Keep Me Closer

24th: Someone Cares

NAUBO AKO dahil sa tanong ni Eustace. Humalakhak siya. Nasiyahan sa pagkabigla ko? Siguro.

"Gago 'to," saad ko.

Umiling agad siya.

Pinanliitan ko siya ng mga mata. Halos mangiti na rin ako habang nakatingin sa kanya. Pero sa totoo lang, ang sarap niyang i-untog sa pader.

I kept my composure even when I wanted to question his intentions when my shock subsided if he truly meant what he just asked.

"Date you?"

Tumikhim siya. "Right."

"Tanga ako pero minsan wala akong kamalay-malay." Umiling-iling ako. "I don't wanna be your next option just because you and my cousin couldn't be."

Tumayo na ako mula sa pagkakaupo. Eustace remained in his spot, dumbfounded by what I just said.

"Hmm, Eustace," I called him, eyes serious. It should be his turn to be nervous after his shocking remark. "Spring is coming; do you plan to roam around Michigan in the upcoming weeks?"

"Are you..." Pinagmasdan niya ako nang maayos, ang noo ay nakalukot at ang mga mata ay katulad ko nanliit din. But his grin remained intact. "Asking me for a date?"

Itong lalaking 'to minsan 'di maintindihan ang reaction sa isang bagay kasi mixed emotions ang pinapakita. Ang panay halakhak at madalas umiling habang tawang-tawa na si Eustace at ngayon naman itong seryoso pero nakangising pagkatao niya. Nakakalito.

"Asa ka pa," saad ko at umikot ang mga mata. "May duty ako bukas sa grill at sa mga darating na araw ay babawi sa shift ko na hindi ko napuntahan. I plan to take a break a week since the start of spring, by that time may ipon naman na siguro ako. Gusto ko lang gumala. Walang magawa sa buhay alam mo naman. Baka gusto mo rin."

His lips turned into a small circle as he started nodding. "Great planning and forecast of the future."

"Salamat," I said, then smiled a bit. A sense of pride lingered in my system. It had been long since the last time I had been intentional with my life like this. "We can have a long drive on the countryside of Livonia, siguro hindi ka pa nakakalibot. Ako na ang magda-drive. Pangbawi na rin."

He gazed at me calmly while I was standing in front of him. He has to raise his head so he could get a better glance at me. Ako naman ay kailangang yumuko nang konti para matingnan siya nang maayos.

Siguro gusto niyang magsalita tungkol sa sinabi ko kani-kanila lang pero agad niyang itinukom ang bibig. Tapos ay tumango sa tanong ko, parang may napagtanto pero pumapayag sa alok na gala sa darating na mga araw.

Tumango rin ako at huminga nang malalim. "Alis na ako. Thanks for the dinner. May talent ka pala sa pagluto."

"Hatid na kita sa pintuan," aniya at agad tumayo para sabayan akong maglakad palabas.

Tumigil kami nang nasa bandang pintuan na. "Salamat sa oras, Lienna."

Ngumiti ako. Eustace was clasping the doorknob. I stepped outside his unit pero hindi niya agad isinara ang pinto.

"Good night, Lienna." aniya.

Tumango ako, hindi napigilan ang ngiti. "Good night."

The days that followed were me trying to get back the job that the management of the grill thought I ditched. Danica came to my rescue for the past two days that I didn't show up for my shift. I explained my side also and I am thankful that they didn't just terminate me.

They gave me a second chance and I am working extra hard to prove to them that I am serious about my job. There had been changes with my shift also. But my day off remains the same.