San Francisco

Chapter 8

"Hey," I greeted James as I walk into the kitchen and found him eating by himself. "Nasa'n si Mama?" I looked around trying to find her.

"She excused herself. May pupuntahan daw siya."

"Oh," tanging nasabi ko at naupo na. Meron ring nakahain na pagkain para sa 'kin kaya naman sinimulan ko nang kumain. I noticed it was too quiet in here and there's an awkward atmosphere kaya nag-isip ako ng excuse para umalis muna sandali at i-refresh ang sarili ko.

"Um, wait lang James, ha. I'll just call Ate Trisha," I told him, ready to stand up.

"You told me earlier she's not here," James said as he continue eating. "That's why your mom cooked for us, right?" he looks in my eyes and I stay frozen in my seat.

Not because he just caught me lying. Not because I forgot that I told him that. But it's his eyes that's locked with mine. His power is overwhelming that I can't take my eyes off of him. And just like earlier, memories of us came flooding back my mind.

"Anyway, it's just the two of us here. Eat up habang may pogi ka pang kasabay," and he almost killed me with his wink.

I cleared my throat and continued eating. "Hindi ka natatakot?"

He stops eating and looks at me. "Natatakot saan?" he had a straight face like he always has when he seemed serious.

"Sa mga pinagsasabi mo."

He laughs and shakes his head. "Why? It's true though," depensa niya.

"Na pogi ka? Wow, Mr. Reid," sabi ko at sabay kaming natawa.

I miss us being like this. I miss us.

Pagkatapos ng tawanan ay bumalik na naman ang katahimikan. Sa takot na maging awkward ulit kami, nag-isip ako ng sasabihin sa kanya.

"Um, sa'n nga daw pala lakad ni Mama? Did she tell you?" tanong ko.

He furrowed his brows as if he's trying to remember something. "Oh, that's right. She went to...Karla? Am I right? Karla?"

Nagulat naman ako sa sagot niya. Anong plano ni Mama? I haven't even told her about the incident with Tito Rommel. "Y-yeah...si Tita Karla..."

"Why? Is anything wrong?" asked James. "Kath?"

I looked at him and his eyes with the look of concern. I shake my head and say, "Nothing. I'm just...worried," I sigh.

"About what?"

I look at him again and saw the sincerity in his eyes, that he was willing to listen whatever it is. After all, that's how James has always been with me. He's caring, understanding, and he's always by my side whenever I needed him.

I sighed again. "Well, it's about Tito Rommel, DJ's dad. I'm just worried about him."

"Oh, yeah. Narinig ko nga sabi mo kanina," said James. "Don't worry. I'm sure he's going to be fine. I heard Padillas are quite tough," he smiled at me and I smiled back.

"You're right. DJ has always been tough," sabi ko, inaalala lahat ng mga pagkakataon na naging matatag si Daniel hindi lang para sa sarili niya kundi para sa pamilya niya at sa mga taong nakapaligid sa kanya, which of course includes me. He's one tough guy.

"So...how're you guys doing, anyway?" tanong ni James nang magsimula ulit akong kumain.

I looked at him and gave a what-do-you-mean kind of look.

"I mean you and DJ. How are you doing?"

Mental block.

Para bang biglang hindi ko kilala sina 'you and DJ'. Sobra yata akong nabigla sa tanong niya at wala talagang pumapasok sa isip ko ngayon.