Love Me Like You Do

Bumaba ako sa van at naglakad papunta sa pinakamalapit na mall. As I walked inside the mall I decided to message an old friend of mine.

Me: Hey, where are you?

Him: At home. Why?

Me: Are you busy?

Him: No, why?

Me: Kita tayo SM Manila

Him: What time?

Me: Whatever time you get off the train. I'm already here

Him: Wait lang

After his reply I decided to walk around. I bought coffee from a coffee shop and decided to stay there while waiting for that person.

After an hour my phone buzzed..

Him: I'm here. Nasan ka na?

Me: Starbucks

In a few couple of minutes the door spat out a person I've known for three years now. His face changed from looking like a baby to a grown man. He still had that appeal he's had since the first time I met him. He was always that beautiful. As he walked closer to me I remembered the nights we used to stay up late just talking about the world. I missed that. I missed him.

"Trey!" I nearly screamed his name. He responded with a sweet and genuine smile. He sat down on the green velvetty chair right in front of me and hid his phone in his pocket. I noticed how the bags under his eyes grew bigger and deeper. His lips were still perfectly pink despite his smoking but his face became sort of thin and weary.

"Coffee?" I offered him.

"No thanks." He answered politely.

I breathed in and out for a few seconds.

"Soooo.. Anong gagawin natin today?" He asked.

"Um.. I.. I really don't know." I replied honestly. It was slightly embarassing. Oo nga naman why did I invite him over if I didn't plan on doing anything.

He looked at me as if studying my face, he did it the way I looked at him. Eyes first, lips, and then my whole face. He didn't respond and stared at my forehead instead. I looked away trying to hide my awkwardness. I started fidgeting and tapping on the table, a habit I usually do in situations like these. The calm and smooth ambiance of the coffee shop shifted and became exhausting. I felt stuffed just being there.

"Wanna take a walk?" He managed to say after a couple of my tapping and fidgeting. I raised an eyebrow at the question but decided it would be good since I couldn't stop being nervous and sweaty.

"Where to?"

He reached for the back of his neck and smiled cooly, this automatically made me smile too. I took the last sip of my coffee. We both stood up and exited the coffee shop.

"How are things at home?" He asked me while we walked.

"Fine." Yes a one word answer from me, that's normal.

"Your mom?"

"You know, she's still the bitch that she is."

He chuckled at my response. "Di siya natuloy umuwi dito sa Pinas?"