Dusk Kisses

08

umiling iling akong nakangiti sa kanya. "Tss" 

"Ate, two po nito. parang iiyak na, e" tinuro ko si Sy tsaka tumawa. Dalawang magnum lang 'yon. "Worth of how much nitong kwek-kwek, Sy?"

"Yuck, kwek-kwek. Dapat neon balls para sosyal" sabat ni Syrus

"naks san school mo?" tinanggal ko na 'yung balot ng ice cream ko then licked it all up.

"Northeastern Sicily lang, enebe " may kakaiba pa sa tono ng pananalita niya. Sy licked on her ice cream, playfully. Nakaharap siya sa akin pero tagos ang mga tingin sa likod ko. "Mauna na 'ko, girl… Hintayin mo yung kwek-kwek, ah? Balitaan mo ko laters---" hindi ko na narinig ang huli niyang sinabi dahil naglakad na nga siya paalis.

"the heck? hey! nilibre na nga iniwan pa rin" i exclaimed at her while she was walking, umamba pa ako ng suntok sa hangin. I pouted when I realized that I would just make a fool out of myself if I'd whine here alone.

Being all alone here made me quite paranoid. It was just right outside our school (bawal kasi yung mga ganitong food sa loob) pero hindi pa rin ako komportable. And being true to what i was thinking about, i was quick to shift from at ease to instant kill mode when someone abruptly draped an arm around my shoulder!

"For the love of all---" seeing his face was like a tranquilizer to my raging ready-to-punch system. It eased so easily and so fast, like a snap.

I saw Kent behind me, bahagya kong tinago yung kamay kong may wrist brace na nagpapaalala sa akin kung gaano ako katanaga. pero it's too late. Hinawakan niya na. Tinanggal niya na rin ang pag kaka akbay sa 'kin. I wasn't wearing the arm sling. Di naman necessary.

His brows furrowed at titig na titig sa kamay ko. He tried to press it gently Which had caused me to make a long continuous sound, expressing my pain.

"A-aray naman!" I rolled my eyes as i pulled my hand pero kinuha niya ulit.

"how would it heal kung palagi mong ginagamit? it'd swell hard if you won't give it enough time to rest…” he looked at it solely as if it was a foreign body. Inikot niya pa na parang inieksamina. “namamaga pa, tsk" staring at him made my head cloud. And truth be told, it was confusing. Nakatitig lang ako sa kanya. Alam kong may iniisip ako pero sa t’wing tatanungin ko ang sarili ko pakiramdam ko nakakalimutan ko yung iniisip ko. But the gist of it? It’s him. It’s Kent. The way he pays attention to my hand makes me feel weird things, makes me think of thoughts I never had time to think about. “It’s not that bad,” his sight turned to my mere face, naiilang ako kaya i immediately looked away.

His brows furrowed, forehead creased, and eyes? Pinned at me. Hindi ko mabasa ang itsura niya. But there’s one thing for sure, if only looks could make something liquify? I would've melted like the ice cream I was holding. "So are we gonna wait for it to worsen?" binitawan niya na yung kamay ko, parang bumigat.

Bakit ba kung makademand ‘to parang hawak niya buhay ko? "hold up, why are you so pressed about it? Are you the one to suffer?" I just did that para ma-lessen yung pagka... ilang ko.

"no, but--"

"Yeah, right? I thought so, too" I rolled my eyes. "stop worrying about the things you have no control over." I’m right. Wala siyang obligasyong mag-alala, hence, wala rin siyang karapatan sabihin sa akin kung anong dapat kong gawin. Buhay ko ‘to. Dun siya mag-alala sa kaibigan niya.

"tangina, galing pa akong BGC papunta dito tapos hindi ka pa rin tapos?"

I rolled my eyes habang binuksan ang pihitan ng shower, si Syrus yung makulit na katok ng katok sa pinto ng bathroom ko.

I went out after wiping myself dry. I tiptoed to reach the small cabinet dito sa bathroom malapit sa countertop, kumuha lang ako ng isa pang towel at pinaikot sa buhok ko.

Sinundan ako ni syrus nang makalabas ako sa cr.

"Akala ko nakatulog ka na sa banyo, ang tagal mo!" Reklamo niya.

I took a look at our wall clock. Psh, "I still have 30 freaking minutes." I whispered so I didn't react when she seemed like she didn’t hear me at all. "Bakit mo ba ako minamadali? Dapat nga mabait ka sa 'akin ngayon! Hmp!" I pouted.

minamadali niya akong magbihis para daw maagang makapunta sa swimming arena. It was still 7:08 in the morning for Pete's sake!

"Mabait na ako sa lagay na 'to-- woy, ano ba!" I pushed her out of my room, magbibihis na kasi ako.

"Shoo!" I shut the door. 

"hoy! Bilisan mo. Pahinging chips ah" sigaw niya sa labas ng kwarto ko. Pagkain lang pala nakakapagpa tahimik dito.

"Aga aga, chips agad" i rolled my eyes

I put a minimal amount of makeup since school pa rin naman ang pupuntahan namin, we were allowed to wear civilian clothes dahil nga intrams. I just wore a plain pink shirt medyo oversized kaya malaki yung sleeves and white skirt tapos chunky shoes. Tinuck in ko yung  harap ng shirt para cute. As time passed by, nag hi-heal at medyo di na rin masakit 'yung wrist ko. naglagay pa rin ako ng wrist brace though. I wish I bought this in my skin color, nasira tuloy yung outfit ko. blue, pink and white? the fck.

I brought a mini designer bag with me para doon ko ilagay yung purse ko tapos phone wala namang klase kaya I didn't think of bringing a notebook. Tapos, hinatid na kami ng driver nila sy sa school. Mas excited pa yata 'to sakin.

"Which one's better?" Pinapakita niya sa 'kin 'yung dalawang Mac lipstick niya, isang nude tsaka isang pink.

Mabuti naman at walang red, birthday ko tas kakabugin niya ko? Hindi pwede 'yon!

I got the nude out of her hand and checked the shade. Gusto ko rin nun. 

Maybe I should buy one, next time.

Her driver dropped us off sa tapat ng gate. "I'll just text you kapag uuwi na kami kuya rey" she said to her driver. Di naman ganun ka tanda yung driver niya, I guess he's around 20's. The last time Kent and I talked, it didn’t end up really nice. But I promised. "Pustahan tayo?" She suggested habang papasok kami ng main building.

"G, 1k" i challenged, 5k lang kasi ang dala ko today.

"Tangina ang baba." She sarcastically jabbered. It made me scoff "’pag nanalo si Kent, isasama natin siya sa dinner later." birthday ko nga kase, i didn't even invite her pero she had the audacity to ask Aia if she could come over. Kapal diba? Gano'n siya ka goodshot kay ate. I’m gonna ask Mae and Xera later na lang. 

"Tss, e, pag hindi?" I turned my face a little on the side. Kinuha ko yung ticket mula sa bag ko.

"Dodoblehin ko 5k mo" she blurted, that made me smirked pero agad napawi nang naisip na kailangan matalo ni Kent para lang sa 5k. My conscience woke me up. I’m not that in need of money naman.

 I gave the ticket sa taong nasa entrance ng arena. "Oh anong pinag pustahan do'n? It’s nonsense naman," pangongontra ko sa kanya.

"nanalo siya kase nando'n ka" I pretended to cough.

"hotdog!" I abruptly uttered. "Yun agad? Di ba pwedeng nanalo kasi he practiced? Bobo mo"

"E, bakit pa kailangan bigyan ka ng exclusive seats?" She arched a brow "para madali ka niyang makita di ka lang bobo, tanga na manhid pa!" she shot back.

"Nonsense, nagsasayang ka lang ng pera" we shifted on our seat. "Wikipedia ka? Hilig magbigay ng meaning, ah?" Nakita naming lumabas na yung mga contestants. I was dumbfounded for almost a minute when I found out that there was a heaven on Earth.

Kent has abs, huh?

I bit my lip to stop myself from smirking. 

Ang daming abs! Pahingi ng kanin-- 

I suddenly Pictured my dad, scolding me for what I had said. 

I was just kidding, come on!

"Akin ang pangatlo sa huli" my lips formed an 'o' when she whispered close to my ear.

I exaggerated the way my eyes widened sabay lingon sa kanya "Oh. My. God. Tito yung anak mo na di na loyal!" I laughed. We stopped talking when we heard a gunshot, not totally a g*n but the one they use as a go signal. Kent was the third leading, the crowd went wild when he managed to be the first.

Syrus stood up t’saka pinuwesto yung mga kamay niya malapit sa bibig niya. "Woohoo! Go papi Kent!" Sy almost shouted with all of her strength.

May mga tumingin ng masama sa kaniya mula sa mas mababang seats.

"Oh to the M to the G. Her voice makes me go deaf," pagpaparinig ng isa. "Girl, you so right. Kala mo naman girlfriend," umirap pa yung isa habang nasa gawi namin ang tingin.

"Oh, bakit? Girlfriend kayo? Girlfriend ka?" Pinandilatan niya ng mata. I nudged her nang marahan then my attention was stolen by the competition. “Kakapal ng mukha, chararat naman.” She confidently stated.

Wala pang ilang sandali ay nakahabol ang tinuro ni Sy kanina, his distance from Kent was just a meter! Hanggang sa pumantay na sila at nakarating sa dulo ng pool, bumalik sila sa pinanggalingan nilang direksyon. I can't help but to mutter a curse.

Honestly, my heart is wildly beating. I deeply sighed. I almost cheered my lungs out nung muntik nang maunahan si Kent. "Fck," i whispered then bit the ends of my nails before cheering again. 

"lumalapit 'yung isa kay Vasquez, oh" napalingon ako sa narinig ko, is it bad? i mean ano naman kung lumalapit yung isang contestant kay Kent? 

"hala, oo nga?"

"'di ba siya nakakakita? kala ko ba professionally trained yan? parang papuntang visayas yung langoy niya." tumawa pa yung isa.

It seemed bad.

the crowd's noises descended when we noticed something. kahit ako, naguguluhan. Hindi ko alam kung anong una kong pagtutuunan ng pansin. "Laur, Laur, Laur!" sy repeatedly called me, gusto niyang tignan ko nang maigi yung pool at yung mga contestants. “Ang lapit nung isa, oh!”

My eyes literally widened in a way I never imagined. When I witnessed how the other contenstant's hand had hit Kent's head! "Tangina.”

"puta ang daya!'' The crowd reacted violently as expected.

I fought the urge of going downstairs. Hindi man lang in-acknowledge nung commentator yung kadayaang ginawa nung isang contestant! Kent has stopped swimming for a little while, as he recovered, he doubled his speed up! That's it.

He was close! Literally so close. Kung pwede ngang kunin ko yung kamay niya at hilahin para mahawakan niya yung edge, ginawa ko na.

mahahawakan niya na sana yung end ng pool but someone has already announced the winner!

Filthy suckers.

nag silapitan yung mga coach dun sa nanalo and I? I was fuming mad. I saw how dirty this game was. And as much as I wanted to sulk and whine about it, hindi pwede. I literally had the urge to laugh nung abot langit yung ngiti nung coach! The audacity?! Are they serious? didn't they see how he cheated? tuwang tuwa yung coach sa kanya!

Kent lifted his weight and sat on the edge of the pool, he took his swimming cap and goggles off tapos tumingin siya sa scoreboard. He was hard to read as his face was devoid of any emotion. Hindi ko alam kung anong nararamdaman niya. Hindi ko mahulaan. He catched me staring at him, this time I didn't look away and I smiled instead. I hope my eyes could tell him that it's okay. He stood up then got his towel from his handler.

"tara, laur" defeat could be traced from sy's voice. 

"nakakainis naman kasi! what the other guy did was pretty obvious, hindi gano'n kahirap para hindi mapansin!" I ranted. Wala naman akong ibang mapagsasabihan kundi si Syrus.

"ba't ba g na g ka? ikaw ba yung natalo? hindi naman 'di ba?" kanina pa ‘ko nagrereklamo at kanina niya pa rin sinasabi na okay lang yun, meron pa naman daw susunod--pero kahit na! "t'saka intrams lang 'to--- yes he did it dirty pero hindi naman 'to pambansang palaro" she teasingly chuckled.

"even so!" i stood with what i was fighting for. she tiptoed and looked behind me, tinaas pa ang kamay. Nasa labas na kami ng gym, yung tapat lang ng pinto sa likod kung saan dumadaan yung mga athletes. Nando'n din yata yung locker, nakita ko kanina nung may dumaan din palabas. Iko-congratulate niya daw si Kent. i agreed to wait with her dahil kahit naman second place lang si Kent dapat pa rin naman naming i-congratulate. he did the best he could and that's enough. well at least, it is for me.

She smiled so wide that I couldn't even see her eyes anymore"Ck!" Impit na sabi niya Habang nagtatatalon pa.

"Fangirl?" My face changed while I was looking at her. 

Ang over!

I turned around to see him.

and he was still wet and half n***d. I gulped before drawing out  a very very deep breath. I felt the heat on my cheek kaya umiwas iwas ako ng tingin. I mean from the state i was from, this is far from being intimate! i've seen more than this, normal na 'to para sa mga friends ko and they even had their v card taken from them! I shouldn't be flushed with what I am looking at right now! It’s just a toned up abdomen, nothing so much. Gosh, but why do I feel this way?!

 I hate this, di ako makatingin sa kanya! It's so awkward kasi! And i-- And It was like I suddenly forgot how to act right! Even my brain isn't cooperating with me! 

Our eyes met as he wiped his hair back and forth using his towel. I tried to stop myself from evaluating his look but for pete's sake! he's still on his swimming trunks!  And there’s something na hindi ko na gugustuhin tignan ulit. Ayokong magkaron ng minus points sa langit, please! i pursed my lips, my gosh.can someone please get me out of here? Kung ano anong nakikita ko, e!

"Selene" he called me with a smile on his face but not like he used to, he hung his towel on his shoulder at naglakad palapit sa akin dala-dala ang nakakasilaw niyang karisma. I unconsciously stepped back, what's... Happening to me? My heart started to race more... faster as I felt the hot sensation spreading through my cheeks.

Baka dahil lang sa awkwardness? 

Yeah, right. I’m right. As always.

I shook my head subtly.

His face tells me and the other people in this room that something is off but nevertheless he never fails to shine like a new toy. "Uy, congrats!" i'm waiting for him to greet me pero mukhang di niya yata alam, I just... guessed. Sy stepped forward, kapantay lang ni Kent.

"Wow na demure!" She's being sarcastic! She smirks when she sees me glare at her then turn to Kent's direction tapos nag crossed arms din.

"Nahiya yung boses ko nung siya na yung nag cheer" she pointed at me. I don't know why but i randomly trailed my sight to Kent. he was... Paying so much attention to her which made me feel so embarrassed. I put my tongue into the inside of my cheeks to stop myself from smiling when i saw how Kent smiled genuinely. I can really tell it was... genuine and unreasonably contagious. Napangiti na lang rin ako pinagmamasdan siyang nakikinig sa mga kwento ni Syrus "Mismo! Living microphone! Ayaw patalo, kabog na kabog ako!" He chuckled again.

"this is way too much" she was telling him what happened earlier back in our seat... in full detail! 

"Huh? Ano 'yon?" Syrus has a really big ear! narinig niya pa 'yon? Chismosang 'to!

I innocently gave her an ounce of my sight as well as my Innocent look as if I wasn't saying anything. "Ha?" I even smiled! Gosh I'd look pathetic here.

"so ayun na nga! 'yung mga fans mong nakaupo sa harap namin kanina? Aba minalditahan ba naman ako?" Nakapamewang niyang kwento kay Kent "tapos ito namang isang 'to! Daig na daig pa ako mag cheer kanina, Jowa ka girl?" She sarcastically blurted out.

"Ah.. ano kas---" i was about to explain pero his friends suddenly appeared out of God knows where. I looked away instead of rolling my eyes, nakatingin rin kasi sa akin 'tong dalawang 'to.

With sparkle in her eyes, she walks closer as she traces the distance between the two of them. All of his friends are smiling but something tells me that her smile’s different. Hindi naman ako tanga, hindi rin dense. Base sa ngiti niya? Alam kong meron pa… "Cielo!" I can see the enthusiasm in her eyes. Umamba si Hanna ng yakap. But something stopped her from doing so, I think it was the water droplets that were running down to Kent's chest.

"Later, champ. You’re still basa, look, oh," she gave him a flashy smile as she pointed at the little droplets near the waistband of his trunks.

"P're," Daustine and Mark gave Kent a high five, probably to congratulate him. I guess. At gano'n na rin ang ginawa ni Michael. "nakita namin yung kanina, ah? ano resbakan na ba namin?" Mark offered but Kent refused while chuckling and shaking his head.

“That was just an elimination round, pasok pa rin ako sa susunod… hayaan niyo na,” he said as though he was consoling them.

“Hindi pare, e” Mark was jokingly resisting. “Kinakanti ka, na ‘ko! Kung ako yan di ako papayag ng ginaganyan ganyan ako--- aray naman!” binatukan siya ni Daustine.

“Para kang sira,” Daus laughs while Mark’s still caressing the part of his head that received the impact of Daustine’s hit. 

Nag-uusap pa silang magtotropa nang mapansin kami ni Hanna. She smiled at us then waved her hand. For some reason, both of my brows arched up. Why does she look like an actress who was waving to her audience after receiving an award?

"Oh, hi syriel!" syriel? Did she mean Syrus? 

The confusion took over my face bago ko tignan si Syrus.

"It's Syrus" Sy corrected her and gave a fake smile. I almost laughed kaya I bit the insides of my cheek. 

"Oh" Hanna looked so mortified, perhaps she realized na hindi 'yon ang pangalan ni Syrus. "and you... must be Selene?" i just nodded and showed a smile "yeah, i must have mixed up your names" she showed an apologetic smile. Wala naman akong pakialam kung napagsama niya o ano.

"Have you eaten na?" Tanong ni Hanna kay Kent, i think she was trying to shake off the awkwardness between her and Syrus.

"hindi pa" He replied as quick as the light. Dito pa talaga sila maglalandian? I suddenly cringed when a scenario came up to my mind. Sila iyon, na naglalandian sa cafeteria. Gosh how absurd.

"Si Kiel din, Hanna. 'Di pa kumakain" singit ni Mark.

Kiel? As in Michael? "Ahh" I nodded slowly. 

"Tinatanong ko?" she rolled her eyes, i saw how Mark's jaw dropped as he dramatically held his chest as if he was shot.

"Gago, you look pathetic" Michael commented, his face was... nothing. di yata marunong ngumiti 'to.

"uh," i cleared my throat "una na kami, manonood pa kami ng ibang sports." I glanced at Kent who was also looking at me "Congrats ulit." i smiled.

"Selene, wait" Kent tried pero Hinatak ko na yung palapulsuhan ni Syrus papalayo roon.

"May ticket ka pa?" Syrus asked me "bigay ulit? Naks haba naman ng hair! Naapakan ko na, o, Sana all" inikot ikot niya ang kamay na para nga bang may buhok na inaayos palayo and raised her hands na para bang nanghihingi ng himala galing sa langit.

"Alibi ko lang 'yon, gaga" i let go of her hand.

She stopped walking and so did I. She looked at me like I somewhat betrayed her."Alibi? Para saan?" She's frustrated. 

I winced but it soon faded. "Basta, I don’t feel like I belong there," it was honest. Hindi naman porket magkaibigan kami nina Kent t’saka Mark, maging komportable na rin ako kay Hanna. I still have my walls up. 

"Pero ako 'yung tumawag kay Kent, e" she pouted like a kid.

"Hayaan mo na siya, di niya tayo kailangan do'n," he has a lot of friends, makuntento na siya dun.

"Alam mo? Napansin ko lang, ah. Para ka laging pinagsakluban ng langit at lupa sa t’wing nandyan si Hanna. Inaano ka ba nung tao?”

“You’re just imagining things.”

“Imagining mo lelang mo, tinanong naman na kita noon sa rooftop pero todo tanggi ka lang" nakasimangot niyang sabi. "Actually hindi ko na sana 'to ibi-bring up kung hindi ka lang ganiyan umarte!" sus. reasons.

"Tumingin ka nga sa mga mata ko" she said so i did, "aba, wag mo kong binibigyan ng bugtong hininga mo, ha" she even noticed that? Grabe naman ‘to!

"May feelings ka ba kay Kent?" She asked me which made me furrowed my brows then looked away. "Sabi ko tumingin ka sa mga mata ko, ha" 

Tinitigan ko ang mga mata niya, "you’re such a mom--”

“Sagutin mo ‘ko.”

I drew a deep breath as if i’m composing myself, just so she wouldn't say a thing. “Wala." I bluntly stated as if I was an emotionless robot. Baka kapag tumawa ako sabihin pa niyang i’m lying lang. God knows how much I'm stopping to smile!

"'yun naman pala, e! Sige mag la-lie low muna ako sa pagshiship sa inyo, so get a grip Lauri... Selene" she smirked.

What the hell?!

"Stop mimicking his voice, nakakapangilabot" I shivered intently, so I could deliver my words nicely. And para na rin convincing!

"luh sinabi ko lang naman 'yung second name mo, ah? ikaw 'tong nakaisip sa kanya"

I faced her. With all of my strength, I’m still stopping myself to smile. "di ko iniisip si Kent, okay?" I tilted my head a little on the right.

Her eyes widened as if she’s witnessing the most amusing phenomena of the whole entire universe. "kita mo! wala naman akong sinasabing pangalan!" tinuro niya pa yung bibig ko na para bang pinapaalala pa sa akin kung ano yung sinabi ko. And just when it sunk in, I realized that I had no escape nor impromptu plan b. Sa akin na rin mismo nanggaling. Magmumukha lang akong tanga kung babawiin ko pa.

"oo na. Tama na Wikipedia," I started walking my way.hindi ako mananalo dito, pipilitin niya lang at pipilitin akong umamin (even when there’s really nothing to confess about!) at kung hindi naman niya ako pilitin, hindi niya naman ako titigilan hangga’t sa wala akong masabing makapagpapatahimik sa kanya.

"Oh, saan ka pupunta?" She followed me from behind. "Doon tayo dumaan sa kabila! Shortcut dun, oh!" She pulled my arm gently so I didn't hold back.

“Shortcut o gusto mo lang masilayan yung---”

“Don’t say bad words!” ayaw niyang sabihin ko yung pangalan ng crush niya kasi ayaw niya raw umissue. As if naman. 

“Off limits talaga?” she just looked at me with the stare she’s use when someone’s annoying her. “Fine. that-person-who-shall-not-be-named is never goinna be mentioned. Okay na?” she smiled whike wiggling her brows.

Ang ganda, nakakaasar.

"Bagalan mo naman 'yung paglakad mo! Di ko tuloy naabutan 'yung crush ko" she complained.

Padabog na umupo si syrus sa harap ko. I got my hydro flask out from the side pocket of my bag.

"pag mabagal sasabihin mo, bilisan. pag binibilisan sasabihin mo , bagalan. alam mo? ang labo mo!" I blurted out which so much irritation.

Nandito kasi kami sa Senior high school cafeteria, dumaan kami sa building kaya dito na rin kami dumiretso.

"Ano ba kasi itsura no'n? Gano'n ba siya kapogi para mabaliw ka sa kanya? Wala ba siyang pictures sa internet?"

"Saka ko na ipapakita sa'yo pag sinagot na ako," she laughed na para bang normal na siya yung nanliligaw. “Not be old fashion nor misogynist, pero ‘di ba dapat lalaki yung nanliligaw?”

“Gaga ka, iba na uso ngayon. Lalaki na nga nagpapabebe, e” she answered me as though she’s like a pro in that matter. 

“And that’s completely fine with you? I mean, don’t you want to be courted?”

“Aber kanino? Kanino ako magpapaligaw kung yung gusto ko hindi naman gumagalaw-galaw?” she was pertaining to the boy she likes being completely ignorant of her presence. “Kung hindi ako gagalaw, sino? Sino ang manliligaw sa amin? Magulang pa ba namin?”

"’kay. How about his whole name? Di mo ba sasabihin 'yung whole name niya sa 'kin? Mahirap hulaan 'yon, ha!" nasasanay siyang siya lang yung naghahanap ng mapangaasar sa akin, now it’s my time to shine.

"Wag mo na 'akong kulitin dahil hindi ko sasabihin sa 'yo, sapat na 'yung first name lang alam niyo," or not my time to shine yet. 

“Alam niya na ba? I mean, you said you’re courting him, pero alam niya bang ginagawa mo--whatever you’re doing now because you’re pursuing him?" I curiously asked.

Tumingin tingin pa siya ulit sa paligid, she creased her forehead and her eyes widened slowly as if she realized something or developed another problem in her mind "gagi! Baka hindi nga niya alam!” 

I bit my lower lip, preventing myself to smirk. “Ayan, ligaw-ligaw ka pang nalalaman. Baka kaya hindi ka sinasagot kasi he’s not acknowledging you as his suitor--or worse, he doesn’t like being pursued.”

“Sa tingin mo ayaw niya nun?”

“I don’t know about him, but most of the guys hate that---got it from my friends back in Florida. Wala na raw thrill, often taken for granted rin…” i don’t want to scare her but her face shows me how scared i made her feel. It looks like her worst nightmare has just come to life.

“Teka nga! Change topic! Napapraning ako.”

I pouted, nodding while stopping to smile. “You’re easy to be agitated, Sy” we finished our food tapos umuwi rin ka agad, sumama siya sa akin sa condo so we made up our minds to watch netflix. ‘di naman required sa amin na manood ng mga laro. Marami ring outsiders na nandoon para manood kaya necessary talaga yung ticket. I felt sleepy bandang hapon kasi umulan. Eto na ba yung birthday? so boring...

I closed my eyes as i dozed off to sleep nung niyakap ko yung unan ko.