Chapter 5
957 Words
Pagdating namin sa room, as usual, parang Divisoria sa loob. Lahat may sariling mundo—review dito, basa doon, recap everywhere. Naupo ako sa tabi ni Charisse habang si Andrè naman ay umupo sa tabi ng isang lalaking hindi ko pa rin alam ang pangalan. Honestly, I should really start memorizing names other than “girl na may bangs” at “dude na mukhang nag-aapply ng visa.”
I wasn’t sure if it was the pressure, the caffeine withdrawal, or the mental breakdown brewing in my chest, pero I decided to go out for some air. Kasi kung hindi, baka pagsisigawan ko lahat ng nagsasabi ng “quiz daw today.”
Paglabas ko, pakiramdam ko may multo sa tabi ko—kasi biglang may presence na nag-overshadow ng peaceful aura ko.
“What?” I asked, turning to find Andrè standing beside me with the stupidest smile on his face.
“Want coffee?” tanong niya.
“Sarado na ‘yung coffee shop sa caf,” I said, stating the obvious. Dahil hello, naglalakad na nga ako palayo eh.
“There’s one near. Libre kita.”
Libre? My cheapskate soul quivered a little.
“Baka dumating si Sir,” I warned.
“Di papasok ‘yun.”
“Sigurado ka?” I narrowed my eyes at him.
“Not really.” Tumango siya, proud pa.
Hinampas ko siya sa braso. “Walangya ka. ‘Di ka pala sigurado. Mamaya dumating tapos ma-absent pa ako, ikaw na magpapa-exam para sa ‘kin ha?”
Tumawa na naman siya. Yung tawang may halong “ang gwapo ko kahit binubugbog mo ako” energy. Nakakainis!
“Si Jax na lang magtetext pag dumating si Sir. Tara na,” he said, nudging my arm.
Sigh. “Okay. Basta kapag nagtext, balik agad tayo ha. Kapag na-late ako dahil sa 'yo, isusumpa kita.”
Habang naglalakad kami papunta sa tinutukoy niyang coffee shop na feeling ko ay imaginary hanggang sa mapatunayan otherwise, walang patid ang kwento ni Andrè. Parang walking podcast. May memes, may chika, may unsolicited life advice.
Pagdating namin, pumila siya agad. I told him my order at ako'y naupo na lang at pinanood siya habang ini-scan ang menu like a food vlogger. Few seconds later, biglang may babae na tumabi sa kanya, nagtanong, at—AYAN NA—cellphone na ang hawak. Exchange numbers. Parang networking event lang.
“May appointment ka na naman mamaya?” I asked habang nilapag niya ang dalawang cups sa table namin.
“What?” tanong niya with fake innocence na parang hindi ko siya nahuli sa akto.
I pointed using my lips—Filipino way. “'Yung girl na ‘yun. Seryoso ka?”
Tumawa siya. “That? It’s nothing.”
“Bakit? She looks pretty,” I said habang sinisimsim ang kape ko na baka may pampakalma.
He shrugged. “Saw her wallpaper. May boyfriend. I don’t do that kind of shit.”
Napa-‘ha?’ ako. Literally, my lips parted in surprise. This man, who sleeps like it's cardio, has principles?
He laughed at my reaction. “What? You think I’ll just f**k anything that moves? Grabe ka, Maricon. You’re hurting my feelings.”
“I mean… di ba?” I sipped again. Honestly, the audacity of this man to have standards when his reputation is one long list of exes.
He took off the lid of his cup. “I don’t sleep with girls who are already in a relationship. That’s like, rule number one.”
I raised a brow. “And rule number two?”
“Buy her dinner before making her my dinner.”
I almost choked on my caramel macchiato. HALLELUJAH, LORD, THIS MAN NEEDS THERAPY.
“Here,” he said, handing me tissue. Pero dahil hawak ko pa ‘yung cup, siya na ang nagpunas sa gilid ng labi ko.
I froze. As in, kung puwede lang mag-lag ang katawan, nangyari na.
His eyes were so brown... ‘yung tipong kulay ng dark tablea sa hot tsokolate. And I hate myself for noticing.
“T-Thanks,” I muttered, snatching the tissue away.
“Wala ka bang boyfriend?” he suddenly asked, casually ruining my emotional defenses.
Umiling ako habang pinupunasan ‘yung bibig ko na obviously tuyo na pero nagkunwaring busy pa rin.
“Why?” tanong niya.
“Ayoko lang,” I replied.
“No one’s good enough?” he asked again.
I nodded. “No one’s brave enough to try.”
Dun siya natahimik.
Sa Pangasinan kasi, my family’s the richest. Good thing? I get whatever I want. Bad thing? Nagkaka-trauma ang mga lalaking nanliligaw. Either takot sila o gold digger lang talaga. Ahem, my ex. Ahem, Kassy. Ahem, hi kaibigan kong traydor.
Napatingin ako sa labas ng glass wall ng coffee shop, watching random people with normal lives. Suddenly, I missed my dad.
“Di pa ba nagtetext si Jax?” I asked, trying to break the silence.
He picked up his phone. A million notifications from names like Jen Tinder, Mia Ganda, and Domino's Pizza.
“Wala pa,” he said.
“Balik na tayo,” I said, standing up.
He looked disappointed. “Bitin naman ng bonding natin.”
But I ignored that. On our way back, tahimik ako. Parang may bagay na mabigat sa dibdib ko. I missed home. I missed peace. And I missed not being involved with hormonal hurricanes like Andrè Ladezma.
“Maricon,” he called, snapping me out of my emo thoughts.
“Hm?” I replied, not even looking.
“For what it’s worth… the right guy will be brave enough to try.”
I didn’t say anything, but somehow, my fingers gripped my coffee cup tighter.
This guy really knew when to strike.
- Writer
