Unleashed in February (Behind The Month #1)

26

26, For years

Hope's eyes were on me as I entered his car. I put my seatbelt on and raised my brows at him.

He tilted his head like he's waiting for something but at last he just shook his head and then started the engine. Anong gusto niya? May gusto ba siyang sabihin ko?

E, ano naman? I missed you... gano'n? Or, give me a kiss first? Imposible!

"Uh, kain muna tayo," sabi ko habang nagmamaneho na siya.

Thankfully, the music is played and the awkwardness is only on a thin layer around the air. A popular rnb song is on the radio now.

He nodded and bit his lip. "Iyon talaga ang balak ko."

"Ah..." I faked a laugh. "Okay..."

This could've been a good conversation we're having but because of his recent text to me, I just can't find the guts in me to tell him how my day went or anything. Bukod pa roon, baka madulas pa ang dila ko at mabanggit ko ang pagkakita ko sa kanilang dalawa ni Sherra at syempre, dirediretso na iyon sa mga tanong ko kung sila na ba. Kung nagdi-date na ba sila o ano.

I'm honestly curious. I mean I know Hope has already answered those questions of mine before but because of what happened with us, I feel the need of asking him again. Hindi ko nga lang alam kung makakagaan ba sa loob ko ang mga sagot niya ngayon o hindi.

So if they're not dating, would it ring a bell for me to continue something and make it progress?

Dinala ako ni Hope sa isang Filipino restaurant. Ang akala ko, sa fast food lang kami kakain dahil doon naman kami madalas tuwing katapos ng school at kakain nga kami. Kung hindi naman, diretso kami sa kanila.

Gayon pa man ay pumasok ako sa loob ng resto, kasama niya. We didn't look like we're out of place since there  are also some who are wearing their uniforms. Hope pulled a chair for me and I found myself being flustered because of it. Eto na nga ba ang sinasabi ko. Maging ang maliliit niyang kilos ay napapansin ko na rin.

Sa malayong gilid kami pumwesto, para bang sinadya niyang maging pribado kahit paano ang pananatili namin dito. He sat in front of me and brought his hand on the table. Ang isa naman ay ginamit upang saluhin ang kanyang baba.

His eyes remained on me, and here I can see the shadow of a smirk beneath his serious face. Ayan na naman siya sa galawan niyang tingin niya'y hindi ko napapansin.

Umismid ako at inekis ang mga braso sa dibdib.

His lips curled up now and his smirk is finally surfacing. He looked away to motion a waiter to come over.

A waiter on a red and white uniform walked towards our table, showing a simple smile. Sinabi ni Hope ang kanyang order habang nangunguso lang ako, nagmamasid lang din. He seems confident even when he's just stating some foods that he'd like to eat.

Nang nasa akin na ang tingin ay agad na akong nagsalita.

"Kung anong sa'yo, 'yon na rin ang akin."

Tumaas muli ang sulok ng kanyang labi at sinulyapan ang waiter.

"Narinig mo. Idol niya talaga 'ko. Kung ano raw ang akin."

"Ah. Yes po, sir!" the waiter said and laughed.

I looked at Hope in disbelief and scoffed.

"Sige po, I'll be back in a bit po, ma'am... sir." iyong waiter bago kami nilisan. "Bagay na bagay po pala kayo!"

Natigilan ako sa pahabol ng inosenteng trabahante. Hope chuckled playfully and even nodded his head at the waiter before the man finally did his job at the counter.