Chapter 11
"You and Elmo..." ani Miggy nang makasakay na kami sa sasakyan niya.
"We're bestfriends. Since baby kami ni Moe, magkasama na kami lagi. Bestfriends kasi si mama and his mom. Kaya yun." sagot ko. "Bakit?"
"Wala lang. You really kiss him?"
"Yeah. It's part of our handshake. Since 10 kami may secret handshake na kami ni Elmo."
"Ah. Okay." sabi niya.
"Bakit?" pagtataka ko.
"Wala lang. Nakakaselos." tumawa siya at umiling. "Hey wag mong pansinin yung sinabi ko ha?"
"Uhm..." tumingin na lang ako sa labas ng bintana and watched the other cars pass-by.
"I like you, Julie." sabi niya makalipas ang ilang saglit. Napalingon ako sa kanya and he looked at me. "Since highschool crush na crush na kita. I think I'm even in love with you."
"Wh--"
"Siguro nagtataka ka kung bakit. Pero kasi ang hirap iexplain eh. I don't know if it's because you're different from the other girls or talagang nakakabighani ka lang talaga." he said. "It's okay if you don't feel the same way. I mean, alam kong may iba kang priorities and maybe may iba kang gusto or tipong guy. But I just want us to stay friends kahit pa umamin na ako sayong may gusto ako sayo." dagdag niya.
"Y-yeah. Of course we'll stay friends. Pero nakakapagtaka lang. I mean. Look at me. I'm boyish, I'm a low-maintenance girl."
"That's what guys want Julie. We like it better if girls don't wear too much make-up. Mas gusto namin yung nakakasakay sa mga trip namin." sabi niya.
Tumango na lang ako at tumingin uli sa labas. Miggy's nice. But I just don't feel the same way. Buti na lang he's open-minded.
"Dito na tayo." sabi niya pagkapark sa labas ng t-shirt printing shop. Bumaba na kami and entered the store.
"Uy, Miguel!" bati ng isang lalaki. Tumingin siya sa akin at saka napangiti at nagbalik ng tingin kay Miggy. "Girlfriend mo?"
"Haha. Baliw hindi. Kaibigan ko si Julie." sabi ni Miggy.
"Hello po." bati ko.
"Hi. Mico, Miguel's brother." aniya.
"Ah. May kapatid pala si Miggy."
"Haha. Yes. At ako ang pinakagwapo." kumindat sa akin si Kuya Mico at natawa naman kaming dalawa ni Miggy.
"Don't mind him." ani Miggy. "Kuya, yung shirts namin?" tanong niya sa kapatid.
"Badge's putting them in the boxes already. Chill bro." sagot ni Kuya Mico. "Julie, sure ka bang kaibigan mo tong kapatid ko? Hahaha."
"Kuya!" ani Miggy.
"Haha. Siguro po." kibit-balikat na sabi ko.
"You're embarrassing me." ani Miggy.
"Dude, that's what brothers do. Anyway. Badge's going to bring the shirts in your car.
"Yeah thanks. We'll go ahead before you embarrass me further." paalam ni Miggy sa kapatid niya.
"Haha. Alright. Ingat kayo."
"Thank you po for the shirts." sabi ko kay Kuya Mico.
"You're welcome." ngumiti siya saka na kami umalis ng shop.
"Is that your kuya's business?" tanong ko.
"One of his businesses. It's actually just part of his thesis nung college. Eh ayun. Nagboom kaya he kept it. Pero he's really into food kaya yung main business niya is the Pop Café and Snackers."
