Long Night
"Kenny ayaw akong papanhikin diyan. I've got to wait dito sa baba. Di mo yata ako pinagpaalam eh," reklamo ko pa sa kanya.
"Just go up stairs. You got my keys, right?"
"Ken bantay sarado yung bruhang landlady mo," I told him over the phone.
He just let go a sigh and answered, "sandali lang, bababa ako. You just wait there,"
Napabuntong hininga na lamang ako matapos ang tawag. Kanina pa ako dito. Ayaw kong umuwi. Weekend naman bukas. I'll just tell Mom and Dad later na dito muna ako.
I waited at the lobby of the building. Ba't ba naman kasi ang sungit ng may ari. Habang hinihintay ko si Ken ay kinuha ko muna ang iPod touch sa bag then plugged the earpiece on my ears para makinig ng music.
Do you recall, not long ago
We would walk on the sidewalk
Innocent, remember?
All we did was care for each other
But the night was warm
We were bold and young
All around the wind blows
We would only hold on to let go
The beat of this song makes me wanna go gaga dancing. I have this feeling na parang gusto kong lumabas uli and have a little fun but I have a lot of things to do. I have a case study to submit tomorrow. Gagamitin ko na lang tong mga party music to keep me awake the entire evening. I am starting to tap my feet on the floor then my head a bit swaying on the rhythm of the beat.
Blow a kiss, fire a gun
We need someone to lean on
Blow a kiss, fire a gun
All we need is somebody to lean on
I was about to put my hands up nang makita ko ang taong nasa harap ko. I immediately stopped myself from getting carried away by the music. Tiningnan ko ang taong nasa harapan ko. He is wearing glasses at nagbabasa ng libro. The Count of Monte Cristo. Alexander Dumas. Old school kid. He is reading a hardbound book kahit meron ng Kindle. Ang cute niyang tingnan so serious all eyes on the book. I was stunned when our eyes met. Para akong na magnet sa mga titig niya. He slowly lower down the book and there I saw him smirk.
"Oh crap!" mahinang bulong ko sa sarili then move away my gaze. Kakahiya. Halarang tinititigan ko yung tao. It's rude to stare. But wait, I remember this guy.
"Emme!" tawag ni Ken mula sa kakabukas lang na elevator. He's on his white shirt and kaki shorts habang naka tsinelas. He looks fresh. Kakaligo lang yata. I frowned.
"Where are you going?" tanong ko sa kanya. I removed my earplugs and stood up upang salubungin siya.
"I'm not going anywhere. Anong klaseng tanong yan?" he brushed off my frown with a laugh.
"Nothing," I answered. "Oh sige mag stairs na lang tayo," I suggested.
"What?!" he complained. "Don't you think we better make use of what technology could offer? Emme oh, elevator. Elevator meet Emme," pangungutya pa niya sa akin.
"Kenneth naman, I am not claustrophobic but my anxiety hitch up for the reason I don't know whenever I am inside that lift,"
"Lagi naman," he gave up. "Let's go," then we went through the stairs up to the 4th floor.
We were both sweating like a pig when we arrived is unit. I went to the kitchen para kumuha ng maiinom. I picked out a carton of milk from the fridge, opened the lid and poured the milk on my throat.
"Emme! Grab a glass will you!" he shouted when he saw me.
"Yeeees," I answered him on sing-song. Pero hindi ko naman sinunod. I heard his phone rang.
BINABASA MO ANG
Off Beat
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