“San ka galing?” Lauren asked when he entered the restaurant.
"Wala. I forgot something sa condo." he replied. He sat next to Clara and they waited for their orders.
"I was surprised to see her here. Infairness. She looked really pretty." Lauren said. Hindi naman kumibo si Elmo. His mind’s still wandering. Di niya talaga matanggap na may iba nang nagpapasaya kay Julie. And the worst part is, mukhang mas masaya siyang kasama iyon kaysa nung sila pa. She became prettier. Di niya nga alam kung ganda pa ba ng tao yun or if he was looking at a goddess. She looked happy and stress-free. She looked fresh. Looked 100x better than when they were together.
"Kuya!" he was awaken from stupor when he heard his sister.
"W-what?" he asked.
"Sabi ko, the food’s here. Let’s eat." Clara said. Tumingin siya sa table and sure enough andun na nga ang orders nila.
"Uhm… I’m not hungry. Pwede bang take-out niyo na lang yan? I don’t feel so good."
"No. Mom will come anytime soon. So let’s just eat here."
"Yeah, hon. Dito na lang tayo kumain." wala naman na siyang nagawa kundi ang sumunod na lang.
*****
"Guys, let’s watch a movie. I bought tickets na." masiglang sabi ni Pia.
"Sure tita." Lauren replied.
"Son, why the long face?"
"He’s not feeling well, mom. I think masakit ang ulo niya."
"Oh. If you like, we can skip the movie naman. Para makapag rest ka."
"No, mom. It’s okay. Sayang ticket eh." tumango na lang si Pia. Si Lauren naman tinignan lang siya, worry in her eyes.
After nila sa restaurant ay naglakad na sila papunta sa cinema. He was distancing himself from them dahil may hinahanap-hanap ang mata niya. Di niya alam kung bakit. Pero parang automatic na nililibot niya yung mga mata niya sa mall. Expecting to see the girl he still loves.
They were waiting for Clara dahil ito ang nagvolunteer bumili ng popcorn nang may kawayan si Pia.
"Hey there!" bati nito.
"Hi, tita. How are you po?" sabi nito sabay beso sa kanya.
"I’m good. Ikaw? Are you alone?" she asked.
"I’m okay tita. May kasama po ako. Haha."
"Date?" pang-aasar nito. "Who is she?"
"Uhm… you’ll meet her po. Nasa cr lang."
"Oh okay! I’m excited to meet her."
"Moe, pare." sabi nito sa kanya dahil iniiwasan niya ito. He looked up at saka tumango.
"Enrique." bati niya. They did their handshake at saka pa nakipagkwentuhan si Enrique sa kanila.
"Quen, have you seen my phone? Wala dito…" natigilan naman ang dalaga nang makita kung sino ang kasama ng kaibigan.
"Julie!" gulat na sabi ni Pia.
"Uhm… H-hi Ms. Pia." she said.
"You were saying, Jules?" tanong ni Enrique.
"Ha? Y-yung phone ko. Wala sa bag ko eh." sabi niya.
"Ulyanin ka na talaga. Inabot mo saken diba? Kasi baka tumawag si tito eh nasa cr ka. Haha." Enrique replied and handed her phone back.
"Hahaha. Sorry. Nakalimutan ko." she said.
"So are you guys, watching the movie?" Pia asked, di pa din makapaniwala na magkasama si Enrique at Julie.
