Too Classic for Him

II. Lovefool

Mama tells me I shouldn't bother

That I ought to stick to another man

A man that surely deserves me

But I think you do!

So I cry, I pray and I beg

Love me love me

Say that you love me

I wasn't really interested in anything but books, cooking and movies on Netflix. Siguro pag-tumatanda doon na lang talaga umiikot ang mundo. And I was never one for good company anyway. I was always quiet. I practically grew up with a happy family – my aunt's family. Laging wala ang parents ko. Yes, ako yung literal na gasgas na produkto ng mga magulang na sa sobrang busy ay nakakalimutan nilang may anak silang binuo. They were both working overseas, in different states for that matter. My mother is a molecular biologist. And that sounds so... smart. I got it from her. And dad, he's an executive for a big technology company. And he's practically everywhere in Asia.

Yung pagmamahal nila... nararamdaman ko sa birthday cards at Christmas presents. We rarely see each other. Hindi naman ako nagcocomplain. At lalong hindi rin naman ako magtataka kung nag-iisang anak lang ako. Hindi naman nila ako pinabayaan. I have everything I want and sometimes more. And I totally don't feel bad about my parents' decision. Mahal ko naman sila. At naiintindihan ko sila. And my aunt never ever made me feel like an outcast to her family. Lalo na at nagiisa lang naman ang anak niya so it felt like she had me as her second daughter.

But you know, it gets lonely when you get old.

Lalo na nung nagpakasal yung pinsan ko. Sanya is my only girl bestfriend and confidante. And she's ten years older than I am.

So she's more like the bigger person in my life. My ate.

"Why didn't you even tell me that you're going home?"

"Well..."

"Well what?"

Napangiti ako habang naririnig ko yung paghihisterya niya sa kabilang linya. Nasanay na kaming dalawa na ganito. She does the talking and I do the listening. Well, most of the time.

"What?" Tanong ko nung tumahimik siya. "You're tired already?" Mahina kong sabi. Nialagay ko sa loud speaker iyon. I smiled as I unpack my clothes. Nilibot ko yung mata ko sa kwarto. I wonder how he's doing right now. There are only two rooms in this condo and the other one is a study. Hindi ako napasilip kanina doon. Basta sinabi lang ni Dominic na dating study room daw iyon ng si Luke pa ang nakatira dito.

Naalala ko pa yung convo namin kanina.

"W-what?" Mahina kong tanong. Nailang ako sa pagtitig niya sa akin bigla. "Vanilla or chocolate?"

"H-ha?"

"Ice Cream? Anong flavor mo ate... ahh... T-Trish." Tumango siya at iniiwas ang mata sakin. Lalo lang akong napangiti. Pinilit kong kagatin yun taas ng labi ko para hindi kumurba yung ngiti ko. Kinikilig ako, lech.

"Anything with coffee flavor?"

Napakamot ito. "Ahm... Vanilla or chocolate lang yung usual kong binibili. Bili na lang ako next time ng coffee flavor."

"Okay, so Vanilla."

Tumango ito at inabutan niya ako ng Vanilla ice cream na nasa cone. Napataas yung kilay ko.

Kumuha naman ito ng Chocolate flavor. He smiled happily and his eyes twinkled with that kind of annoying charm. "Marami ako nitong stock sa ref... so... help yourself." He seemed to relax a little. So what do they say about a person with a sweet tooth? They have sweeter dispositions in life.