Breathing for Nicotine

Chapter 13

"Do you want to go for a coffee?" He asked me at tumango naman ako.

Grasya na tatanggihan ko pa ba?

Akala ko ay pupunta kami sa coffee shop pero lumiko siya papunta sa villa namin.

"Hindi ko naman sinabing ngayon." Sabi niya at pinagbuksan ako ng pinto ng sasakyan habang may hawak-hawak na payong dahil hindi pa din tumitila ang ulan.

"Pero kung na miss mo talaga ako, I can go inside now for a coffee." He teased and winked at me.

"Feeling mo." I rolled my eyes but I still invited him inside.

When we got inside, I asked one of the maids if mama's already here pero ang sabi niya ay wala pa daw. Tinignan ko ang relo and it's 30 minutes before 7:00, usual time nang pagdating niya sa bahay galing ng company.

I let him sit on the couch and I went to the kitchen para magtimpla ng kape. Ako yung gagawa para malagyan ko ng gayuma. Charot.

I erased those thoughts in my mind. I'm having a lot of fight with my flirty inner-self lately.

Nung matapos akong magtimpla ng dalawang kape ay pumunta na ako sa living room at nilapag ang dalawang kape sa coffee table.

He sipped from his coffee pero naibuga niya naman kaagad ito dahilan para ma-manchahan ang suot niya. Buti na lang at hindi niya ito naibuga sa direksyon ko.

"Okay ka lang?" I reached for the tissue paper below the coffee table and gave it to him.

"May galit ka ba sakin?" He asked and wiped his mouth and shirt.

"Huh? Pangit ba ang lasa?" I asked. Coffee beans talaga ang ginamit ko and it's my first time to brew. I was about to taste it when he stopped me.

"Don't drink it." Sabi niya kaya binalik ko na lang ito sa coffee table.

Bad idea ata ang pagmamagaling ko. Sana pala nag kopiko twin pack na lang ako.

"Sorry. It's my first time to make a brews coffee." Sabi ko at nginitian siya ng alanganin. Tumayo ako at kukunin sana ang kape niya pero inilayo niya ito sa akin.

"Anong gagawin mo?" He asked.

"Malamang, kukunin ang kape. It's not edible." I said and rolled my eyes. Laking gulat ko nung uminom siya dito.

"Hindi naman ah. Sino nagsabing pangit ang lasa?" He said while trying his best not to show in his face that he's disgusted with it.

'Ikaw nagsabi.' Gusto ko sanang sabihin sa kanya.

"Huwag mo na nga sabing inumin! Akin na yan. Mamaya sumakit pa tyan mo ng dahil sakin." Sabi ko at inagaw na nga ng tuluyan sa kanya ang baso pero pagtingin ko ay halos wala na itong laman.

Pota. Tibay ng sikmura.

He stayed there for awhile when he decided to leave.

"I got to go now, it's already 7 o'clock." He said and stood up. I nodded at ihahatid na sana siya sa gate ng nakasalubong namin si mama sa pintu-an.

"Hijo, you're still here." Mama said. Bumeso naman si Veyn sa kanya.

"Yes, tita. Pauwi naman ako." He said and put his hands on his side pocket.

Mama told me that the last time she saw Veyn, he was still a little kid but why does it seems like they're close? Nothing's changed for years? Kung ako yan, awkward na ako.