Kabanata 8
Wrong Ideas and Blushes
ALI
That's what happened. I'm now stuck here in the backseat with him. And him.
Nasa pagitan ako ni First at Carlos sa likod and I swear, hindi ako makahinga ng maayos at ramdam ko na ang panlalamigvng mga palad ko dahil sa nabubuong tensyon na baka ako lang ang nakakaramdam.
Bakit ba naman kasing dito pa naisipan ni Kuya Alex isabay 'tong lalaking 'to? Okay na sana at dapat pangiti-ngiti na lang ako dahil katabi ko 'yung taong gusto ko kaso... Aaarrghhhh! Nakakaimbyerna.
"Kung gusto mo, sa sasakyan ka na lang namin sumakay, Aguirre."
Lumingon ito sa direksyon ni Kuya Alex, still wearing his annoyed expression, when he got hold of what my brother said, he shyly looked down and hesitated, leaving me shocked and my jaw being dropped.
"Ah. H-hindi na po, S-Sir. Okay la-lang po." nahihiya niyang sagot pero 'yung kilay niya salubong pa rin at mukhang galit pa rin.
He looked cute in that expression. What?! Shut that thought, Ali! It's not the time to appreciate that visual. But he really looked cute, I must say. He looked like an angry puppy getting lost.
"No. It's okay. Madadaanan namin ang subdivision niyo sa direksyon na dadaanan namin." saad ni Kuya Alex.
"Oo nga, p're. Kasya pa naman tayo sa likod. Kung hindi man, paupuin mo na lang si Ali sa hita mo." inosenteng payo ni Carlos na sinamaan ko lang ng tingin, "O kahit sa'kin." bawi niya pero hindi rin naman ako kinilig dahil hindi pa rin naman ako mapapaigi.
He looked defeated and simply nodded while still wearing his usual facade. Angry and cold. While, I turned to my direction where my Kuyas are standing and I saw them giving silent replies. Kuya Alex had his other brow raised while Kuya Lear was wearing his smirk. At wala na akong choice kung hindi tahimik na sumakay. I can't disagree with them. Hindi ko 'to sasakyan at I don't want to look disrespectful, and childish and snob and a bitch. If this is their way of him being civilian with me, then just go with it.
"Ano, Ali? Sa'n mo gustong kumain?" pambabasag ni Carlos sa katahimikan na nakaupo sa kaliwa ko
"Ah-hh. Uhmmm... Anywhere would do naman. It's o-okay." banayad kong sagot
"Pabebe." pabulong na komento ni Kuya Lear na nakaupo sa katabi ng driver's seat at rinig na rinig namin 'yun kahit bulong lang, dahilan para mapabungisngis si Carlos kaya naman napayuko na lang ako habang ramdam na ramdam ko rin ang pamumula't pag-init ng mukha ko pababa sa leeg at batok ko.
Sige lang, Kuya. Mamahiya ka lang. Patay ka sa'kin mamaya.
Tumatawa lang sila sa munting biro ni Kuya Lear sa akin habang ang lalaking nasa may kanan ko naman at tahimik lang. Nakatingin sa labas. Sinasarili ang awkward atmosphere na medyo nasasagap ko kaya ang awkward rin ng pakiramdam in a 2 out of 2 rate.
Napadako sa kung saan-saan nang topic ang diskusyon nilang tatlo at iwinaglit na ang ideya ng pagiging pabebe asf ko sa tabi at nagkaro'n na ng sariling mundo. Nagtatanong-tanong rin sila Kuya Alex at Kuya Lear kay First na agad naman nitong sinasagot ng maayos at malumanay.
Ito na ba 'yung sinasabi nilang respeto mula kay First?
Idinaan saglit ni Kuya Alex ang SUV namin sa isang gasoline station at pagkarating doon ay kinausap ang gasoline boy para sa pagpapakarga ng gasolina.
BINABASA MO ANG
Where The Wild Things Are
Misterio / Suspenso"Falling in love with yourself first doesn't make you vain or selfish - it makes you indestructible." No one could ripped the youngest Huang apart from his principle. He's naive yet quick-witted, mysterious yet sassy, dramatic yet slow. He's the bes...
