BS #2: Margarita's Pretentious Lover

Margarita :: 16

Hindi kami nakaalis kaagad kinabukasan dahil sa balitang pinakulong si Don Filotimo dahil sa ilegal na negosyo nito. Lahat kami ay nagulat sa balitang iyon, lalong lalo na ang mga tagarito na hinahangaan ang matanda. Sol and his friends were interrogated. Sol also strictly advised me not to leave the house kaya hindi ako pumunta sa police office. It took 2 whole days for them to finally settle the case. Don Filotimo was furious. Noong isang beses ko siyang nakita, nagsisigaw ito.

“I’ll fucking destroy you, traitors!”

Hindi ko alam kung sino ang pinaparinggan niya roon. What I think I know is someone exposed him to the police.

“Are you okay?” tanong ko kay Sol.

Ngumiti siya sa akin at tumango. “I’m sorry if I wasted the two out of your five remaining days here.”

“Ayos lang naman sa akin. This is more important than our escapade.”

“Let’s go. It’s getting late. We still have to prepare for Alegria tomorrow.”

----

Sol rented a car for our service. Siya rin ang nag-drive papunta sa Alegria. Unang suggestion niyang pupuntahan namin ay ang Cancalanog Falls. I’ve always wanted to go there. The trees, water, and the environment itself were comforting. Kahit sa litrato ko lang iyon nakita, alam kong magugustuhan ko roon.

Maaga kaming bumyahe. Sol did the preparation last night. From clothes, blankets, first aid kit, emergency kit, foods, and other necessities, he made sure to prepare them beforehand. He doesn’t want me to help him because he wanted me to rest early. Siya nga iyong walang pahinga dahil sa nangyari nitong nagdaang araw, ako pa ‘tong pagpapahingahin niya. Nakipagtalo ako sa kan’ya kaya sa huli ay wala siyang nagawa nang tulungan ko siya.

We also brought a tent. After Cancalanog Falls, balak naming mag-camp sa Libo Hills.

“Drivethru muna tayo?” tanong niya.

Tumango ako. “I’m craving for McDo’s Sundae and fries.”

Mahina siyang natawa. “Let’s have our breakfast na lang doon.”

So instead of drivethru, pumasok kami sa nadaanan naming McDo branch. It was still 7 in the morning kaya kaunti pa lang ang tao sa loob. Sol ordered for us. He ordered my favorite breakfast meal, three pieces Hotcakes, and one piece Chicken McDo with McSpaghetti. He also ordered a BFF fries and a hot fudge sundae for me. He knows my favorites. Hotcakes at kape naman ang sa kan’ya.

We waited for a couple of minutes bago ni-serve ang pagkain namin. I was more eager to start eating. Sol just laughed at my clumsiness.

“Cute mo talaga,” aniya.

Pinaikutan ko lang siya ng mata at hindi na pinansin.

“Langga.”

“Hmm?”

“Lingon ka muna. I’ll take a picture of you.”

Habang hawak-hawak ang isang chicken drumstick, nakangiti akong tumingin sa kan’yang camera. Kita ko ang sunod-sunod na pag-click niya sa capture button ng kan’yang phone.

“Woy, dami na niyan!” angal ko.

“Wait lang. Lipat ako sa tabi mo. Let’s take a selfie.”

Hindi na ako umangal. Nilipat niya ang kan’yang upuan sa tabi ko bago hinarap sa amin ang camera niya.

“Give me your best smile, baby,” he said.

Inakbayan niya ako at mas lumapit naman ako sa kan’ya. I was smiling widely while holding a piece of fries on my left hand.