Dangerous Love

CHAPTER 4

THE CAFE closed earlier than usual that day. The last customer had already left, and the chairs were pushed neatly under the tables, but the scent of coffee still lingered in the air.

Pinunsan ni Evron ang kamay gamit ang malinis na tela. Kalmado lang siya at tahimik na nakatayo sa likod ng counter, pero panay ang sulyap niya sa pintuan.

Hindi niya alam kung bakit siya medyo kinakabahan.

Maybe because later won’t be just another casual conversation over coffee.

And maybe because for the first time in a long time, he had asked someone out.

Wala siyang pinagsabihan na may date siya.

Ang paalam niya sa kaniyang magulang ay may misyon siya ngayong gabi, kaya late na siyang uuwi mamaya.

Ito ang unang beses na may i-de-date siya.

When the small bell above the door rang, he immediately looked up. Gumuhit ang ngiti sa kaniyang labi nang makita si Blythe na pumasok. She wore a simple light-blue dress and white sneakers, and her hair was tied loosely behind her head. Nothing extravagant and not attention-seeking, which had caught his attention.

Ipinalibot nito ang tingin sa loob ng café saka nagtaas ng kilay.

“Late na ba ako?” tanong ni Blythe.

Umiling si Evron saka lumabas sa likod ng counter. “Hindi naman. I just closed early.”

Napakurap si Blythe. “Isinara mo ang café para sa akin?”

Ngumiti si Evron. “It’s our first date,” he replied simply. “I didn’t want interruptions.”

Her lips slowly curved into a smile.

“Well,” she said softly, “that’s unexpectedly sweet.”

Evron pulled out a chair for her at one of the small tables near the window.

Umupo naman si Blythe habang pasimpleng tinitingnan ang café. “Parang kakaiba ang lugar na ‘to kapag walang tao.”

“How?”

“It feels like a secret.”

Evron poured two cups of coffee and placed one in front of her.

“Maybe it is.”

Ipinalibot ni Blythe ang kamay sa tasa. She took a small sip without sound. “Alam mo,” panimula niya, “most people go somewhere fancy on a first date,” aniya sa mapang-asar na tono.

Umupo naman si Evron sa tapat ni Blythe. “I don’t like fancy places.”

“Bakit naman?” Sumandal si Blythe sa kinauupuan.

“Too many people pretending.”

Natawa ng mahina si Blythe. “That’s very honest,” she said. Pero sa paraan ng pagkasabi ni Evron, parang marami na itong pinagdaanan sa mundo.

“Mas gusto ko ang tahimik na lugar,” tugon naman ni Evron. The Underground was already too noisy.

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, sipping coffee.

Not until Blythe stared at Evron, studying him curiously.

“Bakit ka ganiyang makatingin sa akin?” tanong ni Evron.

“You looked like a mysterious person, Evron,” wika ni Blythe.

Natigilan naman si Evron. “Am I”

Tumango si Blythe. “Yes.”

Namutawi ang munting ngiti sa labi ni Evron. “Paano mo naman nasabi?”

Sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon, may nakapagsabi ng ganoon sa kaniya.

“You listen more than you talk. You never tell stories about yourself, and you never complain. Kalmado ka rin at parang kontrolado ang bawat galaw mo.”

“So, you’re observing me?”

“Sometimes,” matapat na sagot ni Blythe.

“Are those bad traits?”

“Not bad,” she replied thoughtfully. “Just rare.”

Sumandal si Evron sa kinauupuan. “What about you?” tanong niya. “What makes Blythe Romero rare?”

Blythe pretended to think hard about it. “I make excellent financial spreadsheets.”

Natawa ng mahina si Evron. “That’s impressive,” he said.

“And,” she added with a playful grin, “I can beat most people at arcade basketball.”

Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Evron. “Arcade basketball?”

Tumango si Blythe saka itinuro ang isang kanto sa labas. “There’s a small amusement arcade two blocks away.”

Sumulyap naman si Evron sa labas. “Gusto mong pumunta roon?”

“Obviously.”

“You came here dressed for a game.”

Blythe rolled her eyes. “Correction. I came prepared. At huwag ang damit ko ang pansinin mo.” Aniya saka tumayo na.

Evron smiled. Tumayo na rin siya. “Alright, let’s go.”

—

The arcade was noisy and full of flashing lights.

May mga batang tumatakbo, malakas na ingay ng mga machine, at nagkalat sa hangin ang amoy ng popcorn.

Confident naman na naglakad si Blythe patungo sa basketball machine.

“This is where legends are made,” she announced.

Evron crossed his arms. “Maniniwala lang ako kapag makikita ko.” Aniya. Then he added, “Let’s have a bet.”

“And what kind of stake?” tanong ni Blythe, na tumaas ang isang kilay.

Gumuhit ang misteryosong ngiti sa labi ni Evron. “You can name anything you want if you win.”

“And if you win?”

Evron’s smiles widened. “Saka ko na sasabihin.”

“Bahala ka.”

Blythe inserted coins and grabbed the ball.

And the timer started. For the next thirty seconds, Blythe shot ball after ball into the hoop with impressive speed.

Nasurpresa naman si Evron habang pinapanood niya ang dalaga.

When the timer ended, the scoreboard flashed her final score.

Blythe turned to him triumphantly. “Ikaw na.”

Lumapit naman si Evron sa dalaga, saka pinulot ang bola. Then he shoots on the ring. Sunod-sunod na tumama ang mga bola sa ring at nang matapos ang timer, his score was higher than hers.

Hindi naman makapaniwalang napatitig si Blythe sa screen. “You’re kidding.”

Ibinigay naman ni Evron ang prize tickets kay Blythe na iniluwa ng machine. “I thought you said you were unbeatable.”

“I said most people.” Pinaningkitan ni Blythe ng tingin si Evron.

“You lose, Blythe.”

“Alam ko.” Sabi ni Blythe na medyo hindi tanggap ang pagkatalo, but she let it go. “So, what’s the stake? What do you want?”

Sa tanong ni Blythe, napatitig si Evron sa dalaga hanggang sa mapako ang tingin niya sa labi nito.

He gulped as he suddenly imagined kissing her.

Mag-iwas agad ng tingin si Evron saka tumikhim. But the wild imagination that came into his mind was hard to forget.

“Evron.” Kumaway si Blythe sa harapan ng mukha ni Evron.

Napakurap naman ang binata.

“Ano?” tanong ni Blythe.

“Mamaya na.”

Napatango na lamang si Blythe.

They spent another hour wandering through the arcade, playing small games and teasing each other.

And when they finally stepped outside, the sky had already turned dark.

Tahimik lamang silang naglalakad sa sidewalk. Kasalukuyang hinahatid ni Evron si Blythe sa apartment nito.

“So, what’s your stake?” tanong ni Blythe. “Malapit na tayo sa apartment ko. Bukas invalid na ang bet natin.”

Tipid na ngumiti si Evron saka tiningnan ang dalaga diretso sa mata nito. “Be my girlfriend.”

Blythe was stunned. “…W-what?”

Hinawakan ni Evron ang kamay ni Blythe. “I like you. Will you be my girlfriend?”