The Nightwatch

AN ATTEMPTED ABDUCTION

10.

I would have say no if I knew Wade was serious taking me to eat ice cream with him. Cause minutes after being in the cemetery we're here entering an ice cream parlor that is open for 24 hours.

I can't believe I'm eating ice cream with a mere stranger in the middle of the night.

Wala nang ibang customer maliban sa amin ang naririto. Maliit lang ang shop at meron lamang apat na tables na nakapwesto malapit sa dingding. The wall is covered with pink wallpaper and ice cream stickers are everywhere. An unfamiliar pop song is playing from the counter.

Lumingon sa akin si Wade bago magpatuloy sa counter.
"What do you want to have?" I just stared at him blankly and he have this very bright look in his face. I sighed and rolled my eyes. I tried to cast my eyes into the menu but none of those seemingly appetizing ice cream caught my eyes.

I don't even wanna eat anything.

"Just order what you think I'll like" I answered with the most uninterested tone. He headed to the counter and u look around to find a sit. Umupo ako sa table na may dalawang upuan lamang since dalawa lamang kami.

Habang pinagmamasdan ko pa ang kabuuan ng shop ay doon ko lamang nalaman na mag aalasdos na pala. There is a wall clock up there. I've never been outside at this kind of hour.

Hindi ko alam kung nagtagal ba si Wade sa counter pero pagbalik nya ay may dala na syang tray ng dalawang overloaded ice cream na nakalagay sa mala-sosyal na baso.

"I ordered you a rocky road one" Saad nya habang tinatanggal sa tray ang order namin. He placed the tray on the other table.
"And why is that?" he looked up to me like I was asking some dumb question.

"It reflects your life and personality. A rocky road one" he said that shrugging. That was an insult. But I don't feel pissed at all.

Nagsimula ako sa kaunting pasubo subo. Ice cream taste great but I'm not that fond of it. Napansin ko ang katapat ko na tila isang five year old na tuwang tuwa sa kinakain nya. I scan his ice cream at napangiwi ako sa flavor choice nya.

"Strawberry?" napatigil sya sa pagdila sa kutsara.
"Yes. It's my favorite" he answered smiling.

Napailing nalang ako. Kalalaking tao tapos strawberry favorite flavor. Weird.
"Ice cream is my comfort food. Weird to hear coming from a man right? But it's me. When I'm sad Ice cream comforts me" he stated without looking at me.

"It doesn't go the same with me." napatingin sya sa akin.
"Ice cream won't do any comfort for me. No food, places or even people could ever provide me the comfort that I need"

Wade didn't answered me and continue eating his order.

Hindi ko naubos ang ice cream ko at wala talaga akong balak ubusin sa una palang. Habang ang kasama ko ay simot ang kanyang baso. He didn't seem to mind that I didn't finished mine cause we immediately headed out of the icecream parlor.

"Why did you do this?" naglalakad kami palapit sa nakaparadang motorsiklo. Nauuna sya ng kaunti kaya nakatalikod sya mula sa akin.

"Why did you brought me to the cemetery and here?" nagsimula na syang kuhain ang kanyang helmet. Paglingon nya ay inabot nya ang akin.
"Wag ka na magtanong. Dahil walang importanteng kasagutan sa mga iyan"

Sinuot na nya ang helmet at sumampa sa motorsiklo upang paandarin ang makina. Wala na akong nagawa kundi isuot din ang hawak kong helmet at sumakay sa likod nya.

In a matter of minutes at narating namin ang bahay. Katulad kanina ay inihinto nya ang motor na may kalayuan sa bahay. Agad akong bumaba at naglakad palayo. I heard him followed me and all of a sudden he grabbed my arm causing for us to have this close distance.