April 20th

IV

CHAPTER 4: Me-Date

Luke Rivas

I shopped downtown for new toiletries. I checked on the Art supplies section, looking for things I might need. I pulled out a 12x18-inch of canvas board. I added a new watercolor set and a few brushes and proceeded to payment.

I’m starving. The weather is cloudy and the streets were filled with people enjoying their time. Voices, chatters, and the sound of moving vehicles polluted the area. Now, where should I eat? Jollibee, Mc Donalds, or how about Chinese food? As I looked around for options, I saw her again. She was crossing the streets wearing a light blue dress with yellow and white flora patterns. Her dress was short, running midway to her thighs and she had white sandals on. She looks good, too good. I absentmindedly followed her. I keep my eyes on her back and on her untied hair, unruly curls were blown by the breeze. Men she walked past with stopped on their tracks, checking her out. I suddenly felt annoyed and had the urge to walk beside her to stake my claim. She hailed for a cab and I ran to catch up.

“Robinsons, Kuya”. She sat in the passenger seat and was preoccupied with her phone. I sat beside her and closed the door. The driver looked at me questioningly, possibly wondering where I was headed. I smiled and pointed at the woman beside me. He nodded.

The driver drove the cab, I paid all my attention towards Arci. She’s reading an epub while sitting comfortably on the seat. Her head resting on her left palm, and her right-hand holds her phone just below her chin. Her dress hikes up, creamy white legs on full display for my eyes to feast in.

*cough* The driver’s fake cough caught my attention, and he smiled sheepishly. I grinned, I’ve been caught staring. Did he think I was her boyfriend, that instead, he would find me as a p*****t he actually thought I was checking my girl out? I averted my gaze towards the window and adjusted my pants. Well, we probably looked good together.

We’ve arrived at the Mall. She gingerly paid her fare, and I did too. When I get off the cab she was already running inside. I walked inside and wondered as to why was I following her. My phone suddenly vibrated. It was Alexa calling.

“Hey, Lex”

“Aren’t you dropping by at my house, right?“ she asked cheerfully. Alexa and I have been friends since middle school back in Bohol. She too transferred here to Silliman with me since Senior High. Our Friendship is platonic, we usually hang out at her apartment, watch Netflix, and chill.

“Something came up, Lex. I’m sorry, I’ll call if I could drop by” I feel bad for letting her down.

“It’s alright. I’m planning to shop for groceries anyway. Bye, Luke.” She ended the call right away.

She surely knows how to make me feel bad. I sent a quick apology through text.

I looked up to see what made me cancel my plans but she’s already out of eyeshot. I groaned. But since I’m here I should just shop for books and have breakfast. I went inside the Booksale looking around and thought of the chick. It was obvious she was meeting someone. It would explain her get-up and her excitement. Here I was kinda hoping she’s single.

I was on the PG Section looking for “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” for my sister who came to love books. I smiled as I remembered her. She’s 13 and a beautiful nerd. There was this time she kept on taking my books inside her room to read and I keep on asking her what’s the title. I was afraid she would read something inappropriate, then I’d be at fault. So I started buying her books with highlighters as gifts. She forced me to buy her “Ana and the French Kiss series” and I said no which made her sad. She confessed she already read all of them, but wanted to have a physical collection. Saying I was shocked, is an understatement. On my side was a*****e crew placing new books on the upper shelf and I saw the orange book on the series on the pile he was holding. I looked up at him and waited for him to finish placing the books.

“Excuse me,” a female voice said as she made her way towards my direction. Her posture was bent 45 degrees towards the front as she slowly tried to fit on the narrow space. She holds the crew’s lower leg which made him startled and lose balance. Luckily, the crew was able to grasp the end of the bookshelves, but the books he was holding fell flat on the woman. Seven soft-bound books fell on her as she crouched low and covered her head.

I bent down and picked up the orange book next to her knees. “Are you alright?”

She looked up at me teary-eyed “No”. It was her. AGAIN.

“Do you have someone with you?”

“No, I’m alone”. I thought she was about to meet someone. She sat on the floor, legs sprawled, as she checks her knees for bruises.

“I’m sorry, Kuya” she looked up to the crew who was still standing on the chair, utterly shocked. The man went down and apologized too.

“Do you need help, perhaps?” he asked.

“It’s fine, I’ll tend to her,” I said.

She focused her gaze on me intently “Thank you”.

“Come on, I’ll carry you” I turned around and offered my back for a piggy ride.

“I can’t. My dress is too short” she said shyly which made me glance at her lower body exposed to my eyes. I took off my jacket, tied the sleeves over her waist. I intentionally touch the sides of her breast which made her look up to me.

“Come on, place your arm over my neck. I’ll carry you” I grinned.