Chapter 4
Para makalimutan ang nangyari kagabi, pinilit kong magpakabusy sa trabaho. Walang masyadong costumer kapag Saturday ng umaga kaya all around ang trabaho ko sa Café. Cashier, taga linis ng mga table, taga-hugas ng cups and utensils, minsan ay nagbabarista na rin ako. Nagpupunas ako ng mga lamesa nang pumasok si Zed sa Café.
I already forgot that he's coming here today. Pero ang hindi ko nakalimutan ay ang sinabi ng pinsan niya tungkol sa kanya. I keep my judgement to myself and smiled at him.
"Good morning!" bati niya sa akin.
"Hello!" bati ko naman pabalik.
Dumiretso muna siya sa counter para umorder tsaka siya bumalik sa lamesang katabi ng nililinisan ko.
"Kumusta?" tanong niya sakin. He look so genuine.
"Ayos lang. Sorry hindi na ko nakareply sayo kagabi. Nakatulog na ako." dahilan ko. He texted me last night while I'm on my way home. Wala na ako sa mood na replyan siya dahil sa galit ko.
"I understand. We are all tired because of that exam. Anong oras pala ang out mo?" I looked at my watch. Hindi ko napansin na out ko na pala. Kaya naman walang alinlangan akong umupo sa harap niya para na rin makapagpahinga.
"Actually, I'm done working." Tumango lang siya.
"Kayo pala ang top section last quarter. Baka kayo ulit ang magtop ngayon."
"Hopefully. My classmates take this section ranking very seriously. Gusto kasi nilang makapasok sa Western University."
"Oh. That's the reward?"
"One of the choices. But that's what most of my classmates want."
"And you?" umuling ako at ngumiti.
"That university has different forte, mostly social sciences and business. Not in line with the field that I want to take." Tumango lang siya habang nakatitig sa akin. Matagal siya bago nagsalita ulit.
"You know what? I like you." Tumaas ang kilay ko. Sumandal ako at humalukipkip. Trying not to lower my guard when deep inside, I feel so overwhelmed. This is the first time a guy tells me that he likes me, and in my face.
"How come? Nung isang araw lang tayo nagkakilala. We barely know each other."
"It's just your eyes, and the way you speak... It's mesmerizing..." he shrugged, lost of words. I calm myself and remembered all my judgements and what Ivan fed me about him. I have to make sure that he's harmless before I fall to his complements.
I composed myself. Tinukod ko ang mga braso ko sa lamesa dahilan ng bahagyang paglapit ko sa kanya.
"Nagkagirlfriend ka na ba?" I asked even though I somehow know the answer. Napansin ko ang pagkabigla niya sa tanong ko.
"Yes, I had two. Yung una was just... nothing. The second one was serious but our relationship became so toxic so... we broke up."
"You broke up?"
"Yes. I mean... I broke up with her."
"And..." I'm not sure kung nahahalata niyang hinuhuli ko siya. But this is the only way I know to find out if he's harmless or not. "Is the break up mutual?"
Hindi siya agad nakasagot. That's my cue to stop interrogating. "You don't have to answer that. Masyado lang akong nadala sa mga tanong ko." Ngumiti ako sa kanya.
"No. It wasn't mutual. Ang totoo niyan ay ayaw niyang makipagbreak."
"Ah." I said nodding. I don't want to ask questions anymore. I'll just let him open up.
