Faith's mouth went agape. Did Raf just introduced her as his girlfriend? Tiningnan niya ito at ngingiti-ngiti lamang ito sa kanya. Mukhang gustong-gusto pa nito ang sinabi. Bumaling ang tingin niya sa mga kaibigan ni Raf at mukhang paniwalang-paniwala naman ang mga ito. Isa-isa ring nakipagkamayan ang mga ito sa kanya.
Unang nakipagkamay si Steven. Sumunod si Abe at panghuli si Mark. Halos ayaw pa ngang bitawan ni Mark ang kamay niya kung hindi lang ito sinaway ni Steve. Binatukan din ito ni Abe. Natawa na lang silang pareho ni Raf.
Muli niyang pinasadahan ng tingin ang tatlo. They are all good-looking. Steven looks like the silent-type while Mark has that playboy look. And she finds Abe cute, marahil ay dahil sa maliliit nitong mga nunal sa pisngi.
Raf motioned her to sit down beside him but she ended up sitting on the edge of the bench.
"Bakit ang layo mo kay Raf, Faith?" pangpupuna ni Abe.
Raf looked at the space between them.
"She's just shy," pagrarason ni Raf saka tiningnan siya nito. His eyes looked like they were pleading at her. Parang sinasabi ng mga mata nito na sakyan na lang niya kung ano man itong trip ni Raf. She just let out a small sigh.
"Baka mabaho ka lang, pare." biro ni Mark.
Ngumiti na lamang siya nang magsitawanan ang mga ito. She took a glance at Raf. He has that huge smile plastered on his face. And no, hindi ito mabaho. She could still smell his cologne kahit pawisan na ito. Namumula rin ang balat nito dulot ng matinding sikat ng araw.
"Pwede siguro natin siyang maging muse para sa tactical ispection," Steven stated, looking directly at her.
Nagtaka naman siya sa sinabi nito. She has no idea about that tactical inspection thing.
"No, she can't. She's not taking ROTC," sagot naman ni Raf.
"Aw, sayang. Ang ganda pa naman ni Faith. Bagay talaga sana siyang maging muse," ani Abe.
Hindi na lamang siya sumabad sa usapan at nakinig na lang para mas maintindihan niya.
"Pwede naman siguro kahit hindi ROTC member. Muse lang naman, e. CWTS ba kinuha mo, Faith?" tanong sa kanya ni Mark.
Marahan siyang tumango. Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit parang ayaw bumuka ng bibig niya.
"It's up to the officers if they would allow. As I know, they don't." Raf said.
"Baka ayaw mo lang siyang sumali, Raf. Takot kang ma-type-an siya ng iba, noh?" may halong panunuksong wika ni Abe.
Raf only chuckled and looked at her. She let out a small smile.
"Don't be so possessive, dude!" sabad ni Steven.
"Why can't I? She's my girlfriend." Raf said, emphasizing the last word.
Uminit naman ang pisngi niya sa sinabi nito. So, talagang pinaninindigan ni Raf na girlfriend nga siya nito.
"Grabe, hindi ko alam ganyan ka pala magmahal, 'tol." tinapik-tapik pa ni Mark ang balikat ni Raf.
Ngumisi naman si Raf habang si Faith ay halos malugmok sa kinauupuan sa sobrang pamumula ng mukha. Mabuti na lang at hindi niya itinali ang kanyang buhok. Kahit paano'y natatakpan nito ang pisngi niya.
"Just keep an eye on her, Raf." Abe warned.
"I'm always keeping my eyes on her."
Faith looked at Raf as he said that.
~~
They didn't talk after they bade goodbye to his friends. Though she was already itching to ask Raf on why he introduced her as his girlfriend but she can barely open her mouth. She was still dumbfounded. She wasn't actually expecting to be introduced that way.
