I looked at Leander at my back right now. I don't want to look assuming pero sinusundan niya ba ako?
Tinikom ko ang bibig ko at kumuha ng isang pack ng napkin mula sa shelf. I saw him looking at me holding that. He raised his eyebrow before turning his head back on a product he is holding. Nang tignan ko iyon ay isang face mask.
He placed back the product when I left that corner. Narinig ko na lang ang yapak ng paa niya hanggang sa makarating ako sa kabila. I'm searching for any underwear they're selling.
"Lean?" Someone called.
Pareho pa kami ni Leander na napatingin doon sa babaeng mahaba ang buhok at mukhang kaedad ko lang. Leander is far from me right now and the woman is almost beside me.
She laughed. "Anong ginagawa mo dito? Hindi ka na naman pumapasok, ah?"
I saw how he gave her a annoyed look and shrugged. Bumaling siya sa hawak niyang bote ng shampoo na sa tingin ko ay pinaglalaruan niya lang iyon.
The girl cleared her throat and looked embarrassed because of how Leander ignored her. Ngumiwi ako habang nakatingin sa kaniya na yumuko at umalis sa pwesto namin.
I felt bad for her. That was so rude. He ignored her like he doesn't know her at all which in fact, I think kaklase niya iyon!
"What?" Leander said when he caught me glaring at him.
Naglakad siya papalapit sa akin habang nakataas ang kilay at sinasampal sa palad niya ang hawak niyang bote ng shampoo.
Tinuro ko iyong dinaanan ng babae. "What did you do?"
"Anong ginawa ko?"
"Kaklase mo 'yon, di'ba?" Halos pumaymewang ako, pinigilan ko lang.
He nodded. "So?"
Nanliit ang paningin ko sa sinabi niya. "Anong 'so'? You ignored her! Napahiya 'yung tao!"
Nilapag niya ang bote ng shampoo sa taas ko. Hindi ko iyon tignan. He stayed his hand on the side and looked at me. He tilted his head and gave me his sarcastic look on his face.
"Ayoko ng makulit. She knows the reason why I don't attend my-"
"Ano pala ang rason mo?"
He curved his lips a bit. "I'm busy."
"With what? Sa pagsasayaw?" Kumunot ang noo ko.
"Yes?" He even sounded not sure!
Dancing is his life, I get it. But why the hell would he prioritize it more than his studies? Hindi naman sa nangingialam ako pero hindi ba dapat inuuna niya ang pag aaral kaysa doon?
Well, actually, pwede naman niya pagsabayin! What I heard, hindi raw siya pumapasok sa school. That's why I always see him in Evergreen. Kulang na lang ay doon siya tumira.
I sighed and just grabbed the underwear pack on the side and turned my back at him. Panigurado namang hindi na niya ako sinundan kaya hindi na ako nag alala.
Bumuga ako ng hangin nang isang pack ng sigarilyo ang lumagapak sa counter nang magbabayad na ako. Maging ang cashier ay napatingin doon at sa may ari. Umirap ako dahil inakala kong nakaalis na siya. Hindi ako sure.
Amoy pa lang, alam ko na kaagad. I immediately handed my bill on the cashier because I was done.
Nilingon ko si Leander na nakapamulsa habang naglalapag ng pera sa counter. He looked at me and the paperbag on my hand. Inismidan ko siya at tumalikod na.
I stared at his motorbike on the side. Pairap ko iyong nilihisan ng tingin bago magpasyang maghintay na lang ng taxi o jeep o ng kahit anong masasakyan patungo sa Evergreen.
