Elmo's invitation had been unexpected and needless to say, ikinagulat nya ito. Sa lahat kasi ng mga kasama nya sa team, ito lang ang naglakas-loob na mag reach out sa kanya during her sorrowful phase. The others would only throw her sympathetic looks but chose to leave her alone. She had tried to think before giving him the answer to his invitation and eventually decided that what she needed was indeed a distraction para makalimutan ang lungkot nya.
You look surprised. Nakangiting sambit ni Elmo habang nakatingin sa kanya nang marating nila ang lugar where they're supposed to 'unwind'.
Her look of surprise turned into a smile at dahil sa tuwang naramdaman ay marahan nyang hinampas ang binata sa braso.
Haha. Ay first time ko dito, alam mo yun. Ang galing mo lang pumili ng lugar. Haha.Sagot nya habang papasok sila sa coffee shop ni Kuya Ben. Hindi rin nya inasahan na doon sya dalhin nito kahit alam nyang alam na rin nito na regular din sya sa coffee shop.
Hahaha. Ingat sa paglalakad. Be alert. Baka maligaw ka pa dito. Pabirong ganti naman nito habang pinili ang paborito nitong pwesto. It was exactly the spot kung saan madalas nya itong nakikita. She couldn't help but smile when she remembered how she used to get the best view of him right where they were seated.
He looked at her with creased forehead. Napakagat-labi sya nang mamalayang ngumingiti na naman syang mag-isa at alam nyang yun ang dahilan ng pagtataka sa mukha ng binata.
Hahaha. Sorry, Elmo. Hehe. May naalala lang.
Ano yun?
Wala.
Tell me. If it's that funny that it made you smile, you'd better share it. Pangungulit nito.
No. It's a secret. Matipid nyang sagot dito as she tried to hold back from smiling which rather proved unsuccessful as she burst out laughing instead. It was Elmo's facial expression that made her laugh. He had this innocent look, na halatang walang kamalay-malay na tinititigan niya ito noon mula sa paborito nyang pwesto.
Umiling-iling ito habang nakatingin sa kanya as she drank a glass of water para mahimasmasan.
You know what, you're a lost cause, Julie. Pa-commit ka na sa mental. Kunwaring seryoso nitong sambit sa kanya. Naalala nyang ilang beses na rin syang nahuli nito na ngumingiti at tumatawa nang mag-isa.
Hahaha. Oo ba. Pero mauna ka muna. Ganti nya dito.
He let out a mock sarcastic laugh.
And why would I do that? Kunwaring seryosong sagot nito.
She shook her head as though in disbelief.
Tsk. Kawawang bata. You really do need some help. Obviously, hindi ka pa rin aware sa mental condition mo. Tsk. Sayang. Cute ka pa naman sana. Muntik na syang masamid sa nasabi nya and she knew that he had caught her 'careless' statement dahil binigyan sya nito ng isang makahulugang ngiti, the lopsided smile that drives her mad.
Haha.Nasabi mo na, Julie. Don't you dare take it back. Crush mo nga talaga ako. Hehehe. He said jokingly but she knew that he was really aware about her crush on him dahil maraming beses na rin syang inaasar nito about it.
Oo. Gusto kita, Elmo. Perhaps she had said it rather too seriously dahil biglang nawala ang mapanuksong ngiti nito. But more than that, nagulat din sya sa nasabi nya pero huli na para bawiin ito.
He looked at her unbelievingly and shook his head. Pagkatapos ay kumawala ito ng isang mahinang tawa.
Wow. You don't ever mince your words, do you? Seryoso ang mukha nito habang nagtatanong, which made her wonder if he was upset or just pretending to be.
