Buying a sleeping bag with Leanne was more stressful than I thought it would be.
At the department store, he looked at 8 different sleeping bags. He always had issues with the size, the temperature level it could handle... and the color! He made the biggest fuss about the color! I really can't believe him.
"Hi ̶ Carylle, what should I get?" he asked me in the end. Inirapan ko siya even before he could say my name.
Tumingin ako sa dalawang staff ng department store, and it's as if they were telling me to pick now kasi pagod na pagod na sila with all of Leanne's demands.
Tumingin ako sa sleeping bags na naka-linya sa harap namin. Before he could even ask me, I was already eyeing for the Katabatic Flex 22 Quilt. I looked it up online before and I saw it's an ultralight sleeping bag with great 3-season performance.
"What's your favorite color?" I asked Lean while examining all eight sleeping bags.
"Blue? Why?" I didn't answer him. Instead, I turned to one of the female staff. "Miss, meron ba kayong blue nitong Katabatic Flex 22 Quilt?"
"Yun na ang kukunin niyo ma'am?" sagot ng staff, na parang umaasang yun na nga.
I looked at Leanne to ask if he agrees and he just smiled. That darn smile.
"Yes, we'll get it. Sabi niya eh," Leanne said and put his right hand around his torso. Did he sense na pagod na yung staff sakaniya so he felt shy about it? I guess I'll never know.
"Sige, sir. Sa counter nalang po," and the two of them went to get his sleeping bag.
We walked through the counter together at pagkadating namin, they were already examining the quilt for any damage. When Leanne paid for it, I looked away. I didn't want to see how much the quilt actually costed.
Leanne held the bag and laughed at how lightweight it was.
Kaya mahal I thought. That's really the most ideal sleeping bag I know. Hindi nakakapagpabigat ng backpack kapag nasa mismong hike na.
"May bibilhin ka ba rito sa mall or something na kailangang daanan?" he asked me.
"Wala nama ̶ teka, I'll take this call."
"Carylle! Saan ka?" Alex said over the phone.
"Nasa mall. Bakit?" I asked at tumingin kay Leanne, he was looking around the stalls.
"Sakto! Bili ka nga ng karne, patatas, isa ̶"
"At bakit? Anong meron?" I cut her off and said.
"Magluluto ako ng dinner. Siyempre, gusto kong pagsilbihan ang roomie ko."
"What is this really about? Is Marcus coming for dinner?"
"Hehehe oo, but this is also for you 'no!"
After a few more minutes, she already dropped the call. I made a mental note on what she's asking me to buy. Mukhang magluluto siya ng Adobong may nilagang itlog for dinner.
Lumapit na agad ako kay Leanne. I told him he could go but he insisted to come with me. Wala na akong energy para itaboy pa siya. All I could think of is the Adobo I'll eat for dinner. Alex is a really good cook. She got it from her mom, I guess.
Kumuha na ako ng maliit na basket-cart, if this is what it's called, at pumasok na agad sa grocery. Nakita ko kaagad sa entrance si Leanne. A bunch of high school girls kept looking at him but he didn't notice. Kinawayan niya lamang ako.
