YMMR V:
"You're 15 minutes late." prente itong nakaupo habang nakacross-legs at tiningnan ang kanyang relo.
"I-I know." hinihingal kong sagot. Isinandal ko ang isang kamay ko sa pader at napahawak sa aking dibdib. Grabe! Nakakapagod tumakbo!
"You're late and you didn't even comb your hair. Don't tell me you didn't bathe?" di makapaniwalang tanong nito.
"Teka lang" itinaas ko ang kamay at itinapat sa kaniya.
"Huwag ka munang manermon!" umupo ako sa upuan kaharap niya at uminom sa dinala kong tubig. Walang emosyon niya akong pinagmasdan.
I composed myself at magsasalita na when he cut me off.
"Don't..."pigil nito. Itinikom ko ang bibig ko at napakunotnoo. "Comb your distracting hair first."
Kinapa ko ang suklay ko sa aking backpack at sinuklay ang buhok ko ng madalian. Arte naman ng taong 'to! Parang magulo lang yung buhok e! Ikaw ba naman magising ng late. Nawalan tuloy ako ng time magsuklay ng maayos kanina kamamadali.
"Okay na?Happy?"
"Better" he nods. "Now explain why you are late."
"I woke up late." Nag'tsk' ito at umiling iling.
"Why?"
"Huh?"
"Why did you woke up late?"
"I just overslept." I explained blandly. Ka-urat to!
So nosy.
"What did you say?"
"I overslept!" I said in a louder voice.
"No, the last one." kunot noo nitong sabi.
Oops. Mukang lumabas pa sa bibig ko ang iniisip ko.
"Nothing."
"You said something!" pamimilit nito. Biglang sumulpot ang librarian at sinuway kami.
"Ikaw kasi!" I glared at him with a shout-hissed tone.
Ngumisi lang ito, tapos biglang kumunot ang noo habang itinuro ang mukha ko.
"What happened to your eyes?" Tanong na naman nito kaya inirapan ko,yung pinakamataray ko ng irap. He raise his hands in a silent surrender. Good.
Maya-maya ay inayos nito ang upuan at pinaharap, he started tapping the table with his index finger, "Back to business." Biglang sumeryoso ang mukha niya at kinabahan?
I was silent for a while at bumuntong hininga.
"The thing is..." he started. I stared at him with an expecting look. Pa-thrill din tong isang 'to e! "...I need a date." Bumuntong hininga ito.
"A what?" Tanong ko, kahit narinig ko naman, pero nagulat lang ako at gusto kong manigurado.
Inirapan niya ako. "I said I need...a date," ulit nito sa mas mahinang boses
Pinagkrus ko ang aking mga kamay sa'king dibdib. "Why me?"
Napaangat ito ng tingin at binigyan ako ng weird at questinoong look. I felt my cheeks heat up, "I didn't mean..You..Bakit ako.." I exhaled "Why are you consulting me for a d-date? I d-didn't mean it like that."
"Because.. I don't know anyone else I'll ask, you're the only person I know I can ask for help. Last month I was enjoying my training, then my father suddenly appeared and sent me here for school, I lived without him for eihgt fucking years." he suddenly bursted. Nawala ang frustration ko at naawa, wala akong masabi, sinilip ko ang mukha nito, nakayuko naa kasi ito at akala ko umiiyak. Hindi pa naman ako magaling sa pagco-comfort.
Tumaayo ako sa tabi niya at hahawakan na sana ang likod niya at ico-comfort ngunit bigla itong umangat kaya napaayos ako ng tayo
"So..uhh" I trailed awkwardly at kinamot ang kamay ko.
"I'm sorry for that," kalma na nitong sabi. "I-I need a date for a party, can you help me find one?" Nahihiya nitong tugon.
"O-okay"
Umupo ulit ako at tiningnan siya ng matalim.
"What?" Nagtataka nitong tanong.
Nanatiling ganon ang tingin ko at maya-maya ay nageta niya rin ito.
"Okay, in exchannge. I'll pay you." Ngumiwi ako.
"I don't ned your money!"
"Then you decide." I smiled.
"You'll do me two favors, pero hindi ko muna sasabihin ngayon, I'll save it for later. Don't worry, I know the limits." Nakangiti kong sabi, he should start preparing. He shrugged nonchalantly. Ngiting-tagumpay ang ibinigay ko rito. Pinagdikit ko ang thumb at index finger ko forming a circle, "Ok, sounds like a deal."
Tumayo ako at pumunta sa section ng mga junior projects. Dito yung section ng library kung saan idini-display yung mga projects at last year, gumawa kami ng class testimonials. Kinuha ko yung kay Venice, ang pinkaartistic sa klase namin.
Pagkaupo sa harap ni JK ay ibinigay ko iyon sa kaniya.
"What's this?" Kunot-noo nong tanong.
"Tae ng kalabaw," sagot ko tapos umirap. "That's a booklet."
He stared at me blandly, "I know what that is, what's in it?"
"Atat ka kasi e. Maghintay ka."
Lumipat ako sa tabi niya at binuksan ang booklet.
"I have high standards, Ms. Bernardo."
Inilabas ko ang isang notebook at ballpen mula sa bag ko, "Ew.. I don't recall the surenwme-basis in the deal." Naiirita kong sabi, "Speaking of standards, what's your ideal girl?"
"Uhh.. Well, she has to be simple but hot at the same time, smart, and.." tumingin ito sakin "neat..not a girl who spits strangers" he gave me a diagusted look.
Inirappan ko ito at uminit ang pisngi ko ng maalala ang locker incident.
"Shut up, JK!" Pareho kaming natigilan sa sinabi ko. "I mean J-Jungkook.. You're name is so weird!" I snapped, kunwari ay naiinis ako. This is soo awkward. Talagang pinanindigan mo ang nickname mo sa kaniya Kath, ah.
A grin formed on his lips, "You just gave me a nickname." Parang bata nitong sabi. "From now on I'm gonna call you KC!" tawa nito. Muli na namang sumulpot ang libtarian, "Last warning, you two."
@thezelien
