Euphony (TBS 3)

088

NOVICE

" You're here. Again." I emphasized the last word as I saw Carlisle again on my doorstep. He was hiding something from his back and he was grinning like a Cheshire cat.

" Ta-da!" Tumalikod siya tapos ipinakita yung box na dala-dala niya sa likod. If it was heavy, I don't know how he could carry it with ease.

Kumunot ang aking noo. Hindi alam ang gagawin sa box.

" What's that?" I asked him.

" Basta!" his body wriggled as he struggled now to hold the box. When I was about to help him, bigla na lang nabitawan niya yung box.

" Shit!" he cursed. Something came out of the box that made me jump. May lumabas na malaking puppy doon tapos agad na naglakad sa aking paanan.

" Surprise." I heard Carlisle said in a teasing tone.  Sumimangot ako ng bahagya and then I got the puppy from the ground. Sinamaan ko ng tingin si Carlisle dahil aso ko iyon! Kaya pala mula kanina ay hindi ko makita!

" Why is my puppy here with you? Paano mo siya nakuha? And why are you here?" I asked and hugged the puppy. Kita ko namang napanguso si Carlisle dahil sa ginawa ko.

" That's my card for today."

My brows furrowed again. " Card? For what? I swear, you're getting weirder each day."

" Last card para payagan mo akong manligaw."

Natigil ako sa paglalaro sa aso at napatingin sa kaniya. I felt something wet on my cheek but my attention was on the man with a cheeky smile and playful eyes.

" Manliligaw ka?"

He cupped the back of his neck with his hand and then there was a tint of red on his face. " Yeah and Milo is my alas."

" What makes you think na mapapapayag mo akong manligaw ka sa akin using MY dog?"

" Well, you can have Milo back kapag pumayag ka. Kapag hindi, I'll dognapped him again." he grinned.

I swear, he's really crazy. Ito yata ang nagagawa ng engineering sa kaniya. His subjects made him crazy.

" Ewan ko sa'yo." I let Milo inside the house. Agad naman itong nagtatakbo sa may carpetted floor. Nang mapatingin ako kay Carlisle ay nanghahaba na ang kaniyang nguso. His eyes were like that of a puppy to..

My heart just swelled at his face. It wasn't always a surprise that I see him everyday at my doorstep, bringing anything. At ngayon niya lang sinabi ang kaniyang agenda sa bawat pagpunta.

" I really like you best friend. Kaya payagan mo na akong manligaw." he pouted.

" Kaya nga. Mag best friends tayo. Bawal ang manligaw and we can't like each other." I told him, pero sa isip-isip ko ay sana hindi ko na sinabi ang last na phrase kasi tutol ang puso ko sa sinabing iyon.

" Pwede!" he exclaimed. " I can be your best friend, your boyfriend, your lover and your baby! Kahit ano!"

I just chuckled. Crazy man.

" Ha! I made you laugh. That means payag ka na!" He did a victory jump in front of me while carrying the dog. Bumalik ako sa pagseseryoso kaya umayos din siya. He held that crazy puppy face again.

" Sige na, bebe ko, please…"

" O baka naman ayaw mong manligaw ako kasi…" he trailed.

Kumunot ang noo ko. " Kasi?"

" Kasi gusto mong maging boyfriend mo na ako?" he bit his lower lip and winked at me.

What a shameless prick.

Iniwan ko nga doon sa labas at pinagsarhan ng pinto. I could still hear him speaking outside. Nakita ko si Mommy na pababa ng hagdan.

" Si Crithos na naman anak?" she asked in a teasing tone. I rolled my eyes. As always. Kakontsaba niya na naman.

Mommy just chuckled because she knew it was always Carlisle that's just messing with my day. Umakyat na lang ako sa kwarto at hinayaan si Mommy na kumausap na lang kay Carlisle.

That crazy man.