Feet To Where?

CHAPTER 9

Shots and Sunshine

My heart thumped loudly when Kal started walking away. I thought he was just joking. I thought we were joking. And I thought that he'll come back after some seconds.

But a moment later, defying silence surrounded me. The anxiety, the feeling of being left behind suddenly twitched inside me. I started eating silently, bitterly.

I felt my face heating up, especially my eyes. I held back my tears.

God, no. We're not crying over this stuff again.

I bit my lower lip and took a few deep breaths. I tried focusing my whole attention on the cake only to see myself failing at the end.

So, that's it? This is it?

I'm on the verge of breaking down when a heard low sounds of footsteps on the sand, and then felt it when a person sat in front of me.

I looked up and met Kal's eyes. I remain silent as I shoot him my deathly glare.

But for some reason,as soon as he uttered his excuse on why he came back, my heartbeat immediately settled down as if his voice was a serenade to my well-being. "Sorry, umihi lang.."

"Fine.." I said and sighed.

"If that's what you want and makes you sleep at night, let's make it a date, then. No big deal."

"Just... don't leave like that ever again."

He gave me a gentle smile which made me suddenly wanted to take back everything I said.

"W-what?" I said, feeling the heat on my cheeks.

Nagulat ako noong mahinang kinurot niya ako sa pisngi. Kaya kumunot ang noo ko sa kanya at binigyan siya ng isang nagtatanong na ekspresyon.

He then nonchalantly swayed his left arm on the air along with his head while displaying a light laugh which involuntary sent some fluttering feeling on my stomach.

"Ano ka ba, biro lang 'yon.."

"Pero sige, date tayo, kung 'yan ang gusto mo. Kailan ba?" Ani nito at kinain ang huling natirang cake sa platong iniwan niya.

"Gusto mo." I said lowly.

At habang puno ang kanyang bunganga nang pagkain, he blubbered, "Bokmmmash?"

Which, for some unknown reason, I got the message without him repeating it clearly.

"I got no plans tom."

"Ala una?"

"Okay.."

"Puntahan na lang kita sa bahay niyo. Wag na tayo do'n magkita sa parke.."

"Okay.."

***

The following day, mag-aalas dose pa lamang ay kinatok na ni yaya ang pinto sa kwarto ko at sinabihan akong nasa baba na si Kal at naghihintay.

I frowned and lazily dragged my feet to the shower. Bathed for like twenty minutes, chose what to wear, before heading downstairs.

Then, while eating, Kal's maneuvered all of the our conversation. Our conversation including yaya. I mostly listen and respond when needed.

Meanwhile, he kept Yaya busy, bombarding her with questions about the food on the table including the secret recipes, according to him. Yaya won't stop smiling.  She'll lightly laugh sometimes on the jokes of the talkative guy he just met.

Soon, I finished eating everything on my plate and so, we decided to make our way to the mall by riding a cab.

Just right after we entered the entrance of the mall, agad na nagyaya si Kal na mag ice-cream daw muna kami.