10:57 PM.
I looked at the vehicles in front of me. Apparently, yung kotseng kaharap ko 30 minutes ago, yun pa rin ang nasa harap ko ngayon. Sobrang traffic. I’ve been waiting for a taxi kanina pa, pero yung mga pinara ko, may laman na. Kanina pa ako naghihintay ng ibang taxi, pero hindi na gumalaw yung mga sasakyan.
I sighed and stood up from the bench. Nagsimula na namang bumuhos ang ulan. Tonight, is one of those nights na feeling ko nag-iisa lang talaga ako sa mundo. Kung nandito lang sana ang pamilya ko…
I hugged myself as the wind brushed my skin. Buti nalang nasa waiting shed ako, kahit papaano, di ako mababasa ng ulan, pero yung ginaw, parang di ko kakayanin. Wala pa naman akong kasama. Solong solo ko ang buong waiting shed.
I sighed as sat back on the concrete bench. I got my phone from my bag and plugged my earphones unto my ear. I closed my eyes as I tapped my lap along with the beat of the music.
“Excuse me miss.” I heard someone say.
I opened my eyes and unplugged my earphones, before looking up to the person who spoke. My jaw dropped. A Tiger.
“Ye-yes?” I mumbled.
He smiled at me. “Pwedeng tumabi?”
I smiled awkwardly and nodded. “Su-sure.”
Ang awkward.
“Ba’t nandito ka pa?” he asked. “Gabi na ah, ba’t di ka nagpa-sundo sa driver mo?”
This is the first time na kasama ko ang lalaking to. Ang lalaking kinalolo-kohan ng maraming babae sa loob at labas ng UST. The rookie. Si Jeric Teng.
I looked at him. Just when I realized, he was already looking at me.
“Ahh, kasi.. may tinapos kaming thesis ng groupmate ko.” I said, and looked away. “Tapos nagka-emergency sa family nung driver namin.”
Now I know kung bakit sinasabi ng iba na chickboy siya. He just talks to strangers, as if he knows them. Tulad ngayon, for sure, hindi naman niya ako kilala, pero kinakausap niya ako.
There was a long silence. Awkward ulit.
“I-ikaw?” I managed to ask. “Ba’t nandito ka pa?”
I heard him chuckle. I shifted my gaze to him. This time, hindi ko na naalis ang tingin ko. My eyes were glued to his.
“Actually, sa bahay sana ang uwi ko ngayon.” He said and pointed to the road. “Kaso ayan, ang traffic.”
I shifted my gaze to the road. Dahan dahan na ring umandar yung mga kotse.
“Umaandar na yung mga kotse oh.” I said. “Bumalik ka na dun, baka maka-traffic ka pa.”
I felt worried. Sa dami ba namang sasakyan sa harap namin, for sure, marami ang nakakakita sa amin na magkasama. Baka machismis pa kami nito.
He looked at me once again then chuckled. “Wala na, naka-alis na.”
I looked at him intently. “Ha?”
He smiled. “Yung nasa harap mo kanina pa, it was our family car.”
“Pina-uwi ko nalang yung driver, sa dorm nalang siguro ako matutulog.” He continued.
“Ah.” I mumbled as I focused my sight back on the road.
I need to find a cab by now. Mamamatay yata ako sa awkward. For sure a lot of girls would kill, para lang mapunta sa situation ko ngayon. Pero, I’m just not that type of person na kayang mag-stay sa isang lugar, with a stranger.
Well perhaps, di naman siya stranger para sa akin. I know him. I know him by his looks and by his name, pati na rin ang pagiging member niya ng Tigers. Pero hanggang dun lang. He’s still a total stranger to me. And on his part, mas lalong isang stranger lang ako. That’s for sure.
I stood up at pinara yung taxing dumaan, pero hindi naman nag-stop. I sighed in frustration.
“I think it would be hard for you to get a cab by now.” Bigla niyang sabi.
I turned by back to look at him, kaso, my face hit something. I just realized it was his chest. I moved back in embarrassment.
“Sorry.” I mumbled.
He chuckled. “Kanina pa ako nag-sasalita, I haven’t even introduced myself to you.”
“I’m Jeric.” He said as he handed his hand.
I looked at him weirdly. Why is he introducing himself? Kilala ko na naman siya.
“A Tiger. I know you.” I said and shook his hand. “I’m Annika.”
He smiled. “I know.”
Did I hear him right? Alam niya ang pangalan ko?
“You know me?” I asked.
Naka-ngiti pa rin siya sa akin. “Matagal na.”
Kumunot ang noo ko. How?
“Not all strangers are strangers.” He said as he looked at me intently. “Sometimes, it’s just better to know a person from a far. In that way, you have to risk nothing.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“It’s just hard to accept rejection. Kaya nga pinipili ng iba na maging stranger nalang sa isang tao.” He explained. “In that way, walang mawawala, walang masisira.”
“Jeric, I don’t get you..” I said.
He held my hand and looked at me intently. “Annika Gutierrez..”
My eyes widened. He knows my family name as well. How?
“Dati, I chose to be just a stranger in your life.” he said. “Matagal na kitang kilala Annika. I know you since we’re 15, but I chose to remain as a stranger to you. Natakot akong ma-reject. I was afraid to risk.”
“Not until that time my car got stuck on a heavy traffic.” He continued. “My gaze was shifted to this waiting shed, and I saw you.”
“Now, I don’t want to be just that person who will know you from afar.” He said as he looked at my eyes. “Ayoko ng maging stranger sa’yo.”
“I want to be someone you’ll consider as a friend” he continued then chuckled. “Friend lang muna ngayon.. pero liligawan din kita, soon.”
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Harrow!!! This is the side story of Jeric and Annika. Hihihi One shot lang to, but I think may dagdag pa LOL. Pero pag-iispan ko pa yan. Anyway, sarreh kung ganyan yan. hahaha iba yung nasa isip ko, pero yan yung nasulat eh.
