"Alam mo namang gusto ko nang magka-anak diba?"
"Hello to you, too."
"Cynth..."
"What? It's common courtesy to say hello when you see someone you know."
My pwet has not warmed the seat yet, pero I was already getting annoyed at him.
"Sorry... Hello, Cynth. Kamusta ka?"
Kamusta? Kamus... ta?! Fuck you, you asshole.
I just rolled my eyes in response, baka kasi if I open my moutu eh kung ano pa masabi ko sa kanya.
"Nakita mo ba yung picture?"
"I'm hungry. Hindi pa kasi ako nagla-lunch." I said as I perused the menu on the table.
"Cynth..."
"This tomato cream and shrimp pasta looks good. Ikaw, have you eaten na ba? What do you want to order?"
"Cynth..."
"Also! There's a Ginebra game pala here sa Araneta later. I saw when I walked by the ticket counter. Should we go watch? Diba your favorite player has come back from injury na? Si-
"Cynth, listen-
"Pau... Paul... Pol... Ugh! What's his name nga? Pao-
"Cynthia."
I quickly lifted my eyes to his face. He only calls me by my full name when he has not so nice news for me.
"Nag-apply ako sa ibang university."
"I'll stay with my tita sa LA for a year."
"I need a break..."
"... from you,"
"... from us."
"Nakita mo na ba yung pic-
"Paulit-ulit talaga that question?"
"Hindi mo ko sinagot kanina. You know what, ang labo mo talaga."
"I'm malabo? Me? Wow ha. Wow."
"What are you trying to say? Ako ang malabo?"
"Don't go putting words in my mouth. But, what do they say nga? If the shoe fits..."
"That's what you were implying naman diba? Wag na nga tayong maglokohan, Cynth."
I was shocked by his callous words. Ready na sana akong makipag-away pero I wasn't raised to hit someone... in public.
"Lokohan?" I calmly started. "Is this what this is? Ha? We're just fooling around ba?"
"Cynth naman..."
"You know what... Restart. Restart. I love you. You know that, right?. And yes, I've seen the fucking photo of you and that bitch. But I forgive you, because kahit nakakainis ka, I love you."
Sisingit sana siya, but I gave him the look when I don't want to be interrupted. He promptly kept his mouth shut, pero kumunot ang noo niya.