Breaking Free From Envy

Kabanata 35

"Is this fate or just a mere coincidence?" Bulong na tanong ni Shaza sa tabi ko nang ipakilala sa amin ni Kurt ang magsisilbing tour guide namin sa buong duration ng pamamasyal namin within 5 days.

I still can't process it. Unexpected lang kasi. Or kulang lang ako sa tulog kakaisip ng tungkol sa kanya at sa babaeng kasama niya kahapon.

Shocks! Ang laki pa naman ng eyebags ko! Ano na?

Good thing, I have my sunglasses with me. Pasimpleng siniko ako ni Ivana.
"Uy. Say something." Bulong niya.

Isa-isang kinamayan ni Sef ang mga kaibigan ko habang nagpapakilala.  Napasinghap na lang kami nang makipagbeso-beso si Ivana sa kanya!

The hell!?

"Ganyan dapat bumati, you should know that. Duh!" Maarteng reklamo nito. Sef just smiled and nodded.

That's why when I had my turn, hindi ko alam kung papaano. Nagpakilala siya kahit hindi naman kailangan. Bilang kagandahang-asal, I reached for a handshake, hinawakan naman niya iyon at unti-unting hinila before giving me a kiss on both cheeks!

Literal akong napanganga sa pagkabigla.
"You look different, now." Komento niya before flashing me his smile.

I don't know if I smiled back genuinely or mukha na akong natatae sa sobrang lakas at bilis ng kabog ng dibdib ko.

We're in the Zurich rail station and waiting for the GoldenPass train to take us to Chur. Makakasama namin siya sa loob ng limang araw. Limang araw! Imagine that? Pakigising ako, please.

For real? Bakit gano'n? Hindi man lang ako nakapag-ready. I did not even blow-dry my hair and applied light makeup. Nagsuncreen lang ako at lip balm, tapos na.

I am only wearing a summer sleeveless flowery green short jumper and white sneakers plus my summer big hat. I look like a lost teenager here. While he looks so mature, hot, and handsome on his polo shirt, shorts and shoes. And unfair talaga.

Bakit hindi ko alam that one of his freelance work was being a tour guide?! I'll reprimand Asher for this. Or is this his doing? Because I remember him saying, "brace yourself and be ready" last night when we talked over the phone.

"You're oddly quiet." Saad ni Sef. I look around and I saw my very supportive friends 2 meters away from us. Kailan sila lumayo?!

I even saw Ivana mouthed something like "Go, pokpok..." May kasama pang hand gesture.

Buset talaga.

Okay! I am here for him. I came here to talk to him. Pero sana naman ay nakapagready man lang ako. Hindi 'yong ganitong on the spot. Wala tuloy akong masabi. Sa'n na yong matagal kong prinaktis bago ako magdecide na sundan siya? Ha?

"Uh... I'm just..." Ano nga ulit 'yong sasabihin ko?! My ghad! Namemental block ako.