The Ugly Duckling (PUBLISHED UNDER PSICOM)

Ugly #20

Date? Did he just say date?

"Date?"

May ngiti na naglaro sa labi niya. "Yes, Maria. A date."

Huminto si Sage sa harapan ng isang rolling store. May menu na nakasulat lang sa folder at mukhang ginamitan ng cheap na pentlepen. Different stir fry dishes are displayed on top of the small table. Sisig, bacon, hotdog, eggs, fried chicken. Yung mga madadali lang lutuin. Sa katabi noon ay may tusok-tusok. I have no idea what those are called. Kikiam lang ang naalala ko. I've heard it from one of my blockmates before and I only remembered because I found the name funny. 

Lumingon ako sa paligid pero mukhang sinadya ni Sage na dito huminto. Napangiwi naman ako.

"D-Dito?" 

I bit my lip. I looked around and felt completely out of place. I've never been in this specific area because I never had a reason to be here before. It's not like I have any business here. Maraming kainan sa paligid at karamihan ay mga tusok-tusok. I'm completely aware of those but it doesn't mean nakakain na ako. It doesn't look healthy nor does it come across as appetizing.

"Yes. Dito. May problema ba?" 

"Bakit... Dito?" Napalingon ako kay Sage at nakita ang pagtataka sa mukha niya. He assumed that I was poor because that's what I want him to think. And maybe he thinks that it was normal for me to be out here. Siguro akala niya na kumakain rin ako ng mga street food. When in fact, I haven't eaten any kind of street food in my entire life. 

"I just thought you would be comfortable in this environment." He trailed while scanning the whole place before looking at me again. A frown formed on Sage's lips. He seemed upset. "Unless you want somewhere upscale."

He wanted me to be comfortable. That's... sweet. But still. Hindi ko alam kung kaya kong kumain dito. It's so far from my comfort zone. I'm in an uncharted territory here. I've never tried eating in a food establishment like this. No one ever thought of taking me. Maging ang mga parents ko, si Dee o si Luke Dashiel ay ni-minsan hindi ako dinala sa ganitong lugar. 

Inilibot ko ulit ang mga mata ko at iniisip kung pagbibigyan ko ba siya at kakain katulad ng inaasahan niyang gagawin ko. Maybe he saw the uneasiness in my face because he suddenly called for my attention.

"You've... eaten here, right?"

My eyes widened. Hindi na ako nabigyan ng panahon para makapagsinungaling. I was caught. It was already obvious with the way I take in my whole surroundings. Mukha kaya akong nandidiri? I didn't mean to look that way. Everything is just really new to me, I guess.

Bumuntong hininga ako at walang ibang nagawa kundi sabihin ang totoo. Umiling-iling ako sa kanya at binigyan ng seryosong tingin. "Hindi pa." 

Mukhang hindi inaasahan ni Sage ang naging sagot ko dahil napakunot ang noo niya. Iniling niya sa gilid ang ulo at matapos ay nagtataang tiningnan ako. Mali ba ang naging sagot ko? Maybe I should have told him that I did and saved myself from the trouble. He figured that since I was poor, normal na sa akin ang kumain sa ganitong klaseng kainan.