Into the Spotlight

Chapter 12

"Uh, s-sure! Bakit naman hindi?"

After the day I let in Dylan as my suitor, my life was never the same. I always have a reason to use my phone. And ang sabi niya, whenever he's not busy, he will pick me up at school then ihahatid ako sa bahay. Yesterday, we went to a fastfood chain's drive-thru like what Shin and I usually do.

"Libre ko." I said when we went through a drive-thru at McDo yesterday. Inunahan ko na siya because for sure he'll cover the expenses. Nakakahiya kasi ilang beses niya nang ginagawa 'yon, special mention: Enchanted Kingdom.

Umiling siya at itinuloy ang pagkuha ng pera sa pitaka. "No, my treat." he argued back.

"Ako na sabi!" I protested. "Para fair. Nakakahiya naman kung lagi na lang ikaw ang nanlilibre. Ano na lang ang role ko sa mundo?" I answered back.

"Umupo ka lang dyan at hayaan mong iparamdan ko sayo ang halaga mo." he simply said. He was constantly muttering inaudible sentences but I just can't hear kaya tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.

"Are you mumbling something?" I asked.

"Wala, wala!" dali-dali niyang sagot. He sounded defensive, though. He finally got some bills on his hand but I keep on complaining.

We ended up arguing in his car. Hindi naman literal na away, just a light argument about whoever is going to pay for the meal. Buti na lang medyo mahaba pa ang queue, ayaw niya kasi magpatalo.

"Fine! If you don't let me pay, stop courting me."

Pinagkrus ko ang kamay ko at tinitigan siya. I didn't meant what I've just said to threaten him but I was silently hoping it would work. My threats don't work with Shin so I hope it'll work on Dylan this time. Dahil kung hindi, farewell, suitor.

"Fine din!" he raised his voice and crossed his arms. His gestures look like he won't back down but his facial expressions look like he has just surrendered in peace. "Ikaw na ang magbayad!"

Habang ibinabalik ang pera sa pitaka niya, I grinned widely and got my purse out. "Good! From now on, we'll take turns in paying the bill whenever we eat together. Crystal clear?"

"Oo na, fine!"

I just smirked at him. Just in time ang pagsurrender niya dahil kami na ang next in line para um-order. Talk about timing. We took turns in speaking out our orders to whoever's managing them and after paying, we finally got the paper bags that contain our orders.

"Thanks sa libre." he spoke softly, as if nahihiya siya sa part na nilibre ko siya. "Sabi ko naman sayo, eh. Ako na ang manlilibre."

I just shrugged as I took the straw off my lips. "I thought we're done talking about this? I told you, it's unfair kung ikaw lang ang manlilibre nang manlilibre. D'you get me now?"

"Sabi ko nga." sabi niya at napasandal sa kanyang upuan. Patuloy lang siya sa pagmamaneho. "Hindi na po ako mamimilit."

Diretso lang ako nakatingin sa mga dinadaanan namin habang nakapahalumbaba. "Don't worry. I'm not doing this to be fair, gusto ko lang din talagang manlibre at times, not just ilibre."

Our topic changed from one to another. Puro tawanan at asaran lang ang maririnig sa loob ng kotse bukod sa pa-music niya na walang kwenta dahil hindi naman kami nakikinig.

"Hoy girls, listen up! I have chika!"

Pat snorted and gave me a quick glance. "Nagiging conyo ka na rin katulad ni Sof, Ryan."

"What in the actual fuck? I'm not conyo, ha! Imbento ka, hmp." I crossed my arms and pretended to feel bad. Binato niya naman ako ng fries kaya naman inirapan ko siya. I pretended to speak in conyo to annoy her more. "Sayang ang food! Don't tapon it all of a sudden!"