His Way To Sainthood

Ang Medyo Mahabang Tampuhan ng Taon

(A/N: This is not fluff.)

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Okay naman 'yung relationship sa work after. Ika nga, what happened in Boracay stays in Boracay except sa hindi kami sa Boracay nagpunta at parang hindi nakalimot itong si Kevin. Naii-stress ako because I'd occasionally catch him staring at me tapos kapag napatingin din ako sa kanya, hindi sya iiwas ng tingin. Lalo pa nya akong tititigan and worse, kikindatan na parang interested ako sa kanya talaga and he's more than willing to return that interest.

Hello, hindi ako pedophile ah. Yeah, he's cute and all, pero ang loyal ko lang kasi talaga, eh. Tsaka hindi ko ipagpapalit si Richard para sa totoy na 'to, ah. May isang junior na 'ko. Ayaw ko nang dagdagan ng isang literal na junior ko sa trabaho. Wala akong time makipagharutan sa mga bata.

I rolled my eyes for the nth time when Kevin approached me while I tried to get coffee for myself.

"Strawberry or lemon?" Tinaasan ko lang sya ng kilay kasi hindi ko alam kung anong pinagsasasabi nya. "Pili ka."

"Strawberry," tipid kong sagot.sa kanya para matapos na. Tapos kinuha nya 'yung kamay ko at binigyan ako ng candy. Kinindatan nya ulit ako. "Masakit ba mata mo, Kevin?" Mataray kong sabi. "Kanina pa parang may diperensya 'yang mata mo. Patingin ka, baka katarata na 'yan."

I walked back to my desk. Nakakairita lang kasi a part of me wanted to scream that I'm dating Richard, my co-worker, para clear sa office na hindi ako available. Actually, kay Kevin ko lang gusto paulit-ulitin. Maputi rin si Kevin, mas matangkad sa akin, naka-braces. Singkit. The usual baby face na gusto mong ipaghanap ng tsupon kasi sobrang bata ng mukha. Hindi ba nya nare-realize na papasa akong Tita nya? Charot.

Wala namang reaction si Richard. Mas matinik pa nga si Kei dahil everytime na madadaanan ko sya, ngingitian nya pa ako na parang may alam sya. Hello, momshie. You don't know the details of my majestic experience at never kong ikukwento sa'yo.

It went on for the whole day. I've had enough of cocky second-leads sa mga nababasa ko so I don't need one in my life, okay?!

"Ate –"

I stopped abruptly and faced him. "I'm going out with someone, okay?! Pwede tigilan mo na ang panti-trip sa akin?!"

He playfully tilted his head to the right and stared at me. "Sino?"

"Ano?"

"Sino 'yung dine-date mo?"

Natigilan ako at hindi ako nakasagot agad. "I have the right to keep my personal matters to myself, Kevin." I tried to stay composed.

"A simple question obviously threw you off," he said. "Until you give me his name, age, and job, that man you're dating is fictional to me. You're still gonna be available, Ate," Kevin winked at me. Ang sarap tusukin ng heels talaga. "Hindi kita titiglan. See you bukas!"

Nakakabwisit talaga. When I got home, nabasa ko 'yung text ni Richard na susunduin nya raw ako para sabay kaming magdinner so I quickly fixed myself. Masaya naman ako sa ganitong set-up. 'Yung parang kahit simpleng 'Dinner tayo, puntahan kita.' na text, tuwang-tuwa na ako. Ano ba 'yan, napaghahalataang NBSB ako. Itago na lang natin 'yung pagkabano ko as a person na may kalandian, ha.

We dined at the nearest restaurant to my place (na never kong nakainan kasi crowded sya with couples and families, usually, and I think it's not the best place to eat alone). We talked smoothly, at sabihan nyo na akong weird or anything pero sobrang nag-eenjoy ako sa ganito. Para kasing kung mag-usap kami, ang tagal na naming magkakilala. I like the small connection we had there.

"Have you been to many places?" I asked. "Before entering the seminary, I mean." Taong bahay kasi ako, eh.

"Dati, nu'ng nagmamanage pa ako ng family business."