Since We Met That Night

CHAPTER 9

"Where are we going?"

I asked Ivan while I'm fixing my hair at the mirror here at his car. After having a small talks with him on Akeisha's unit. We decided to go home! Kiko was just kept asking me where am I going, since I told him that I'll be going outside by 8 pero hindi ko sinabi sakanya kung saan ako pupunta at sino ang kasama ko. I don't want him to think that Ivan and I are dating.

"Hindi ka 'man lang nagpalit ng suot mo. Ang ikli ng shorts mo at parang naka sando ka pa! Bahala ka, 'wag ka magrereklamo mamaya pag nilalamig ka ah!" Ivan said judging me. "Mag seatbelt ka!"

"I'm wearing jacket naman, e!" I pouted bago ako nag seatbelt at lumingon sakanya. "So, saan nga tayo pupunta? I should go home before 12!"

"D'yan lang. Kumakain ka ba ng mga street foods?" Ivan asked me bago nagsimula paandarin kotse niya.

"Yes! Actually, I'm eating street foods on Korea!" I smiled.

Ivan laughed, "sa korea 'yon. Pero dito sa pilipinas? Nakapag try kana ba kumain ng mga fishball, kwek-kwek, isaw.. mga gano'n? Alam mo ba 'yon?"

"N-no!" I said. "I haven't tried yet but I wanted to try. I think it's delicious naman!"

"Delicious talaga!" He smirked at me.

Afrer a few minutes, we arrived at the market but not really market. It's a place where there is so many people who's selling and buying foods. Ang daming tao at maliwanag din kahit gabi na! You can saw here a lot of kids who's asking for money, a lot of kids who's running. Mausok din dahil sa mga ihaw.

"Oh! Ano 'yan?" Ivan asked me, ng makababa ako ng car niya.  "Huwag mo na dalhin 'yang bag mo, bahala ka! Mananakawan ka dito!"

"Mananakawan?!" Paglilinaw ko.

"Hindi, mahahalikan!" Pamimilosopo niya saakin bago kinuha saakin ang sling bag, binuksan niya pinto ng shotgun seat at ibinalik doon ang bag ko at kumuha ng sumbrelo at sinuot 'yon. "Andami tao, baka hindi natin ma-enjoy date natin kapag nagpapicture sila ng papicture."

"Wait! I need to get some money.. " I said, but he held my hands and started walking. "Ivan, huy! Saglit lang. Kukuha lang ako ng pera."

"Huwag na, libre ko ok? Kumapit ka lang saakin. Bahala ka talaga pag nawala ka!" Ivan said. I just shookt my head bago ko hinigpitan ang pagkakahawak sa mga kamay niya. "Aray! Huwag mo naman masyado higpitan!"

"Ayoko mawala!" I pouted.

"Hahayaan banaman kitang mawala?" He asked, laughing before looking around. "Saan mo gusto? Na-try mo naba 'yung kwek-kwek?"

"Not yet!" I said.

He nodded bago hinatak ako sa isang vendor na maraming kumakain at umiinom ng juice ba 'yon or gulaman, I don't know. Mas lalong ibinaba ni Ivan ang cap na suot suot niya ng pinagsisingkitan siya ng mga babae na bumibili din.

"Ate, 20 pesos nga pong kwek-kwek. Dalawa po! Hiwalay na baso po. Salamat!" Ngumiti si Ivan bago naglabas ng pera sa wallet niya. "Ano gusto mong inumin?"

"Soju?" I said, hesitating.

Ivan rolled his eyes, "Ate.. isa din pong buko juice! 'Yung tag-20 po."