The Breakup

Chapter 3

Humupa na yata yung galit ni Sydney. At humupa na din yung gutom nya. I still have the need to laugh every time I remember. Di nya pa din kinakausap si André kaya kami na lang ang nag uusap.

"I'm meeting a friend actually. Kaya lang mukang di na yun darating eh. Sira ulo talaga."

"Ah. Eh bakit naman daw di na sya makakapupunta?"

"May date yata ang loko. Matinik din yun eh, if you know what I mean."

We both laughed even though I don't think I got what he meant. Hello, di ko naman kilala yung friend nya no. Mabilis lang makagaanan ng loob si André. He's open to talk about a lot of things and he really won't make you feel awkward around him.

"Magkaklase ba kayo nung friend mo na yun?" I asked.

"Sa ibang subjects, yeah."

"San ba kayo nag-aaral?"

"Benilde, sa may Taft. Are you familiar?"

"Uhm, no. If you don't remember, we're not from here." I laughed.

"Oo nga pala!" He chuckled, "hindi kasi obvious eh, I noticed fluent din kayo ni Sydney sa tagalog. Sometimes I can hear an accent but it's not as bad as you'd expect." He smiled.

I noticed ang gwapo nya pala. Defined nose, perfect set of pearly whites, deep black set of eyes, muscular and fair skinned. He is good looking, pero walang appeal sakin eh. Besides, he reminds me so much of Nate.

"Well, yeah. Sa bahay kasi tagalog pa din naman kami mag usap. And you'd be surprised kung gano na din kalaki ang Filipino community dun."

"I see. By the way, may iba pa ba kayong pupuntahan after this?"

I glanced at Sydney who's keeping herself busy with her phone. "I don't think so."

"Okay then. Hatid ko na kayo. Or rather, 'sabay na tayo' ang term. Pauwi na din kasi ako eh. Let's go?" He got the bill and stood up.

"Tulungan ko na kayo." He said and went for our shopping bags. Gentleman naman pala eh.

"Hey." I poked Sydney on her side and whispered, "mabait naman pala si André eh."

"Che." He rolled her eyes.

"Che ka din. Inarte pa." I laughed.

While André was busy putting our things in the back, I got in and locked the door. "Syd, sa harap ka na lang para di naman magmukang driver natin si André." I closed my window and winked at her.

With a scowl on her face hesitant na binuksan nya yung pinto sa harap and pumasok na. Pag-upo ni André sa driver side, medyo nagulat pa sya when he saw her there. Nonetheless, ngumiti na lang si André and maneuvered us out of the parking lot.

Sa unang stop namin, nagulat kami kasi bigla na lang sya lumingon kay Syd. He got out of his seat belt and extended his arms to her. He leaned a bit and I was holding my breath. Then he strapped her own seat belt and sat back down behind the wheel.

Oh, wow. I thought naman kung ano na. I see sparks! Maybe I could play cupid sa kanilang dalawa? Bago pa magbago ang isip ko, I had already made the first steps of my plan.

"Ah André, pakibaba naman ako dyan lang sa kanto. May titignan lang ako dun sa mall." I said after we took a few turns.

"What?" Sabay nilang tanong sakin ni Sydney.

"There." I pointed to a drop off area just in front of a mall, "you have your keys right? Mauna ka na. May nakalimutan lang ako bilhin."

As soon as André stopped the car, I got out. Tumakbo na ko papasok para di na ko mahabol ni Syd. I still saw her na nagbaba ng window and called out to me pero deadma lang.