Love in Bangketa

27

Two weeks had past and I just kept on shrugging the idea that maybe... I'm catching feelings. Pero, what the fuck. That's just... a freaking smile! There's actually nothing special with the way he stared at me!

But, the way it sent shivers on my spine electrocuted me.

Lucky days ng mga iilang nagwo-work sa call center ang weekends, because these are the only days that they could feel an actual rest. Unlike the working days, sobrang nakakapagod.

Aezy knocked on my door, dala-dala na naman ang laptop niya. She had always been this industrious. I wish I could be like her na hindi tinatamad. Nature ko na yata 'yon.

"I'm just gonna do my assignment here, is it okay?" Tanong niya.

I tapped the space beside me. "Why were you still asking? Of course, yes,"

She smiled at me. Perhaps... I should ask about it? To just... confirm? Maybe, it's just a crush. Pero, bakit ko nga ba iniisip na may crush ako sa kaniya?!

No, Xynnah. You were just handsome boys deprived. Nasanay ka lang na siya nakikita mong lalaki kaya tingin mo nagkaka feelings ka! Just... do the things you used to do. Act normal. Do not show kindness to him.

"Care to share your thoughts? You looked pre-occupied," Biglang sabi ni Aezy.

"Am I?"

"Yes, ma'am," She chuckled.

Should I ask her? It's not like she would come up with the idea that I like someone naman, 'di ba? Shit. Why is this so hard?!

"Aezy,"

"Yes?"

I bit my lower lip. "How will you know... if you like someone?"

She stopped typing. "Is that the thing that makes you pre-occupied?"

"No! Uh... Actually. Kinda. I... didn't know how to sort things out on my own,"

She crossed her arms over her chest. "Well, to answer your question. For me, you like someone if you do not see the worst in him. It's like... in everything he does, he's the only one you see. You know- para sa 'kin, like pa lang naman 'yan. But, if you are gonna ask me what's lo--"

"No! That's... enough," Pagpigil ko sa kaniya.

She laughed. "Do you like someone right now, Xynnah?"

I sighed. "I couldn't figure it out. Hindi ako sigurado. I have never felt this before, so I couldn't give you a definite answer to that,"

"May I know who's the lucky guy?"

Lucky? He wasn't lucky because I was the worst. Umiling na lang ako at ngumiti. I won't tell anybody... unless I have confirmed it. Ayaw kong i-assume sa sarili ko. I was just probably distracted.

"May gusto ka pa bang puntahan?" Max asked habang nakahilig siya sa tricycle niya.

"Wala. I just wanna go home,"

"Talaga? Kape? Tara?"

I didn't answer no, so he drove to the nearest convenience store. Nakakapagod talaga, calls were lined up. Feeling ko, sasakit ang lalamunan ko lagi dahil sa pagsasalita.

We entered the convenience store. Walang ibang tao, kun'di kami lang. We chose to just sit near the counter, because I wasn't wearing a blazer. It was too cold on the second floor.

Kumuha ako ng preferred kong coffee when I felt a warmth of cloth on my shoulder. I placed my gaze now on Max who's picking his own drink in the refrigerator beside me. His jacket smelled so good.

Binayaran ko na ang akin. Nakita kong nakasunod pala siya sa likod ko, kaya kinuha ko na rin ang coffee niya.

His eyebrows met. "Anong gagawin mo?"

"I'm gonna pay for this,"

"Ha? Kaya ko na 'tong bayaran," Kinuha niya muli sa kamay ko ang coffee.

Ayaw kong magpatalo kaya kinuha ko ulit sa kaniya 'yon. "Don't be stubborn. Nilibre mo ako noong nakaraan. I still owe you the porridge," Binigay ko sa cashier ang coffee niya. I ordered two egg sandwich din.

"Hindi naman utang 'yon, ah? At saka, matagal na 'yon,"

"Can you just stop arguing with me? I already paid for your drink," Iniwan ko siya at naunang umupo hawak-hawak ang two egg sandwiches.

Hindi ko alam bakit dalawa ang binili ko. Bigla na lang lumabas sa bibig ko na I was gonna order two. My god! Hindi na rin ako nakakapag work-out masiyado. Baka tumaba na ako nang tumaba!

"Nilalamig ka pa rin?" He asked habang umupo siya sa upuan near me.

"Kind of," I had my first bite of the egg sandwich. It wasn't that bad pala.

I was busy finishing my coffee and egg sandwich when I felt his hand on both of my ears, covering it. I suddenly stopped chewing. Nabitawan ko pa ang plastic ng egg sandwich na kinakain ko.

"Nilalamigan ka pa rin?" Humalakhak siya.

"W-What are you doing?" I could almost hear his heavy breathing beside me. Oh god. Those beautiful pair of eyes.

I blinked. Come again, Xynnah?!

"Ganito ginagawa sa 'kin ng Mama ko kapag nilalamig ako. Effective ba sa'yo?"

I held his hands and removed it from covering my ears. I felt shy. "No! It's not effective!"

Binuksan ko na ang isa ko pang egg sandwich. I took a large bite this time. Fuck. Why is my heartbeat racing for damn fast? Hindi naman ito kasali sa car racing! What is he doing to me?

He grinned. "Weh? Kanina nanginginig ka pa. Ngayon, hindi na,"

"It was because of the jacket, idiot,"

"Salamat pala sa jacket ko kung gano'n?" He smiled.

"Do you want me to give it back to you? I don't need it anyway," Aalisin ko na sana 'yon, but he stopped me.

"Ang pikon mo talaga, ano? Hindi ko naman sinasabing ibalik mo. Kung 'yan ang dahilan para hindi ka mas lalong malamigan, huwag mong ibalik 'yan sa'kin,"

My brows furrowed. Why was he saying these things to me now? He sounded like a concerned person. Hindi nga naman kami close. Hindi ko rin siya tinuturing na friend, but he was acting as if... he was.

I shook my head. I was just probably... overthinking. He was kind because Tito Gerard was paying him! Gaga ka talaga, Xynnah.

"Anong favorite song mo?" He asked out of nowhere. I didn't answer him. Nakaubos na ako ng dalawang kape at egg sandwiches.

He blew my hair kaya tinignan ko siya nang masama. He only laughed. Lagi na lang siyang tumatawa. "Why are you always laughing and smiling?!"

"Pati sa pag ngiti at pag tawa ko, napipikon ka na?"

"Para ka kasing tanga. Wala namang nakakatawa, tumatawa ka," I said bluntly. He smiled once again.

"Alam mo bang ganito lang kalakas ang tawa ko kapag kasama ko mga taong kumportable ako?"

"So? Anong gagawin ko?" I rolled my eyes.

He mockingly repeated my words. "May mga kaibigan ako. Dalawa sila. Si Dalen and Eric. Ganito ako tumawa kapag kasama ko sila,"

"Okay?" I drifted my sight. Wala na ring masiyadong sasakyan ang dumadaan. It was already 2 am na pala. We should head home now.

"Hey, it's two o'clock na. Umuwi na tayo,"

Tumayo na ako. I held my yellow bag. Nang makalabas na ako, I felt his hand on my elbow.

"May nakalimutan pa pala ako,"

"Stupid! Kunin mo na sa loob!" Ungas ko.

"Hindi lang pala ako Dalen at Eric tumatawa nang ganito..." He smiled.

"Pati sa'yo," He added.