It Might Be You

10

Maria Selena Ocampo

I woke up just in time for breakfast. Naabutan ko pang naghahain si kuya Cholo.

Grabe si kuya Cholo. Napaka-responsible. And he's so family-oriented. Sobrang sipag, not only in his studies but also in house chores. I wish I had his enthusiasm to work too.

Makes me wonder kung sino ang maswerteng babaeng mamahalin ni kuya, or kung meron man na.

He noticed me at agad ako binati. "Breakfast?" He smiled.

Well, kuya has the looks. And the height of a PBA player. I think requirement din naman yun sa trabaho niya.

Tinanguan ko lang siya at naupo na sa lamesa. "Sila Mama?" I asked. Kasi dalawang plato lang yung naka-hain.

"Maagang umalis. Nag-market," he said at naupo na sa may harap ko.

"Yung dalawa?" I asked as I started placing food on my plate.

He shrugged. "Tulog pa." Tapos sumubo siya. "Ah gusto mong kape?"

Agad siyang tumayo at pumunta sa may kusina para ipag-handa ako ng kape.

Hindi nalang ako umangal because I like taking coffee kapag nandito sa bahay. Tapos pandesal lang at pang-umagahan na palaman.

Siguro dahil na din malamig dito kaya gusto ko magkape.

He came back and placed a cup of coffee on the table.

I don't know what got into me, but it was late before I realized that I was already smiling at the cup of coffee as I remember Lucian and what he did the first time I went to his café.

"In love na sa kape?" Nadinig kong asar ni kuya Cholo kaya napa-iling nalang ako at napatuon sa kanya.

"Ha?" Absent-minded kong tanong. "Hindi. Lupet lang nung usok, kitang-kita," depensa ko.

Tumawa lang siya saka uli sumubo ng pagkain. "The last time I was that off, in love ako," nginisian niya ako and I think I'm getting where this conversation is heading.

Tinaasan ko lang siya ng kilay para ituloy niya yung sasabihin niya. But instead, tinaasan niya lang din ako ng kilay as if telling me that I already know what he's talking about.

I just shook my head dahil ayokong ako ang mapag-usapan namin. So I used what he said para siya ang maging topic namin.

"And then what happened?"

Natigilan siya sa tanong ko but easily recovered and shrugged. "Bokya," he laughed.

I think I do remember that. First time manligaw ni kuya, tapos basted. All because ayaw nung girl ng laking probinsya. Anong problema niya sa mga laking probinsya ha? So ayaw niya din sa sarili niya? Baliw pala siya eh.

"Ngayon?" Tanong ko. "May bago ka na?"

"Wala," he frowned in disapproval. "Walang nagpaparamdam eh."

Tunawa kami pareho. "Kapal mo din 'no. Aantayin mo pa talagang babae ang magparamdam, my god. You'll be staying single forever sa inaasta mo."

He wrinkled his nose and pouted his lips. "Ikaw, hindi uso sa'yo joke 'no?" Tapos sumimangot siya. "Maybe it's you who'll be staying single forever sa inaasta mo. Masyado kang serious!"

I smugly raised my eyebrow at him. "Hoy, excuse me--"

"What? Hindi totoo?" Hamon niya. "Bakit? May nagpaparamdam na ba?" Ngisi niya pa.

I winced. I remember saying before na buti pa si kuya Cholo, hindi ako inaaway. Now I don't know why I even said that.

"Alam mo, ang aga-aga nambubwisit ka," pinaningkitan ko siya.