love, PG." kuya Dax intervened.

"Tang-ina mo!" sabay bato ng unan kay kuya Dax. Ayaw nga kasi ni kuya na tinatawag siyang Love. Humarap si kuya kay kuya Aidan at nagtanong, "Aidan, kagabi ka pa badtrip ah. What's up with you? Si Nikola ba?"

He didn't reply anymore. Nikola? Yung female vocalist nila? Bakit kaya?

That's enough for a show. Oh my gulay! Nandito nga pala si Bricks. Nakaupo pa rin kaming pareho sa sofa pero sa kabila siya nakapwesto. What does he want early this morning? Wala ba siyang pasok? Si Gonzales din kasi nandito. Baka may event sa UST at walang class lahat ng student nila.

My heartbeat starts to race again. Geeez!

"Ehem, I think we must give the two of them some alone time together and that includes you.." pointing to Gonzales "...sumama ka sa amin mag-practice sa itaas."

"Kuya naman eh. Kailangan ng watcher dito." Gonzales protested habang nagkakamot ng ulo.

"Hindi! Kalalake mong tao tsismoso ka. Akyat! Mauna ka." Hinila ni kuya si Gonzales at wala siyang nagawa. Takot lang niyan kay kuya.

And now, we're alone. The awkward atmosphere is back. I keep on looking at the kitchen, still di pa din lumalabas sina papa.

"Are your parents home?" he finally broke the silence.

I turn my head to face him. "Er, why?" I asked.

"I want to court you, formally. I want their blessings."