Too Busy Being Yours

three

Two hours later, I found myself walking around the unfamiliar and busy street of Valero, Makati. Ang tagal ko nang nagta-trabaho rito pero bihira akong mag-ikot sa maliliit na eskinita. My office was just two blocks away yet I don't really go out that much, so I relied on Google Maps to lead my way. Na eventually wala ring kwenta kasi ang hina ng signal ko sa lugar na 'to. It didn't help na lunchbreak pa ako lumabas, dagsa ang mga gutom na empleyado (like me) sa daan at bumper to bumper ang traffic.

Why the hell did I agree to this lunch out with him? Isang oras lang ang lunchbreak ko at kailangan kong balikan agad ang pending ko. Sinira niya talaga ang schedule ko for today. He better pay for my meal or else hindi na siya makakaulit sa 'kin.

My phone beeped, and for a second there I wished it was a text from him cancelling our meeting. Mas okay pa sa 'kin na pagtiisan ang malamig na turkey ham sandwich kesa maligaw dito sa Valero ngayong tanghaling tapat.

From: Roldan del Rosario

Where are you? I'm starving.

Wow, starving. Always the dramatic one. Paano pa kaya ako na kape lang ang almusal?

I'm on my way na. Hirap hanapin nung place.

Google Maps?

My data signal is shit here. Blackhole ata 'tong Valero.

Anong katabi ba nyan?

Sultan Mediterranean Grill. Basta just look for DiCofi. Vietnamese cafe.

Oh god, Vietnamese. At least he knew what I wanted. Dapat may pho sila doon or else lagot siya sa 'kin.

His choice of restaurant weirded me out a bit. Nasanay kasi ako na sa "the usual" kami kumakain, mostly fast food or any restaurant na kilala niya ang may-ari, at isa pa: he doesn't like Vietnamese food except for banh mi. I don't know why I'm still friends with him kahit alam kong ayaw niya as pho. He really has defective taste buds.

It took me another five minutes to find that cafe. Anyone could quickly overlook DiCofi if you aren't really searching for it. I would've missed it if not for its hand painted signage (honestly, the MS clip art-like coffee cup logo really bothered me). Once inside, I already knew why he chose this place. This hole in a wall restaurant has no-fuss vibe and is very cozy-- with white brick walls, undone floor, and few wooden tables and chairs with a touch of green plants there, and the colorful map of Vietnam on the left wall immediately caught my attention.

I spotted him sitting at one of the corner tables, eyes focused on whatever he was reading on his laptop. It felt so weird seeing him now in flesh. I know, kakakita lang namin kaninang umaga pero masyado akong focused sa trabaho para i-take in ang ambush niya sa office. Before Andreau and Zades' wedding, bihira kaming magkita dahil sa busy work schedules namin at nasanay na akong makita siyang nagbabalita sa TV tuwing umaga kaya hindi ko siya masyadong namimiss.

So bakit ako nawi-weirduhan ngayon?

Hah, of course. Because of what had happened last month at the wedding reception. How could I forget that? It took days before the redness on my inner thighs disappear. I had to wear skirts and dresses for a week para lang makagalaw nang maayos. Gano'n kalala pero my goodness, that was the best sex of my life.

(I hate to admit it, but all of the 'best sex of my life' were always with him. I won't tell this to anybody, especially to him. Magyayabang lang 'to.)

Why am I even thinking about this right now? I'm hungry for food, not for sex. He really messed up my head today. I hate it.

"This seat taken?"

Dan looked up, looking a bit disoriented for a second. Nang ma-realize niyang ako 'yon, umiling siya. "Not at all," he said, moving his laptop bag aside to emphasize his point.

He gave me one of his little half-smiles as I sat down, and despite my hunger (for food), I smiled too brightly in return. "How the hell did you find this place? Ang hirap hanapin nito, ah. Mga five minutes akong nagpaikot-ikot dito sa may Valero."

"I Googled it. This is the nearest Viet restaurant in your area. Aayain ba naman kita maglunch sa ayaw mo?" He slid the menu across the table to me. "By the way, I ordered banh mi and coffee."

"As expected. Hindi ka ba nauumay sa kaka-banh mi mo?" I said, glancing at the menu. "You've been to Vietnam twice pero hindi ka kumain ng pho. What a disgra--" My eyes widened in disbelief as I scanned food list. Oh no no no. "Oh god, are you kidding me? They don't have pho here? This is a Vietnamese restaurant. Why don't they have pho in their menu!?"

"They have bun bo, though. Close enough," he replied smugly, prompting me to look up from the menu.

"No, it isn't." I glared at him, and he just smirked at me. "Sinasadya mo 'to, ano? You know I love pho with all my heart and soul tapos--"

"Just order anything and I'll pay. Promise."

I glanced at my watch. Fuck, I only have 40 minutes to spare. Make that 30 minutes since kailangan ko pang mag-CR bago bumalik sa cubicle ko. "Fine, banh mi and iced coffee to go na lang sa 'kin. I hate you." His smirk widened as he got up to order my food. What an ass.

Bumalik siya dala ang Vietnamese iced coffee ko, which was surprisingly good. Nabawasan ng 10% ang inis ko sa kanya.

"So...anong meron? Bakit may ambush na naganap sa office kanina, ha?" I asked. Naalala ko na naman 'yong chikahan nina Lai at Gladys kanina no'ng umalis si Dan sa office. Malamang pinagchi-chismisan na ako ng buong 9th floor pagbalik ko sa office.

"Wala lang. Nangangamusta lang."

"Oh cut the bullshit. You didn't drive here straight from your work just to catch up with me. Ano ngang meron?"

He looked away from me for a moment, his mouth kind of screwed up to the side. "No hidden agenda, promise."

"Umayos ka nga. Wala akong oras, okay?"

"Masama bang ayain kitang maglunch? We used to do this before, right?"

This was getting a little surreal. Ano bang gustong iparating nito? "Oh goodness," I said in a low voice. "Is this about the sex last month? Don't you think you're way too late for this old-timey chivalry thing? We'd slept together for like four time--"

"Five, actually," he corrected. "And no."

"Then what? Is this a lunch booty call?"

The smallest smile curved at his lips. "If you're considering then I can make time--"

"I'm not fucking around here. Ano nga?"

He gave me just a bit of that smolder that made my lady parts perk right back up. Fuck him. Wag ngayong gutom ako, please. "Promise me you'll listen first."

I rolled my eyes. "Oo na. Come on. Kaunti na lang masasapak na kita."

"I need a girlfriend."

I blinked at him twice. "Huh? So you went all the way here for me to set you up with my officemates, then?"

"No."

"Holy shit. I can't believe you're wasting my time." Kating-kati na ako umalis dito. Inaaksaya lang niya oras ko, eh. "You could've just texted me about this! Pwede akong maging wingwoman mo this weekend but please lang, you're too old to have a wingwoman. Seriously. Hindi ba effective yung Tinder bio na ginawa ko sa 'yo?"

"Kesh," he cut me off with a stern voice. "I need a girlfriend. I need you to be my girlfriend."

My heart gave a stupid little lurch and I sternly instructed it not to be ridiculous. He couldn't mean that. I'd misunderstood him, right?

"Dan. Please stop joking."

He laughed a little under his breath and shook his head. "You heard me loud and clear."