(Italicized parts are flashbacks.)
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C L A I R E
"You're the first person to take me here. On a date." I smiled at him while I say those words. He looked back at me and grinned, "You liked it?"
"Liked it? Seth, I love it! You know how much of a sucker I am when it comes to streetfoods. How smart of you to take me here."
Nandito kami ngayon sa tapat ng school namin. After our last period, Seth suddenly announced na dadalhin nya ko on a date. Being the girl I am, of course, I panicked. Like hello? Ang haggard ko and not to mention, naka-school uniform pa ko with no make-up on. In short, I was terrified nung sinabi nyang aalis kami.
But he assured me that I don't need to dress up and put any make-up on because according to him, I am beautiful no matter what they say. Ay charot. Kanta pala yun ni Christina Aguilera hahaha. Basta sabi nya maganda daw ako kahit walang kung ano-anong nakalagay sa mukha. (Sweet nya no? Mainggit na kayo, mga bes.)
Tapos dito nya ko dinala. I can't help but smile nung sinabi nyang dito kami magde-date. Sa hile-hilerang food stalls na katapat ng school na may tindang sari-saring streetfoods. Barbiecue, fishballs, kwek-kwek, siomai at kung ano-ano pa.
"Ang kalat mo kumain. Dahan-dahan lang, Claire." He said while laughing slightly. Inabutan nya ko ng tissue at ginamit ko yun pampunas na side ng table ko. "I remembered when you said na you have this unhealthy obsession with streetfoods kaya naisip ko dito kita dalhin."
He always remember those silly little things I told him.
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I smiled. Another memory of us just popped out of my mind. But then, I suddenly shooked my head. Ano ba yan, Claire. Iniwan ka na nga, iniisip mo pa?! Anong kalokohan yan?
"Tulala ka na naman, girl. Uso mag-trabaho." My officemate slash bestfriend slash roomate, Amber, said.
"Pagod na ko, Amber. Uwi na tayo." I sighed. Pagod na naman talaga ako, ang daming paperworks na pinapatapos ng boss namin ngayon dahil last day namin ito bago yung 3 weeks vacation namin tapos idagdag pa itong mga kung ano-anong sumusulpot sa isip kong ito. I need to take a break.
"Konting tiis nalang, Claire. 30 minutes nalang, awasan na tayo then we're free to do whatever we want for the next 3 weeks. Wala ng stress." Sabi nya while typing at her computer. "Except if that ex-boyfriend of yours keeps on popping up on your mind. I can tell na dagdag stress pa yan sayo e."
I rolled my eyes at her pero I can't deny what she just said. Stress na nga sa work idagdag pa tong hinayupak kong ex-boyfriend na bigla-bigla nagpaparamdam sa isip ko.
"30 minutes nalang, Claire. Kaya mo yan. Konting push pa." I whispered to myself.
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"Pupunta tayong arcade?!" Medyo napasigaw ako ng slight nung tumango sya. I love arcades. (Not as much as I love him, pero secret muna natin yun.)
"You better be ready, tatalunin kita sa basketball, Claire." He said and smirked at me. Damn. That smirk though.
"Oh. Was that a threat, Mr. Hernandez? 'Cause I'm definitely not afraid." I said with my best innocent voice.
