Faded Memories

11: TYPE

SAGE

"Saan tayo?"

Binasag ko ang katahimikan sa amin. Tahimik lang na nagda-drive si Riel habang nakatunganga lang ako sa passenger's seat.

Riel invited me to have dinner with him tonight. I agreed and we're on our way to the restaurant, I just don't know where. He did pick me up at the shop earlier and thankfully, Hera left by that time already.

Kasi naman. . . Hera said a lot of freaky things earlier. She even thought that Riel and I are F-buddies! What a mind!

"We'll get there, alright?" he replied, eyes still on the road. "I've made a reservation already, don't stress out about it."

E, malay ko ba kung saan niya ako dadalhin? Dapat nga kasama sa invitation ang location.

After a few minutes, nakarating kami sa sentro. The city where we live is not very modernized. Just slightly, I would say. Matataas ang gusali pero malayo pa rin sa mga gusali sa malalaking siyudad. May malls, restaurants, boutiques, and coffee shops pero marami pa ring masusukal na gubat at malalawak pa rin ang mga sakahan.

"We're here," Riel said. "Diyan ka lang."

Lumabas siya ng sasakyan at umikot papunta sa pinto ng passenger's seat. He opened the door for me and smiled.

"Kailangan ba talaga 'to? I mean, I can open this door on my own," I said casually.

Riel smirked. "I just wanted to. Bawal ba?"

"Hindi naman, pero—"

"No more buts. Come on." He then gently pulled my wrist and together, we entered a bougie Italian restaurant.

♡ ⋆｡˚

"What do you want to have for tonight?" tanong ni Riel habang binabasa ang menu.

I shrugged. "I am not really familiar with Italian food so. . . I'll have whatever you like."

Kung alam ko lang na sa Italian restaurant kami pupunta, tinanong ko sana si Hera at nang hindi kung ano-anong kalokohan ang sinabi niya kanina.

Tumigil siya sa pagtingin sa menu at dahan-dahang nilipat sa akin ang kaniyang titig. "Whatever I like, you say?"

"Well. . . yeah."

Hindi niya inialis ang titig niya sa akin at nang mapansing kumunot na ang noo ko, umiwas na siya at ngumisi. What's wrong with him?

Hindi na siya umimik uli at tinawag na ang waitress para sabihin ang mga order niya. Tahimik lang akong nakaupo roon, napapanganga sa tuwing nagbabanggit siya ng pangalan ng kung ano-anong dish sa menu.

I heard one dish called, alyo olyo? I don't know. I am not sure. Hindi naman sa wala akong alam sa ibang uri ng pasta, alright, but I already found comfort in my mother's red sauce spaghetti na inaabot ng one week sa refrigerator.

"Can I also ask for extra garlic confit butter?" Riel said to the waitress who's smiling sweetly. I like her energy.

She nodded. "Yes, sir. Anything more?"

"Oh. . . oh, right. A bottle of wine, please. And can I have the pizza margherita, extra crispy?" Riel immediately answered.

"Yes, of course, sir."

Riel nodded and smiled politely at her. "Great. I think that's all, thank you."

Nagpasalamat din sa kaniya ang waitress bago ito umalis. Pagkatapos noon, bumaling na uli sa akin si Riel.

"Sage, you see, I don't know you that much yet. . . can you tell me something about yourself?"

Me? Ano namang sasabihin ko sa kaniya?

And. . . wow. Hindi ako informed na job interview pala ang papasukan ko, e 'di sana ay nag-formal attire ako at plakado ang make-up ko.

"A-ano namang sasabihin ko sa 'yo," natatawa kong sagot at napainom sa tubig na naunang sinerve sa amin.

Sumandal si Riel sa upuan niya at pinagkrus ang kaniyang mga bisig. "Hmm. . . your ideal type, perhaps?"

Muntik ko nang maibuga ang tubig dahil sa sinabi niya. "My ideal type! Bakit mo naman gustong malaman?"

"Gusto nga kitang makilala, 'di ba?"

"E, bakit sa ideal type ka nagsisimula?"

"Ayaw mo namang magsalita, e."

I rolled my eyes. Alright, fine. Asa naman siyang may sasabihin akong tutugma sa pagkatao niya. I will not give him the satisfaction.

"Go on, tell me."

"Gusto ko, 'yong hindi mayabang," I said, looking at him in the eye. Mayabang kasi si Riel, kaya dapat maramdaman niya na ayaw ko no'n.

He nodded slowly. "And?"

"A guy who can cook and would not waste a lot of money para kumain ng hapunan sa labas," pagpapatuloy ko. I looked at the lavishness around me. Italian food for dinner, huh?

A playful smirk began forming on his pinkish lips, which I found really annoying. No, Riel! This is not the reaction I want! Gusto ko mainis ka, makaramdam ka naman!

"What's with the smirk?" tanong ko, magkasalubong na ang mga kilay.

"Well, I can cook," Riel said cockily. "I'll take you home sometimes, I'll let you taste my specialties."

Napaiwas ako ng tingin sa sinabi niya. Specialty? Talaga lang ha?

"Is that all, Sage?"

"Going back, I want someone na maalaga at lovable." Marami pa akong gustong sabihin ngunit 'di ko na itinuloy pa. I think I've said enough to flip Riel off his chair. Anong akala niya, pasok siya sa taste ko kaya ideal type ko ang puntirya niya?

Asa!

Riel rubbed his palms together and smirked, for the nth time. "I can take care of you. Not to mention, I'm lovable. Definitely."

"What are you talking about? Kahit gaano ka ka-maalaga at lovable, hindi ka qualified."

"That's not fair," Riel argued. "You clearly said that you want someone like that, or like me, and suddenly, I'm not qualified?"

"Yes."

"Do you really hate me that much?"

"No."

Naningkit ang mga mata niya at nagtaas siya ng kilay. "Then why?"

"You are just not my type," I answered right away. He didn't move, didn't even blink.

Riel brushed his thumb on his lower lip, still looking at me intently. "I don't accept answers like that so. . . let's see. Let's see if I am not really your type."

Sasagot na sana ako ngunit biglang dumating ang waitress, bitbit ang tray ng order namin. Saglit kaming tumahimik at nang maakalis na ang waitress, nahuli kong nakatingin na naman sa akin si Riel.

Bakit ba hindi tumatalab sa kaniya ang tingin? Kay Leo naman, gumagana! Bakit siya ay 'di makaramdam na tinatakot ko siya?

"What are you looking at, Riel? Kumain na lang tayo."

He smiled mischievously. "Right. Let's eat, Sage."

Then, we silently had our dinner. Riel kept giving me dishes I am not very familiar with. Binigyan niya ako ng tatlong klase nf pasta at binigyan niya rin ako ng extra crispy slices ng margherita pizza.

I kept telling him I can't eat that much but he keeps filling up my plate! Hindi naman ako makatanggi kasi nagugutom nga naman talaga ako, kaya lang, ipapakita ko ba sa kaniya 'yon?

Siyempre, hindi!

"What is this called, Riel?" tanong ko habang nagpupunas ako ng labi ko.

Riel raised his eyebrow. "Which one?"

Itinuro ko iyong namumula-mulang pasta na medyo maanghang. Iyon ang pinakagusto ko sa lahat ng sinerve sa amin.

Riel smiled sweetly. "That's spicy vodka rigatoni. You liked it?"

Oh, vodka? That explains the alcoholic aftertaste! Pero kahit gano'n, masarap. Actually, nagdidiwang ang taste buds ko dahil bago sa panlasa ko iyon.

"I like it," nangingiting sabi ko. "I also liked the bread with garlic butter, Riel. And the cheese on top of it? Amazing. Ano nga uli ang tawag mo roon?"

Riel can pronounce the name of that cheese with an immaculate Italian accent. Aliw na aliw akong ipaulit sa kaniya ang pangalan ng dishes para lang marinig ko ang pronunciation niya.

Riel chuckled a little. Alam niya na sigurong trip ko na lang siya. "That one is called Parmigiano Reggiano."

I giggled. Right, Parmigiano Reggiano also known as parmesan cheese.

Matagal din kaming nanahimik hanggang sa halos paubos na ang pagkain namin. Noon lang ako nagbukas ng bagong pag-uusapan.

"Riel, how's your basketball career going pala? I heard from Leo na sunod-sunod din ang panalo ng team niyo."

"Maayos naman," sagot ni Riel. He wiped his mouth using the napkin on his lap. "I actually did not expect things will go this way. I just played basketball for fun."

"Really?" I replied, genuinely shocked. "Ang galing mo kaya sa court. You play as if your rent is due tomorrow."

He chuckled and raised an eyebrow. "I'll take that as a compliment."

"It is! You're good at basketball, kahit 'di ko kabisado ang larong 'yon. Naglalaro ka ba sa States before?"

"Uh-huh. But I've never been in a formal league, dito lang ako sa Pinas na-draft. Like I said, I just play for fun."

If that is the case, may talent talaga siya. He keeps insisting na he's playing just for fun but he's that good already. Paano kung sineryoso niya na talaga?

"Anyway, are you done eating?" tanong niya at tinuro ang plato ko. Tamang-tama dahil katatapos ko lang ding kainin iyong pasta na lasang mantika lang.

Ito pala 'yung alyo olyo na sinabi niya kanina noong nago-order pa lang. It is actually spelled as Aglio Olio, like Riel said earlier and pointed at the menu.

"Yes," sagot ko at pinunasan na rin ang labi ko ng napkin."

"So, shall we go now?"

♡ ⋆｡˚

Akala ko ay uuwi na kami pagkatapos naming kumain pero sabi ni Riel ay may pupuntahan pa kami sandali. Panatag naman ako na hindi niya ako ililigaw kaya sumama na lang ako sa kaniya.

Habang nagmamaneho siya, inilabas ko ang aking dalang camera at kinuhanan ng litrato ang maliwanag na mga gusali sa sentro. I really like how the city becomes a hundred times more beautiful at night. Nakakalasing tingnan at nakakakalma ng isip.

"You're taking pictures?"

"Yeah. . ."

"Take a photo of me," Riel said, joking.

Napalingon ako sa kaniya. That was a joke but I took it personally. Iniangat ko ang camera ko at kinuhanan siya ng larawan habang nagmamaneho.

Tiningnan ko ang resulta. Hindi gano'n kalinaw ang kuha dahil gabi na pero visible pa rin naman ang mukha niya. I really can't believe sometimes that he is my childhood friend.

I mean, the last time I saw him, he was just a small boy with chinky eyes and pouty lips. His features before were very soft.

But now, Riel turned into a grown man. His features are more defined and manly. He still has his chinky hawk eyes as well as his pointed nose, but his pouty lips then got thinner and he now has a defined jaw. Simply put, Riel looks ethereal.

"Let me see that."

Nabalik ako sa reyalidad nang magsalita siya. "A-ang alin?"

"The photo."

"Mamaya na, you're driving," I told him. Umayos na ako ng upo at ibinalik sa bag ko ang camera at hindi niya naman na ako kinulit uli.