After the pep talk with Kuya earlier, bumaba ako para mag-hintay ng lunch. Hindi ako sure kung nandito ba si Ollie pero I think he wouldn't do anything naman siguro around my family.
Pagkababa ko ng hagdanan, I see my Titas lurking by the staircase.
What the hell?
Tumabi ako kay Tita Baby.
"Psst."
They both yelped, "Ay putik!"
I laugh, "Hala Tita, ano po bang pinapanood niyo dito?"
Ngumisi si Tita Baby, "Pinapanood namin yung mga manliligaw mo."
My stomach clenches.
"Ano po?"
Ngumuso si Tita Baby sa direksyon ng living room and I crane my neck to see na nandoon nga si Chase at Ollie talking.
Bigla akong tumayo pero hinatak ako pabalik ni Tita Baby, "Shhh. 'Wag ka maingay. Pinapakinggan pa namin kung anong pinag-uusapan e."
I scoff, "Tita! Baka kung anong mangyari, I need to talk to them."
Hinawakan niya ng mahigpit ang braso ko, "And what would you say? Aber? Ano naman ang sasabihin mo doon sa dalawa? Kaya mong pauwiin ang isa diyan?"
Napalunok ako.
What the hell was I going to say nga? Ano nga bang balak kong gawin? Pigilan silang pumunta dito?
Wait, hindi pwede. Ollie's living here.
My stomach is in knots.
Tita Baby smiles, "Nga pala, kinausap kami kanina ni Oliver habang nag-aalmusal. Gusto niya lang ipaalam sa amin na nagsabi na siya na manliligaw sa 'yo."
Kinurot niya ang pisngi ko, "Matagal ko na pinagdadasal na magka-nobyo ka na kaya pumili ka ng mabuti ha. Galingan ang pagpili."
I give her a half smile and look back sa sofa kung saan nakaupo si Chase and Ollie.
What is Chase doing here?
Wala naman kaming usapan today.
"Hoy, puntahan mo na 'yong bisita mo. Kanina ka pa hinihintay no'n." I hear Kuya's voice behind me.
I stand up and pull the hem of my shorts, "Kanina pa ba siya? Bakit 'di niyo ako tinatawag?"
He grins, "'Yon pala ang pakay ko sa 'yo kanina pero you distracted me so I forgot."
I curl my lip, "Nakalimutan."
I go downstairs and when Chase sees me walking towards them he stands up.
Ollie notices me and stands up too.
I walk up to them I give Chase a smile, "Hi Chase. Napadalaw ka."
Ollie murmurs, "Siya lang talaga may bati?"
Inirapan ko lang si Ollie but keep the smile on my face, "I saw you earlier 'di ba? Tsaka dito ka nakatira, alangan batiin kita kapag makikita kita."
Ollie faces me, blocking my view of Chase, "Would you rather na hindi ako dito tumira?"
Pinandilatan ko si Ollie and whisper-yelled, "What is your problem?"
Sumilip si Chase with a confused look on his face, so nag-side step ako sa harapan ni Ollie para nasa gitna nila akong dalawa. I laughed, "Don't be silly Ollie. Birthday na ni Lola next week so it's okay if you're here until then."
Humarap ako kay Chase with a smile but Ollie still speaks up, "So after ng birthday ni Lola I'm not allowed to stay here anymore?"
I fight an eyeroll and face him, "Ollie, this is not my house. You should take it up with the owner."
I glared at him.
He smirks.
Humarap ako ulit kay Chase, "Chase, I didn't know you were coming here today."
Ngumiti lang siya, "I was in the area so..."
He picks up a bouquet of white roses from the couch behind him, "Here. These are for you."
I smile at him, "Thank you. You didn't have to."
Ollie whispers to me, "Gusto mo ba na binibigyan ka ng flowers? Or are you more of a chocolate type of person?"
Napairap ulit ako and I face him, "Oliver, please."
He puts his hands up, "Fine. I'll go talk to Lola about my accommodations."
I watch him leave, and I'm already tired.
Ollie being persistent is exhausting.
I have to talk to him about boundaries.
When I face Chase, his brows are furrowed even though he's smiling, "What was that about?"
I motioned for us to sit down, "Let's sit down muna."
I put the flowers behind me on the couch and looked at Chase. I bite the inside of my cheek dreading telling him about Ollie, but I have to be fair.
I can't lie to Chase na gustong manligaw sa akin ni Ollie. I mean I guess we're not really girlfriend and boyfriend yet so I think it's okay?
I guess?
I smile at Chase, "Ollie just confessed to me, so he just wants to you know – manligaw."
His eyebrows shot up, "Manliligaw sa 'yo si Oliver?"
Napalunok ako and I nod.
He shakes his head, "That's why he was asking me so many questions."
Kumunot ang noo ko, "Questions? What questions?"
He chuckles, "About our date, kung saan tayo nagpunta. He asked me if I thought you enjoyed going there, anong comments mo for the date or if there was something in particular you wanted to do next time..."
That sneaky Oliver.
I cover my face, "Oh my God. He's such a jerk for doing that."
Getting tips from Chase? That's low.
Chase laughs, "You have to hand it to the guy, he was very sneaky about it. I thought he was just genuinely curious."
I put my hand on his arm, "I'm so sorry about that. I didn't know he would do something like that."
He smiles, "Why are you apologizing? Kung mayroon man dapat mahiya it should be him. But now that I know I'll know how to react next time."
Oh God, I hope there won't be a next time.
Ollie comes back into the room, "Well Mi, I'm free to stay for as long as I want to sabi ni Lola."
He has a triumphant grin on his smug face.
I glare at him.
He happily says, "Is your visitor staying for lunch? Ready na daw ang food sabi ni Lola."
I look behind me and Chase just says, "Actually I'm here to ask Mia out for lunch."
Chase asks me, "Do you want to go out for lunch, Mia?"
Ollie needs to learn a lesson so I smile at Chase, "Sure. I'll go get ready."
Tumayo ako at nang madaanan ko si Ollie, his smile was nowhere to be found.
I run up the stairs and take it two at a time.
+++
11/03/2020
BINABASA MO ANG
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