Don't Go (EXO Series II)

two years after

'Yung feels ko para sa kwento na 'to, buhay na buhay pa rin.:">

Happy anniversary, Kris & Rei! Cheers to more feels.

January 31, 2015 | 12:30PM
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Alexi Rei

“What else do you need? Come on, tell me so I can get it for you.”

Agad na tumaas ‘yung isa kong kilay at napatingala sa katabi ko sa pila sa counter. He was looking so tensed na para bang may napakaseryosong bagay na bumabagabag sa isip niya. Matiim ko siyang tinitigan hanggang sa napansin niya ‘yun at yumuko siya upang salubungin ‘yung tingin ko.

“What?” he asked. “Come on. Do you need anything else?” Lumingon siya sa gawing kaliwa niya saka bumaling muli sa akin. “The line’s getting longer. What else do you need?”

Nagbawi ako ng tingin at hindi pinansin ‘yung tanong niya. Itinuon ko na lang sa unahan ‘yung atensyon ko. Until he started poking my arm. Hindi siya tumigil sa kakatanong kung may kailangan pa ako. I glanced at the cart in front of me to check kung may nakalimutan pa kami, but I did not say anything.

It was early this morning nang yayain ko siyang mag-grocery para sa apartment namin ni Ate Bianca. Since weekend naman and exams were still weeks ahead, naisipan kong lumabas at mamili. Alam ko na bakante rin siya dahil pareho kaming walang pasok tuwing Sabado. He said yes right away and even offered to pick me up. He borrowed Kai’s car and before 9 AM, nasa Mall na kami. Almost 20 minutes na kaming nasa pila dahil na rin maraming naggo-grocery. While waiting in line, we just talked about how things were going in our classes, how his friends were, how my Ate was, and other trivial things we could talk about to kill time.

Hindi pa rin siya tumitigil sa kaka-poke ng braso ko kahit na hindi ko siya pinapansin kaya nilingon ko na siya. “Kris, stop that,” medyo naiiritang sabi ko at muling tumingin sa harapan.

Suddenly, he did. “Okay,” he silently said. Tumayo na lang siya sa gilid ko at maingat na itutulak ‘yung cart na puno ng grocery items tuwing aabante ‘yung linya.

Ewan ko pero agad akong nakonsensiya. Mabilis ko siyang tiningnan, pero hindi siya tumingin pabalik. He remained silent, kaya lalo akong nagsisi na ganun ‘yung ginawa ko. I knew he had all the good intentions, he always had. Ewan ko lang din kung bakit hindi ko na lang sinagot ‘yung tanong niya.

Pinagmasdan ko siya the whole time we were waiting for our turn in the cashier. Hanggang makabayad siya—yes, he paid for everything kahit na para sa amin naman ni Ate Bianca lahat nung pinamili namin—hindi siya umimik.

“Kain muna tayo?” I asked in attempt to open a conversation when we got out of the Mall, at para na rin makapag-sorry ako.

He silently guided me towards the car, at kahit na puno ‘yung kamay niya ng mga eco bags na naglalaman nung mga pinamili namin, he still managed to lead me. He gently opened the passenger seat’s door and assisted me like a kid, but yet again, he did not utter a word. Inilagay niya sa backseat ‘yung mga grocery bags at naglakad patungo sa driver’s seat.

The way he walked was just jaw-dropping. He looked like he was floating in the air—an angel without wings. With his charcoal black hair pushed back, his strong features showing off, and his button-down shirt perfectly hugging his statuesque physique, he looked really heavenly; while his left hand was in his pocket and the other was holding his keys.

He turned on the engine as soon as he got in and drove off quietly. Dahil hindi ako matahimik, sinubukan kong muli na kausapin siya.

“Kamusta na nga raw pala si Chan? Nagkausap na ba kayo?” I asked, putting as much enthusiasm as I could in my tone. I tried not to be too distracted by the perfection of his face. But still, I got no answer. So, I tried harder. “Si Angela, ‘yung kakambal niya… I like her. She’s nice, ‘no? At ang cute nila ni Dominic. Halata naman na gusto nila ang isa’t isa. I don’t know why they’re trying so hard na i-deny ‘yun.” Ngumiti ako sa kaniya pero nanatiling nakatuon sa daan ‘yung tingin niya. From my end, alam ko na nakakunot na naman ‘yung noo niya at salubong ‘yung mga kilay niya na makakapal. “Uy, Kris…”