Walang ideya si Lena kung paanong nasaktuhan ni Cyrus ang pag-alis niya. She's been planning this even before Hong Kong pero ngayon lamang niya naituloy. The original plan was to bring Cyrus along but after the kiss, well, she figured that it's better if she'll go alone.
Who'd have thought na 'yong original plan din pala ang masusunod?
She couldn't see his eyes because he's wearing sunglasses, but he seemed to be looking at her like she was a thief caught red-handed. Naghihintay ito ng sagot niya sa tanong nito kanina. Siya naman ay napatunganga lamang dito.
He's wearing a simple white shirt, a pair of shorts, chucks, and sunglasses. Ang buhok nito ay nakapaipalim sa isang cap na baliktad ang pagkakasuot. He looked like a boy and a man at the same time. Boyish 'yong aura pero manly 'yong physique, a combination that is very hard to ignore. She suddenly felt frumpy in her ripped black jeans and black long-sleeved shirt.
"Well?"
"U-Uhm..." She fumbled with her keys. "Yeah," mahina niyang sagot.
Akala niya ay magagalit ito kasi hindi siya nagpaalam dito at hindi niya ito inimbitang samahan siya. But instead, he opened the door of the passenger's seat and gestured her to hop in.
"Samahan na kita," nakangiti nitong sabi.
Hindi siya makatanggi dahil una, ang ganda ng ngiti nito; pangalawa, baka magtampo ito kapag hindi pinagbigyan; pangatlo, mas convenient para sa kanya ang may sasakyan; at panghuli, there's really no logical reason to say no. Kung hihindi man siya, iyon ay dahil hindi siya mapakaling sila lamang dalawa ang magkasama. It's hard to explain, even to herself. He's the uncharted territory her comfort zone didn't prepare her for.
Pagkasakay nila ay agad nitong pinaandar ang sasakyan. She put her backpack on her lap after buckling the seatbelt.
"Where to?"
"Antipolo."
"You planned on going there alone? Mabuti na lang pala naabutan kita."
She didn't comment. Inilabad niya ang phone at saka naglaro ng games, hinihiling na sana ay hindi siya nito kausapin. But he's in a really good mood so that's not possible.
"Anong pupuntahan mo do'n?" tanong nito.
"'Yong museum," she answered without looking up.
"Ah. Pinto Art Gallery?" When she nodded, he said, " Great! I really want to visit that place."
Yeah. Great.
"Kumain ka na ba? Breakfast muna tayo," aya nito.
Pumayag na lamang siya kesa sabihing kumain na siya ng leftover pizza. She had pizza for dinner last night. Cyrus doesn't like it when she eats too much pizza. Unfortunately, kaya niyang makatagal na pizza lamang ang kinakain sa maghapon. Yeah, no need to mention that to him.
They stopped by an eatery on their way to Antipolo, Kainan Ni Aling Nena. Kulay dilaw at pula ang sign, kagaya ng pintura ng mga dingding. Kulay pula rin ang mga plastic tables and chairs. Akala niya ay nagbibiro lamang si Cyrus nang tumigil ito sa tapat noon. Not that she doesn't like the place, but she just can't imagine him eating there.
But he went right in and told her to get a table while he order. Bumili ito ng lumpiang shanghai, lumpiang ubod, at dalawang order ng tapsilog. Tapos ang kape nila, 'yong three-in-one.
"Masarap ang tapa nila dito," he told her. Inilapit nito sa kanya ang isang pinggan na may lamang fried rice na may itlog sa ibabaw tapos ay nakapalibot sa kanin 'yong tapa. The smell reached her nose and she instantly salivated.
