Love Me in Brooklyn

Chapter 7 - Triple R

I grabbed a burrito and took a seat beside my cousin. I was about to take a bite when Lily stood in front of me.

"The MOM, where is it?" Yung minutes of the meeting nga pala, nalimutan kong ibigay sa kanya.

"Here." I handed a one-fourth piece of paper before enjoying my food.

Sumama ang timpla ng mukha niya at tinaasan ako ng kilay.

"Is this a joke? Hand it over, Sab."

Ha? Bakit? Anong problema?

"Ayan na nga 'yon."

Tumayo si Marina at sinilip ang papel bago humalakhak. "Oh my gosh. Literal na inorasan ang meeting! HAHAHA!"

"Ang sabi niyo, minutes of the meeting so I looked at the clock and took note of your start and end time. It only took you fifteen minutes to wrap it up. Galing mo nga, Lily. Ang bilis mo mag-explain. Congrats!"

Napa-facepalm si Lily habang tawa pa rin ng tawa si Marina.

"Ugh, you're hopeless," she muttered before walking away.

"Huh? What does that even mean? Mali ba ang ginawa ko, M?" I asked my cousin.

She laughed loudly again. "Hayaan mo na, okay na 'yon. HAHAHAHA!"

I pouted but let go of the topic anyway.

Baka ang gusto ni Lily, kasama pati seconds... E 'di sana sinabi niyang seconds of the meeting.

♥--------»¦«--------♥

After the joyous bonding with the riders, Marina and I walked around the campus for a personal tour. Hindi pa kasi talaga namin nalilibot ito. Gusto ko lang makita bawat building ng school. After that, we went to our dormitories to unpack our bags.

Kami lang ni Marina ang magkasama sa room kaya naman sobrang saya ko. We have separate beds and the room's quite huge. May sariling comfort room ito at pagdungaw naman sa bintana ay kitang kita ang student's field which is usual tambayan ng mga estudyante rito.

"What are you doing?" I asked Marina.

"Bulag ka ba o ano?" pagsusungit nito.

Nakikita ko naman na namamlantsa siya ng mga damit pero bakit?

"Are you going somewhere?"

"No, I just want my clothes to look nice inside my cabinet."

"Boring. Lumabas na lang tayo at magikot ikot pa. Who knows we might see Russell."

"Naglibot na tayo, ano. Napagod na 'ko. Tsaka sinabi naman nila Lily na makikita niyo si Russell mamaya. Bakit hahanapin mo pa siya ngayon?"

"Para mauna ako, duh."

She hissed. "Wag na, dito na lang muna tayo. Ang sarap sarap ng lamig ng aircon oh."

"Ah basta. Tinatamad ako dito. Bababa na lang muna ako. I'll see you later!"

I grabbed my bag again and stormed out of the room.

I wonder where Russell is staying. At ano kayang ginagawa niya ngayon?

As I was walking, I decided to stop by in front of the boy's dormitory building. Nakatingin lang ako doon dahil hindi naman ako pwedeng pumasok doon. I can get expelled if someone sees me inside.

Habang nakatayo lang doon, nagbabakasakaling makita ang crush ko, I noticed a familiar guy walking out of the main door.

Saan ko nga ba nakita ang isang ito?

OH RIGHT! He was the guy wearing a light-yellow shirt at the restaurant where I saw Russell! Siya nga iyon! Kaibigan ng hubby ko ito!

"Hi!" I greeted him, blocking his pathway so I can grab his full attention. Natigil siya sa pagse-cellphone upang iangat ang tingin sa akin.

"Yes?"

"It's me, Sab. Future girlfriend of your friend, Russell."

He frowned but he smiled too. He looked amused. "And...?"

"I was just wondering where he is---"

"Ron!" Napalingon kaming dalawa sa gilid nang may sumigaw.

And there, I froze on my spot as I watched Russell Jay Valiente walk towards us. He's wearing a ragged pants, black shirt, and black rayban shades.

"Andyan ka lang pala. Everyone's looking for you---"

"Wait lang dude. May gusto yatang kumausap sa'yo," Ron interrupted him, gesturing towards my way. I was surprised he can speak Tagalog even though he doesn't look Filipino at all but I was more surprised when Russell miraculously acknowledged my existence.

When he finally looked at me, my heart automatically stopped beating.

"What do you want?" pagde-demand niya. Sa tono ng pananalita niya ay halatang inip na inip na siya kaagad. Can't he even recognize me? Nagkita na kami twice so imposibleng hindi niya ako maalala.

"Hi, hubby."

The other guy Ron, couldn't help but chuckle. Halatang inaasar niya ang kaibigan niya.

"Shut up, dude," Russell told him before glancing at me again.

Kung makatingin siya sa akin, akala mo naman may ginawa akong kasalanan sa kanya. He's glaring at me.

Halatang nagpapalambing...

I quickly pulled my gift out of my small backpack and handed it to him. "Regalo ko nga pala."

Tumingin lang siya dito bago siya bumuntong hininga at humarap na ulit kay Ron.

"Coach. Gym. Now." Tatlong salita lang ngunit maiintindihan mo agad at susundin mo siya ng walang angal dahil tila nakakatakot sumuway sa gusto niya.

Teka, anong nangyari doon? Bakit hindi niya tinanggap itong gift ko? Ang ganda ganda kaya ng box, may red na ribbon pa.

"Russell---"

Bigla siyang naglakad palayo kaya naman nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Hahabulin ko na sana siya nang pigilan ako ni Ron. "I'd rather not do that. He's not in the mood to entertain fans right now."

"Pero paano na lang ito? I made these myself. Sayang naman kung mabubulok lang..."

I baked some cookies last night. Mukha ko ang design no'n para naman maalala ako ni Russell. Mayroon kasing store malapit sa hotel na nagke-cater ng baking services. Cake ang una kong ginawa kaso nagutom agad ako kaya kinain ko na lang iyon. I ended up preparing cookies the last minute.

Ron pursed his lips but I was astonished when he took it off my hand. "I'll hand it to him."

"T-thanks."

Ngumiti lang siya at lumapit na kay Russell. Kita kong inabot niya ito ngunit hindi kinuha nung isa. Nalungkot ako dahil nasayang ang effort ko pero sa 'di maintindihang dahilan ay bigla na lang nagbago ang ihip ng hangin.

Mukhang napilit siya ni Ron dahil bigla na lang niya tinanggap ang regalo ko at naglakad na sila muli. I smiled and giggled as I saw the box on his hands.

Papaliko na sila nang tumigil ang crush ko at lumingon sa akin.

Russell stared at me long enough to take my breath away again.

Hindi na siya mukhang galit o iritable nang magtugma ang mga mata namin. He's still frowning but he seemed calmer this time.

In fact, he looked curious, almost as if something about me struck his mind.

*End of Chapter 7*