Chapter 35: Strolling
LARA’s POV
Kanina pa ako lakad ng lakad sa mall pero I still can’t find something special for Tristan. A watch? He already has one. A bag? C’mon, that’s lame. A T-shirt? maybe, but I don’t know how to pick one.
“Sis? Is that you?” tanong sa akin ng isang babaeng naka pulang bag, pulang dress, pulang shoes.
“No?” nagmamalditang sabi ko sa babaeng nilampasan ang outfit of the day ko.
“Sabi ko na ngaba! I miss you!” at niyakap ako ni Ren.
“You’ll ruin my outfit Sis…” sabi ko habang nasasakal.
She told me na maraming new arrivals sa Gibi so I decided to take a look.
“Sis! Hindi mo ba napapansin ang outfit ko?” she asked me.
“Yes of course. Napansin kong advance ng isang linggo ang calendar mo that’s why you’re cosplaying Cupid’s mistress.”
“Stupida! I’m just pretending to be inspired and in love.” Inis na sabi niya habang tinitingnan ang reflection niya sa dinadaanan naming stalls.
“Really? I thought you’re pretending to be a bull’s target.”
“Thank you Sis, I’ll take it as a compliment. Kulang nalang ipamukha mo sa akin na parang labuyo akong naglalakad ngayon.”
“I was about to.” Ngumingiting sabi ko sa kanya habang hinila siya papasok sa Shake Castle.
I can’t resist my avocado shake eh. I don’t care about the shoes, babalikan ko nalang yun mamaya. I ordered a veggie burger for her and we talked about girl stuffs excluding her outfit. After a while I remembered the gift so I asked her kung ano ang pwede kong maibigay kay Tristan.
“My ghad Sis, hindi mo alam? If flowers are for girls….” and she gave me an evil look.
“No.” I protested because I already know what she’s thinking.
“Yes!” she insisted with a devilish look.
“No!”
“Yes!”
“No, I’m not giving him that! Sheeze!”
“Yes! Hindi pwedeng wala!”
“Sheeze!”
Tumawa naman siya. She gave me an advice that was quite nice. Hindi naman daw kailangan mamahalin ang ibibigay ko. A simple card with our photo in it can already make him smile. She also told me na huwag masyadong magexpect na itatago talaga nila ang mga yun just like girls do. They don’t have pink boxes with ribbons to store the things you gave them. They just have a brain to remember and a heart to repay it.
The next day, bumalik ako sa mall and decided to really buy something. Valentine’s day is fast approaching kasi.
I’m in the displays looking at valentine inspired gifts. I’m planning to give Tristan 4 gifts kaya napakahirap.
I’ll be giving the first gift THREE DAYS before valentine.
I’ll be giving the second gift TWO DAYS before valentine.
I’ll be giving the third gift A DAY before valentine.
and the most special one is DURING VALENTINE’S DAY.
Isa lang naman ang problema ko eh. I don’t know what gifts to give.
I was scrutinizing a champagne glass full of chocolates with red ribbons when a lady bumped me.
“Sorry.. sorry.. sorry iha.” she said.
“It’s okay ma’am.” sagot ko naman habang nakataas ang kilay.
“You better take a look at this one iha oh.” she said at kinuha ang isang red box sa shopping basket niya. Tiningnan ko siya bago kinuha ang box. I bet she’s on her late 30s. She really takes care of herself dahil sophisticated ang damit niya and her nails are well polished.
Couple cup ang laman ng box. Ngumiti naman ako dahil honestly, nagustuhan ko ang suggestion niya. Nagtungo kami sa kung saan niya ito kinuha and I was amazed dahil ang rami papalang magagandang designs. Okay ‘to kapag magkasama kaming magcoffee ni Tristan.
“I noticed you have a lot of gifts.” Sabi niya nang napansin ang laman ng shopping basket ko. Isang box ng couple cup, isang glass ng champagne na may chocolates, apat na valentine’s day cards, dalawang teddy bears, apat na empty heart boxes at isang valentine inspired picture frame.
“Yup.” Tipid na sagot ko. I seldom talk to strangers. Pasalamat siya at nagustuhan ko ang suggestion niya.
“I used to do that.” And she gave me a suspicious smile. Nagets ko naman ang ibig niyang sabihin.
“Actually, all these gifts are for one person only.” I gave her a fake smile and walked ahead of her papunta sa cashier. Uso na pala ang mga pakialamera ngayon?
Tapos na akong magbayad nang si Misis Pakialamera, nangealam nanaman.
“I’m sorry Iha. I just see myself in you. I’m Lilian.”
Anyway, dahil sinapian ako ng friendliness, I smiled and accepted her invitation for a shake.
Kahit araw-araw akong mag avocado shake, hinding-hindi magbabago ang cravings ko dito. So, I ordered an avocado shake habang naghihintay kay Misis Lillian mula sa comfort room. Pinahintay ko muna ang waiter.
“One avocado shake for me and two plate of cheesy fries.” she said as she seated herself down. Tumango naman ako nang nagtanong siya kung okay na ba ang fries. Kahit ano lang naman ang sa akin as long as I have my avocado shake. It’s her treat after all.
“So, I’ll review your orders ma’am. Two serves of cheesy fries and two avocado shakes.”
Nabigla naman siya nang marinig niyang avocado shake din ang order ko. Masama ba? Sheeze! Kahit gusto kong magpakamaldita, I still respect elders kaya smile lang ng smile.
“You’re guy must me lucky, Iha.”
“Thank you ma’am... Your husband must be lucky too.”
“Hahaha! I don’t have a husband.”
Great! Kaya pala ganito siya ka jamming. Ba’t hindi ko naisip yun? She’s a cool mom if magkakaanak siya. Anyway, I enjoyed our conversation. Kawawa siya kasi all those years, siya ang bumubili ng gift para sa sarili niya. She had been miserable and she never has moved on. Ikinasal kasi sa ibang babae ang taong minahal niya ng sobra kaya siya naging ganito.
“That hurts tita. Iniwan ka niya ng ganun ganun nalang?”
“It was against his will actually.” she said.
“You mean an arranged marriage?”
“Exactly, but later on he learned to love his wife and forgot about me.” she said hiding her bitterness.
Kaya ba gumawa ang tadhana ng paraan para magkakilala kami ni Tita Lillian for me to be prepared for my arranged wedding? Kaya ba binigyan niya ako ng isang example para magkaroon ako ng hopes na someday, I will also learn to love Kevin?
No! Never! N-E-V-E-R! Never!
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|2-17-15|
Author’s note: Guys! Sorry ha? Delayed ang calendar ng story na ‘to eh. Kahit tapos na ang valentine’s day in reality, hayaan niyo nalang ha? Everything is possible in stories naman kasi. Right? Kaya assume nalang na before February 14 nag take place ang scene na ‘to. I love you all!
