Unleashed in February (Behind The Month #1)

38

38, The tainted views

"Okay lang ba kung dito tayo?" I asked him.

He looked at me as he pulled his chair closer to the table, with one single move and still sitting.

"Sa'yo?"

"Uh, oo... oo naman."

"Okay din sa'kin," aniya at itinulak ang isang baso sa harap ko. Nilagyan niya iyon ng ice cubes mula sa isang maliit na metal bucket. "It's been awhile..."

He chuckled after saying that playfully. I pursed my lips to stop myself from smiling. My heart feels so full.

"Oo nga."

"Sinong may kasalanan?" he arched a brow.

Binuksan nito ang isang bote ng alak. I shrugged and chewed on my lower lip.

Umismid siya at sinalinan ang baso ko. Kaunti lang ang inilagay niya pero maagap kong hinawakan ang itaas ng bote bago niya iyon mahila palayo. Umiling siya habang inipit ko ang labi ko, pinipilit pa ring huwag ngumiti.

Lumutang nang todo ang mga yelo dahil halos mapuno ang baso ko.

"Hope, hindi kasi ako pwede, e. Next time na lang..." he said and I only held my glass up so I can get a taste of it.

"May pupuntahan kami. Sa susunod baka pwede na 'ko..."

I laughed because he's stating what I've been replying to him whenever he asks me to go out with him.

"Totoo naman iyon." I snapped and rolled my eyes.

"Tss... Mga dahilan mo." tuwid niyang sambit. "Ayaw naman kitang pilitin na sumama kaya wala akong magawa."

"Ano?" I acted like I didn't hear it clearly.

He filled his own glass with ice cubes and beer.

Uminom ako at tinignan na lang siya.

"Hope..." I called gently. "Congrats talaga. Finally... tapos ka na. Akalain mo 'yon?"

He sneered at that.

"Anong ginawa mo habang nasa kalagitnaan ako ng pagtapos sa kurso ko?"

"Uhm..." I licked my lips a bit, my heart pounding more inside my chest. "Nag-aral... nang mabuti."

He let out a huff before he looked away, his lips curling up.

"Dean's lister pa rin nga ako, e... Akala mo ikaw lang ang pwedeng magka-Latin honors?" I added, laughing a little.

My heart is not calming down though. Minute by minute, as Hope and I exchanged glances and stares with each other... lalo lang tumitindi ang kabog nito. Nag-iinit din ang tiyan ko at tiyak ko ang dahilan sa likod noon, bukod sa alak na iniinom.

We started talking about the things I did all this time. It was refreshing to talk to him about it. I just shared to him the simplest things that happened. Hindi ko isinali ang mga hindi dapat.

He stayed on staring at me while drinking slowly from time to time. And I would feel my heart blowing its trumpets like it's telling me it's what I really want. Kahit na nakakakaba ang diretso at seryosong paninitig niya. His forehead creased upon hearing the stories about me, going to a club or a bistro. It just came slipping out of my tounge so I chose to open the topic about Kuya Oxenn's baby. I even told him that I heard that Ate Antares is disappointed because I failed to attend on her son's christening event.

But among all the other things I said, it seems like he's more interested in one thing.

"Bakla iyon?" he asked, obviously about one of the few people from my block that I mentioned, si Dyorda.