The volunteer team was in the middle of the activity nang biglang umulan ng malakas. Some of them would have wanted to continue but the rain seemed to have become heavier by the minute so they all opted to huddle inside the tent. While the others were busy chatting about the intermittent weather, abala naman si Elmo sa kakaisip about Julie.
Every moment that he spent with her was a revelation. He had now realized that there are a lot of things that he didn't know about her and that there's still more to discover. Just thinking about those things excited him. Alam nya ang laro ng pagkukunwari and he somehow thought that her constantly surprising him with her remarks, which somehow revealed a lot about her, is part of her game plan. Bahagya syang napangiti.
You're wearing masks over masks, Julie. I can't wait to uncover the last one.
......
She stared at him from the other side of the tent. Pinili nyang lumayo muna kay Elmo because she needed to think. Her conversations with him had never been boring and she couldn't help but smile as she recalled the scene at Kuya Ben's coffee shop. Albeit a little too intense, their discussion on their views on sex ended in a light manner as they shifted to jokes and anecdotes.
Habang unti-unti nyang nakilala ang binata through their small talks, her fondness for him grew. Noon kasi, nagustuhan lang nya ito because of his looks but now she's very glad to see beyond that.
Every moment with him is a challenge. Paiba-iba kasi ang mood nito. He would go from being silent and brooding to being cheerful to being serious and then to being flirty. Whenever she's close to him, she felt like she'd been sent her to a topography of emotions, from the mountain-high giddy and happy feeling, to the valley-like high and low of cheerfulness and silence. She had always loved unpredictability and Elmo seemed to personify the word. Di nya napigilang mapangiti dahil sa kilig na naramdaman.
Haaaay, Julie. High school lang ang peg? Tsk.
She woke up from her daydream as soon as she saw him walking in her direction. Nakangiti ito and yet again, her heart began to pound just thinking about what he was up to this time.
Tahimik lang ito but he comfortably stood next to her.
Kumusta, Elmo? She finally managed to break their silence.
I'm good. How are you?
Ok din.
Sandali na naman silang natahimik.
I have a date tonight, Julie. It was his turn to break the momentary silence.
It was a statement that came out of the blue. Nabigla sya sa sinabi nito kaya di nya napigilang mapatingin dito.
Really? Good. Good luck na rin. She smiled pero di nya mapigilang makaramdam ng konting selos tungkol sa sinabing 'date' nito.
Nagkibit-balikat ito.
Thanks. But my luck is actually all up to you. Sagot nito habang nakatitig sa mukha nya.
Yet again, she felt like melting in his gaze at alam nyang namumula na naman sya.
Anong kinalaman ko sa swerte ng date mo? She managed to answer, trying her best to meet his gaze.
Because you're my date tonight, Julie. But if you say no, then I guess there won't be any date after all. Diretsong sagot nito which had somehow taken her aback. She knew that their previous conversations were good signs but didn't expect to be invited to a date this soon.
She let out a soft laugh.
Elmo, are you asking me out?
Ngumiti ito sa kanya without taking off his gaze. That signature smirk again.
Do you feel like you're being asked out?
Di nya napigilang matawa sa tanong nito.
I don't...I don't really know. I'm not so sure.
Hahaha. Then let's leave it that way. Where's my answer?
Huh?
He laughed again, seemingly amused with her puzzled expression. He briefly held her hand.
Let's cut to the chase, Julie. Just say yes.
