Under Her Daydream (UNDER DUOLOGY #1)

Episode 57

Nang makalabas na kami ng elevator ay diretso nang naglakad si Sebastian sa parking area. Inirapan ko lang naman siya bago ako nagtungo sa lobby. And from there, I smiled wide the moment I saw Mylo.

He is sitting on one of the vacant leather sofa. His hair is still neatly combed. Para bang hindi iyon nagulo sa walong oras naming pagtatrabaho. His white polo shirt and fitted khaki trousers are suited with his clean image. Lalo iyong nakadagdag sa kagwapuhan niya. As in, walang ka-haggard haggard sa mukha niya.

"Kanina ka pa naghihintay dito?" I asked him.

He stood up with a smile that made his dimple to go deeper. "Yep," he chuckled, "but it's alll fine because it's worth it."

Luh! Prung shira!

Bago ko pa siya masakmal sa harap ng madla ay talagang niyaya ko na siya kung saan niya ako dadalhin. Wala na akong pake kung sa motel ba 'yan o sa damuhan—huy! 'Di ka magiging malibog for today's vidyow!

Gusto kong sampalin ang sarili ko sa mga naiisip!

Taliwas sa katarantaduhan ko, dinala ako ni Mylo sa isang cafe malapit sa Prudence Company. The moment we entered, ang kantang Dynamite ng BTS ang una kong narinig. Kasunod niyon ang pagkamangha ko sa loob ng cafe na ito.

It was korean style. The color are pastel. The ambiance is comforting. Malakas ang amoy ng kape sa paligid. Most of the customers here are either talking with each other or facing their laptops while alone.

Pinili naming maupo ni Mylo sa table na malapit sa transparent wall. He is really a gentle man, pinaghila niya pa ako ng upuan bago siya naupo.

"What do you want to order? Are you a big fan of coffee like me?" He asked.

I winced then lied. "Yes!"

Above all, it's the coffee that I hate the most. I don't like the bitterness of it. Mas prefer ko talaga ang um-order ng milktea or frappe sa ganitong lugar. But yeah. Because I want to impress my date now, let me just go with the flow for now.

Tumayo na si Mylo. Ilang minuto ay bumalik na rin naman siya dala-dala ang dalawang cup na naglalaman ng itim at purong kape. Just by the smell of it, mukhang hindi ko kakayanin ang pait niyon. Pero mabuti na lang talaga at may pa-cup cake ang kuya mo naman!

"Here," he said for which I glady replied with a sweet, "Thank you."

Inangat ko na ang baso ng kape. Ang usok niyon ay nanghimasok sa mga butas ng ilong ko. Halos maubo-ubo talaga ako nang malala nang maamoy na ang matapang na amoy niyon.

Pumikit ako.

Lumunok muna nang malala bago sumipsip sa mainit na kape.

"How was it? It was good, right?" Mylo mumbled as he sipped on his coffee as well.

I am trying hard not to wince. I am trying hard not to show him the disgust on my face. "Sobra! Ang sarap!"

He chuckled then offered me the effin cupcake. Hindi naman na ako napagka-Maria Mahiyain pa. Kinuha ko na iyon at agad na sumubo nang malaki. Ayoko talaga sa mapait na aftertaste niyong coffe na iyon!

"By they way, how was your first day of being an intern so far." He asked as I continued to munch the cupcake. "Kinda tiring, right?"

Lumunok muna ako bago sumagot. "Sobra. Ang dami naming papers na in-encode kung alam mo lang!"

Tumango-tango siya habang nakikinig. He is smiling the way I can't handle his good looks. Napaiwas tuloy ako ng tingin.

"Pero keri lang, 'no! Prudence Company naman 'to kaya worth it pagtiisan kahit na . . ."

"Kahit na?" He asked. Matapos ay inabutan niya ako ng tissue. Nakangiti pa rin siya ng itinuro ang gilid ng pula niyang labi.

Pinunasan ko ang gilid ng labi ko. "Uhm, kahit na nandoon si Sebastian."

He blinked and then coughed gently. Sumandal siya sa upuan at bahagyang natawa. "You know what, I heard about the news last few weeks. That "Sebastian and Catalina Comeback" thing. Ikaw iyong unang pumasok sa isip ko the moment I heard it. It must be really hard for you."

Bumuntong-hininga ako at saka tumango. Napatungo ako. Tila bang hiyang-hiya sa sarili.

"All this time, Sebastian is treating you as a rebound."

I blinked and laughed awkwardly. "Huy, 'di ka manananakit for today's vidyow."

"Oh, sorry." He chuckled. "But all I am saying is that you don't deserve someone like him. Someone who is a red flag— someone who is a manipulative and a user like him."

Huminga siya nang malalim bago muling magsalita. "And I hate what he did earlier. Iyong para bang binabakuran ka niya sa akin when in fact, wala na namang kayo. Iyong para bang umaakto siya na may karapatan pa rin siya sa 'yo when in fact, he is now nothing but a bull ex-boyfriend."

I nod slowly. This savage side of Mylo is surprising the shit out of me.

"I want you to promise me one thing, Chance."

"What?"

He looked away for a second. Nang muling bumalik ang tingin niya sa mukha ko ay may lungkot akong nakita doon. "H'wag mo na siyang hayaang makabalik pa sa buhay mo."

I blinked more. "Uhm, y-yes . . . Sure—"

He cut me off. "You don't deserve someone like him. Because you know what you deserved?"

I just stared at him in confusion.

"Someone like me." He mumbled and I swallowed hard. "You deserve me."

Hindi ako nakapagsalita. Hindi ako makahanap ng dapat sabihin. Na-blangko ako. Para ba akong napipi— naging inutil.

"Gusto kita, Chance. At lahat ng gusto ko, nakukuha ko."