Invisible Strings

2

"Do we have to?"

"So it's a no? Okay.." he looked at me wickedly. "I'll just picture you naked while you're in my arms."

"You prick!"

"So just talk about anything under the sun okay. Don't be such a baby, Qofte." He kissed my head this time.

"So who just called me babe huh?" Assuming 'Qofte' means babe.

"I did" His chest huffed as he laughed. This feels so intimate.. the conversation, his body, his breath and his out-of-the-blue kisses.

Nagsimula siyang magkwento kung bakit siya nandito. I asked him what's his connection sa speaker kaninang umaga. He said it was his brother's mentor who happened to be a good friend.

Nagkwento rin ako tungkol sa CHIAYI. I lowkey introduced my friends to him. Kinuwento ko ang mga kulitan ng grupo lalo na pag buo kami.

Masarap naman siyang kausap. Halatang may utak, na may pinag-aralan but he's some sort of a funny in a different way.. sabayan pa ng pagnanakaw ko ng tingin sa katawan niyang hubad.

"So uhm matagal ka na bang doktor?"

"What babe?" Natatawang-tanong niya. "It's been so long since I've learned Tagalog. Please bear with me."

"So I adjust for you, huh?"

"You wouldn't?" Boses siyang naghahanda sa anumang away. I smiled sweetly at him, just to tame him a little bit. "You have a very beautiful eyes, Qofte."

Nakailang kurap ako sa sinabi niya. Bakit bigla ka nalang babanat ng ganito doc? We held each other's gaze for so long that I was taken aback when he kissed my eyes.

"You!" Palo ko sa braso niya. "And your flirty kisses!" Palo ko ulit. Natatawa niyang tinanggap ang mga hampas ko sakaniya.

"You little saddist" Ginulo niya ang buhok ko kapalit ng panghahampas ko. Napaupo ako sa kama sa ginawa niya.

"How dare you ruin my hair?! Kupal ka talaga!" Ilang beses kong inayos to sa banyo. Kainis! Nagdabog ako sa kama at umupo rin siya. Magkaharap na tuloy kami.

"You're pretty even when you're messed up."

It struck me. His words had finality in it that I tried real hard not to cry. That simple sentence felt freeing. It's like it lifted everything I have in my shoulders. Like everything I kept inside me are now free and I will be able to move forward now.

Napayuko ako habang buong pusong pinigilan ang pagtulo ng mga luha. I just met this person and yet he feels familiar... like he was there when I had no one.

"Hey Qofte, what's wrong? Did I upset you? You don't like your hair messy? I don't care if you're hair is messy though.." Nagpakawala ako ng maikling ngiti dahil sa pagiging praning niyang bigla. "Hey meatball, look at me. Okay, babe won't do it again.. Don't kick me out just yet please.."

Nag-angat na ako ng tingin dahilan para matigilan din siya. He looked like he was about to recite a three-paged comforting words to me just to make me feel better.

"So I assume Qofte is not babe" Konklusyon ko.

"Uhh yeah."

"Hmm?" Pinagtaasan ko siya ng kilay. I don't want us both to dwell on my moment of weakness earlier.

"Okay... It's meatball, some kind of endearment in my country.." he trailed off, almost shy.

Meatball?

"Your country?" Tuloy ko.

"Yes, Albania. It's a small country in Europe, uhmm did I upset you earlier? I'm sorry Qofte."