I Fell For You

Chapter 10: Travel Buddy

It's just for show. Iyon ang itinatak ko sa aking utak bago i-off ang phone at ipagpatuloy ang pagbabasa sa hawak na libro. Alam kong palabas niya lamang ang Instagram post na iyon. Publicity stunt. Maybe to avoid more confusions about our "relationship". 

Marami pa din kasing hindi naniniwala na nakipagrelasyon ang kanilang prinsipe sa hindi kabilang sa kahit anong royal family. Or more like, marami ang hindi matanggap ang balita. Most were his bitter fangirls. 

I've received some hate messages from them, hindi ko na nga lang pinapatulan ang mga iyon. Paminsan ay nakikita kong nagrereply si Demi sa mga bashers kaya pinagsasabihan ko siya. Ang patolera talaga noon. Naalala ko nang makipag-sabunutan siya sa kaklase namin noong high school. I forgot what the reason is but I remember her parents being called by the guidance counselor.

I sighed and reminded myself that Ephraim and I agreed to fake date. Para siguro matahimik na ang iba ay nag-post siya ng litrato ko na may simple ngunit may kahulugan na caption. It wouldn't take a genius to deduce what his caption is implying. And I shouldn't be feeling kilig  for simple things like that. 

I flipped the page of the book and tried to focus on reading but my mind is already elsewhere. Kalaunan ay ibinaba ko din ang libro, at sinubukang mag-sketch. Buti nalang talaga ay dinala ko ang sketchpad ko at iilang pens.

I was busy making a sketch of their beautiful library when Ephraim spoke. Abala ito kanina sa pagsusulat din ng kung ano sa isang puting papel. 

"What if I fund an exhibit for your artworks?" he asked in a curious tone. Kunot noo akong bumaling sa kanya. "What do you mean?"

"You really have potential as an artist," puri niya habang nakatingin sa sketchpad ko. It was still in skeletons pero tila amazed na amazed na siya doon. Hindi ko tuloy alam kung pinipeke niya ang reaksyon niya o ano. "Pwede mo akong kuning sponsor para sa art exhibit mo. I'd be willing to, and I'm sure my mom would love to as well."

He showed me his cocky grin. "Tsaka kung magbebenta ka ng paintings, papakyawin ko lahat!"

Natawa ako dahil may hand gestures pa siya nang sabihin iyon. 

"I'll raise the price kung ikaw din ang bibili. Maybe five hundred thousand or more."

"Make it a million, and I'd still buy it," mayabang niyang sabi. Iba talaga 'pag mayaman. "You should do me a portrait sometimes. What do you think? I'm a perfect model."

He posed in front of me and showed an exaggerated fierce face. Tapos ay finlex pa sa harap ko ang muscles sa braso. Humalakhak ako. "Kadiri ka. Stop it!"

Tumigil naman siya at natawa din sa ginawa. "I'm serious though. I'll hung it on the walls of my room. Maybe you could do a portrait of us together."

"Isasabit mo din sa room mo?" Pabiro kong tanong. Tumango naman siya doon kaya nailing ako. Paanong hindi ako manlalambot sa isang 'to? 

"I'm not really good with portraits though."

"You'll do good," ngumiti siya at nagpakita ng thumbs up. "One day, you will be known, Pinky. As an architect and an artist."

"At ikaw naman? Siguro, hari ka na no'n!" I imagined him wearing the crown of the king. 

"Depends," kibit balikat niya. "But you know what I'm sure about?"

"What?"

"I'd buy your artworks, and become the proudest during every art exhibit," he smiled. It made the butterflies flutter in my stomach. Hindi na lamang ako nag-salita pa roon. 

Napatingin ako sa papel na hawak niya sa kabilang kamay. Napansin yata niyang natingin ako doon kaya mabilis niyang ipinakita iyon sa akin.

My eyes stayed at the paper when I saw a list of unfamiliar places here in Por Zakaria. It says on top: Plans for my Travel Buddy.