Pinagtagpo Pero 'di Itinadhana. (Still Writing)

Chapter 7 "Loving you in secret."

Since nagbreak na sina Ainsley at Alex, Should i make a move? Or would that make me such a terrible friend? Should i do what makes me happy even if it hurts others? Lalo na kung bestfriend ko 'yung masasaktan?

~September 24, 2007.
Alex's Birthday.

Nung nagbreak sina Alex at Ainsley nakikita ko na malungkot si Alex. So i tried to get close with him.

"Alex! Kamusta? Okay ka lang ba?" i said to start a conversation. "Obvious ba? Hindi diba." Kanyang iritadong sagot. "Kalma, Alam ko kung anong makakapag-pasaya sa'yo.". Binilihan ko s'ya ng ice cream. Sabi kasi ni Ainsley, dun daw Mahilig si Alex. "Oh eto oh." Aking sinabi habang iniabot sakan'ya 'yung ice cream. "Birthday na Birthday mo nakasimangot ka, sayang 'yung kapogian mo." Sinubukan kong pangitiin siya.
"Nambola kapa, pero salamat dito ah."
Pagpapasalamat niya sa'kin para sa binigay ko.

"May plano kaba? Birthday mo ngayon, may celebration ba?"
tanong ko sakan'ya. "Meron dapat. Nung kami pa kasi ni Ainsley, sabi niya mag-gagala daw kami. Wala na eh, nagbreak na. Ano pang gagawin ko?" Sinagot niya ako ng may kaunting kalungkutan sa kanyang boses. "Tara gala!" Masaya kong isinagot sa kaniyang sinabi. "Libre ko!" Sabi ko ulit. "Sus 'wag na, diba ako dapat manlilibre kasi birthday ko?" Ang sagot niya na may hindi pagsang-ayon. "Tara gala, pero ako manlilibre!" Sabi niya. "Okay sige, tara!" Masaya kong isinagot sakan'ya.
"5 pm, Plaza Quezon. Dyan tayo magkikita, Ano payag kaba?" Tanong niya sa'kin. "Oo naman!" Sabi ko. Dali-dali akong umuwi.

Sa sobrang saya ko, 2 palang nagbibihis na'ko! I wore a white top, bell-bottom jeans and sneakers. Nagdala din ako ng bag no'n, para sa phone and necessities. Not gonna lie, i look fabulous. If i do say so myself. Nung pababa na'ko, bigla 'kong tinanong ni kuya. "Hoy Pau! San ka pupunta?" He was curious to know where i was going. "Wala kuya, gala lang with friends." Ang sagot ko. "Gala with friends ka dyan, bawal pa boyfriend ah!" Pag-asar ni kuya. " Opo, masusunod po."

Habang naglalakad sa street namin, nagkasalubong kami ni Ainsley. "Pauline! San ka pupunta?" Tanong n'ya sa'kin. "Ah, dun lang sa mall. Eh ikaw san ka pupunta?" Nakita ko kasi na s'ya ay nakapang-alis din. "Sa mall lang din." Sinagot niya. "Ah ganun ba, okay sige ingat!" I told her to take care, then walked away.

Nagc-chat kami ni Alex.

He arrived in time and in style.
Kala ko gala lang, ang bongga masyado! Dang, he looked so fine.
I mean he was wearing a hoodie, maong pants, and shoes. Pero the way he rocks it, makes me go nuts

"Hi Pauline!" He started a Conversation. "Hi Alex!" Sinabi ko pabalik. "Alex? San mo nakuha 'yon?"
itinanong niya sa'kin. " U-uhm, Alexander. Dun ko kinuha" Napahiyang sagot ko sakanya. "Oh please, Call me Kai!" He said. "Ah gan'on ba? Call me Pau then!"

We told each other our nicknames. " You know, not many calls me Kai. They call me Alex, katulad mo. Pero you're my friend, so i think you should know na."

Nag-Starbucks kami sa Tagaytay.
I know what you're thinking, friends palang kayo diba? bakit kayo "nagd-date". Well, i think there shouldn't be any problem regarding this matter, kasi friends can hangout whenever they want with whomever they want. Umorder na kami. "i'll get the Mocha Frappucino please." I told the cashier what i would like to get. At matapos non, sinabi na ni Kai 'yung order niya. "I'll have what she'll have, thank you!" He told the cashier. Before i even handed out my card, sabi niya, "Ako magbabayad diba?" Then he smirks.

Hindi pa kami nito, pano pa kaya kung kami na? We sat upstairs kung saan matatanaw 'yung taal volcano.
It's a little pass 6, so medyo malamig na. Then he suddenly speaks. "Pau, may itatanong lang sana ako."

Me deep inside: Ano kaya sasabihin nito? Nako, Pau. Don't get your hopes up. Malay mo about lang kay Ainsley.
So i shut up, and waited for him to ask me the question.