He Was My Cousin

Chapter 2

Chapter 2
Would you let me?

My palms were sweating as I was silently waiting in their company's cafe. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang sasabihin ko sa kaniya. How was I supposed to act? How would an Aya he knew act upon seeing him? Pilit kong inaalala pero nadidistract ako sa lakas ng kabog sa dibdib ko.

Paano kung hindi niya pala natatandaan 'yung sinabi niya sa akin noon at hindi niya maisip na ako ang nagbigay ng libro? Paano kung ayaw niya pala ako makita? Paano kung mali pala ng akala si Ian? Paano kung wala pala siyang balak babain ako rito? How long would I wait? Thirty minutes? One hour? Two hours?

Naisip kong napakatagal naman no'n pero sumagi rin sa isip ko, the guy had waited for years. Lagi siyang nasa tabi ko para suportahan ako. He was there to remind me to always get up and never give up.

"What's wrong with you?" tanong ni Liz sa akin. She was looking at me as if I were doing something weird. Umiling lang ako bilang sagot. "Don't be tensed! You're just meeting him!" Napatingin si Liz sa cell phone niyang tumunog. Binasa niya iyon. "Aya... Jiro has arrived in the department. And apparently, he already got the paper bag."

Bago pa man ako makapag-react sa sinabi niya ay nagsalita siyang muli. "And apparently, tinakbo niya ang cafe para makita ka agad."

Napakunot ang noo ko.

"Aya?" sabi ng isang pamilyar na boses. I looked up and saw him there. May pawis sa kaniyang sentindo. Inayos niya ang salamin niya sa mata. Bumaba ang tingin ko sa kaniyang katawan. He was wearing a blue polo and black slacks. "Aya..."

My body was frozen to my where I was sitting. Nakatingin lang ako sa kaniya. Gone were his boyish features. This man's all grown up now.

"Uhh? Alis muna ako, finollow-up nga pala ng Abeerden Corp 'yung blue print," ani Lizel. She excused herself. Ni hindi ko man lang siya nalingon upang pigilan o magpaalam man lang.

Pumalit si Jiro doon sa inupuan ni Lizel. Ipinatong niya sa gilid ng lamesa 'yung libro. Pinagmasdan ko lang siya habang pinupunasan niya ang butil ng pawis sa kaniyang noo gamit ang panyo.

Inilapit ko sa kaniya ang Iced Americano na binili namin ni Liz kanina.

"Thanks," he said. Nakatingin lang ako sa cup at pinagmamasdang nababawasan iyong laman. I tried glancing to his face and I found out he was looking at me. Para bang sinisipat niya ang bawat parte ng mukha ko. I suddenly grew conscious.

"You can stare back," bigla niyang sabi. I gaped at him. Humalakhak siya sa reaksyon ko. God, I missed that laugh! "Para hindi awkward," dugtong niya habang pinaglalaruan ng mahaba niyang daliri 'yong tubig na nasa lamesa, moist mula sa Iced Americano. His finger was tracing circles then stars then circles again.

Umayos ako ng upo. "G-galit ka ba sa akin?" I found the courage to speak. Mula sa pagtingin sa daliri niya, inilipat ko ang tingin ko sa mukha niya.

This time, he was the one who gaped at me. "Pupuntahan ba kita rito kung galit ako?" He flashed me a familiar smile. "And why would I be mad?"

I didn't know if it was a rhetorical question or whatnot, but I decided not to answer him because I didn't want to talk about it anymore. "Alright," he said when I didn't say anything.

"But there is one thing I am curious about..." he stopped playing with his finger. Kinuha niya ang tissue sa gilid at pinunasan ang daliri niya. He leaned closer to the table that's seperating the two of us, then he met my eyes. "Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa akin no'ng bumalik ka?"

Pagkasabi niya noon ay alam ko nang hindi ang pagbabalik ko mula sa US ang tinutukoy niya. He was pertaining to my return five years ago. My return after I flee from Paolo's life.