The Most Beautiful Thing

Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

family lunch

Nasa loob na kami ng cafe ni Max. We were kind of wet pero it's okay, I didn't mind. Sinuot ko ang black na hoodie ko, at siya naman ay suot ang gray niyang hoodie.

"One chocolate chip set and two hot chocolate please, thank you." Sabi ni Max sa cashier. The cashier stared at him for a minute na tila bang nakakita ng artista before she went her way.

He smiled at me. "Are you cold?"

"Nope, I'm fine." Sabi ko sakanya. Umupo kami sa table after makuha ang orders. I wonder if he's like this sa lahat ng babaeng friends niya or nakakasama niya.

I watched him as he took a sip of his hot chocolate. Natural na red ang kanyang lips and it's funny because mas maganda pa siya sakin if naging babae siya. Kinuha niya ang phone niya at tinawagan si Red.

I observed him. Sa tagal namin mag-kasama, ngayon ko lang napag-tanto na he's truly handsome. Kaya naman madami ang nagkakagusto sakanya. But he's a big challenge because hindi siya katulad nila Red na go with the flow lang with the girls.

He's choosy, yet sweet.

"How was your date?" Tanong ko ng binaba na niya ang phone. I guess Red is on his way here.

He looked at me at bahagyang ngumiti. Damn! His killer smile is surely one of the many things why girls love him. He has one hell of an asset!

"What date? I didn't date anyone, Ria. It was a friendly dinner with Chantelle, a friend." Sabi niya. Kinuha ko ang chocolate chip at kinain ito.

"Okay, sabi mo eh," sabi ko. "Who's Chantelle? And bakit ngayon ko lang siya narinig sayo?"

"Her family is close with mine. She's also half-chinese like me and she just came home from China. Dad wanted me to show her around, that's why he called the night before. I was too busy preparing a suite for her, tapos I showed her around too," sabi ni Max.

I looked at the cup of my hot chocolate. He's really nice, and I admire that about him. He's caring hindi lang sakin kundi pati rin sa iba.

"Are you really that nice to other people?" tanong ko. I don't even know why I asked that. I looked at him at medyo naramdaman ang awkwardness sa tanong ko kaya naman I tried to explain it.

"I-I mean, ang caring mo samin lahat and I think that's nice. I like that about you."

"I'm only caring to the people I care about." Sabi niya naman. Pano yun, eh sweet siya sa lahat? Not sweet in a negative way but the genuine one. So may pake siya sa lahat? Tumahimik nalang ako dahil baka hindi siya aware. Besides, what's the point?

What's wrong with being nice?

"Are you free tomorrow? I want to buy my Ama a cake and a gift. It's her birthday celebration. May family lunch daw tomorrow."

(Ama/ A-Mah: grandmother in mandarin)

Napa-kagat ako sa labi ko. Max's family is intimidating lalo na they are all successful business people! Sakanila ang halos sikat at matatayog na real estate companies, telecom, resorts and many more dito. And to be with them sa isang table.. crazy!

"Everytime you bite your bottom lip, I know na you're having a dilemma inside your mind Ria. Don't be intimidated besides, I won't make you feel out of place naman."

"Sige, okay I'll go. Basta you have to translate pag nag Mandarin kayo ha? Para makasunod ako sa usapan."

He laughed. "All right!"