If I'm Not In Love

5

Mukhang siya pa yung nagulat nang hindi man lang ako nagdalawang isip na sumakay sa kotse niya. Yes, kakakilala pa lang namin at sabi ko hindi ako basta bastang sumasama sa kakakilala pa lang. Pero ibang usapan na kasi pagdating kay Ethon. Just a mention of his name made me agree to whatever the favor is, and hindi naman ako natatakot sa kung anong kaya niyang gawin sakin if ever he happened to be the bad guy, dahil malaki ang tiwala ko sa sarili ko na kayang kaya kong ipagtanggol ang sarili ko.

I grew up with my Auntie and her husband was a judo and taekwando trainer kaya I got a free training kasama si Troy before. Mas mataas pa nga ang rank ko kay Troy kaya okay lang na sumama sa stranger just for the sake of knowing him more.

"Aren't you afraid?" tanong nito nang magsimulang umandar ang kotse.

"Saan?"

"Sakin. Hindi ka man lang nagdalawang isip"

I looked at him ang smiled. "Bakit? May balak ka bang masama?" I asked.

Umiling agad siya, "Wala no. Pero hindi magandang sumasama ka na lang basta lalo na't kakakilala mo lang. You'll be in danger," sabi nito.

I chuckled and shook my head. "Don't worry, you cannot lay a finger on me kung may balak kang masama" confident na sabi ko.

Tumingin siya sakin saglit at kumunot ang noo. Bigla niyang hininto sa gilid ang kotseng sinasakyan namin saka humarap sakin. But before he could grab my arm, mahigpit ko nang nahawakan ang wrist niya saka umiling ulit, "Don't even try," I said and smiled at him sweetly saka ko siya binitawan.

He bursted out laughing habang tinataas ang dalawang kamay na parang sumusuko, "Wow! You surprised me!" sabi nito saka muling pinaandar ang kotse.

"Do you believe in the saying, don't judge a book by it's adopted movie?" tanong ko.

"Hindi ba yun don't judge a book by its cover?"

Umiling ako. "Hindi. Mas accurate ang sinabi ko since ang daming cut out scenes sa movies from the books or very very different na talaga yung storyline na parang binili na lang yung title ng book because of its popularity" I explained.

"Says by the booknerd but I must agree" He said.

Tumigil kami sa di kalayuang commercial establishment. I stared at it as I have figure out what's in it. Hindi kasi kita ang loob since super tinted yung glass wall.

"You'll know a lot from me," sabi ni Nico bago ako giniya papasok sa loob.

I gasped in surprise when a very colorful and wall to wall painting welcomed me. Halos mabali ang leeg ko habang tititingnan ang bawat detalye ng painting. It's a huge tree with bright and colorful leaves.

"Marunong bang magpaint si Ethon?" tanong ko.

"Hindi mo alam? Di ba stalker ka niya?"

My eyes widened. I was so discreet about it that I was very proud of myself then.

"Paano mo nalaman? I thought I was a ninja!" I said in disbelief.

Nico chuckled and held his phone up showing a stolen photo of Ethon walking alongside the bridge with me trailing behind him in a safe distance.

"I believe im the real ninja," He grinned.

Napailing na lang ako. Hindi na 'ko makikipagtalo since nahuli na 'ko. Nilibot namin ang buong store habang pinapaalala sakin ni Nico lahat ng pinaggagawa ko last sem.

"So, matagal nang alam ni Ethon?" I asked curiously.

Umiling ito saka sinilid ang mga kamay sa bulsa. "He's quite numb,"
I released a sigh. Yun lang, I don't know if it's a sigh of relief or whatsoever.

We continued scanning the place hanggang sa makarating kami sa last painting. Shock was understatement. Hindi agad ako nakakilos sa kinatatayuan ko at napatitig lang ako sa painting or let's say sa portrait ni Melissa.

"You're well aware, right?" Nico asked warily as he watched me stared at the portrait.

I nodded absentmindedly. My lips slowly curved upward as I realized that my question was answered. Binaba ko ang tingin ko at nahuli ng mga mata ko yung initial ni Ethon sa bandang gilid sa baba ng canvass.

I bit my lips and looked for another painting hoping to see the same initial of his but to my dismay, there's none. Yun lang talaga.

I tried to erase it in my head but to no avail, kahit ilang paintings pa ang tinitigan ko after ng portrait ni Melissa. Her images and the way the brush strokes his initial stamped in my head. Never did I though he's that into her and I feel ashamed for my feelings.

"Saan ang bahay niyo?" asked Nico nung pauwi na kami.

I shook my head and smiled at him. Though, pinsan siya ni Ethon, he's still just an acquaintance kaya hindi ko sasabihin sa kanya ang address ko.

"Dun mo na lang ako ibaba sa tapat ng convenience store"

His brows furrowed but fortunately, he didn't insist. Tumigil ang sasakyan sa tapat ng convenience store na pinagkitaan namin kanina.

I waved my hand when I got out of his car. "Thanks!"

Kumaway din siya sakin habang nakangiti nang maibaba na niya yung salamin ng sasakyan niya.

"Sa uulitin. Treat ko na, without limits," He grinned.

Mas lumapad ang ngiti ko, "Tatandaan ko yan! See you when I see you," I waved again.

Hinintay ko munang makalayo ang kotse niya bago ako nagsimulang maglakad pauwi. Past ten na ng gabi pero hindi naman ako natatakot sa daan since kilala ko na halos lahat ng nakatira malapit samin.

I stopped on my track as my forehead creased when I saw a familiar red car in front of our house, then my eyes caught someone leaning on our gate. He glanced at his side when I think he felt my presence at mabilis na umayos ng tayo saka lumapit sakin.

Nanatiling nakakunot ang noo ko sa pagtataka habang pinapanood siyang makalapit sakin. Worry was evident in his eyes as I stared at him. Hindi siya nagsalita at nakatitig lang sakin. And then he finally released a long sigh when I smiled at him. Mahina niyang hinila ang buhok ko saka tipid na sinuklian ako ng ngiti.

"You made me worry," Troy said as his steps halted in front of me then hugged me. "Next time, always answer my calls."