Five Reasons Why It Was You

Two

#SecondReason

"I'm not good at music. I can barely even sing. And maybe, I'm no good at all that I consider your laughter as a song."

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We're not friends. We're not enemies, either. Seriously,  I don't how to name our (platonic) relationship.

Hindi ko alam kung kaaway ba kita. Hindi ko alam kung kaibigan kita. Minsan na kitang tinanong kung kaibigan ba kita but you only answered, "asa ka."

Kaya hindi ko talaga alam kung bakit ikaw 'yong niyaya ko para samahan ako sa lakad ko.

"Alam mo, naghihinala na 'ko na gusto mo talaga ako." You said out of the blue. I was freaking sipping my Zagu tapos sakto pang may nahigop akong black pearl nang bigla mong sabihan 'yon. I almost choked.

"G-gago ka, mabulunan ka nga sa mga sinasabi mo." I said in between my coughs. You laughed and slightly tapped my back. Tinignan kita ng masama pero patuloy ka pa rin sa pagtawa. Bahagya kang huminto na para bang may sasabihin ka saka tinaas 'yong Zagu mo.

"Tingnan mo, ako 'yong sinama mo rito tapos ni-libre mo pa 'ko ng Zagu." You gave me a suggestive smile and said, "crush mo 'ko, 'no?" You wiggled your brows.

Bahagya kitang tinulak. Pasalamat ka, nasa tabi tayo ng daan kundi baka tumilapon ka na. Humagalpak ka na naman ng tawa. Lalo ka pang natawa nang maalala mo 'yong nangyari kanina no'ng bumibili tayo ng Zagu.

"Nakita mo 'yong mukha niya no'ng pangatlo mong 'ha?'" You wiped the tear from the side of your left eye. Tawang-tawang ka na halos maiyak ka na. "Sabi niya, oh," sumeryoso ka bigla tapos, "eight pesos po 'yong additional kapag may crystals." You mimicked and laughed again. Halos dumoble yata 'yong lakas ng tawa mo na napapatingin na sa'tin 'yong mga nakakasalubong natin.

Hinila kita sa isang gilid. I waited for your laughter to subside. Hindi ko alam kung anong nakakatawa do'n sa kung ano mang pinagtatawanan mo. Saka kasalanan ko ba kung hindi ko marinig 'yong sinasabi no'ng crew ng Zagu?

Kanina pa kita tinatanong kung anong nakakatawa pero pati sagot mo, hindi ko ma-gets. Sabi mo, "mukha siyang constipated na ewan. Mukhang naiinis na siya sa'yo, 'di lang makapalag dahil customer ka."

And after a few minutes, you finally stopped from laughing. Nagpupunas ka ng luha (yes, you laughed that hard that you cried) habang paunti-unti ka pa ring tumatawa.

"Ano, tapos ka na?" I asked you lazily. You nodded. Iniwan kita do'n saka nagsimula nang mag-lakad. I immediately heard your footsteps, approaching my direction.

Tahimik lang ako habang ikaw naman, pata-patawa pa rin sa tabi ko.

Huminto tayo sa tapat ng isang botique. Unfortunately, lalaki ang nabunot ko sa kris kringle kaya kita sinama rito. Wala kasi akong idea kung anong ire-regalo ko. I asked you to come with me and help me to find a perfect gift. You immediately said yes when I promised you that I owe you a Zagu. Ewan ko lang sa'yo kung bakit paulit-ulit mong sinasabi kanina na crush kita kaya kita sinama.

"Ito 'yong sinasabi ko sa'yong botique." Sabi mo pero mabilis kitang nilagpasan para maunang pumasok sa loob. I pulled the glass door but it didn't open. I pulled it again but it was futile. Sa pangatlong hila ko, do'n ko naramdaman 'yong presensya mo sa likuran ko.

I can hear you supressing your laughter. Alam ko, sobrang lapit mo sa'kin. Hell, I can already feel the warmth of your body. At kaunting galaw ko lang, alam ko, didikit ang likuran ko sa dibdib mo.

"Push kasi, hindi pull." Tinulak mo 'yong pintuan kaya naramdaman ko ang pagdikit ng katawan mo sa likuran ko. Damn, why am I having these thoughts that I'm inside your arms?

Hindi ako sumagot kahit naririnig ko na ang pagpipigil mo ng tawa.

Sa buong oras ng pamimili, nakatayo lang ako sa tabi mo habang pinapanood kitang pumipili ng mga t-shirt na, sabi mo, pagpipilian pa natin mamaya. Patawa-tawa ka rin kaya ilang beses kong gustong ihampas 'yong mga damit na pinapahawak mo sa'kin (yes, you're an epitome of chivalry. Please, note the sarcasm).

When we finally decided about the shirt (you took ten shirts eventhough I said I'll just buy one), paid for it, and got out of the shop, you laughed so hard. Again.

I don't know what's so funny about that push-and-pull-incident that you find it incredibly hilarious.

Napapatingin na 'yong mga tao sa'tin... o sa'yo. Sino ba naman kasi 'yong matinong tatawa ng ganyan kalakas sa gitna ng maraming tao?

I bit my lower lip to stop them from curving into a smile. I watched you as you laughed whilst holding your stomach. Your nostrils are already flaring. Kanina pa nawawala 'yong mata mo dahil sa laki ng pagkakabuka ng bunganga mo. You're running out of breath. Naninigas na yata 'yong tiyan mo kakatawa. Nakakahiya ka talaga.

But much to my surprise, I just shrugged my shoulders in nonchalance.

I love your laughter, anyway. I thought.

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I personally love this chapter. <3