Chapter 21
Julie and I decided to have dinner at this quaint cafe somewhere in Quezon City. The ambiance was good and the food looks great too. Madami din kasing nagpupunta dito to eat kaya sure akong okay ang sineserve nila dito.
"So what did you do while I'm gone?" I asked her after we gave our orders.
"Wala. Busy weeks since exams na ng mga bata since last week until next week." she replied. "Puro test papers ang kaharap ko."
"That must've sucked huh?" I said.
"Nah. It was peaceful actually. Walang nanlalandi saken while I checked the papers. Hahahahaha."
"Ouch, baby." I said and acted like my heart's in pain. Tumawa lang siya and rolled her eyes at me. Nako Julie Anne. If only we're in a private place baka kanina pa kita hinalikan diyan. "Hey..." I called.
"Hm?"
"How's Harry?"
"Okay naman. Kung ilang araw kang wala, ganun din karami yung araw ng pangungulit niya kung nasan ka na." she replied.
"Buti pa si Harry namiss ako. Samantalang yung ate niya mukhang hindi." I whispered.
"Ansabe mo?" she asked.
"Huh? Wala!"
"May sinasabi ka eh. Ano yun?!" she said habang pinanlalakihan ako ng mata.
"Wala nga yun." I said, trying to stifle my laughter. "I was just saying na namiss kita pero parang hindi mo naman talaga ako namiss."
There's a long pause after that. She looked away and sipped from her strawberry shake while I just watched her. Julie, hindi mo ba talaga ako namiss? Kasi ako, kahit katabi lang kita, miss na miss pa rin kita.
"Miss na miss din naman kita." she confessed. "Sabi ko nga walang nanlalandi saken habang nagccheck ng papers. Walang nangungulit gabi-gabi kung anong ginagawa ko. Wala ring pumupunta sa bahay tuwing umaga para lang makita ako bago ako pumasok sa trabaho at walang naghihintay sa akin sa school para makasabay akong kumain ng lunch. Namiss kita, Moe. Higit pa sa inaakala mo."
I smiled and held her hand over the table. She smiled as well making my heart stop. God, Julie Anne. Why do you have to be this perfect?
The food arrived after 15 minutes and Julie and I started digging in. Hay. Namiss ko rin tong pagkain sa Pinas. Puro curry ang kinakain namin sa Malaysia. Mabuti nga di ako nagkadiarrhea dahil sensitive ako sa may coco milk.
"Ang gusang mo talagang kumain no?" I heard Julie say. Lumingon ako sa kanya and she wiped the side of my lips. "Daig ka pa ni Harry oh."
"Hahaha. Sorry. Namiss ko tong ganitong food eh." I said. "Pero alam mo kung anong mas namiss ko?"
"Ano?"
"Yung pares sa Mitz." I laughed.
"Hahaha. Talaga lang ha?"
I nodded saka muling sumubo.
"Namiss ko yung fried rice eh. And the soup."
"Edi sana dun na lang tayo kumain. Hahaha."
"Close na yun no. And besides gusto naman kita dalin sa mas tahimik na lugar." sabi ko sa kanya. She smiled and nodded saka nagpatuloy sa pagkain.
"Uhm... Bukas pala, wala ako sa bahay."
"Huh? Bakit?"
"Sasamahan ko kasi sila Maqui bukas. Magffood tasting kami tapos bibili kami ng giveaways para sa kasal ng kuya niya." she said.
