After All The Raindrops (MOST PAINFUL BATTLE #1)

7

I put some light maked-up on my face and surveying my look through my mirror and done.  I called Jevi.

"Tulong what am I going to do?" tarantang tanong ko.

"Oh magkikita na kayo?" he asked, amazed. "Kung anong ginagawa mo nung kayo pa nung ex mo? Ganuon?" he asked, not so sure.

"Actually we don't do dates. He just accompanied me whenever I need to study."

"Ah kaya sumama sa pinsan mo—"

"Fuck off!"

"Biro lang. Just be yourself. I'm sure that he'll still accept you no matter what——"

"Where are you coming from again?" I asked, annoyed 

"Dito lang—Miss Umali, is it true na matagal niyo nang alam kung sino ang nasa likod ng Rmall——" The next thing I knew he ended the call. I smiled, Jevi's working his ass.

I received a text from Dred that he's here in the mall. I waited him in the entrance. I saw him while holding his phone.

"Hey."

Napa-tigil ako sa pag-hanga sa kaniya when he snapped his finger.

"Y-yow," I stuttered. 

"Anong yow?" he asked, smirking. "Why did you invite me? Is it a date——"

"A-anong date? Assuming ka. Friendly bonding ganuon."

"Friendly bonding?" Kumamot pa siya sa batok niya at nilagay sa bulsa yung cellphone niya. "Cute," he whispered.

I shook my head and pulled him inside the mall, not knowing where are we going.

"Anong gagawin na'tin dito? Ang mamahal ng mga tinda dito," sabi niya habang naglilibot-libot, while his hands are both on his pocket.

"Window shopping?"

What did I even thinking? I don't have enough money also to treat both of us.

"Ah window shopping." He's nodding, then looked at me. "Huwag na tayo dito, malayo pa sweldo namin." Napatitig ako sa kaniya. "I don't have money."

I furrowed. "Seriously?"

We decided to go somwhere, and find something like streetfood.

"Hindi ba at mas masarap dito?" sabi niya habang kumakain ng fishball. "You'll smell the polution tapos makikita mo pa yung dumi ng siyudad. What a nice place right?" He smiled at me.

I stared at him. "This is your definition of nice place?" I asked, while eating kwek-kwek.

He looked at me. "Yes, wala ka naman kasing makikitang baril o bangkay na nagkalat," he whispered. All I heard was his 'yes'.

I looked at him. "I'm curious kung paano kayo kumakain sa work niyo."

"Ang mga private nagha-hagilap ng pagkain kasi kailangan kaming unahing mga senior nila. Kapag sundalo ka matuto kang tumayo sa sarili mong paa, matuto kang harapin ang problema na hindi tinatakasan; isa na lang sa paraan ng pag-kitil ng buhay."

Sumandal ako sa upuan, at tumingin sa kaniya. "Kapag naging reporter ka matuto kang manindigan sa mga sasabihin mo, matututo kang maging matapang sa harap ng iba," sagot ko naman.

"Pero bakit..."

Nilingon ko siya. "Pero bakit ano?" I asked, curiously.

"Bakit wala akong makitang tapang sa mata mo? Bakit hindi ko maramdan paninindigan mo?" I stared at him, but he stared at me as well. So I surrender.