Guys, meet Zeno ang bago kong papatayin. Charot lang HAHAHAHA di ko na uulitin.
***
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
Ngumisi sya at nilagay ang kamay sa bulsa ng jeans nya. “Hindi ka ba muna mag-papasalamat?”
“Edi thank you.” Umirap ako. What does he want?
“If you want to thank me then come with me.”
“Why would I? Mag-kano ba?” Maanghang na sagot ko.
There’s a hint of amusement in his eyes, mas lalong lumawak ang ngisi nito. “I’m not asking for money bellissima, I just want to go somewhere with you.”
Matalim ko itong tinitigan. “Are you going to stop if I come with you now?”
“Maybe?” he shrugged his shoulders.
“WHAT?!”
“Date lang eh, damot mo naman.”
Lumakad na ako palapit sa kanya. “This is not a date. I just want to thank you for saving me.”
Humalakhak si Zeno. “Fine, sabi mo eh.” Inalalayan nya akong umangkas sa motor nya. Mabilis kong tinampal ang kamay nitong nasa bewang ko pa rin nang maka-upo ako.
He just chuckled and hop on his big-bike. Binuhay na nya ang makina at nag-drive. Naka-hawak lang ako sa shirt nito.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“Ano?!” He said, he can’t hear me because of the paspas of hangin.
“SABI KO SAN TAYO PUPUNTA?!” Nilakasan ko ang boses ko.
“I DISCOVERED SOMETHING! I WANT YOU TO TASTE IT TOO!” Pasigaw din nitong sabi.
Fine, nagugutom na rin naman ako. I only had a sandwich kanina because I almost got late for my meetings.
“Seriously?” Usal ko nang makita kung saan sya nag-park. It’s just a place na may hilera ng food stalls and carts.
“I won’t food-poison you, trust me.” Inalalayan nya akong maka-baba ng motor.
“Siguraduhin mo lang.” Umirap ako.
My nose wrinkled when he pulled me towards a food cart. There are white-circular shit and fried oranges?
“What’s this?” I asked while looking at him, tinuro ko iyong fried oranges. He’s getting two plastic cups and sticks.
“Fishball at Kwek-kwek ang mga yan.” He said at inabot sakin ang baso at stick.
Tinignan ko ang sign ng food cart. “Quick-quick?” basa ko dito.
Natawa na lang sya sa sinabi ko at nilagyan ng orange and white something ang plastic cup ko. He also put some sauce.
“Isn’t this a fried kiat-kiat?” I curiously asked.
“No, go ahead and taste it.” He said. Nilagyan nya rin ang kanya. I watched him eat first before I took a bite, making sure that it’s safe to eat.
“It’s not bad.” I said while munching. So, it’s just a quail egg with orange batter. The sauce is pretty good too.
“See, I discovered that yesterday. I wanted you to taste it too.” I watched him eat so fast kaya binilisan ko rin.
Napaparami na rin ang kinukuha kong quick-quick when I saw the vendor grinning at me.
“What?” I asked.
“Ang sarap mo naman kumain ng itlog, miss. Pwede yung akin din?” Bastos na sabi nito.
“Sige, basta papayag kang ganto kainin.” Madiin kong tinusok ang quick-quick.
“Tangina, tara na nga.” Narinig kong bulong ni Zeno.
“Hindi pa bayad, baliw.” Sabi ko dito.
“Magkano?” Zeno asked the pervert vendor.
“150.”
“Sige, hintayin mo ko.” Akmang aalis si Zeno kaya hinila ko ang shirt nito.
“Ako na nga ang mag-babayad.” Sabi ko.
“No, wait for me.” Nag-lakad to pabalik sa motor.
Pabalik na ito, he’s walking while holding a pouch and counting coins. Naningkit ang mata ko nang makitang tig-pipiso ang pera nito. Walang-wala naba syang pera?
“Oh, sakto pala.” Sabi nito nang maka-lapit.
Nanlaki ang mata ko nang mabilis nyang binato sa tindero yung dakot-dakot na piso at mabilis nya rin akong hinila patakbo papunta sa motor.
“PUTANGINA!” Narinig kong hiyaw nung bastos. Sinakay agad ako ni Zeno sa motor at pina-takbo ito.
“Bukol-bukol siguro yun bukas.” Sabi ko. Ikaw kaya batuhin ng 150 na piso.
“Aba, tama lang yun. Bastos sya eh.” Zeno said. Natawa naman kaming parehas sa nangyare.
“Gusto mo ng BJ?” Sabi nito bigla.
Nanlaki ang mata ko at hinampas ang likod nito.“BLOWJOB KA JAN!”
“ARAY NAMAN! BUKO JUICE KASI, WAG KA NGANG MANAKIT NAG-MAMANEHO AKO EH!” Inda nito.
“AYUSIN MO KASI! BJ BJ KA JAN!” kinurot ko ang tagiliran nito.
“STOP IT! IKAW KAYA ANG BASTOS MAG-ISIP!” Sabi nito kaya umirap ako.
“Hindi pa nga tayo mapanakit kana.” Narinig kong bulong nito.
“BALIW!” As if namang magiging kami. No one can ever replace Zyver in my heart.
Tinigil nito ang motor sa gilid ng cart na napapalibutan ng mga tao. They are drinking buko juice nga.
“Dalawa nga pong tig-10.” Sabi ni Zeno. Akmang kukuhanin ko ang wallet ko nang hawakan nya ang kamay ko.
“I will pay for it. Ako ang nag-yakag na mag-date.” He said then he immediately handed a 20 peso bill to the manong.
Sumimangot ako. “This is not a date.” Umirap ako then I sipped on the plastic cup. The sweetness of the buko juice refreshed me.
He chuckled at my remarks. “Sungit mo naman.”
I scoffed.
“Let’s go, ihahatid na kita.” He said after we drank the BJ. Ano ba yan nahahawa na ako, buko juice pala.
Tiningala ko sya. “Uuwi na tayo?”
Napa-ngisi sya sa sinabi ko. “Gusto mo pa ako maka-sama?”
Umirap ako at humalukipkip. “No, asa ka naman no.”
“I know that you still have work tomorrow kaya ayokong puyatin ka.” He said in a soft voice.
“Yeah right, hatid mo ko sa building. Nandoon ang kotse ko.”
Inalalayan nya akong umangkas sa motor at sinuotan ng helmet. “Masusunod, mahal na reyna.” Natatawang sabi nito.
Nang maka-rating sa parking lot ay mabilis akong bumaba sa motor. I felt his presence right behind me, sinusundan nya ako.
“Can I see you again, tomorrow?” He asked.
I turned around and face him. “Wala kabang ginagawa sa buhay?”
Napahalakhak sya sa sinabi ko. “Meron naman but I will always make time for you.”
“Sorry but I don’t have plans to be your sugar-mommy.” I remembered what Yesenia said.
Lalong lumakas ang tawa nya at napa-hawak pa sa tyan. Naningkit ang mata ko. “What’s funny?”
He stood straight and tried to stop himself from laughing. “You’re funny, I’m already 28 miss.”
“Huh?”
“Bente-otso na ako, twenty-eight.” Ulit nya.
“K, bye.” I said and opened the door of my car.
“Sungit naman.” He chuckled.
I ignored him and sat on the driver’s seat. Sinara ko na ang pinto. He leaned on the door and peeked through the window that I slightly opened.
“I’ll message you later.” He said.
Umirap ako. As if namang alam nya number ko. “Alis jan.” Madiin kong sabi.
Natatawang tinaas nya ang dalawang kamay habang umaatras like he’s giving up.
Mabilis kong pinaandar ang sasakyan ko paalis. I looked at the side mirror and saw him waving his hand goobye while smiling like an idiot.
“So weird.” I whispered.
