Eskeé
1029 Words
[Xylandria's POV]
Hindi siya sumagot at marahang napanguso. Pinipigilan ba niyang ngumiti? Napangisi ako at sinusubukang kunin ang mga tingin niya pero diretso lang ang kanyang tingin sa daan habang nagda-drive. Matigas talaga.
"Hey, tinatanong kaya kita."
"I just don't have anyone to bring with me. Dalawang invitation ang nakuha ko ngayon."
"Pero you like me nga?"
"Depende." Napanguso ako nagpangalumbaba at tumingin sa bintana.
Naalala ko yung pinag-usapan namin kahapon. The way he talks about love seems like he's been in love before. Has he? It looks like na gusto niya ring magkapamilya, but his condition is stopping him. I feel bad and I don't want to him to know that. Ma-pride kasi ang impaktong PWD na katabi ko.
.
Hindi mapawi ang ngiti ko at panay kuha ko ng litrato ng mga dresses and suits na nagugustuhan ko gamit ang phone ko.
"Nadala ko sana yung DSLR ko kung sinabi mo nang mas maaga," reklamo ko kay Walter. Tumingin ako sa kanya at suot niya ang itim niyang face mask. He probably doesn't want anyone to talk about his face.
"You can always check them online," wala ganang sagot niya.
Ibinalin ko ang tingin sa runway at nakaramdam ako ng paghanga sa mga models. I feel jealous, but I guess being in the front seat is already a blessing.
Naramdaman kong panay buntong-hininga ni Walter at pagkamot niya sa kanyang batok. Ipinasok ko ang phone sa bag ko at lumapit sa kanya para bumulong, "you wanna go somewhere else?"
"Nah, let's just finish." Hindi na ako nagpumilit pa at tumahimik. He looks bored. I paid attention to the runway when I heard a voice coming from the speaker.
"Like always, we have save the best for last." Agad na nagpalakpakan ang mga tao in a moderate manner when a blonde foreigner occupied the entire catwalk. The gown just caught my attention. A bumblebee trumpet gown. It's aesthetic and simple, just entirely Xylandria's style.
"Marvelous," I also want to wear something like that. Not on the runway, but going out.
"You like that?" I heard him asked at tumango naman ako.
"Ikaw? Don't you like it?" Tanong ko rin ko sa kanya.
"It's too simple."
"Exactly. Simplicity is elegant."
.
"Dinner tayo, libre ko." Anyaya ko para naman makabawi ako. I'm thankful, because of him, I got to experienced to be in the front seat. Yung naramdaman ko kaninang paghanga ay sana may taong makaramdam din ng ganoon kapag ako naman ang nasa runway.
"Gutom ka na?"
"Obviously," kibit-balikat kong sagot habang tiningnan sa phone ko ang mga larawang nakuhanan ko kanina.
Tumingin ako sa kanya nung bigla siyang tumahimik. Binasa ko ang pang-ibabang labi ko at tumikhim.
"Saan mo ba gustong kumain?"
"Anywhere will do, but let me pay."
"No, hindi pwede. Kahit dinner man lang ay mailibre kita. Parang tinulungan mo kasi ako sa first step ng dream ko, kaya hayaan mo akong bumawi." Pagpupumilit ko na ikinabuntong-hininga niya.
"It was my decision to bring you in the first place. Don't make it such a big deal."
"And it is also my decision to invite you for dinner... so please?" Umiwas siya ng tingin.
"Ano sa tingin mo ang iisipin ng mga tao sa restaurant? Na baldado na nga ako ay hinahayaan ko pa na ang babae ang maglibre sa akin."
"Egoistic... sound pretty much like you."
"What?!" Napahalakhak ako nung tumaas ang boses niya. Magkasalubong ang kilay niya na parang nanghahamon ng away.
"Drop the negatives. Let's just order online at ako pa rin ang magbabayad. Let's not argue okay?" Hindi na siya umimik kaya tinulak ko na ang wheelchair niya papasok ng van.
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"What can you say about the food?" Tanong ko sa kanya habang nginunguya ang pizza.
"It's fine." Tiningnan ko ang styro plate na nasa kandungan niya at hindi masyadong nagalaw ang inorder kong bbq zinger steak para sa kanya.
"You mean you don't like it?" Hindi siya sumagot... okay, i'll take it as a no.
"Ano bang mga pagkain ang gusto mo? Restaurants? Cuisine?"
Nasa loob lang kami ng van. Patay ang makina at ang ilaw sa loob. Nasa taas na bahagi kami ng city kaya kitang-kita ang city lights... the kind of dinner I perfectly want. Tahimik lang at payapa, it feels serene to experience something like this.
"I don't like any particular foods."
"What about music? What kind of genre?"
"I like Bon Jovi's songs, but i'm not picky when it comes to genre."
"If hindi ka olympian or singer, ano ang magiging trabaho mo incase na hindi ka naaksidente?" I have seen concern and attention in his eyes while he thinks of an answer. I guess he normalize answering questions regarding about his condition.
"I'll be a business man."
He doesn't need to think about that one actually. It's already given. His parents are major tycoons.
"Are you interested in me, Xylandria?" Nanlaki ang mga matang tumingin ako sa kanya at nakitang seryoso siyang nakatingin sa akin. His eyes are exploring every details of my face. Kahit madilim ay kita ko ang pagkinang ng mga mata niya na nagpakalabog ng puso ko.
"O-of course not."
"Then why are you still here... with me?" His voice is gentle and calm that I couldn't possibly breathe.
"I-i've already told you before right?"
"Yeah, but something is telling that you're not just here for that."
"I don't know either... maybe, you're right. I find you interesting–"
"I was just joking. You're not interested in me, no one will. You're just curious to know the new life of Walter Holloway."
.
It's Saturday. I was quietly watering my plants when I heard Manang opening the gate. I turned my attention to her direction and I fixed myself when I saw my parents getting inside.
"Good morning," lumapit ako sa kanila at nagbeso. Tumingin din ako sa kanilang likuran incase na may dala na naman silang panibangong suitor at nagpapasalamat ako nung makitang wala.
"What's up?"
"Tinawagan kami ni Mr. Chavez. Invited tayong tatlo para sa party bukas kasama ang mga stock holders ng Araneta University."
"B-bukas?"
"Yes, bukas. Kaya nandito kami para sunduin ka, bibili tayo ng susuotin mo."
- Writer
