Misfit

VIII

Pauwi na kami ni Theo matapos makapag-paalam sa mga bata at sinabing bibisita ulit kami. Idadaan niya muna 'yong Wrangler sa bahay at uuwi na din siya.

I've got way too much time to be this hurt
Somebody help, it's getting worse
What do you do with a broken heart?

Nakarating na kami sa bahay at Pinark niya sa loob 'yong Wrangler. Bumaba siya at hinagis sa'kin ang keys.

"I had fun today." He said genuinely. Me too.

"Thank you."

"So, aalis na ako. It's getting late." Saad nito. Tumingin lang ako sa kanya. Sighs.

"Hatid na kita."

"Hin—" Bago pa niya matapos ang sinasabi niya sumakay na ako ulit sa kotse ko. I saw him sigh and get in my car.

"You don't have to do this, Odium." He seriously said. Umiling lang ako at nanahimik na siya. I gave him my phone.

"Address." I started the engine at lumabas sa parking ng bahay namin. Nagdadalawang isip siya pero tinype niya pa din naman. Daming arte nitong lalaking 'to.

LANY was still playing on my car's audio. We were quiet. It's unusual of him.

"P'wede ba tayong dumaan sa Jollibee Drive Thru?" Tumango lang ako.

We were still quiet. The silence is starting to get awkward.

"You're unusually quiet." I said. He seems to be thinking deeply about something.

"'Yong k'wento mo?" That.

"What about it?" I asked.

"Sino 'yong bata?" I sighed at that. I'm so proud of that kid. Laking improvement sa ever since nangyari 'yon sa kanya. I envy that girl because she can move on from what happened to her and that made her a better person.

"Miracle."

"Siya ang hula ko though I'm not really sure." Napakunot ang noo ko sa kan'ya.

"She's so bubbly and energetic. Parang walang nangyari na gano'n sa kanya dati." He smiled sadly. "But maybe I'm wrong to judge the person base on how they present themselves to the world." He continued. I agree, Theodore.

"Kasi kung sino pa ang mga taong masaya, madalas sila pa talaga 'yong problemado. I wish some people don't fear their own emotions." He looked at me then tumingin sa window side niya. Hindi ka naman nagpapatama, ano?

"Nasa tao naman kasi 'yan." I argued but not really.

"Maybe, maybe not. Fearing your own emotion is like fearing being human." Natahimik ako do'n. Partly true.

I want to drop the topic since I can't argue with him about this. I have a bad feeling if we continue this. Saktong may nakikita akong sign ng Jollibee.

Ang unang plano is drive through but I went to the parking. "Akala ko drive through tayo?" I just rolled my eyes.

Once I've parked, lumabas na ako. He looked so confused. Umiling nalang siya at lumabas na din.

We went inside Jollibee at dumirecho ako sa counter.

"Welcome to Jollibee, what can I get you, Ma'am?" masiglang bati no'ng cashier. Tumabi sa'kin si Theo at napatingin—no, napatitig sa kan'ya 'yong babae.

"Miss, I'll have a 12-piece chicken bucket, large coke zero and..." Tinignan ko si Theo at tumingin siya sa menu. "Yum burger and the same drink as hers." He continued. Nakatunganga pa din sa kan'ya 'yong babae. I sighed.