Head in the Sand (Erudite Series #3)

Kapitulo 22

It was funny and... cute.

He was funny and cute.

"Kumain ka na ba ng dinner?" he shook his head and we got to the pedestrian lane. "Hindi pa, sa'n mo gusto kumain?"

"Ramen sana, do you know any good place here?" tumango siya at kumaliwa nang makarating kami sa kabilang kalye.

"So, why'd you come to me?"

"Hindi mo kasi ako sinagot, e, and I wanted to talk to you."

Napadaan kami sa isang booth ng takoyaki at natakam ako nang makita ang mga taong kumakain ng tusok-tusok na 'yon. Graham noticed, so he pulled me to the takoyaki booth.

"No, it's fine, we'll eat dinner na, e. I'm going to spoil my dinner if I eat now." Pigil ko sa kaniya nang nilalabas niya ang wallet niya.

"Isang order lang, tapos hati tayo para makakain ka pa ng ramen," he looked at me, waiting for my approval. "Okay... thanks."

Excited akong naghintay sa gilid ng nagluluto ng takoyaki. I watched the person who was cooking turn the balls of veggies and squid to cook the other sides. Graham ordered, paid, and stood beside me.

"Ano'ng gusto mong pag-usapan?"

Binawi ko na ang tingin ko mula sa niluluto papunta kay Graham.

"Our last conversation." I simply stated, not wanting to sound like I was up for an argument because the last time we talked, I felt like I would've... fought him.

"I talked to a friend after you, about being privileged. That friend made me understand that... you were right." I saw a beggar walking towards us, so I halted.

Graham turned his head and saw the beggar too. Naglabas agad si Graham ng barya at binigay 'yon sa nanlilimos. Hindi ko na kinailangan umiwas.

Mabuti naman.

Kaunti na lang kasi ay hahawakan ko na ang braso ni Graham bilang proteksiyon.

"My friend, William, he said we're privileged because... of many things. Lahat ng sinabi niya, pati 'yong sinabi mo, akala ko normal lang."

People walked past us as Graham listened to me attentively. Even his eyes were on me, but I was looking in front, at the people conversing with each other after their long days.

"Hindi ko matanggap 'yong sinabi mo no'ng una kasi... 'di ba, kapag privileged, hindi maganda ang tingin sa 'yo ng tao? Tingin nila sa 'yo, makasarili, maramot, 'tsaka ignorante."

"Not all."

"Yeah, but most. Also," I gazed at Graham and continued. "I only saw everything that I had as blessings. Blessings from the Man above."

He acknowledged by nodding. Then, he reiterates his past words.

"Like I said, you've probably only noticed now because someone pointed it out. Living in a bubble can... unintentionally make you less aware. Lumaki kang may kaya at hindi gaanong nahirapang matulog o kumain sa bawat araw, ang mundong alam mo lang ay 'yong ginagalawan mo sa Batangas."

Tinawag ang pangalan niya para kunin ang order, kaya naudlot ang usapan namin.

He pulled me to an area where there weren't many people and opened the box of takoyaki. Nilahad niya sa akin ang katakam-takam na pagkain at inabot ang toothpick bilang pangkuha ko.

"Thank you, Graham." Sincerely, I whispered that to him despite the many noises around us.

I showed him a grin and ate a ball of takoyaki. Napakainit no'n, pero dahil sa paghinga ko ng paulit-ulit ay humupa naman at unti-unti kong nakain.