Forget You Later (PREVIEW / Sample Chapters Only)

Chapter Four

"Any plans to buy things Downtown? The French Quarter? Weekend kasi at umpisa na rin ng peak tourist season dito. Tiyak na crowded du'n ngayon at mahihirapan tayong mag-park... Unless you're willing to walk to get to wherever you plan to go,"

Jake drummed her fingers on the steering wheel as they cruised through tree-lined streets.
Hindi gaanong na-appreciate ni Jessiah ang dinaanan kagabi mula sa airport dahil abala siya sa pagsunod sa GPS navigator, at mukhang hindi rin siya muling makaka-focus sa magandang tanawin sa labas. The McLean estate was located in the Carrolton district, a more affluent neighborhood in uptown New Orleans where most houses and buildings are considered tourist attractios, or at least had an interesting story.

Mas interesante yata kaysa sa mga nadadaanan nila ang katabi niya, na tutok sa kalye ang mga mata.

"In ten minutes,nasa Magazine Street na tayo. Dinadayo din 'yun ng turista pero hindi kasing crowded ng French Quarter. Ano ha'ng bibilhin mo? May department stores du'n, may drugstore, may grocery... restaurants..."
Ngumiti siya, bago sumulyap sa cellphone, sa Notes app niya. "Mostly clothes and some personal items. Kaunti lang ang dala kong damit dahil puro medical equipment, libro at gadget ang dala ko. I need clothes that will suit the weather here. Medyo kapareho din ng sa pinanggalingan ko, sa Bay Area,"

"At sa Pilipinas. Malamig pag -ber months hanggang February, tapos mainit o maulan at binabagyo the rest of the year," bahagyang ngumiti ito, bago bumuntung-hininga. "To Magazine Street then," at muli ay natahimik si Jake, parang nahulog sa malalim na pag-iisip kahit nasa daan pa rin ang atensyon.

Lumingon siya sa kasamang nasa likod - may suot na headphones si Alfonso at busy sa cellphone nito, wala nang pakialam sa kanila. Jake didn't look like she'd talk again until they reach their destination, and he wondered if being here with him was really okay with her. "You know, if you have other plans today, you can just drop me off Magazine Street and you and Alf can leave. Hindi naman siguro ako maliligaw pag-uwi. Magko-commute na lang ako,"

Napakurap ito, parang nagulat sa sinabi niya. "What? No, sasamahan kita... namin. Alf lives for these things. Listen to him, the kid knows fashion like I know the Criminal Justice system,"

"And you?" hindi niya inaalis ang tingin kay Jake.

Bahagyang tumaas ang isang kilay nito. "Wala akong plano today, or any weekend for that matter. Driver lang ako ng mga pamangkin ko, pero dahil ang mga magulang nila ang kasama nila ngayon, nandito ako and I'm okay with it, Jessiah. Really," she sighed. "Hindi lang siguro ako sanay na iba ang kasama, pasensya na," humina ang boses nito sa huling sinabi, parang gusto iyomg bawiin na na-frustrate na ewan.

Muling natahimik si Jake at hinayaan na niya ito. Nakuntento na siyang pagmasdan ang babaeng kagabi lang daw ay tinutukan siya ng baril. What he wouldn't give to remember vividly how that happened. Nevermind if he was most likely scared, he just wanted to see her face then. Beautiful in her restrained fury.

Right now though, all he have are these precious few minutes that he can gaze at her profile and wonder what's on her mind right this moment. Bahagyang itinass niya ang cellphone at in-adjust ang camera settings. Tumingin siya sa kasamang teenager sa likod na inilapit ang mukha para makassma sa frame.

"Are you serious..." naiiling na sabi ni Jake na hindi tumingin ng derecho sa camera pero hindi rin umiwas. Kung alam lang nito kung bakit kailangan niya itong gawin. Words are not enough sometimes. Minsan, napu-frustrate siya sa sariling imahinasyon. Kailangan ng dagdag na pruweba, na nangyari talaga ito.

He took a couple more group photos before Alf snatched his phone. Nasa intersection sila at red light. Kinalabit nito si Jake para tumingin din, and in seconds, the kid was able to capture a shot of them with their faces kust inches apart, vaguely smiling but still somewhat... intimate.