Catch Me ✔

XXX - Andrew

"Is she.. a frequent here?" Tanong ko kay Keith.
Hindi ko alam but I'm fucking eager to know more about her! I am so much drawn! Really in awe of her beauty.

"Di ko masabing frequent siya dito pero, I see her here twice or thrice a month? It doesn't seem like she has a boyfriend though may sumusundo sa kanya dito pag dito sila ng mga kaibigan niya." He wiggled his eyebrows and snickered.

"Ulol hindi ko naman tinanong kung may boyfriend siya.." Umiling ako.

"Well... heads up lang." He shrugged his shoulders and went inside the bar counter to check something.

"Hoy ayoko na nga! Hahahaha!" Narinig ko ang isang boses na medyo kahawig sa kanya.

"Girl, we have to go there pa! Besides, busy naman sa pagsupport sa isang campaign ang dad mo.. we should go to that club!" Sabi ng isang kaibigan niyang babae.

Lumingon ako sa direksyon nila. "Bro, nakikinig ka pa sa akin? I'll turn down your proposal if--okay, I understand." Napatigil si Keith sa pagsasalita nang makita niya kung saang direksyon ako nakatingin.

All of her friends are almost wasted. At siya, mukhang tipsy na dahil gumegewang na ang lakad habang nakaangkla ang braso ng kaibigan niyang babae.

Tawa sila nang tawa papalabas ng bar pero nahinto siya sa akin at sumeryoso ang mukha. "You...why didn't you come to my birthday party?!"

Her voice is a bit low.
"I--we don't know each other but.. I went into a wrong room earlier. Sorry."

"Why did you call me Eleanor? The name is Pauline! Or do I remind you of your ex? Well," She put her hands on her waist. "We're not the same. Try me."

"P! Hahaha you're talking to someone you don't know! Diba you don't like talking to strangers.." Sabi sa kanya ng kaibigan niya.

Lumingon sa likod si Pauline at tumingin sa akin ulit. "Oh yeah..oo nga pala.."

"But you're cute though.. I might consider." She waved goodbye and sweetly smiled at me.

Tuluyan na silang lumabas ng bar, going to god knows where.

Fuck!? What did just happened?

"Wow. Makapigil-hininga yun ah, akala ko aawayin ka niya at sasampalin at--" Inambahan ko si Keith para magtigil. Ngumisi naman ang loko.

"Ikaw sampalin ko?" Umiling siya at tumawa pa.

"Easyhan mo lang ha. Hindi talaga sila magkapareho ni Eleanor eh."

I shrugged. Baka nga, sana nga..

It's been a couple of weeks since I've seen her in Keith's bar.

I actually tried searching her Facebook account and stalked her a bit.

It seemed like she just graduated in college just two years ago, now pursuing her dream career.

Her friends usually go out clubbing but they always tag her in pictures even if she's not there.

Madalas nilang ilagay na "insert Pauline here" and they include a Photoshopped picture of her to look like she's there.

Nagulat na lang ako na may nag-notif sa akin.

Pauline Cipriano sent you a message.

WTF?!

I opened the chat in Message Requests.

" Hey, stalker. "

What? How did she know I'm... stalking her..?

" Nag-like ka lang naman ng picture ko! Sige nga, I'll stalk you rin! "

Dahil putangena marupok ako. In-accept ko. Ako pa ang nag-friend request sa kanya.

In just a few minutes, she accepted my friend request!
Wala kaming mutual friends kahit isa.

Proof that no one's an acquaintance.

Kinakabahan akong mag-chat sa kanya, but out of politeness, I replied.

" I'm really sorry. For.. crashing your party that night. "

" No biggie. " Reply niya.

" Thanks. " I replied with a smiley face.

Seen

Seen?!

Oh shit ano bang dapat kong isunod na chat?

Shit!

For a whole month we stayed as acquaintances. Casual liking of posts, viewing of each other's story if we have one. Ganun lang..

I guess, the both of us got really busy.
Inaasikaso ko rin kasi ang mga terms and conditions sa contract na pipirmahan ni Keith, as our partner.

I was also preparing for a speech I'm going to deliver sa Year-End Ball ng company as the successor for the next three years.
Of course, I have to impress everyone to leave a good impression on them.
This company was built by Lolo, we just had to sustain it.

I'm not getting any younger, so I also have to have concrete goals to reach.
I've already moved on and broke the chains that bind me from the past.

And I believe... this is all for the better.