06: Spill The Tea
"I'm not a fan of tea,
and yet I spilled it.
Wrong move."
He's definitely not the same Madness Roi I've met three years ago.
His dark eyes. The way his wide lips speaks my name. His actions which keep on getting gentler and warmer unlike before.
I knew something has changed. HE CHANGED. And I don't know how to react on it. He's like a blue flame turned into red. From hottest to a hot state: he's still harmful.
"Bhie!"
Suddenly, I snapped out of my deep thoughts when Daela clapped her hands before my very face.
"Abot hanggang Mars ang tingin mo diyan! Are you okay or what?" she asked then sipped a little from her cold strawberry drink.
Natawa na lang ako.
Bago ang shift ko ngayong Sabado, bigla niya akong tinawagan para makipag-meet up. Ilang buwan na rin ang nakalipas nang huli kaming magkita kaya napa-oo agad ako.
Umiling-iling siya.
"Ikaw, ha. You're spacing out too much. Nasesante ka ba?" kuryoso niyang tanong habang nakatukod ang mga siko sa mesa.
She knew about my first and current job because I've told her about it. Pero ang alam lang niya, nagtatrabaho ako dahil ayokong umasa sa perang iniwan sa'kin ng mga magulang ko.
Just a breather, I told her.
May pera pa naman talaga ako sa bangko, pero ayokong bawasan ang nakalaan para sa pag-aaral ko.
I need to work hard to aid my daily needs or else, I'm doomed.
"Sorry, magpe-prelims na kasi. Hindi pa ako nakakapag-review," pagsisinungaling ko saka sumipsip sa straw ng milk tea cup.
"Hay naku, sabi ko na, eh. Mauubusan ka ng time sa pagpapart-time mo. Kung kailan ba naman kasi nasa pinaka-busy-ing taon ka na, saka ka pa naghanap ng mapagtatrabahuhan. Goodness!"
Napapikit ako dahil sa tamis. Since the beginning, I knew milk tea isn't my cup of tea. Its sweetness overpowers the mildness of the tea. Hindi ako sanay.
"First time mo?" nagtatakang tanong niya habang nakaturo sa inumin. Tumango ako saka marahang tinulak ang in-order niya para sa'kin sa gilid ng mesa.
"Oh my god!" Bigla, akala ko si Nella ang kausap ko. "Nakakatawa ka talaga, Shel."
Sabagay, may pagkakapareho naman sila pero mas mature si Daela at hindi conyo magsalita.
"Huwag ka ngang maingay, Dae!" I warned her and slightly looked at other customers dining inside. "Nakakahiya," I mumbled and drank some water from my tumbler.
"Sorry na! You should've told me kasi," she said in a low voice, as if restraining herself to laugh louder. "Kaya pala hindi mo alam ang sugar level kanina sa counter. Tatlong taon ka nang Manileña yet 'di mo pa 'to nasusubukan?" mapanuyang tanong niya.
"E, hindi naman ako bumibili ng kung ano-ano. Gastos lang 'to," sagot ko.
She mimicked my face.
I kicked her slightly under the table.
"Sobrang tamis ba?" tanong niya pa. Ngayon naman, back to ate mode na ang tono ng boses niya. Sus, kung makatawa naman siya kanina...
"Sobra," I answered with a serious face.
She laughed. "Sorry na, iced tea na lang sa'yo next time."
I gave her a sharp glare.
"What?" she asked.
BINABASA MO ANG
Ghosting Madness
Romance"She left her madness for good, yet the Madness she hated wants her presence once more." -- After settling in the city to start a new life, Joshel Buela began to face the consequences of her past actions. Meeting blank faces from strangers gradually...
