Leaving it to chance [ Serendipity Series #01 ]

XI: paraluman

Paraluman — (n.) a muse that inspires artistically. 

* Should there be any Bisaya words used throughout the chapter, translations & a Bisaya glossary will be placed at the end of the chapter for your reference.

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"Korine Attina Vestaspejo," he said. "Can I take you out?"

Everything around me seemed to stop, my eyes only fixated on Mikie. I looked down at our hands, and then back to him. I was rendered speechless, unable to talk nor move.

"With a gun or on a date?" I blurted out, blinking rapidly. I honestly did not know why I asked that. Maybe I didn't want to get ahead of myself? Napakabobo mo talaga, Nina! My gut was telling me it was the latter, but we can never be too sure, right?

Mikie cocked his head back, not expecting my question. His brows furrowed, slowly blinking as he looked at me oddly. 'Di ko rin alam kung saan iyon galing. "On a date," he clarified as if the answer to that question was already so obvious.

"Oh . . . on a date," I repeated slowly, letting it sink in. Ay, of course, date. 'Di ko naman gustong mabaril, eh, ano?

"Yeah, a date."

"A date." Bakit ko ba inulit-ulit? Umayos ka nga, Korine Attina!

"Ayaw mo?" Mikie sounded dejected, a little disappointed.

"Ay—ha? Wala akong sinabi! Of course, gusto ko." I nodded frivolously, panicking slightly as my initial reaction might have gave anything otherwise. "So 'yung mga previous na lakad natin, hindi pa pala 'yun date?" Ayan tayo, Nina. Assumera mo talaga. Nakakahiya ka.

"Puwede rin naman 'yun ma-consider na date, but I don't know, I don't think I have ever properly asked and taken you out on one."

"Ah . . . sige. Game ako riyan."

"Baka napilitan ka lang, ah."

"Gusto mo, ipa-tarp ko pa na pumayag ako?"

He let out a laugh, shaking his head at my reply. Tumawa rin ako, not at my joke but how stupid I probably sounded to him. Tinatawanan ko na lang ang sarili ko, actually. I expected him to let go of my hand, but he didn't, 'di ko rin binitiwan. Hindi ko sabihing ginusto ko, pero parang ganoon na nga.

I opened my mouth to say something, but I felt my bag vibrate. Utang na loob, universe, let me enjoy my moment. Why couldn't I ever enjoy things? My smile faded quickly as I reached into my bag, muttering chains of curses while I fished for my phone. Ka maayo jud maniming aning mga kwanggola. Ang galing tumayming ng mga gagong 'to.

The screen illuminated with Astrid's picture and I was quite sad I had to let go of Mikie's hand to answer this call.

"Girl, uuwi na kami ni Josh. Nadismaya 'tong kaibigan natin dahil 'di raw sila nagkita ni jowabels. May meeting kasi sa org si Tom ngayon, eh. Ano, sasabay ka ba?"

In the background I could hear Genevieve teasing, "Mirisi ! Buti nga sa 'yo!" to Josh.

"Oo, sasabay ako. Nasa lovers' lane pa ba kayo?" I asked.

"Yes, nandito pa kami. Ano? Hihintayin ka pa ba namin?"

My whole body voted against it. I still wanted to spend more time with Mikie, especially after he asked me out, but I needed a ride home. Mikie might offer to drive me to Katipunan, but he just finished his practice and I didn't want to tire him out even more.

"I'll meet you guys there na lang." I put down the call with a sigh. Kahit labag sa kalooban ko, it was my cue to go.

I turned to Mikie with a small, kind of sad smile. "I think I have to go." I sighed. But I really didn't want to. "But tawagan mo ako, ha?"