Shot Through the Lights

Kabanata 40

Caged

Hindi man naging maganda ang nangyari noon, masaya pa rin ako habang papalapit kay Aurel.

Masaya niya akong niyakap, na siya namang binalik ko sa kanya. Natigil lang ako nang may mga iilang napapalingon sa amin.

"Kumusta ka na? God, it's been two years!" aniya pagkatapos kumalas.

Ngumisi ako.

"I'm good! Ikaw ba?"

Nalukot ang kanyang mukha bigla sa tanong kong 'yon.

"Stressed sa trabaho. Ginawa akong production assistant nila Mommy at Daddy," bumuntong-hininga siya pero ngumiti ulit. "Pero ayos na rin! Ganoon naman talaga, nagsisimula sa mababa."

I smiled at that. He's right. And I'm glad to know that he thinks like that now. Back then, if I remember correctly. He does not know much about laborers like us. This is a good development for him.

He blinked and cursed all of a sudden.

"May problema ba?" tanong ko.

Nagkamot siya ng batok.

"Uh, g-gusto mo bang pumasok muna sa coffee shop? Libre ko!"

I crossed my arms and grinned. Tamang-tama at gutom ako. Dapat akong mahiya ngayon pero walang hiya-hiya sa taong gutom.

"Sige ba!"

Nawala ang kaba sa kanyang mukha at mabilis akong inalalayan para makapasok. Marami-rami kasi itong bitbit kong mga papeles at hirap akong itulak ang pinto.

We settled ourselves in a cozy table. Ang ganda ng ambiance ng lugar. Mukhang bago pa 'to rito kasi hindi ko naman matandaan na mayroon coffee shop sa tapat lang ng school.

Aurel casually leaned in his seat and ran his fingers through his jet-black hair. Napatitig ako roon at hindi mapigilang mapangiti.

He's still the same heartthrob type of guy all these years. The mullet he confidently wore before turned into a neater and more professional curtains haircut paired with undercuts on both sides. His full lips were as red as they were before. He also lost his black earring on his left ear.

Ayos na ayos.

Tinanguan ko siya.

"Pormang-porma ka ngayon, ah? May date ka?"

Umirap siya.

"Wala. Galing akong meeting. Napagalitan pa kasi maling kape ang inorder ko para sa malditang actress. Tangina," mura niya.

Gulat akong napatingin sa kanya. He doesn't talk like this before! Parati siyang pormal at prenteng kasama kahit nasa tabi ang mga kaibigan. Ngunit ngayon, parang ibang Aurel ang kausap ko.

"Sigurado ka bang ikaw 'yan? Ngayon lang kita narinig na ganyan, ah?"

This time, it was his turn to smirk.

"Pormal lang ako sa 'yo noon kasi dinidate kita," halakhak niya. "Tapusin na natin ang tungkol sa akin. How about you? Ano'ng pinagkakaabalahan mo?"

I wasn't prepared for that question.

Ngayon lang nag-sink in sa akin ang tanong niya. At napagtanto kong wala akong maisasagot.

I swallowed a lump on my throat.

"Uh, 'eto, naghahanap ng trabaho," I chuckled nervously. "Wala pa akong trabaho, e."

I thought he'd ridicule me right on the spot. After all, it was widely known back then that I only used Aurel to get to where I wanted. Because the young and naïve Alunsina who thought she knew the world believed that fame and prestige are enough to be called successful.