Just The Benefits (PUBLISHED)

Kabanata 26

"What?"

"One thing you love? What comes into your mind?"

Though I didn't have an inkling of what he's up to, I decided to play his game since he's been nice to me. "Books?" I said. Tumango naman siya at saka lumabas ng sasakyan. Nagpasalamat muna ako sa driver niya bago lumabas. He cocked his head—motioning me to follow him and I did.

"Saan ba tayo pupunta?" I asked him again as I trailed behind him.

"We'll make you happy," he said.

"We?"

May kinuha siya mula sa wallet niya. "Your credit card?"

He nodded. "I don't enjoy spending this money so might as well spend it on someone who's worthy," he said and smiled a little. Hindi ko maintindihan kung ano ang ibig niyang sabihin. Why wasn't he enjoying his money? It's his. O sa pamilya niya. Either way, he's entitled to use it the way he sees fit.

Minsan kaysa sa madalas, hindi ko maintindihan si Shiloah. And I was starting to think that I wouldn't be able to.

Napahinto kaming dalawa sa bookstore.

"Tara," he said.

"No," sabi ko sabay napailing. Alam ko na bibilhan niya ako ng libro. "I appreciate the gesture but no. I don't feel comfortable with you spending money on me," I continued.

"It's really no big deal," sagot niya sa akin.

"I'm sure," I answered. "You're rich. Baka nga barya lang sa 'yo 'yan, e. But I'm not. At ayoko na isipin mo na sumasama lang ako sa 'yo dahil sa pera mo dahil hindi totoo 'yan. I consider you as a friend regardless of your status in life."

Napangiti siya sa sagot ko pero hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at marahang hinatak ako papasok. I tried to resist but when I was welcomed with shelves of books, I almost lost it.

I closed my eyes and muttered another no.

Napabukas ako ng mata nung maramdaman ko na mayroong inilagay si Shiloah sa kamay ko. I almost scowled at him and he chuckled at my reaction. "You know you want it," sabi niya.

"It's not funny."

"It's just money."

"It's your money," I answered.

He sighed. "Fine."

Akala ko lalabas na kami ng bookstore pero laking gulat ko nung lumapit si Shiloah sa isang babae na nakapila sa counter. Mayroong dalang maraming libro iyong babae na para bang Manila International Book Fair ang okasyon sa dami ng gusto niyang bilhin. I almost cried nung makita ko na libro nila Colleen Hoover, Meg Cabot, Whitney Gracia Williams, Jenny Han, at iba pang paborito kong author ang dala-dala niya.

Gods! Why can't I have the money to splurge on books?!

Mayroon siyang sinasabi sa babae at lumapit ako para marinig iyon.

"...I'm feeling really generous today but my friend wouldn't take up on my offer. So?"

"YES!" sigaw nung babae kaya napatingin sa amin lahat ng tao sa bookstore. "OMG, are you for reals?!"

Kinalabit ko si Shiloah at kinunutan ng noo. Bago pa man siya makasagot, bigla akong niyakap nung babae na kausap niya. "Thank you! Thank you!" sagot niya. Halos hindi ako makahinga sa higpit ng yakap niya sa akin. Hindi ko maintindihan kung ano ang nangyayari. "You're so lucky to have him!"

"What?" sagot ko matapos akong bitawan nung babae. What the heck did just happen?! Tinignan lang ako ni Shiloah at saka nginitian. I was left dumbfounded habang nakikita ko si Shiloah na binabayaran lahat nung libro na binili nung babae.