"I'm paying for that." Sabay labas ko ng card ko nang ilahad ni Leander ang itim at makinis na card niya sa counter.
I panicked while trying to find my card on my bag. Sana pala'y mas malaki ang dinala kong bag para hindi ako mahirapan sa pagkuha. Lintik talaga.
I handed my card but I saw the counter lady inserting Leander's card on the machine. Bumulusok ang laki ng mata sa mukha ko na may halong inis.
Nilingon ko si Leander. "That was mine!"
"I know." He said and never looked at me. Binigay ng nakangiting si Anna ang paperbag kay Leander.
Halos hampasin ko siya. "Why did you pay for it? Akin na!" Kuha ko doon sa paperbag.
"Here you go, Sir." Matamis na ngiti ng babae sa kaniya. "See you next time!"
He accepted the card from her. Halos maihi na ang babae nang mahaplos ni Lean ang kamay niya. I can even see the sunshine and rainbow from her eyes. Matalim ko siyang tinignan lalo na noong namula pa.
I turned my back at Leander because of irritation. Mabilis ang lakad ko paalis.
I don't get it why he paid for my thing. I don't get it! Bakit? Ano ko ba siya? He's not even my friend. And even if the amount of the perfume isn't that much, I mean it not that much than what I usually buy, pero kahit ganoon ay hindi pa din pwede 'yon!
"Zeth," Marahan niyang tawag sa akin.
Huminto ako para lingunin siya. I don't want to cause any troubles here. Nakakahiya sa mga tao.
"Give me your card number. I'll send the payment later."
He looked weary. "Hindi ako naniningil ng kahit ano."
"I said I will pay for it!" Tumaas ng konti ang boses ko.
"You don't have to pay-"
"Lean, ano ba!"
Tumitig siya sa akin. Ang itsura niya'y mukhang iritado na sa pagtatalo pero kailangan niya pa ding kumalma sa harapan ko. He clenched his jaw and glanced away to burst his irritation somewhere.
And then, he looked at me. "Give me your number-"
"What?" Kumunot ang noo ko. Is he playing tricks on me now?
"How can I send it? I need your number, Hazeth."
"Message my secretary or I'll just send you a direct message on your email." Humalukipkip ako habang dalawang paperbag na at bag ang hawak ko.
"That'd be hassle. Just give me your digits, what's wrong?"
He took out his phone when I didn't talk and just stared at him. Hindi ko alam kung magpapaloko ba ako sa trip niya. Am I being assuming that he'd text me? Oh, no.
I grabbed his phone and scribbled my number. Mabilis kong tinype ang number ko at hindi ko na nilagyan ng pangalan iyon. I handed it to him.
Pinanood ko siyang magtype doon ng kung ano bago iyon tinago at tignan ako.
Before he could strike a conversation, I immediately left him there. Nagpapasalamat ako't hindi na siya sumunod pa sa akin dahil baka makipag away talaga ako sa kaniya dito.
I opened my car. I was about to enter it when my phone beeped on my hand bag. Padabog kong sinarado ang pintuan para tignan iyon.
And I wasn't wrong. It was him.
From : Unregistered number
Take care.
Hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko. Matagal ko iyong tinitigan at hindi nagtipa ng mensahe. Sa huli ay mas inuna kong umuwi at magpahinga na lang.
