Photograph • Benjamin Pangilinan

chapter ii

Benjamin

We are currently on our way to Starbucks, kasama ko si Hannah kasi ihahatid namin binili ni kuyang bouquet. Nagmamadali kasi siya kanina para sa date nila ni ate Arielle, yung liniligawan niya, tapos naiwan niya sa bahay yung bouquet.

"Uy Benj takbo tayo pagbaba?" Sabi ni Hannah. I nodded. "Sure Hannah, pahamak talaga si kuya eh haha"

Nakita na namin ang starbucks, hawak na ni Hannah yung bouquet at ready na siyang bumaba. Since mauuna siyang bumaba sakin, mas mauuna talaga siyang makapunta kay Kuya.

"Dito na po kuya Manny, one, two, three... TARA NA BENJ!" Nabigla ako sa sigaw ni Hannah at nataranta na ako at nagmadaling bumaba.

Nakita kong malapit na makapasok si Hannah tapos si kuya Donny naman eh nag aabang sa pintuan.

Habang tumatakbo eh may nakabunggo saakin. Nakita kong babae ito at nahulog yung mga gamit niya.

"Sorry, I wasn't looking" sabi ko sakanya sabay lahad ng kamay ko para tulungan siyang makatayo.

I saw na she shrugged and stood up by herself, pahiya ako dun.

"Ah, it's okay" sabi niya at nagmadali na itong naglakad palayo.

Napatingin ako sa babae, tumatakbo na ito palayo saakin. Napa buntong hininga na lang ako at biglaang tumakbo papunta sa starbucks.

Hannah's POV

Dumating na ako sa Starbucks at nabigay ko na ki kuya yung bouquet. Pagtingin ko sa likod ko, nakita kong nakatayo lang si Benj sa side walk at nakatitig sa isang babaeng naglalakad palayo. I don't know why pero kinabahan ako bigla. Well, anyways.

I rushed and went to the counter para mag order ng coffee. I ordered three drinks para saamin nila Benj and kuya Manny. Maya maya nakita ko si Benj na pumasok na rin, he waved at Donny tas pati na rin kay ate Arielle.

"Sorry I bumped into a girl eh" sabi niya, nginitian ko na lang siya.

"So what should I order?" Tanong ni Benj. I smiled at him.

"Of course, I ordered your favorite!"

"Uhm what's my favorite? I don't actually remember" sabi niya sakin. Oh, oo nga pala. Sometimes I forget that he has amnesia. Sometimes I get delusional and think that he's okay.

"Caramel Frappucino, Benhamino! I'm definitely sure na you'll love it" i said with a smile, nginitian lang rin ako ni Benj, "we'll see" sabi nito.

After we got our drinks, we went outside na kasi babalik na kami ni Benj sa bahay since we really need to get ready na rin kasi malapit na magpasukan, good thing na he's with the Donny sa new school niya, he wanted a new start kaya that's why he told us he wanted to transfer schools. Which is actually what he needs, a new breathe of fresh air.

When we got home, Solana immediately rushed and hugged Benjamin.

"How's my favorite girl?" Sabi ni Benjamin. Ang cute talaga nila, Benjamin really likes kids, ever since.

"I'm okay, kuya. What about you and ate Hannah?" Solana said and then she spread her arms which is like telling me to hug her.