So It's You (Filipino)

CHAPTER 2

I wrinkled my face as I checked my wristwatch. Alas otso y medya na ng umaga, wala pa rin si Layla.

I will surely smack her butt.

"Excuse me again ma'am, o-order na po ba kayo?"

A boy wearing a red polo shirt with a name tag on his left chest interrupted me.... again.

I groaned silently. I've been here since 7 'o'clock. "Hmm, yes, sorry to keep you waiting. I want the red velvet cheesecake and hot chocolate, please."

Sinulat nito iyon sa hawak nitong papel at muling tumingin sa kanya.

"Yun lang po ba ma'am?"

"Yes, nothing else. Thank you," aniya.

The boy smiled and nodded. "Right away, Ma'am."

I gave him a slender smile.

Moments later, I decided to dial Layla's number, again.

Pero bago ko pa tuluyang ma-dial ang number nito ay pumasok na ito sa café, mukhang pagod na pagod.

"Anong nangyari sayo? 'Yang itsura mo mukha ka nang pauwi. Are you okay?" takang tanong ko rito nang makalapit ito sa sa akin.

Pasalampak itong umupo sa kaharap na upuan. Hinihingal ito habang hawak ang sariling dibdib. Butil-butil rin ang pawis nito sa noo.

"Nasiraan ako ng kotse, nagtaxi na lang ako. Eh kaso sobra namang traffic, buti nalang malapit na ako dito. Nilakad ko nalang," anito sa pagitan ng paghangos.

"Here's your order Ma'am."

The waiter placed my order on the table and gave me a flirtatious smile at me.

Ew.

"How about you Ma'am? What's your order?" Bumaling ito kay Layla at agad naman itong pumili sa menu.

"Chocolate and caramel fudge and coffee, please. Without creamer. Thank you."

The boy nodded and smiled enthusiastically.

"He's cute," ani Layla nang makaalis na ang waiter.

I rolled my eyes and smirked. "Not my type."

"I knew you would say that."

I sneered and sipped my hot chocolate drink.

"So, ano balita? May bisita kamo kayo mamayang gabi?" tanong ni Layla.

I cleared my throat and sighed.

"Yes. I don't know who they are. They seemed so important. My mother will cook her special dishes for them. It's kinda weird."

"Weird?"

"Yes weird."

The waiter arrived again and placed Layla's order on the table.

"Thank you," ani Layla sa waiter.

"Bakit naman?" tanong nito sa akin.

"Sobrang effort ang ginagawa ni mommy ngayon sa bahay. She never cooked special dishes for visitors. She would have just offered drinks. And guess what? She wanted me to dress beautifully because she wanted me to meet them too."

"Weird indeed," Layla said, shaking her head.

Kahit kailan hindi ako humarap sa mga bisita ng mga magulang ko, maliban na lang kung mga kamag-anak namin ang bumibisita.

Layla gave me a curious look and leaned forward, kind of whispering.

"Baka sila mag-aampon sayo."

I gaped and pulled her hair lightly. "So funny lol. Sa edad 'kong to, may aampon pa sakin? Wag na uy! Mamuhay na lang akong mag-isa kaysa ang magpaampon sa iba."

She chuckled and took a bite of her fudge.

"Well, maiba nga tayo. May ipapakilala ako sayong guy. He's so cute and sweet—I just know you'll like him! How about a blind date? What do you say?" she asked, her voice bubbling with excitement. Her eyes sparkled like little hearts, and her hands clasped together as if holding back a squeal.

Napangiwi ako sa sinabi nito. "Big NO for that. You know I don't date, remember?"

Ito naman ang napangiwi sa sinabi ko. "Ay bitter? Ganun?"

I scoffed and hoisted an eyebrow. "Bitter? Why would you say that? Dating is nothing but a waste of time."

Napamulagat ito sa sinabi ko. "Kill joy mo naman."

"So, what? Totoo naman ah."

"Alam mo kalimutan mo na kasi yung ginawa ni Kyle sayo noon. Move on girl. Hindi lahat ng lalaki katulad niya."

Napanganga ako sa sinabi niya. "Naging crush ko lang siya noh. In other words, paghanga. Wala namang namagitan saming dalawa. Kaya paano naman napunta sa usapan si Kyle, aber?"

Humigop muna ito ng kape. "Dahil siya ang dahilan kung bakit ayaw mong makipagdate sa iba, ayaw mong mainlove dahil natatakot ka na baka ma-."

"Shut up Layla. That's nonsense. Anong love ang pinagsasabi mo diyan?"

"Eh diba nga brokenhearted ka nung malaman mong may ibang crush si Kyle? Mismong yung katunggali mo pa sa academics yung niligawan niya."

Natawa ako sa sinabi nito. "Hindi ako naging brokenhearted sa kanya noh!"

"Oh, bakit defensive ka? Kasi totoo?" pang aasar nito.

"No, I'm not," seryoso kong saad.

"Yes, you are."

Hinila ko ang buhok nito pero natawa lamang ito at lalo akong tinukso.

"Pero tanungin ka. Gusto ko ng seryosong sagot ah. Parati ka kasing iwas kapag ang usapan natin ay tungkol sa love o di kaya boys."

Umayos ako ng upo at matamang tumingin sa kanya. "Game."

"Bakit ayaw mong mainlove bukod sa istrikto mong mga magulang?"

Saglit akong natigilan at napaisip.

"It's complicated. I just realized that dreams are bigger than love. Marami pang oras para diyan. Kailangan kong magfocus sa mga pangarap ko. Of course, I know I will find someone, a man right for me and I know he's just out there. He will come eventually. Destiny will do its job. Kaya huwag mo akong pilitin na makipagdate. Hindi pa ako handa sa ngayon."

Layla gave me a satisfied look while nodding.

"Fair enough. At least I understand now your reason."

I shrugged my shoulder and continued enjoying my breakfast. Layla did the same.

"By the way, Kamusta kayong dalawa ni Nathan? Kinausap ka na ba?"

"Yes, he did," anito at malawak ang pagkakangiti.

I hoisted my eyebrow and leaned forward. "What's wrong? Anong sinabi niya? Bakit daw hindi niya masagot tawag mo kahapon?"

"His phone and wallet got snatched when he was in a flower shop to buy a bouquet for me. Nakitawag lang siya sa kapatid niya," paliwanag nito.

"Malas naman niya. Buti di siya nanlaban."

"Yun nga eh. I was so worried when he told me what happened."

"Send him my regards."

She nodded and smiled torpidly.

After eating, we went to the mall and bought some clothes and makeup. We roamed around the mall for about four hours then ate our lunch in Mcdo.

Ngayon ay naisipan namin na pumunta sa isang foot spa.

"Bakit hindi mo in-invite si Nathan na sumama sa atin ngayon?" tanong ko sa kanya. Nasa escalator kami pababa ng mga oras na iyon.

"Hindi siya pwede ngayon, susunduin niya sa airport ang parents niya. Siyempre family yun kaya bakit ko pipigilan," anito.

"Sabagay. By the way, paano ka nga pala nakalabas ng bahay ngayon? Akala ko ba pinagbabawalan ka na ng daddy mo."

Ngumiti ito ng makahulugan. "Tumakas ako. Sakto aalis sila ni Mommy para dumalo ng reunion."

I chuckled. "You're screwed when they find out."

"He won't be able to know. I told the maids that if my parents ask, they should say I locked myself in my room watching the Harry Potter series," nakangisi pa nitong sabi.

"No, you didn't."

Kumindat ito sa kanya na animo'y bilib na bilib sa sarili.

"What a stubborn unica ija."

She rolled her eyes and gave me a fake smile. "The most stubborn says what?"

We both laughed and did a high five.

"Siyanga pala. Good luck for tonight. Balitaan mo na lang ako."

My eyes widened. "Oh my God. Good thing you said that! What time is it?"

"3:50 pm."

"What?!"

I interrupted the lady massaging my feet and handed her a tip.

"We got to go Layla," sabi ko sabay kuha ng bag ko tsaka ko ito hinila sa kamay.

"It's too early for dinner."

"Guests will arrive at 5."

Layla's jaw dropped as she quickly prepared herself to leave. She headed to the counter and paid. "Thank you for the service."

Lakad-takbo ang ginawa namin palabas ng mall. Pumara agad kami ng taxi. Mabuti na lamang at may lumapit kaagad sa amin.

Bahagyang bubuksan ko na ang pinto ng taxi nang may biglang kamay ang naunang magbukas niyon. Binuksan nito ang pinto ng taxi at tuluyang pumasok roon.

"NAIA Airport. Pakibilisan manong late na 'ko," sabi ng lalaki na nakipag-unahan sa akin.

"What the hell?" Layla cursed at my back, also noticing what the man just did.

Dahil sa inis ay binuksan ko ang pinto ng taxi bago pa ito tuluyang umandar. "Hey you Mister! Do you even have manners? Or let's say are you even a gentleman? We're the first one to -"

The man inside didn't say anything. He's busy typing on his phone.

"Hey! I'm talking to you!"

The driver looked at me apologetically, as if he couldn't do anything.

"Naririnig mo ba 'ko mister? Kami ang nauna rito kaya pwede ba lumabas ka diyan nagmamadali kami."

He didn't answer again. Instead, he shot me a glare and closed the door.

Naiwan kaming nakanganga sa gilid ng kalsada habang sinundan namin ng tingin ang papalayong taxi.

"Did you see how rude he is?"

"I'm not blind, Layla. Damn him!" padabog kong sabi habang nakakuyom ang aking mga kamay.

I raked my fingers through my hair ina fury spilling manner.

Buti na lang nakakuha kami kaagad ng isa pang taxi.

"C'mon Fiona. Get in."

I quickly shove myself in.

"Ang bastos nun ah! The driver didn't even say something. He knew we were the first one to-"

"Forget him, Layla. He's not a gentleman. Another reason why I hate most men!"

"I can't argue with that," sang-ayon ni Layla.

"I should have used my car. Argh!"

"Why didn't you?" tanong nito.

"Oh yeah? It's because you told me we will use your car instead, remember?"

"Oh, yeah right. I forgot I said that." Layla sighed in dismay. "Pero in fairness cute yung guy. Napansin mo ba?" Nakangiti nitong saad.

Napataas ang kilay ko sa sinabi nito. "Cute? Eh ang bantot ng ugali. Nako hindi ako tinatablan sa itsura ng lalaki. Kumbaga bonus na lang yun. Aanhin ang cute or gwapo na mukha kung ganoon umakto. Kahit paghingi ng pasensya eh hindi man lang lumabas sa bibig. Ugali muna bago itsura."

"Hirap mo talaga pakiligin, noh?" ani Layla habang natatawa at umiiling.

But I truly admit that man is cute, indeed. But.....aaargh! Forget it!