Rendezvous in August (Astrology #1)

III

RIA 3

"Are you going to file a case against the guy?" Ryne asked as soon as I got back to our tent.

"Hindi na," I answered as I slumped myself on the folding, lounging chair.

I grabbed my bag and sighed.

Kinuha ko sa loob ng makeup pouch ko ang makeup remover. I put an ample amount of the remover on the cotton pad. I placed the pad on my right eye first to completely remove my thick eye makeup.

"E paano kapag balikan ka? Mukha pa namang walang sinasanto yung lalaking yon. Kung hindi ka pa pinalayo ni Sir Aries hindi pa kayo aawat."

I pushed myself from leaning. Tinanggal ko ang pad mula sa mata ko sabay pinanliitan siya ng mga mata.

"You didn't tell me about him." I accused.

Ryne's eyes widened. "I didn't know about him either! Ngayon lang, Rio. Kilala ko yung may-ari ng franchise ng Ford dahil nakakausap ko minsan pero hindi ang mga board of directors nito."

I smirked and then leaned on myself on the lounge chair again. I continue to do my thing while talking.

"Hindi pa ako nakapag pasalamat sa kanya," I mumbled.

"Ay ang kapal naman pala ng mukha mo, bakit hindi ka pa nakakapagpasalamat? Kung di dahil sa kanya malamang nasaktan ka na nung lalaking nang harass sa'yo."

Inirapan ko siya.

"Are you kidding me, Ryne? Baka ako pa nanakit doon sa lalaki."

Ryne chuckled. "This is why you don't have any boyfriends. You're so hot-headed and brave."

"I know right? Ayaw nila sa mga gaya ko because I'm too much to handle." Tawa ko rin.

But who cares anyway? Kaya ko naman ang sarili ko. Hindi naman ako pinalaking mahina ni Daddy. At a young age, he taught us self-defense. Enrolled us in Taekwondo classes every summer. It would be a waste not to put those into use.

After I finished wiping off my makeup, I stood up to change my top.

"MTS ka na?" Ryne asked when I finished changing.

I nodded. "Hindi ka pa ba sasabay sa akin?"

She shook her head. "Hindi na. I'll wait for Suzy so that I can talk to her about what happened earlier."

"Thanks, Ryne."

"Sigurado ka na hindi ka magsasampa ng reklamo?" Usisa n'ya.

"Hindi na. That would only be a hassle. I can handle myself naman."

Ryne let out an exasperated sigh.

"Ikaw bahala. Just report to me if you find anything suspicious, alam mo naman ang panahon ngayon."

"I doubt that'll happen. But okay, I will, Ryne."

Ngumisi si Ryne sa akin. "You are so confident about this, you know."

"My intuition tells me to be calm so..." I shrugged.

She chuckled. "O siya sige lumayas ka na. Baka ma traffic ka pa sa downtown, don't worry about me. Susunduin ako ni Krista."

"Okay, okay, bye!" Yumuko ako para maabot siya at ma-beso.

"Bye, ingat," she said.

I was humming a song that's been stuck inside my head since last week while walking when my eyes caught a familiar figure at the carpark.

Mukhang nakita n'ya rin ako kaya napatigil siya. I shyly wave at him. Really, Rio? Shy wave? Shy? Again?

"Hi," I greeted him with a smile. "Thank you nga pala kanina."