STAY

🐯Chapter 21

“Baka may other plans ka tonight tapos naabala ka nina Fay? Okay lang talaga kahit hindi mo inaccept yung pag-invite nila sayo.”

Sabi ko kay Tiger nang maiwan kaming dalawa sa table. Umalis yung apat para sumayaw sa dance floor kasama ng iba pang students.

Tahimik lang kaming nag-uusap. Mahirap na at baka may maghinalang students na magkakilalang-magkakilala pala kami ni Tiger.

Mas okay kung iisipin nilang nagkakahiyaan kami ni Tiger sa conversation namin na parang ngayon lang kami nagkausap.

“Really, Keira? You still don't know me? Alam mong hindi ako nagpapapilit because I don't let others make me do what I don't want to do.”

“Yun na nga, Tiger. Alam kong ganun ka pero bakit naggive-in ka?” Naguguluhan ako sa kanya.

He simply smiled at me while slowly shaking his head. “I didn't give in. When Fay and Hannah asked me if I have a date for this party, I said no. Then umalis na sila. After a while, Marco and Sky talked to me and they told me to be your date because you don't have one. And I agreed.”

So ganun pala ang ginawa ng apat na yun.

“Alam mong okay lang sakin kahit wala akong ka-date, nireject ko nga sina Marco and Sky, eh. Iniisip ko lang na baka may gusto kang iinvite to be your date pero naabala at napangunahan ka ng friends ko.”

“Why would I ask someone to be my date if I'm already taken?”

My eyes widen in shock. More than a year na kaming magkakilala pero ngayon ko lang nalaman na taken na pala siya.

“Who's this girl? Hindi mo man lang sinabi agad sakin. Paano kung malaman niya yung deal natin? Baka makasira sa relasyon niyo?”

I saw him roll his eyes.

He rolled his eyes!

“Keira, I'm taken because I'm married.” Mahinang sabi nito.

“What? I thought you're really in a relationship with someone.”

“I am loyal to my wife.”

Kakaiba ang naramdaman ko sa sinabi niya. “But you know our marriage isn't really a normal one and it isn't for long. You know I'll understand if you date someone.”

He sighed. “I don't want to date.”

“Because your dates were afraid of you?”

“Dates? Isa lang yung naka-date ko and that was a blind date.” Nagsalubong ang kilay niya kaya napangiti ako.

“Oh, sorry. So you don't want to date because your only date was afraid of you?” Pag-uulit ko sa tanong.

“I think so. Natakot siguro sa itsura ko. I'm not planning to date anymore kung ganung matatakot naman kapag kaharap ako.”

I sighed. “Tiger, huwag mong lahatin ang mga babae. That was your first and only date.”

“I know.”

“And besides, hindi naman nakakatakot ang itsura mo. Maybe naging uncomfortable lang yung naka-date mo sayo dahil hindi mo siya tinitignan sa mata.”

“Alam mo kung bakit hindi ako agad tumitingin sa mata ng kinakausap ko.”

“Dahil sa trust issues mo?”

Tumango siya.

“Eh bakit ako natignan mo kaagad nung unang nagkakilala tayo?”

“I don't know why.”