The Case of Falling For You

Chapter 12

“We have a quiz on Monday,” sabi ni Andrè habang nakatayo sa doorway na parang walking reminder ng academic doom namin.

“I know. Nag-aral na ako,” sagot ko, trying to sound confident kahit ang totoo, two digests pa lang ang natatapos ko at puro highlights pa lang ‘yun.

“Finished digesting?” he asked with matching judgy kuya tone.

“Almost done,” I replied habang tumalikod. “Zip me up?”

Walang hesitation, si Andrè agad na lumapit and zipped up the back of the black dress I was wearing. This was it. The night. Pablo finally asked me out! Ilang beses na kaming nagkita sa bar niya, pero laging “tara, shot” ang peg. Tonight? Dinner! Real dinner! Like, may utensils involved and hindi lang fries on the side habang may EDM sa background.

I was nervous. Like legit butterflies, stomach-flipping, baka maihi-ako-sa-nerbyos nervous. Kasi si Pablo? He looked really good. As in tipong may sariling airbrush effect kahit walang filter. Minsan nga, feeling ko nagda-drool na ako sa presence niya! Kaya todo check ako sa sarili ko tonight.

“Do I look okay?” I asked habang umiikot-ikot in front of Andrè like I was on Project Runway: Panic Edition. “Di naman sobrang igsi ‘tong dress ko? Ayoko naman magmukhang ako ang entrée.”

He was staring. As in hard staring—parang scanner sa airport. Natawa na lang ako awkwardly. Okay, Maricon, relax. Hindi ka i-audit.

“Where is he taking you?” tanong niya habang nakaupo sa couch ko na parang DIY security guard sa tapat ng pintuan.

“Resto,” I said, avoiding details kasi hello? Andrè tends to overreact. Minsan feeling ko siya ang real-life embodiment ng "Strict Father Energy."

“Where?” he insisted, slowly narrowing his eyes like a detective who just caught his prime suspect sa CCTV footage.

I looked at him habang tina-tie ko ang hair ko into a bun. “Look, Andrè, I appreciate the concern. But I’ll be fine. You know Pablo naman, ‘di ba? Bar owner. Very public figure. Hindi siya mafia lord, okay.”

But he just kept staring at me. As in laser stare. Yung tipong natutunaw na ‘yung foundation ko.

I got up, walked away to get water, pero alam kong nakabantay pa rin siya. Baka may x-ray vision siya, tbh. Who knows.

“Just tell me the place, Maricon,” sabi niya in that firm-and-frustrated tone.

“Sige na nga. Spiral. Sa Sofitel,” I said casually, trying to play it cool.

Bigla siyang napatayo ng slight. Eyes widened. Bam. That was it. I saw it in his eyes. He thought I meant hotel-hotel, not buffet-buffet.

“Spiral!” I added agad, defensive na parang ako ang nadale sa debate finals. “Buffet, Andrè. Hindi kama! Chill ka lang.”

“Alam ba ‘to ng tatay mo?” tanong niya with the dead-serious tone ng isang judge sa trial court.

Lord, bigyan Mo po ako ng pasensya at hindi kutsilyo.

“Seryoso ka?” I said. “Para kang tanga. Malapit lang ‘yun. Public place. Ang daming tao. CCTV. Buffet. Crab legs, not kama legs, okay?”

Tahimik siya. Super tahimik. Yung tipong puwedeng mag-cricket sounds.

Nag-panic na ang utak ko. “Look…” I said, trying to sound calm kahit gusto ko nang itapon siya sa pinto. “I’ll text you once we get there. Promise. Pag may naramdaman akong weird, text agad. Code Red. Alert Level 3.”

Tahimik pa rin siya. So I did what any clingy little sister-s***h-bestie would do: I sat beside him and rested my head on his shoulder. Alam kong cheesy, pero desperate times call for soft acts of manipulation.

“Maghanap ka na kasi ng jowa para ‘di ako lagi mong inaabangan,” I murmured. “Yung parang may life ka rin. Para hindi ako iyong center of your whole monitoring system.”

Pero wala pa rin siyang reaction. Parang bato. Bato na may built-in radar.

“Text me when you’re there,” sabi niya, sabay tayo. Halos mahulog ako sa couch! Parang teleserye scene, swear.

Later, habang nagaayos pa ako ng digests, nag-text na si Pablo na he was five minutes away. So niligpit ko na ang books ko, then lumipat ako sa unit ni Andrè para magpaalam.

Pagbukas niya ng pinto… BAM. Shirtless.

Again?!

“WHAT?” tanong niya, deadpan.

“Uhm… nand’yan na si Pablo sa baba,” sabi ko habang pilit iwas tingin sa abs na clearly mas organized pa kaysa sa desk ko.

Naglakad siya pa-loob. Pagbalik niya, may dalang paper bag. “O, ito,” he said.

“Ano ‘to?” I asked while opening it.

Nakita ko ang laman—pepper spray. As in legit!

“Don’t tell me you just happen to have a pepper spray lying around?” tanong ko. “Binili mo pa talaga ‘to for me?” sabay tawa. Parang hindi ko alam kung matutuwa ba ako o maiinis!

He clicked his tongue. “Just take care. And text me when you arrive. And again pag-uwi mo. Don’t make me call 911.”

“Cute mo talaga,” sabi ko habang kinukurot ang pisngi niya. Mabilis niya itong inalis, but still—baby soft cheeks. Noted.

“Yes, PO. Magtetext ako,” I said with matching sarcastic salute. “Pero don’t wait up. Baka late na ako makauwi. Alam mo naman... buffet traffic.”

At record speed, umasim ang mukha niya. Kaya mabilis din akong tumalikod at sumakay sa elevator bago pa siya mag-start ng “10 Reasons Why Pablo Is A Red Flag” TED Talk.