GENTLEMAN Series 9: David Tyndale

Chapter Seven

He made his promise. He was like a real tour guide, touring her around. The city's was like a magazine featured with so much attractions. And she was glad that she has her feet in here.

Paris also known as City of Love. Nakakatawa na sa buong buhay niya ay ngayon lang siya tumapak dito.

"Don't you think your too old to have a scrapbook?" David was looking at the center table sa loob ng apartment niya dito sa Florida. It's his day to visit her. David was living with his parents.

She just rolled her eyes. "What's wrong for having a scrapbook? Gusto ko lang naman isave ang mga photographs ng mga adventures ko." She just said.

He handed her the glue and she paste the remaining photos in the blank page. She went in Hawaii last month. Galing siya doon dahil may school tour sila. "Some girls like you are opted to share their photos in social media."

Tumango siya. She agreed. Iyong iba, kahit yung daily routine nila ay nakapost sa facebook or instagram. "Well, ibahin mo ako sa kanila. Hindi ako kagaya nila. Mas gusto kong nakakahawakan ang mga pictures ko kesa ipost at makita lang mga mema.."

Nagsalubong na naman ang kilay nito. "Your talking like that again. Don't you want to be more feminine?" He was referring her last word. Mema as in mema-sabi lang.

She tsked. "Alam mo ikaw.. Hindi ko alam kung saan ka ba dapat, kuya ko, ate ko o tatay ko? You're so strict! It's just a word David. People used to it!" She exclaimed.

His face became serious. "Words will mean everything. Words will mean a lot of reasons. And words always mean it."

Napabugtong hininga na lamang siya. David was always like this. "So kapag sinabi mong maganda ako ibig sabihin maganda talaga ko sa paningin mo?" Sinusubukan lang niya ito. Kahit kailan ay hindi siya nito sinabihan ng maganda. Palagi lang nitong sinasabi sa kanya. Na okay ang ayos niya. Na sakto lang.

"You're always be beautiful." Sandaling natigilan siya. Ito ang unang pagkakataon na sinabihan siya nito ng ganoon. "And i mean it."

Napalunok siya dahil doon. David was like her real brother. Dugo lang ang nagkakaiba sa kanila. She grew up with him. Nasanay siya na lagi niya itong kasama dahil ipinagkatiwala siya ng kuya niya dito.

Bago pa man siya makapagsalita ulit. Napatingin ito sa mga magazines na nasa harapan nila. She cut some pictures there and she paste it to the blank paper. "Paris.." He whispered. "Gusto mong makarating d'yan?" Tanong nito.

She nodded. "Someday i will bring you there. Hold on that cheesecake."

They're sitting in the corner of the café. Champ de mars was like a genuine paradise. Naguumpisa nang lumubog ang araw. And the three hundred twenty four metres or one thousand sixty three feet tower are romantically lighted with sweet fine yellow colours of light.

The whole avenues was providing the sweet lights coming from the tower with the same height as an eighty one storey building. She savour her croissant at saka tinanaw ang buong siyudad. Dati panaginip lang ito. But now, she's really here. Hindi niya pinalampas ang bawat minuto na hindi niya nakukunan ang Eiffel Tower. Noon, nagkakasya lang siya sa keychain na itsurang Eiffel Tower.

Nakangiti siyang napaharap kay David na nakatingin pala sa kanya. "W-What?" Aniya. Naiilang siya na nakangiti ito s akanya.

"You're happy." He said.

"Isn't obvious?" Mataray natanong niya. Hindi naman niya gustong palaging tinatarayan ito. But he annoyed her sometimes.

Nagyuko ito ng ulo bago muling tumingin sa kanya. He looked hurt. At nagiguilty siya. "Can we forget what happened in the past? I mean kalimutan muna natin while we were here?"

Is he giving her a truce? Magpapanggap silang okay ngayon at pagkatapos babalik na naman sila sa dati? Old playing tricks for kids.

"Can we a least enjoy our stay here just like before? Noong di ka pa galit sa'akin." She don't know what to say. "Namimiss ko na 'yon."

Napalunok siya. Siya din naman, namimiss na niyang nakulitan ito. Katawanan at kabiruan. Namimiss na niya iyong mga dati nilang ginagawa. At namimiss na niya ito.

Wala sa sariling napatango siya. David wasn't really bad. Sadyang may mga bagay lang na nagbabago sa paglipas ng panahon.

And having an agreement with him wasn't seem so bad at all.

To be continued...