She couldn't take the smile off her face. She'd been replaying the 'stripping' incident with Elmo at natatawa sya tuwing naalala ang gulat sa mukha nito. She was pleased that she was finally able to 'redeem' herself from all his antics and constant teasing.
It was sheer luck with a mix of spontaneity. She had worn the camisole just for the sake of wearing it and couldn't have been more thankful for having done so dahil nagamit nya ito bilang depensa sa pang-aasar sa kanya ni Elmo. She had sensed that he's very sly and calculating. He had caught her off-guard for quite several times and saw how much he enjoyed the results of his handiwork. Alam nyang matalino ang binata, malalim, very unpredictable at mahirap basahin. Kaya kahit may gusto sya dito, di nya maiwasang kabahan dahil sa kakaisip kung ano ang pwedeng susunod na gawin nito sa kanya.
Haaaaay. Buti na lang talaga nakabawi ako.
But then another thought nagged her. She still remembers the look on his face-from amusement, to puzzlement, to surprise and to a brooding cold spawned by disappointment. All of a sudden, she felt a jolt of alarm and caution. Alam nyang hindi doon nagtatapos ang 'laro' nila ni Elmo. She let out a worried sigh.
Diyos ko po, ayoko ng ganito. I hate playing games.
Tila naalimpungatan sya nang marinig ang tunog ng cellphone nya at napakunot-noo nang makita ang pangalan ng daddy nya. It was an ungodly hour at di nya maiwasang kabahan sa biglaang pagtawag nito.
Hello, dad?
Jules...Si Ruffian. He's gone.
.....
Tanaw na tanaw ni Elmo si Julie sa may di kalayuan. She seemed to be engrossed with doing some inventory. He smiled to himself habang tinitingnan ang dalaga. Naalala pa nya ang lahat-kung paano nya binalak na asarin ito and how she had stupefied him with her spontaneous defense which was totally unexpected. He was amused with the incident and felt strangely happy about it.
This is getting more interesting. Palaban ka pala, Julie.
He'd been wrong. His first impression of her was that she was naïve, shallow and vulnerable. But now that he discovered her feisty side, he was even more stoked to take the 'game' up a higher notch. Lumapad ang ngiti nya habang naglalakad papalapit sa dalaga.
This should be more fun.
......
He cleared his throat to get her attention pero tila di sya narinig nito kaya minabuti na nyang lumipat sa harapan nito.
Hi, Julie.
Hindi man lang ito nag-angat ng tingin at pinagpatuloy pa rin ang ginagawa. Napailing na lang sya habang tinitingnan ito at napangiti nang biglang may naisip na kalokohan.
He touched her chin at inangat ang mukha nito.
You're such a snob, you know that? Sambit nya dito, giving her a flirty smile.
May idadagdag pa sana sya pero natigilan as soon as he saw the glazed look in her eyes. Hindi pa rin ito kumibo kahit nakatingin na sa kanya. Nag-iwas-tingin ito at pinagpatuloy ulit ang ginagawa as though he wasn't there.
Di maiwasang makadama sya ng pagkapahiya dahil sa di nito pagpansin sa kanya. He went to her for fun and he felt betrayed that the 'fun' wasn't given to him. Bigla syang nakadama ng inis. Alam nyang may gusto ito sa kanya and her coldness towards him felt like a sort of mockery...at di nya maiwasang isipin na pinagpatuloy lang ng dalaga ang larong nasimulan.
Inulit nya ang ginawa. Inangat nya ang mukha nito upang titigan and he smiled when he saw that her eyes looked more focused this time. He knew that she was now staring back at him.
Elmo, pwede ba. Pabayaan mo muna ako. Please. Mahinang sambit nito na di inalis ang tingin sa kanya.
Kumawala sya ng mahinang tawa.
Why, Julie? Masama bang lumapit sayo? Do I make you feel uneasy? Hmmmm?Panunukso nya dito as he gently pinched the base of her chin. Agad-agad namang tinapik ng kamay nito ang kamay nya.
Hindi ito kumibo. Hindi rin ngumiti gaya ng nakasanayan nyang reaksyon nito tuwing tinutukso nya. Hindi rin nagningning ang mga mata nito gaya ng dati. He was baffled with her sudden indifference, na tila ba biglang nawala ang epekto nya dito tuwing lumalapit sya.
Oh c'mon, Julie. Lighten up. Let's...let's have fun. Let's talk. He said rather teasingly para pangitiin ito.
She stared at him at napansin nyang may namumuong luha sa mga mata nito.
Mag-enjoy kang mag-isa mo, Elmo. I don't have time for your tricks. Mahinang sagot nito, her voice quivering at pagkatapos ay nagbaba ng tingin.
Julie?
Nag-angat ulit ito ng tingin sa kanya, malungkot ang mga mata nito, her tears trailing on her cheeks. Humikbi ito.
My childhood pet just died, Elmo. Parang mamamatay na rin ako.
