Hindi ko alam kung bakit gusto niyang makipagkita sa akin ngayon. Ilang araw na mula nang hindi siya nakikipagkausap sa akin.
Mula dito, nakikita ko ang matangkad niyang pigura. Nakatayo lang siya—nakatingin sa kawalan. Maya-maya ginulo niya ang kanyang buhok bago sinipa ang maliit na bato sa gilid.
Huminto ako sa tabi ng puno. Medyo kinabahan ako. Parang wala siya 'ata sa mood. He muttered several curses before diverting his attention to his phone.
Eventually, he relaxed a bit. That's the time I started to make my way towards him. I tried not to make any noise while slowly walking but the puddle in front begged to disagree.
I fell flat on my face.
Unti-unti siyang bumaling sa akin. He looked pissed for a while then shook his head in bewilderment. "Tangina," I winced at his harsh words. Grabe ang tabas ng dila.
Mabilis niya akong pinatayo mula sa pagkakadapa at pinagpagan ang nadumihan kong damit. "Nakalimutan ko na ang sasabihan ko—may pa grand entrance ka pa kasi," he muttered under his breath.
Naguguluhan akong tumingin sakanya. Bakit kasalanan ko pa? Ako na nga ang nadapa.
"So I'll make this quick. I know you have classes pa," I nodded at him. At least considerate pa rin siya kahit galit.
I'm actually quite curious kung ano ang sasabihin niya because very rare lang ang instances na nagseseryoso siya.
"I want to set the record straight between us," His piercing gaze settled toward me. His dark brown eyes gleamed under the sunlight.
"Wala ba talaga?" seryoso niyang tanong.
Natigilan ako.
Sandali.
Walang ano?
Kulang 'ata ang tanong niya. Naalala ko naman ang fill in the blanks na hindiko nasagutan sa quiz namin last week. Grabe ang iyak ko pagkauwi kase sobranglaki pa naman ng points na nakalaan para doon.
I roamed around my eyes while biting my lips hoping that something would shed some light on his question.
A minute passed but I still needed clarification. Medyo malapit na din siyang maubusan ng pasensya. Halos magkadugtong na ang dalawa niyang kilay. He's even tapping his foot on the ground.
Sana ayusin niya ang pagtanong para masagot ko siya ng maayos. Nang sa ganoon, hindi siya nagagalit. Mas lalong tumatanda ang mukha niya 'pag naka-busangot.
"Ano kasi—" pilit akong ngumiti sakanya.
"What?" he hissed. Ang suplado talaga.
"Huwag ka ngang magalit," He raised his brow at me.
"Tungkol ba sa ano iyong tinatanong mo? Pasensya na ha—pero hindi ko mainitindihan ba't ang sungit mo ngayon,"
We stared at each other for several seconds before he tore his eyes from me.
He blinked several times before he touched his forehead in dismay. Unti-unti siyang tumalikod sa akin. Para siyang hihimatayin, hindi ko alam.
Then his shoulders began to shake. Marahan pa nung una pero naging marahas kalaunan. Goodness gracious! Umiiyak ba siya?
"Hala, okay ka lang?" nag-aalala akong humakbang palapit sakanya.
Nawala ang kaba ko nang marinig ko ang pamilyar na tunog ng tawa niya. His head flew back while laughing his heart out.
Bakit niya ako tinatawanan? Nakakatawa ba ako?
"Fuck—how can I stop this when you're too adorable," nangigigil niyang saad. Hindi niya 'ata kayang mag-construct ng sentence na walang kasali na mura.
"Penny," He called softly after wiping the tears from his eyes, probably from his hysterical laugh earlier.
"Ha?" naguguluhan kong tanong.
"I like you—so much, do you understand?" I narrowed my eyes at him. Nagtataka kong pinilig ang ulo sa kabila.
Gusto niya ako? Madami rin siyang sinabihan ng ganoon. Gusto niya kaming lahat?
"God you're too cute," he whispered while massaging his temples.
"I courted you last month, right? You rejected me," panunumbat niya.
"Niloloko mo lang ako noon diba?" He scowled at me. Galit na galit talaga.
"What are you talking about? That was sincere as fuck! I even sang for you!"
I blinked, utterly dumbfounded. Bakit sintunado? Akala ko tuloy joke lang.
He crossed his arms over his chest while narrowing his eyes at me—studying my reaction. Recognition dawned on his face then he grabbed his chest in mock pain.
"God, I know that face! You're judging my voice, right? Unbelievable!" He threw his hands in the air.
"Hindi a!"
Sorry po Lord. Pero totoo naman po na pangit ang boses niya.
"Just because I'm not good at singing doesn't mean my feelings aren't sincere Penny, " He firmly stated. Nagulat ako na sobrang lapit niya na pala sa akin. Nakakagulat naman 'to.
He heaved a sigh before holding my face, tucking some of my hair behind my ear. "You're so smart in school but why are you so dumb when we're talking," naiinsulto akong tumingin sakanya. Gusto niya daw ako pero grabe kung makalait sa akin.
Pero nilait mo rin siya. I heard my conscience.
Ay oo nga 'no? May kasalanan din pala ako. "Sorry," nahihiya kong sabi.
He grinned at me. "Tangina—" I grimaced. Nag-sorry na ako a!
"—ang ganda mo," lowering his voice to a teasing whisper.
"Huwag ka ngang magmura, ang pangit pakinggan," bulalas ko. Nanririndi na ang tenga ko.
"Sorry po ma'am," He bowed a bit.
"I also want to clarify that I'll be courting you again," gulantang akong napatingin sa kaniya. "—manliligaw ako ulit. Get that inside your pretty head. Huwag puro aral babe, landiin mo rin ako minsan," He says nonchalantly.
Seryoso ba siya? Isusumbong ko 'to kay Papa.
"Bawal pa akong magka-boyfriend,"
"We'll work on that,"
"Bawal nga—naiinis na ako ha,"
"Just go home na," he chuckled. "Baka maiuwi pa kita sa bahay," the side of his lips rose.
"Good night," paalam ko habang nanlulumong pumihit paalis. Bahala ka. Huwag galit-galitan kapag basted agad ha.
