Fall
Pinagbigyan ko ang dinner with Christian. As much as I don't want to continue this, ngunit nandito na siya at ayoko namang hindi siputin.
He chose a restaurant somewhere in Makati. Friday naman at wala akong ginagawa lalo na't kakatapos lamang ng online class ko kanina.
"Your Tito Walter mentioned that you're homeschooled," he pointed out.
I nodded while eating my food.
"Eighteen, right?"
I nodded again. I know that I'm showing less interest in the topic, but is it understandable that I am not responding because I'm eating? Sumimsim ako ng tubig nang may masabi naman.
"Ateneo, right?" tanong ko.
"Yup."
"Course?"
"Accountancy."
Oh wow. Sa mukha niya pa lang, parang matalino nga sa math. He seems more interested in subjects as a topic than nonsense things. He also smells like someone who is goal-oriented.
Siguro, kung boyfriend talaga ang pakay ko, isa siya sa masasabi kong boyfriend-material dahil mukhang seryoso at pokus lang sa pag-aaral. I can't sense that he's introverted, but based on the way he carried our conversation, he seems fun and sociable.
"May I ask if this is your first time dating?"
"Tito Walter already introduced me to the other boys."
He looked a bit shocked, but he nodded.
"I see... that's probably the reason why you seem bored and less interested," he chuckled.
"Oh no. I'm just... like this," sabi ko, hindi alam kung ano ba ang ipapangalan sa sarili ko. "Cold and a bit distant. But I know how to... talk. Sometimes."
"Knowing that you looked so snobby," he raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching for a smile.
"I get that a lot of times," sabi ko at ginalaw ulit ang pagkain.
"Don't worry. I'm used to snobby people. I have a friend who's also just like you. Pihikan sa kaibigan Hindi namamansin basta basta. He's very cold, but mysterious in a way."
I nodded without putting too much effort into the topic when my eyes drifted to the entrance of the restaurant.
Nasundan ng mga mata ko ang pagpasok ng pamilyar na si Caden na nakauniporme pa kasama ang nakauniporme ring babaeng maputi.
He pulled the chair for the girl as she smiled at him. He crouched a bit and said something while the girl was already picking up the menu and nodding her head as her eyes scanned the menu.
Tumikhim ako at ibinalik ang tingin kay Christian nang tumayo ng tuwid si Caden, seryosong namulsa at naglakad sa kung saan.
Nakailang beses akong sulyap sa babae niyang kasama. Probably his type of girl. Angelic and innocent.
I lost track with Christians' topics kaya halos hindi ko na alam kung ano ang isasagot. His phone rang, which is why he stood and excused himself to answer the call.
Ilang sandali lang, natanaw ko ang pagbalik ni Caden sa kanilang table. He was playfully biting his lips while looking at his screen when his eyes accidentally found mine.
I lowered my gaze to my food. Shit. I remembered my conversation with him in the parking lot.
Pasimple kong inangat ulit ang tingin at nakita ang tingin ni Caden sa akin habang nakaukupa na sa harap noong kasama niyang babae. He's glancing at his back shamelessly without considering that he's with a girl.
