Username: Sweetcorn77

XXIII. Please Lie

Lime knows that Justin might already have an idea about the truth because Destiny gave her a heads-up. "But how can he still smile like this?" An innocent, gummy smile. Pero nung papalapit na sya, there's something in his eyes that she couldn't explain.

"Hi Jah" she smiled back, awkwardly. She clasped her hands together on the table, nilalamig kasi sya sa kaba.

"Ma'am, Sir order nyo po?"

"Lime?"

"Beer"

"Really?"

"Yes Jah"

"2 bottles of beer please"

Pagdating ng beer lumagok agad si Lime, pampainit, pantanggal ng kaba.

"Jah anong meron?" She asked just to break the silence between them.

"Wala, na miss lang kita"

"Weh? agad agad? parang kagabi magkasama lang tayo ah"

"Uu miss kita agad-agad" Jah took a sip of his beer. "Hala Lime grabe ang lakas mo pala uminom?malapit mo ng maubos o"

"Hindi naman, ikaw lang tong mahina, di ka sanay uminom no?"

"Hindi"

"Baby bunso ka talaga" she smiled.

"Baby na bunso pa?"

"Uu baby ka pa lang dba?"

"Sige nga how old am I?"

"21"

"Birthday?"

"July 7,1998"

"Si Destiny, how old is she?"

"23, mas matanda ako sa kanya"

"photographer din sya?"

Inubos muna ni Lime ang beer bago sumagot.
"Yes, she's a photographer"

Jah leaned on the chair and took a deep breath.

"Bakit sweetcorn77?"

"Kasi korni ka pero sweet kaya sweetcorn tas birthday mo July 7, kaya 77"
Sumenyas sya sa waiter for another bottle.

Justin showed his picture to Lime.

"Favorite mo to e, when and where was this taken again?"

Si Lime naman ang bumuntong-hininga, thinking so hard kung ano isasagot nya kay Justin.

"Sa concert?"

"Saan nga at kelan?" He asked again, hindi yun dapat makakalimutan because the real sweetcorn77 bragged about that picture.

"Ah" Lime wet her lips, feeling nya kasi putlang-putla na sya. " Araneta? New Year countdown? Kuya yung beer!"

" Valentine's Day concert, SM Mall of Asia" he sadly whispered. "Nung nasa Tagaytay ka, anong picture ang sinend mo sa kin?" he asked again.

"T-Taal Volcano?"

He almost laughed, muntik na kasing tumama though may part nga ng taal sa photo, he was sure the photo was about the beautiful sunrise.

"Nung nasa Baguio ka, anong picture sinend mo?"

"Jah please, stop asking questions na?"

"Please Lime just answer it"

" Flowers?"

"Nope, Pine trees kasi I like green...nung nasa boracay ka, anong picture sinend mo?"

"S-sunset?"

"Nope, seashells"

"Jah" Kinuha ni Lime ang kamay ni Justin at hinawakan. "Tama na please?I'm sorry...sorry na"

"Sorry saan?" he smiled bitterly.

"Basta sorry" Hinawakan nya ng mahigpit mga kamay ni Justin, trying to hold back tears.

"Sino si Sweetcorn77?" He finally managed to ask.

Parang gustong maglaho ni Lime sa kinauupuan. She couldn't answer the question, alam lang nya tumutulo na pala luha nya sa magkahalong guilt, lungkot, kaba. She looked at the teary-eyed Justin.

"Lime, please lie and tell me you are Sweetcorn77."