Verse 2
"I'm not interested in you." I crossed my arms and leaned back on my seat as I met his eyes.
Tumawa siya at ipinatong ang siko sa ibabaw ng mesa. Sinalo ng kaniyang palad ang kaniyang panga habang nakatitig sa akin.
"You're like a character from a movie. I could stare at you all day," banat niya.
Ngumisi ako. "Iyan ba ang mga sinasabi mo sa mga babaeng na-me-meet mo through dating site? I didn't know Gio Benitez is a corny pick up liner."
"No. I did not meet you on a dating site so this is different. At hindi ako bumabanat sa mga babaeng na-me-meet ko."
"Hmm," I hummed. "Like I said, hindi pa rin ako interesado. Anyway, I thought you want coffee? Hindi ba dapat ay nakalinya na tayo roon?"
He shrugged and stood up. Sumunod ako sa kaniya at naglakad kami roon sa maliit na cashier. Wala silang tagapagsilbi at parang self-service itong magandang cafe.
Dahil na-stress ako kay Gio ay napabili rin ako ng kape. I chose an iced coffee to ease my thirst. Siya naman ay decaf. My palms were hugging the cup filled with ice as we sat back on our seats. Gaya ng napagkasunduan ay nilibre ko nga siya at hindi rin naman ako umaasa na nagbibiro siya roon. If ever he did insist on paying then, what's the point na dinala niya ako rito, 'di ba?
Gio was a bit smirking at me while we both drink our own coffee. Nagtataas akong kilay dahil parang may gusto siyang sabihin pero idinadaan na lang sa ngiti.
"Mukha ba akong katawa-tawa sa'yo at nagpipigil ka ng ngiti diyan?" I asked boldly. Lumayo ang aking kamay sa cup ng kape at ipinatong ang siko sa ibabaw ng mesa. Sinalo ng likod ng aking palad ang aking baba.
Gio mimicked my posture. "Masama bang ngumiti?"
"No, but your smile is weird. Do you want to say something?"
"Wala naman. It's just weird to have a coffee date with someone yet I couldn't kiss them."
"This ain't a date." I said as a matter of fact. "You said that I owe you something kaya binabayaran ko na."
He acted like he was hurt. Napanguso siya pero nakakaloko pa rin ang tingin sa akin. His hourglass earring dangled in the air as he shifted on his seat. Sinusundan ng aking mata ang magandang piraso ng alahas.
"Do you always wear that every time?" tukoy ko sa kaniyang hikaw.
"This?" hinawakan niya ang hourglass. The pad of his fingers touched it for a few seconds before he looked at me again. "Every day, 24/7. Never did I remove this one."
"You had it since when?"
"And why are you interested?" ngumisi siya.
"I just like the design, is all." Kibit-balikat ko. "That's the only thing that's attractive about you. To be honest."
Sa gulat ko ay tumawa siya sa aking sinabi. He looked amuse, with the way his eyes narrowed and the laughter that he couldn't seem to contain. Kaunti lang ang customer nila kaya madaling naagaw niya ang atensyon ng mga taong naroon. Seriously, hindi ba siya takot na makilala ng mga tao rito? He's technically a part of a rising band.
"I feel so hurt every time you open that mouth of yours. Hater ba kita? Hindi ka ba napagbigyan ng autograph noon kaya ginagantihan mo ako?" he taunted.
