The Flame

The Flame- Chapter 3

Chapter 3
Date

Pagkatapos ng pangyayaring iyon ay nawalan na ako ng ganang mag-aliw pa. My energy got drained. Naubusan ako ng lakas dahil sa nangyari. Gumawa ng bon fire si Bry at nilipat niya ang kanyang tent malapit sa'kin. Di na ako kumontra pa, pagod ako eh.

He's a stranger, I should be afraid of him but for the reason that I don't actually know, I am not. Kahit di ko pa siya kilala, sobrang komportable ako sa kanya. Kapag nandyan siya, I feel secured. Mas secured pa nga kaysa sa mga lakad ko na may kasamang body guards which is sa lahat ng lakad ko maliban ngayon. Ewan ko kay Dad, walang pinadala ni isang sniper para bantayan ako. Nakakapagtaka pero ipinagpasalamat ko na lang.

"Kain ka na. Nakakuha ako ng isda sa ilog. It's fresh, inihaw ko lang. Kumakain ka ba ng ganyan?" pukaw niya sa'kin. May dala-dala siyang dalawang isdang katamtaman lang ang laki. Nakalagay ito sa isang pinggan.

Tumango lang ako at pilit na ngumiti. Kakain na sana ako nang ma realize ko na wala pala akong kanin.

"Ahmm.. wala pa kasi akong kanin. Magsasaing na muna ako." I said shyly. Nakakahiya!

He smiled, "It's okay, I have enough rice for the both of us. Pinagsaing na rin kita. You seemed drained that's why I decided to cook for us." he casually said.

Tumango ako, "O-okay." at hinugasan na ang kamay ko sa tubig na hinanda niya.

"So, I'm a stranger. Aren't you scared of me?" tanong niya.

"Hindi. Should I be?"balik-tanong ko.

"Of course not. Are you always friendly to all the strangers you've met." he asked.
Hindi. Pero I can't tell you that, you might feel special.

"Yeah. Bakit?" I smirked. Now he looks so annoyed.
"Wala naman. Nagtatanong lang." he told me before he murmured something I wasn't able to hear.

"Anyway, I want to get to know you. Can we, uh, you know, talk about each other. Your likes and dislikes." natawa ako nang nagkamot siya ng batok, tila nahihiya.

"Okay. We'll know each other, then." at nagsimula na naming mag-usap tungkol sa buhay naming dalawa at sa mga gusto namin.

"I like women who have fair skin.." Morena pa naman ako. Tsk. "I like women who are not tall, women who have straight hair and lastly, I like women who are not adventurous, just those who stay at home, obey what their parents want and do what they're supposed to do."

So he likes the opposite of me. My hair is a bit curly, I am tall, I am adventurous and I often disobey my dad. Eh di okay! Bahala siya. Pakialam ko naman kung di niya gusto ang mga tulad ko. Nakakairita! Ewan ko na lang kung bakit ako naiirita.

A smile crept on his lips but he's tryin' to hide it by giving me a serious face.

"So how 'bout you? What's your type of guy?" he continued.

"Someone who's opposite of you. I don't wanna explain it." I said with a lazy voice.

"Oh, I'm hurt." he said jokingly.
"I wasn't actually planning to neither praise you nor compliment you." I said with a serious look on my face.

"Do you have a boyfriend?" Is he hitting on me?

"Nope." but my marriage is already settled. Even without my permission.
Tumango siya.

"Anyone courting you?"
"Nope."
"Anyone hitting on you?"
"Nope."
"Anyone you like?"
"Hmm... I like someone." I answered honestly. I don't know if I really like that someone already, though. Pero siguro, gusto ko talaga. Ay ewan, basta!

His jaw clenched. "Date me, then. Let's see if you couldn't forget that someone you like."

Is he asking me to date him? For real? What the hell! Am I blushing? Gosh!

Tumayo na siya at pumasok na sa tent niya habang ako naman ay nakatunganga lang sa harap ng bonfire.

He's asking me to date him!
No! He's just challenged kasi may gusto ako. Siguro iniisip niya na mas maganda pag may ibang gusto yung idi-date niya.

Pag nagustuhan ko na siya, iiwan niya rin ako.

Para akong binagsak mula sa himpapawid patungo sa lupa sa naisip ko.

Well, then. Let's see about the 'date' you're negotiating me with, Mr. De Los Santos.