IV: Jerk
Marie Nieve Pressman's POV
Great. He left me barefooted and looking poor. Naiinis ako sa lalaki na iyon! First, nadapa ako dahil sa kanya! Second, he threw my stilettos! Third, he embarrassed me by making me walk barefoot! And lastly, he left!
He's such a despicable man! A jerk!
Naiinis ako. Pinagtitinginan ako ng mga tao. I hate it. I hate people's stares. It makes me uncomfortable.
"Miss, do you want me to accommodate you?" A male sales staff asked.
"Find me a pair of shoes--" my sentence was cutted when someone spoke.
"No, she doesn't." Speaking of the jerk.
"Okay, sir." The sales staff said then left.
He knelt in front of me. Ano na namang gagawin niya?
"Where have you been?" I asked. He pulled out a pack of sanitary wet wipes from his paperbag then he cleaned my feet using it.
The gesture made me smile. Natunaw bigla lahat ng inis ko sa kanya.
"I'm sorry," he said. He pulled out a box of Gibi shoes from his paperbag. Inilabas niya ang laman ng box tapos ay sinuot niya sa akin. A pair of violet doll shoes. Not ugly nor beautiful. So simple.
"Perfect fit," he said nang sinuot niya ang sapatos sa akin. Bigla akong natawa.
"What's funny?" He asked.
"We're rude. Nandito tayo sa isang World Balance na shop tapos Gibi iyong sinusuot mo sakin." I said.
"Paki nila?" Sabi niya. "Tara na." Tapos ay inilahad niya ang kamay niya sa akin. Kinuha ko iyon tapos ay tinulungan niya ako makatayo.
"Saan mo naman na ako dadalhin?" I asked.
"I don't know. Saan mo ba gusto?" He said. Napatawa na naman ako.
"Such a jerk." I said.
"Atleast I made you laugh," he said then winked at me.
I once again felt the sense of familiarity. Parang nakilala ko na siya noon pero hindi ko maalala kung saan at kailan.
"Take me to a bookstore," I blurted out.
"Then national bookstore it is," he said with a bow.
At National Bookstore, tumingin tingin lang ako sa mga art supplies na naroon. Art supplies never fails to attract me. I love art. I love painting during my free time. Art is something that makes me feel alive.
"Tell me if you want anything." He said out of the blue. "Bibilhin ko para sayo."
"What if I want the moon?" I challengingly asked. "Mabibili mo ba?"
"Of course, hindi," he said. "But I can love you to the moon and back."
I can't help myself but smile at his words. I wonder if I'll still hear words like that kapag kasal na kami.
I scanned the shelves of art materials. Noong nagsawa na ako, I asked kung saan kami pedeng kumain.
"I'm getting hungry. Saan tayo kakain?" I asked.
"Nakakain ka na ba sa isang karenderia?" He asked. Karenderia?
"Karenderia? Ano yun?" I asked.
"Great. Hindi mo alam. I'll take you sa karenderia na lagi kong kinakainan noong college ako." He said as he took my hand and dragged me towards the parking lot.
