Just One Date

Chapter 7 - friendly user

I'm writing a report on Business Ethics early Saturday morning. Dadalaw kami kay Mamay tomorrow at sa Monday naman ay tutulungan ako ni Kuya Brett sa Feasibility Study ko kaya kailangang tapusin ko na ito today.

"Kuya, bigyan mo nga ako ng iba pang example ng gadgets. Assignment ko sa Computer," I heard Kirk ask Kuya Brett from the other end of the table. Kuya Brett is in front of the computer, most probably chatting with his girlfriend and I envied him. Ang sarap talaga ng graduate na, walang assignment!

"Mamaya na, Kirk. Give me ten minutes," sagot nito while typing on the keyboard.

"Ate-" he started to call my name but I raised a hand to stop him.

"Wait lang Kirk ha, mawawala ako sa momentum," agad na saway ko.

Kirk stomped his feet in response before flopping down heavily on the sofa.

"Nasan ba kasi si Kuya Ethan?" he complained, obviously missing the presence of his favorite tutor.

"Kirk, sa kabilang bahay siya nakatira, hindi rito," I couldn't help saying.

Sinimangutan ako ni Kirk bago tuluyang humiga sa sofa. Siya namang pagtayo ni Kuya.

"Okay, I'm done. Ano na nga ulit iyong tinatanong mo, bunso?"

He stood up and walked over to Kirk before tapping his knee, prompting him to sit up properly.

"Huwag mo nga akong tawaging bunso, you make it sound like I'm a baby!" angal naman ng isa bago umupo.

"E talaga namang bunso ka, anong magagawa namin?" I chimed in, enjoying the fact na napipikon na si Kirk. Madalas sa pamilyang ito ay ako ang pinagtutulungan, minsan lang siya mapagdiskitahan.

"Kuya Ethan calls me Little Bro. Mabuti pa siya, he knows how to address me properly," he explained while whining.

Kuya and I laughed in unison before I went back to writing and they started doing Kirk's assignment. The study room was quiet for a while. Lately ay na-appreciate ko na kung bakit nagpagawa ng study room si Papa. Iyong space kasi na nabakante sa ground floor ng bahay simula nang ilipat ang ice cream shop sa katabing lote at hinati ni Papa para gawing study room at music room naman ang kabila.

Kapag wala si Ethan at hindi ako nagkukulong sa kwarto ay sa study room ako tumatambay kung saan madalas mag-isa lang ako. Naroon rin ang collection ni Papa ng mga libro na hindi ko naisip noon na may silbi pero nagagamit ko ngayon na reference sa mga report ko.

Sa music room naman mas madalas sina Kuya at Kirk, pati si Ethan, lalo na kapag malapit na ang weekend at tutugtog sila sa acoustic session ng Frozen Dreams.

They spend a lot of time thinking of what song to sing and prepare for their performance really well. Whereas ako, kung anong usong kanta si Taylor Swift ay iyon na ang kinakanta without pondering so much about what the song's message was about. Kahit nga ang piyesa ko sa piano ay hindi ko kailangang aralin dahil madalas sinasalo naman ako ni Kuya o ni Ethan, basta kumanta lang raw ako.

Maya-maya pa ay sandaling lumabas si Kuya para kumuha ng meryenda.

"Ate, anong ibig sabihin ng user friendly?" Kirk turned to me and asked while Kuya was away.

"Madaling gamitin," I replied without looking up from what I was writing. Konti na lang ay matatapos na ito. Kailangan ko lang ng medyo may dating na final sentence.

"E iyong friendly user, pareho lang?" he asked again

Ibubuka ko na sana ang bibig ko pero biglang sumabat si Kuya pagpasok niya, dala ang tray na may lamang blueberry crepes at pineapple juice.

"Iyon yung tao na mabait lang kasi may kailangan siya sa isang tao."

Itinaas ni Kirk ang hawak na lapis sa ere as if may light bulb na biglang nag-appear sa ulo niya.

"Ahh!!! Parang si Kuya Ethan at si Ate!"

At that, I had to look up.

"Ano?" tanong ko, wondering kung paano kami nadamay sa assignment niya.

Humarap sa akin si Kirk and went on to explain with much conviction.

"Si Kuya Ethan, user friendly. Madali mo siyang utusan kapag kailangan mo diba? Gaya kapag may ipapabili ka or may kailangan kang ipaayos. So madaling gamitin. Tapos ikaw friendly user kasi mabait ka sa kanya kapag kailangan mo siya! Diba? Diba?"

Humagalpak ng tawa si Kuya Brett, kasabay ng paniningkit ang mata ko. Kung sino man ang naka-imbento ng show noon na Kids Say the Darnest Thing, gusto ko siyang puntahan para makahanap ng kakampi.

"Bakit? Diba Kuya tama? Pwede kong gawing example iyon?" baling nito sa panganay naming halos kapusin ng hininga sa kakatawa.

"Subukan mo lang," pagbabanta ko.

"May punto si Little Bro, Fen. Akalain mo, observant ang bata, ang galing pa mag-analyze!"

"Tumatawa pa rin silang dalawa nang muling bumukas ang pinto at pumasok si Ethan.

"O ayan na si user friendly," Kirk exclaimed when he saw him and shared another round of racous laughter with Kuya Brett once again.

I knew it. Sabi ko na nga ba, ang ending nito, I'm still the butt of joke.

"What?" Ethan asked, looking totally clueless.

I glared at Kirk and threw Kuya a dagger look before gathering my things.

"Aakyat na ako, baka kabagan na kayo," I snapped and stood up.

"Teka my Lois, aalis ka na agad? Kakarating ko lang ah," Ethan whined.

"Exactly the reason why I'm leaving," I told him. Alam kong wala siyang kinalaman sa usapan pero nasabi ko na, nadamay na siya sa init ng ulo ko.

Paglabas ko ng pinto ay muntik ko nang mabangga si Mama.

"Anak, ito yung bibilhin inilista ko na. Bilisan mo ha, para iyan sa menu natin mamaya. Daanan mo na rin iyong pina-reserve ko na fresh basil sa tindahan ng mga organic goods," she instructed.

Noon ko lamang naalala na nag-promise nga pala ako sa kanya na ipapag-grocery ko siya ngayong umaga.

"Sige Ma, maliligo lang ako."

"Mag-go-grocery ka? Samahan na kita," Ethan offered. Ni hindi ko napansin na nasa likuran ko siya.

"O eto pala si Ethan, tamang-tama!" Mama sounded so delighted.

"Kaya kong mag-grocery mag-isa, Ma," I informed her.

"Ipagda-drive kita, para di ka mahirapan sumakay," Ethan insisted.

"Kaya kong mag-commute, Ethan."

I gave him a 'leave me alone' look pero hindi rin siya nakahalata.

"I can be your slave, ipagbibitbit kita, ipagtutulak ng cart, ipagbubukas ng pinto," he suggested stubbornly and I rolled my eyes.

Saan kaya ipinaglihi ng Mommy niya ang taong ito? Sobrang kulit!

"Sige na anak, mas mabilis kung sasamahan ka ni Ethan, makakabalik kayo agad."

Hindi ako umimik, bagkus ay umakyat ako sa kwarto para maligo at magbihis.

When I went downstairs, Ethan was still there, waiting for me.

"You're kidding me, right?" he asked, raising his brows at me.

I raised mine as well and shrugged my shoulders.

"What?" I asked back.

"Iyan ang suot mo?" he inquired, eyeing my shorts. I'm wearing a striped blue three-fourths top and denim shorts.

"Oo. Sa grocery lang naman ang punta diba?"

"Oo nga, sa grocery. Hindi sa beach. Ang ikli kaya ng shorts mo," he said with a hint of sarcasm.

I dont know why he looked so bothered eh napakarami namang girls my age ang nagsusuot ng ganito anywhere.

"I'm comfortable wearing this."

He rolled his eyes.

"Capris or jeans are also comfortable," he suggested.

"Mainit," reklamo ko.

With that, he planted his hands on his waist and looked me in the eye.

"Well at least it wouldn't attract so much attention to your legs. Ayokong tinititigan ng mga lalaking nakakasalubong natin ang hita mo. Baka lahat sila masapak ko!"

I crossed my arms in front of my chest and met his gaze.

"Wow, tatay kita? Si Papa nga hindi ako sinita, ikaw pa?"

He inhaled deeply and exhaled heavily but didn't say anything.

"Ethan, walang pumipilit sa iyong samahan ako sa grocery. I can do things on my own. I don't need you to come with me. Kung ayaw mong may kasamang ganito ang suot, pwede kang maiwan rito."

Sanay ako na palaging nakangiti sa akin si Ethan pero this time he glared at me before walking ahead to open the door. He was frowning but he held it open for me at tsaka ko nakita ang kotse niya na nakahanda na sa labas.

He looked seriously pissed off pero ipinagbukas rin naman niya ako ng passenger seat at ikinabit ang seat belt ko bago pumunta sa driver's seat. Naalala ko na ganito rin ang reaction niya noong nagsuot ako ng maikling skirt sa victory party nila noon sa Soccer kung saan isinama niya kami ni Kuya. Kulang na lang ay itago niya ako sa likod niya the whole time.

Hindi siya umiimik pero sinenyasan niya akong buksan ang stereo niya and I obliged. Kapag sumasabay ako sa kanya pagpasok noon sa school ay ako palagi ang pinapapili niya ng music. Hindi gaya kapag magkasama sila ni Kuya na palaging nagtatalo kung ano ang patutugtugin.

Hanggang sa pagbaba ng sasakyan ay parang mainit ang ulo niya. I can see how his jaw tensed habang naglalakad kami, lalo na nang may makasalubong kaming dalawang lalaki na mas matanda lamang siguro ng konti sa akin. Nginitian nila ako bago bumaba ang tingin sa hita ko.

It suddenly dawned on me that maybe Ethan was right, maybe wearing these shorts isn't such a good idea. But it's a little too late for that realization now. Ayaw kong magpatalo sa kanya kaya pangangatawanan ko na ito.

I was looking for Mama's brand of detergent while Ethan was on another aisle searching for some buttermilk when an older guy bumped me on the shoulder.

"Oops, sorry," he apologized but he didn't exactly look sorry with that smug smile on his face.

"It's okay," I replied and moved away.

"What are you looking for? I think I can help you," he offered but I doubted. He doesn't look like an employee of the grocery store.

"I-I'm fine, p-pumipili lang ako," I stammered nervously, wondering where the hell is Ethan.

He moved closer again, little by little. Looking at me from head to foot, his eyes lingered a little too long on my thighs.

"You're alone, I can push the cart for you," he tried again, totally creeping me out with the way he looked at me with lustful eyes.

I'm going to burn this shorts when I get home later, I swear.

I was about to get my phone out of my pocket to call Ethan when I felt a hand over my shoulder.

"She's not alone. She's with her boyfriend. May problema ba tayo?"

I hate Ethan's presence. Having him around pisses me off. But this time I thanked God he arrived just in time.

When he pulled me closer in a posessive manner, I didn't dare argue. It's weird, but I've never felt this safe before. It's like nobody could hurt me as long as he's by my side.

"Wala pare, nagtatanong lang ako ng oras," the jerk in front of us lied.

The guy stepped back as Ethan glared at him. He obviously realized that my boyfriend is a lot taller than him. Di hamak na mas may muscles rin si Ethan kesa sa kanya at mas malaki ang katawan. Soccer player kasi si Ethan and it shows.

"Huwag mo akong matawag-tawag na pare, hindi kita kaibigan. At sanay na sanay akong makipagbasagan ng mukha sa mga lalaking walang respeto sa babae, lalo na sa girlfriend ko," Ethan replied, sounding very convincing while towering over him.

Kitang-kita ko kung paano namutla ang p*****t na iyon bago siya tuluyang tumalikod at nagmamadaling umalis.

Hindi ako nag-abalang alisin ang kamay ni Ethan sa pagkaka-akbay sa akin. I even held on to his shirt as if for protection. But as the guy disappeared, Ethan immediately let me go.

"See what I mean?" he scolded with c****d eyebrows as he stood in front of me.

Tingnan mo itong taong ito, kung kailan ako willing magpa-akbay tsaka ako biglang bibitawan at pagagalitan.

"Ethan-"

"Kung nakinig ka kasi sa akin, hindi mangyayari ito. Ilang m******s sa palagay mo ang lalapit sa iyo sa ikli ng letseng shorts mong iyan kung hindi mo ako kasama?"

I bit my lip and refused to comment on what he said. Tama naman siya.

"When we get home, change back into your pajamas. I swear I'm going to set that damn shorts on fire!" he said furiously, as if reading my thoughts earlier. Ngayon lang yata kami nagka-pareho ng ideya sa isang bagay.

"Sorry," I said sheepishly but he just grabbed the grocery list away from my hand and pushed the cart beside us.

"Sumunod ka sa akin at huwag na huwag kang aalis sa tabi ko," pautos na sabi niya bago ako inirapan.

Without a word, he started walking to find all the items Mama listed and finished the grocery shopping in no time while I was just trailing along. Ibinigay ko sa kanya ang pera na ipinadala ni Mama habang nakapila kami sa cashier.

I was studying his face, wanting to know if he's still in a bad mood when the cashier spoke to me.

"Ang gwapo naman ng boyfriend mo. Ang swerte swerte mo, pati sa grocery sinasamahan ka pa niya."

"Huh?" I asked in surprise.

I looked up at Ethan and was even more astounded when I saw him smiling. It's the first time na ngumiti siya simula nang bumaba akong naka-shorts kanina.

"Ang gwapo ko raw at ang swerte mo raw sa akin," ulit niya sabay akbay. Suddenly I'm not so sure kung tapos na kami sa pagpe-pretend.

But out of nowhere I felt as if someone's looking at me. From the corner of my eye, I noticed a guy staring from the nearby coffee shop.

And true enough, I saw Tyrone.

Eversince I saw him in church ay pinapansin na ulit niya ako. Twice he even sat beside me in Business Ethics, the only subject we have together.

Usually ay hinahayaan ko lang na isipin ng iba na kami ni Ethan. But Tyrone is an exception. Alam kong hindi ako ang tipo niyang babae pero ayoko ring mailang siya at maging dahilan pa iyon para matuldukan agad ang nag-uumpisa pa lamang namin na pagkakaibigan.

Acting on impulse, siniko ko si Ethan, pushing his hand away from my shoulders in the process.

"Hindi ko po boyfriend iyan," baling ko sa cashier na sa palagay ko ay mas matanda lamang ng konti kay Bethany.

"Ito naman, ikaw pa ba ang magde-deny? Siya nga proud o!"

Nagpanting ang tenga ko sa comment na iyon at lalo lang akong nainis nang makita kong lumapad ang ngiti ni Ethan.

"Aba teka, what exactly do you mean by that?"

Before the cashier could explain herself, Ethan stood between us and quickly wrapped an arm around me while carrying the box of groceries with his other hand.

"Sige Miss ha, medyo mainit ang ulo ng girlfriend ko e, kailangan na naming umalis," aniya habang inaawat ako.

I shrugged his hands off just as quickly. Nilingon ko si Tyrone kung saan ko siya nakita kanina but he's already gone.

"Ikaw naman, masaya na nga ako na napagkamalan nilang girlfriend kita tapos kokontra ka pa. Hindi ba pwedeng kapalit na lang iyon ng pagtatanggol ko sa iyo sa m******s na lumapit sa iyo kanina?"

I pouted and crossed my arms in front of my chest hanggang makalabas kami ng grocery store. And just enough to match my mood, it was raining outside.

Ethan's car was parked on the far left side of the parking lot, away from the main driveway. I'm sure we'll be drenched by the time we get there.

"You stay here and wait for me. Ikukuha kita ng payong sa kotse," Ethan instructed.

I'm not used to following orders from him. I continued walking across the parking lot at the risk of getting wet.

"Nakikinig ka ba? Alam mo nang napakahina ng katawan mo kapag nauulanan, sumugod ka pa rin! Wala ba akong sasabihin na susundin mo?" angil niya habang hinahabol ako, dala ang mabigat na box ng groceries.

"Wala," I replied stubbornly.

We got into the car both dripping wet and immediately, he handed me a towel from the backseat.

"Magpunas ka, baka magkasakit ka niyan."

Galit ang boses niya pero bakas ko pa rin ang pag-aalala sa himig niya.

"Ayoko. Ikaw na lang ang gumamit niyan. Magpapalit na lang ako ng damit pagdating sa bahay."

Nakita ko na namang nagdilim ang tingin niya sa tigas ng ulo ko kasabay ang pagkunot ng kanyang noo.

"Kung hindi lang kita mahal, Lois Fenella, matagal na kitang-"

"Iniwan?" I tried to guess his next word.

He shook his head in disagreement and looked away with a serious expression.

"Tinigilan," he finished.

"Then do it," I challenged.

He shook his head more vigorously this time as he started the car.

"Ilang beses ko bang sasabihin sa iyong hindi ko kaya dahil mahal nga kita? Hindi kita kayang iwan, kalimutan o pabayaan."

"At ilang beses ko bang sasabihin sa iyong hindi ko kayang ibigay ang pagmamahal na kailangan mo?" I fought back.

"Just give me a chance. Kahit hindi mo ako mahalin ng tunay, kahit kunwari lang, kahit gamitin mo lang ako, wala akong pakialam."

I was taken aback by his suggestion. Narinig kaya niya ang pinag-uusapan namin sa study room kanina about me being a friendly user?

"I don't get it, Ethan. I cannot and will not do that," I said, trying to make a stand kahit alam kong maraming beses ko na rin siyang ginamit in a way.

He was silent for a moment and his voice was just a little louder than a whisper when he finally spoke.

"Si Tyrone. Siya ang gusto mo, hindi ba? Then use me to make him jealous," he offered and my jaw literally dropped.

Hindi ko sasabihin na mabait akong tao, pero hindi ako ganoong kasama. I will never use Ethan, or anybody else, to manipulate someone's feeling. I will not prove my brothers right. I am not a user.

"That's insane, Ethan. You don't know what you're talking about."

My voice started to shake as I began to shiver. And all of a sudden, I felt cold.

"Yes, I do. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to be near you."

He stopped the car again and looked at me straight in the eye.

Reaching out, he leaned closer and gently wrapped the towel I refused to accept earlier around my shoulders.

"I love you far more than you could ever imagine, Lois Fenella. Just please allow me to be close to you. Give me a chance to prove how much I love you."