Sightless Love

Chapter 34

"Nadz!" Diane squealed.

She looked at her bestfriend, then to Jimmy and back again.

Then a smile formed on her lips.

"Kayo? Seryoso?"

Ngumiti lang si Nadia. She was wearing a dress na hindi niya nakitang sinuot nito noon o kahit man lang sa wardrobe nito. Oh. Yun yung isang bag na dala niya. Of course, tatlong paper bags ang dala niyapag uwi; isa para sa kanya, isa kay Jake, and obviously (ngayong nakita niyang magkasama ang dalawa at magka hawak kamay – plus kung pagdudugtung dungtungin niya ang mga kwento ni Nadia, it just figures) para kay Nadia ang natitirang isa.

"Wow. At sinekreto niyo talaga? So anong kwento?"

Nahhihiya namang sumagot si Nadia, "next time bes." Sabay kindat.

"Any minute now."

Pareho namang napatingin ang dalawang babae kay Jimmy.

"What? Oh! Okay, so Diane, you stay here. We'll just be around."

"Teka, ba't niyo ako iiwan?"

"Someone will come get you."

Kahit si Nadia ay hindi maintindihan si Jimmy. Then may ibinulong ito sa kanya and her face lightened up.

"Seryoso, bes. Stay here. Pramis, it'll be worth it."

"Bakit ba kasi?"

"Basta. Mag hintay ka lang diyan. Dadating na yun."

"Sino?"

Just like that and they left her.

Mag-isa.

Naghintay siya ng mga ilang minuto pero wala namang dumating. Nang may narinig siyang kaluskos sa likod ng mga halaman at bulaklak.

She took a step back.

Nothing came at her kaya lumapit siya ng kaunti.

Then, something black and white and furry lunged at her. She screamed and as she was turning round may nabunggo siya ng hindi niya namamalayan na may tao pala sa likuran niya.

And she toppled over the guy that tripped her.

He doesn't have to see who fell over him, not that he can anyway, but he came running nang marinig niya ang sigaw ni Diane and the smell of her skin is enough para makilala niya ito.

He held her like that habang nakaupo sa gitna ng halamanan.

He was worried a lot but he didn't ask her. Until they heard a cat purring and Diane gasped.

"Bushak!"

Jake burst out laughing.

Sa inis ni Diane ay itinulak niya ito. Pero patuloy pa rin itong tumatawa kaya't natawa na lang din Diane.

"So, natakot ka at sumigaw, pagkatapos ay tumakbo at nabunggo ako. All because of a cat? How big is it anyway?"

"Tae mo! Madilim kaya, hindi ko naman nakita agad kung ano yun eh. Basta maitim at mabuhok."

"First, what's 'tae'? Second, it's a black cat? They say black cats give bad luck. Do you believe that?"

"First, expression lang yun. Pangalawa, hindi naman talaga itim. Black and white. Kanino kaya itong pusa? Ang cute."

"Ang cute ngayon? Kanina you were scared of it."

"Shut up!"

"Hey! I'm your boss. Not the other way around."

"Hey ka din! Day off ngayon. Hindi mo ako utusan ngayon noh!"

"Fair point. So, do you know that a black and white cat kind of signifies good luck?"

"Talaga? Ang alam ko lang yung sa itim na pusa."

"Well, now you know."

He paused and when he spoke again his tone was more serious. "Remember the other day when I was about to tell you something?"

Hindi siya sumagot.

"I told you I have to confess something."

"Na bakla ka?" Kinakabahang tanong ni Diane. Ayaw niya mag expect but her stubborn heart is set on him — not to mention beating a lot faster than it normally does.

He laughed lightly. Spell papable, J-A-K-E.

"You're cute, you know?"

"Uh, no?"

"Okay, then now you know."

Teka, did he just tell her she's cute?

"Jake, alam mo ba ang real definition ng cute?"

"Well, I don't mean it that way."

"Akala ko oo. Kasi di ba ang cute is ugly but acceptable? Sabi naman ng iba ugly but interesting."

"Well, I can tell you're not ugly. Though you're interesting."

Is he flirting with me? Naisip ni Diane.

Well, that's something new.

"Can I make a request?"

"Ano po yun?"

"Ugh. Hey! You said it's your day off, I'm not your boss so stop being so polite. I get it, you're really just polite, but forget it. Even just for tonight. So, what I've been meaning to ask," he took a deep breath bago magpatuloy. "Can you sing me one song?"

~~~~~