Message from Fay
"Hey? Busy?"
"I read your message just now. Not busy."
"Wanna go out? I need to buy something then after let's eat?"
After a couple of minutes
"Hey? You there?"
"Ah...I'm in" I reply
"See you in an hour." She texted back.
...
"Stell, how 'bout this?" sabay lingon at pinakita sa akin ang isang relo. An expensive one. "Yeah, I like that. Whose birthday?" tanong ko, mukang may pupuntahan siyang party. "It's not a birthday." I just nodded.
We left the store with wrist watch she bought for whoever that person might be. Afterwards, Fay brought me in a restaurant and occupied the left side table near at counter. "Dig in" she said. While eating we heard a laugh – a loud one from the right side next to our table and its making me uncomfortable. How could a man laugh that loud? I didn't look at them but I know it's a man.
I saw in my peripheral vision that they are four men, but one of them is silent – he looks serious. His eyes are on the food. "Stell, you okay?" Fay asked "You seems preoccupied" I don't know what to say so I excuse myself "I'll go to C.R" at mabilis kong nilisan ang table. Pabalik na ako sa table namin when someone called me, o guni guni ko lamang yun. "Hey" I didn't know why did I look at him but I was stunned when I saw him...again.
"Don't you remember me?" he asks but I was still silent for a couple of minutes when a men sitting with the same table as him look at me like I did something wrong and at that moment I realize that they are the group of men who's laughing a while ago. "A-Ah...Yeah...I r-remember you" did I just stutter? Again?!
"Stell, who are they?" Fay asked, and I don't know how to respond. Should I say yes? But I don't know them either except the fact that only one person I know, ohh, I don't even remember know his name. come on Stell, what is his name again? I can't remember. should I say no?
I shrugged "Only this man?" Sabay turo sa lalaking nakadampot ng I.D ko "Is he your friend? Are you not going to introduce me?" dire-diretso niyang sabi ng biglang may nagsalita "Dude, is she the girl your talking about?" A man across him asks – the one who's laughing as if there's no tomorrow. That man (the one I know) sends him a death glare that made him stop from teasing him and even made everyone shut their mouth. "Yeah, Dude" he replied to his death glare.
I went back to our table but I still feel the four pairs of eyes looking at me. I sat and look at Fay, I know she wants me to tell 'bout them when "Hey, I'm Clint and you are?" should I say my name? "Tell her your name" Fay whisper at me, I don't want to be rude though "I see. You may not want to tell your name" the guy name Clinton added "It's okay. I'm Stella – but I would appreciate if you call me just Stell" then I smile. "Stell is beautiful but Stella is way beautiful" then he sent me a wink that made my cheeks blush "Shut your mouth asshole" then another death glare was sent to Clint by that man. Yeah, that man whom I forgot his name, however I feel like his name is sublime and whenever I heard his name I feel happy for unknown reason pero di ko talaga matandaan ang kaniyang pangalan.
And he introduces his friends to us "This is Bryant sitting beside me; across to us is Ethan and beside him is the man you know – I guess" the Bryant was the one who's laughing and Ethan is now looking at Fay (Ohh). I didn't nod my head; I can't remember his name "I-I actually can't remember his name" I said in whisper then he chuckled "Uhm...that's unexpected – usually he's always remembered. How come?" this man is very chatty, it's just a meter away from our table that's why he's doing this – talking; talking; talking. I wish him to stop. "I met him month ago and I didn't know his name because I'm in hurry" I flatly explained to him. He shook his head "okay, how about I introduce him to you? Will that be okay? Or you want him to introduce himself to you?" I laugh, I like Clint guts though "Anything is fine" I replied.
"Don't you really remember my name? but that's okay, at least you remember me." Then he smirks, kasabay nun ang pagtikhim ni Fay. I did look at her with her smile on her lips, is she teasing me? I can't believe this. Avoiding his gaze, I speak. "let's go home, Fay" I said in authoritative voice.
