The Fool's Game

Chapter 4

" Did you miss me?"

I suddenly feel numb. Ang utak ko biglang nag-double time trying to process kung paano ba ako magre-react pero ang puso ko, bigla na lang nag-shutdown. Jusko! Kung ang lalakeng minahal at iniwan ka ba naman nung eight years old ka ang magpakita uli sa'yo, anong gagawin mo? A. Palalamon sa lupa B. Mag-pretend na may Amnesia C. Act as if you've moved on and you totally forgot everything. Siyempre bigla akong napa-letter C dahil ang mahabang sagot, kadalasan laging tama.

"Wow! Blue? --" nangangapa ako nang pwede pang idugtong pero wala na akong maisip pa. Grabe. Ang laki nang pinagbago ng batang binully, naging bestfriend at minahal ko. Gone is the boy I've known 12 years ago. He changed a lot. Wala na ang braces, eyeglasses at baby fats, pero maganda pa rin ang color gray nyang mata, tumangkad na rin siya lalo at mas lalo siyang naging gwapo.

"Lily." He called my name again.

"Oh?" wala sa sarili kong sagot.

"I suggest you take a bath. You look-" I cut him bago nya pa ako tuluyang malait. Ang loko, nagpipigil pa ng tawa. Hanep. Marunong na rin siyang manlait.

"Tse." Good. Nagagawa ko pang magtaray. "Ikaw ba, Saan ka ba naman nakakita nagg nag-ayos ng sasakyan na mukhang fresh pa din pagkatapos?" sabay pagpag sa marumi kong damit. Syet! After 12 years ito ang pambungad ko sa knya?! He just stared at me as if may mali sa akin. Nanggigitata na nga ako, kelangan talaga ipamukha pa sa akin?

"You're wearing a -" he's trying to hide his smile. . "--a dress." He paused and put his left hand on his chin as if trying to examine me. "It's odd yet it fits you. Pero I love the color, bagay sa'yo." He said while checking me from head to foot. I blushed in an instant!

"Ano-- ano kasi. Nagsimba ako. Hindi na ako nakapagpalit ng damit." Naku. Did I sound defensive? Hindi naman niya kasi hinihingi ang explanation ko pero tomodo pa rin ako.

"Alright. See you inside." Akma na siyang aalis ng bigla siya uling nagsalita.

"By the way, You did not answer my first question." bwisit! Kelangan pa bang itanong yan uli, siyempre the answer is YES!

"Huh?" pagbibingi-bingihan ko.

"I'm asking you if you missed me?" ayan kasi nagtanong ka uli. I cleared my throat before answering.

"Siyempre. Ang taong hindi mo nakita ng matagal na panahon, mami-miss mo talaga." I said while smiling widely. Syete ka! Parang ako ang nang iwan ah. "Ako ba na-miss mo din?" I suddenly burted out. pahamak ka walang prenong bibig!

He chuckled before anwering. "Definitely.

"Talaga?" trying to confirm what he said. Tomodo na ang t***k ng puso ko.

"Kasi hindi kita nakita nang matagal, kaya na-miss kita." My world crumbled in an instant. Ang galing mong mag-paasa blue!

--a moment of silence. Ang awkward lang kasi yung special skill ko sa pang-aasar hindi gumagana. He broke the silence first--

"I'm glad that you're still the same Lily I've known 12 years ago. I'm happy--" He left it hanging. Bakit ka masaya? I wanted to ask him but was too shy to do so. He walks closer to me withoutbreaking the eye contact.I swallowed hard. Anong gagawin niya?

He leans closer and whispers these words in my ear. "You never cease to amaze me, young lady." What does he meant by that? I heard him laugh before he turned his back on me. "I'll see you inside." He said while putting both his hands on his pockets at tuluyan nang naglakad paalis hanggang sa unti-unti na siyang nawala sa paningin ko. I was left too dumbfounded.

"Ano daw? Why is he acting thay way?" I can't help but ask myself with all the questions lingering in my mind. Bigla akong nakaramdam ng kakaibang kaba.

"What is he up to?"

"Damn Blue! Ginugulo mo ang isip ko."