In Time With You

FOUR: #DelRiaGrande

Nagising si Ria mula sa nakakabanas na tunog ng kanyang alarm. It was a bunch of frog voices singing Bohemian Rhapsody. It was super annoying and very much effective to wake her up dahil palaging gusto niyang ibato ang celphone para lang mapatahimik iyon.

"Ugh," she groaned and checked her phone. Time check: It was already 10:00AM! Napabalikwas siya ng bangon kaya naman ganoon na lang kalakas ang pagkaka-untog niya sa kisame ng kotse.

She realized she was not in Slovenia anymore and wala na syang classes at 7:00AM. She looked around. Yup, she was inside the backseat of an SUV wrapped in sleeping bag with her clothes from yesterday.

On instinct, lumingon sya sa driver's seat. She felt relieved na wala roon si Del.

Haaaay. Si Del.... even after a couple of beer bottles hindi pa rin nya malimutan ang mga nangyari kagabi. Kinalma niya ang sarili at huminga nang malalim. She had to act normal, cool, and no non-sense. Otherwise, baka sapian siya ng highschool self niya at kung anong kagagahan na naman ang magawa niya.

Oh well, as if she has a choice? Bumaba siya mula sa backseat ng SUV ni Del. Agad naman niyang nakita ng binata na nakaupo sa katapat na convenience store. Nginitian siya nito na parang walang ganap kagabi, bitbit nito ang dalawang paper cups. Nakapagbihis na ito at mukha na ulit fresh sa suot na dark blue polo, khaki chino shorts, at puting slip-ons.

"Morning, Ria." he greeted. And he sounded cool.

Ngumiti naman siya rito at masigla ring binati ito. Itinabi na nya lahat ng agiw mula sa utak niya. Act normal, normaaaaal!

"I hope you don't mind, I got you coffee. Don't worry that's decaf with two packets of creamer and splenda sugar. They don't have Vietnamese, but okay naman ang Arabica beans nila." Litanya nito. Natigilan naman siya nang marealize na naman na naalala nito ang mga detalyeng iyon tungkol sa kanya.

Iniabot niya ang mainit na kape mula kay Del. "Salamat, okay lang 'to basta may kape."

She then sipped her coffee. Tamang tama ang init at timpla noon. Hindi niya napigilang mangiti. Mababaw ang kaligayahan niya, a good cup of coffee can make her whole day brighter.

"Kung alam ko lang na kape makakapagpangiti sa'yo ng ganyan, edi sana kahapon pa kita binigyan ng maraming cup." He grinned at parang natunaw siya.

Honglondeh!

"Ang sharp ng memory mo 'no? Biruin mo tanda mo yung mga usual orders sa Jollibee at gustong timplang kape ng mga tao? Amazing!" she commented lightly.

Del shrugged, "Not really, just a few significant people." Inilagay nito ang kamay sa likod ng batok na tila nahuli. He looked cute and her feels were all over the place again.

Ang kalat mo na naman, Ria at ang aga-aga, juskolord! Significant ka daw?

Nope, nope, nope.... may few! So ibig sabihin hindi lang ikaw, assumera! A part of her mind condescended.

Muntik naman niyang maibuga ang kape dahil sabiglang paghawak ni Del sa upper arms niya. It was a light touch, his fingers seemingly tracing something. "Ria, you have rashes." nag-aalala ang tono ng boses ni Del.

Napatingin naman siya sa braso niya, "Oh," she slightly panicked. Pero normal lang iyon dahil sobrang sensitibo ang balat niya at hindi siya nakapagpalit ng damit. "Mawawala din yan mamaya, I just have to change clothes — -" Natigilan naman siya nang may biglang maalala, "Shit."

"Errrr, why?" Del probed.

"Ummmm... Yung mga gamit na nasa maleta ko kasi are books and mementos lang. I already sold all my clothes and shoes para hindi ko na iuwi dito. But I shopped for new clothes sa Zalora, yun plano kong isuot for this Zambales trip. I shipped the clothes sa address ni Chit, of course were supposed to meet kahapon." She explained and touched her upper arms to scratch it lightly. Medyo nangangati na nga siya dahil mahigit 24 hours na niyang suot ang damit niya mula pa noong umalis siya sa Slovenia.