I Miss You (I Blank You #1)

two

Habang ipinagpatuloy ni Keene ang presentation niya, 'yung isip ko lumipad sa ibang dimensyon.

Napa balik-tanaw ako nung college pa kami, I vividly remember entering Elixir University to take an entrance exam and that was when we first met.

Napa buntong-hininga ako habang pumasok sa kwarto kung saan ako mag-entrance exam. No new faces tulad lang ng dati. Pilit ako na ngumiti ng makita ko na pasulyap isa sa mga naging kaklase ko dati.

Tatawagin ko na sana siya ng biglaan bumukas ang pinto at napunta lahat ng mga mata sa kung sinuman 'yun. A young man is leaning on his knees for support, catching his breath, "Ma'am!"

Tinaas niya isa niya na kamay na para ba humihingi ng sandali habang hingal na hingal. "Ma'am!" he finally straightens his back at nakita ko ang nakakabighani niya na mukha.

"Ma'am..." he puffs out another breath bago niya tinuloy sasabihin niya kasi kung hindi baka maibato ko sa kanya ang notebook ko kung marinig ko pa ang isang 'Ma'am' galing sa kanya.

"Ma'am I got ligaw in this damn malaki na university and... and I'm making paumanhin for being huli... po!" sabi niya with his chest puffed out in please.

Hindi nagtagal, the whole room is filled with laughter. Bukod sa namumula kong mukha dahil napagkamalan ako na proctor eh dumagdag pa 'yung nakakahiya na pinagsasabi niya.

Dahil pinalaki ako mabait ng mga magulang ko, pinili ko na lang tanggapin at i-career ang pagiging proctor para kay kuya, "It's fine but may I know your surname?"

Siyempre para na rin sa benefit ko pero ibang usapan na 'yun.

"Moriarty. Lee Moriarty po." his accent got me weak on the knees, ang sarap pakinggan maihahalintulad mo sa mga asmr boyfriend na naririnig sa youtube!

I cover my slip up with a fake cough and slightly nod, "I see, Mr. Moriarty. You have entered the wrong room, these are for surnames D-G only. Try going to room 137."

His jaw drops pagkatapos ko siya sabihan, "Thank you po, ma'am."

Nang paalis na siya bigla siya napahinto at humarap ulit sa akin, "Sorry to bother again, ma'am but is it in the same building?" I just nodded at his question which sent him running out of the room in an instant.

Napakagat ako ng ilalim na labi at nilarawan mukha niya, lalo na ang nakakalambot tuhod niya na accent. Iba talaga kapag British accent, mabilis makaakit.

"Ang gwapo! Lee Moriarty daw right?"

I let out another sigh at tinuloy ang pagpunta kung saan naka-assign ang seat ko. It'll be no brainer that he'll be a campus crush with those attractive features of his.

Looking back, we had such a cliche meeting. Mga nakikita mo sa movie na sure ka hindi mangyayari sa totoong buhay pero ito ako ngayon kinakain mga salita ko nung makilala ko si Keene.

"Excuse me, Ms. Dilamis. You're spacing off again. If you want to call in another prior meeting, we can fix another date. I wouldn't stand here blabbering away while you daydream," yung boses ni Keene na nakakakilabot ang bumungad sa akin.

I shudder at his tone, gulping the lump in my throat.

I move my gaze up to his face, "No, I insist. It's just a little jet lag, nothing more." I reasoned out while waving a dismissive hand.

Nakita ko medyo nag-soften yung mukha ni Keene pero bumalik kaagad sa pagka-stoic after niya umubo sa kamao niya.

"As I was saying, ito yung possible advertisement designs. I'm still fixing and trying to come up with new ideas but let me know if you have any suggestions before the first meeting." he looks back at me after pointing at the presentation using the laser from his remote.

Napatango ako habang pinagmamasdan ang mga samples. No wonder 95% success rate ng Beilin Co. Even with urgent and sudden meetings with a client, he's well-prepared especially with his eye-pleasing designs.

I shake my head and move my gaze at him, "Okay siya. I love how you incorporated great designs that suited my taste."

Keene merely nods at my statement and clicks his remote to show the end of the slide. "That concludes the prior meeting. If you have further question just give this number a call." tipid niya na saad habang lumapit sa akin para iabot 'yung call card niya.

Hinawakan ko yung kamay niya, halting him from leaving, "Keene can we grab a coffee?"

Tinignan lang ako ni Keene as if I had gone crazy, dahan-dahan niya inalis ang nakahawak ko na kamay, "Just give me a call if you have queries, Ms. Dilamis."

"And please keep the questions work-related."

Pinanood ko siya habang mabilisan niya na niligpit mga gamit niya at umaalis agad ng kwarto, I feel a pang in my chest while watching his retreating back.

After staring into nothingness, I snap myself back to reality remembering that I still have to meet up with Jayce.

Binuksan ko phone ko at nakita spam messages ni Jayce, most likely warnings about Keene and asking for forgiveness for his mistake.

Pinindot ko 'yung green button sabay nung speaker button, "Yes ma'am?"

"Kuya, do you know how to get to Ba...Baritol? I think it's a new cafe shop ata."

"Yes, I can po. What time should you be there, ma'am?"

I descended down the stairs at a leisure pace, "No rush, I'm gonna go down in a second."

"Got that po."

Wala pa ilang minuto nang makita ko 'yung driver ko, pinagbuksan niya ulit ako ng pinto.

On the way to Jayce and I's meeting place, napaisip ako ulit about a certain British man.

"Dino, are you busy?" tanong ko habang curious na nakatingin sa nakakunot niya na noo.

Keene looks up from his paper and takes a deep breath before flashing me a smile, "Never too busy for you."

Napangiti ako sa sagot niya at pinalo yung braso niya, "Ayan ka nanaman sa mga matatamis mo na salita eh!"

"What is it, my adorable dino?" napangiwi ako sa nakakahiya niyang pet name saakin, buti na lang at tinatawag niya lang ako na ganun kapag kami lang dalawa.

I decided to ignore his corny name for me at tumingin sa mga mata niya na kulay tsokolate, "Sabihin na natin na nagkahiwalay tayo—"

"Hep hep! Masama 'yan, katok ka muna sa kahoy!"

I rolled my eyes at him and just laughed it off, "Dali! Seryoso na tanong, Keene!" nagkibit balikat lang siya at napatanong, "Saan mo nanaman nakuha yan?"

Ngumiti lang ako sa kanya at sumandal sa dibdib niya, "Napanood ko lang sa 'Our Beloved Summer' and it got me thinking..."

"What do you think will happen in the future? Better yet, anong gagawin mo kapag nagkita tayo?"

Napaisip siya sa tanong ko bago niya tinignan ang asul ko na mga mata, "Nothing."

I raised a brow at his answer, "Nothing, huh?"

He hums in agreement, "Pero we'll be total strangers except with memories together."

Nafeel ko na kumirot puso ko just at the thought of us cutting ties, "Aray naman ha!" pabiro ko na sigaw sa kanya habang lumayo sa hawak niya.

"Edi don't! Arte arte!" pataray ko na sinabi, "Ito parang tanga! Hindi naman tayo aabot sa ganon!" natatawa niya na suyo saakin.

Naramdaman ko ulit yung sakit na naramdaman ko noon, napahawak ako sa damit ko. Turns out he was right, tapat siya sa mga binitawan na salita noon.

Total strangers with memories together, indeed.