Paradox [BoybandPH]

t e n

I'm holding my phone, ready to hit the record button on my camera app, while I'm covering my grin with my right hand.

He winked at me before finding his victim. Let the show begin.

Kung nagtataka kayo kung san kami ngayon, we drove our way to a mall here in north. I was really planning to finish my Jay Asher book pero mukhang mas masaya ang plano ni Joao.

I'm just a few steps away from him. A mischievous smile made a way on his face nang may makita siyang babae. Mag-isa lang yun, nagbabasa habang kumakain yung fries niya. The cover of the book is familiar. I smirked, easy target. Hopeless romantic to for sure. Clever, Joao.

Pinindot ko na ang record, I discreetly faced the camera of my phone to their direction. Lumipat ako sa katabing table, facing them.

"Hi, miss."

He brushed his hair, biting his bottom lip and showed his boyish smile. Just like that, the poor girl almost drool. Kulang na lang may hearts yung mata niyang kumikinang nang makita si Joao. I can't blame her, though. Di agad siya nakapagsalita, I heard Joao chuckle.

"Nakita ko kasi you're alone. Okay lang if I'll join you?"

The girl was still speechless as she nods at Joao. Hello? Sinong hindi makakatanggi sa kanya. Lalo at isa kang fan nang fiction na love story.

"Baka may magalit saken, Miss ha." I almost snorted. Lamest line ever. Try harder, you moron.

"W-wala po." Namumula na yung babae. Pigil na pigil ang tawa ko. I sipped from my frappe.

"Ows? Wala ka bang boyfriend?" Nakatalikod siya saken kaya hindi ko na makita ang mukha niya.

"Wala po, talaga." I bet pinagpapawisan na ang kili-kili nang isang to, sa sobrang kilig.

"Ouch. Grabe naman sa po. Drop it. Call me Michael."

Michael?

Where the hell did it come from? I almost choke, I badly wanna laugh but that'll ruin everything. Isa pa, I'm alone dito sa table. Baka mapagkamalan pa 'kong baliw. No way.

Ilang minuto ko pa silang hinayaang mag-usap, I made sure na nagsasalita na yung girl before my next move.

Nang marinig kong nagtawanan sila about something, I knew that's my cue. I placed my phone sa pocket nang cardigan ko, making sure na nakukunan pa rin ang mukha ni ateng fiction reader. Buti na lang at mas malaki ang phone ko sa pocket, kaya it will just looked like as if I just slipped it.

Oh, god. I didn't sign up to be an actress. I'm a model for Pete's sake. But yeah, whatever.

"Babe?"

Sinadya kong parang gulat na gulat ang boses ko. It made them stop from whatever they're talking about.

"B-babe, anong ginagawa mo dito?"

Gusto kong palakpakan si Joao ngayon. Kung titignan mo kasi ang itsura niyang napaawang pa ang bibig at nanlalaki ang mata, he really looked someone caught redhanded by his girlfriend.

"Diba dapat ikaw ang tanungin ko niyan? What's this? Sino siya?" Tinaasan ko nang kilay yung babae. Her eyes widened as if realization just hit her.

"She's no one, babe. I.. Uh, I just shared a table with her."

"Really? Sa dami nang vacant tables dito sa food court, you chose to share a table with her?" I spitted out venom on every word.

"Babe, I swear. Kanina puno yan lahat." He stood up, I was surprised nung hinawakan niya ang kamay ko. "Miss, tell her. Diba hindi naman talaga tayo magkakilala?"

Tila desperadong boyfriend talaga si Joao as he pleaded. I pursed my lips. Nakokonsensya na ko dahil parang natatae na si ate sa sobrang kaba. Some eyes were already on us na rin. But instead na mahiya, I'm surprisingly enjoying every bit of it.

Maybe I should pursue showbusiness instead.

Hinawi ko ang kamay ni Joao and looked him straight in the eyes. At dahil best actress ako, pinilit kong maging mapungay ang mata ko na akala mo'y maiiyak na.

"Bakit, babe? Panget ba 'ko? Kapalit-palit ba ko?"

Halatang nagulat si Joao. I even heard gasped from others, habang ang iba'y nabulunan pa nang marinig yon. Kahit ako, gustong gusto ko nang matawa sa pinagsasabi ko. Did I really mimicked Liza Soberano? This is freaking hilarious, oh my god!

Kaya bago ko pa masira ang plano, nag-walk out na ko.

Ilang segundo pa'y narinig ko nang may tumatakbo papunta saken. I don't need to look back to know who it was. Pero tila ako nanigas nang maramdamang hinawakan niya ang kamay ko.

I wore the poker face I learned from Janella when I faced him. Nakangiti pa siya nang lingunin ko pero nawala din agad yun nang makita ang mukha ko.

"Let go of me."

Agad nagsalubong ang makapal niyang kilay nang marinig ako.

"Huy. Tapos na ang show. Why are you still acting like a jealous girlfriend?"

I deadpanned.

Pero imbes na mainis, natawa na lang ako sa kanya.

"Gago. Yung kamay mo. Nawiwili ka na kakahawak saken e."

Tila dun niya lang din napansing nakahawak pala siya sa kamay ko kaya mabilis niyang binitawan yun. Tumama yung kamay ko sa bulsa nang cardigan, which reminded me na hindi ko pa pala natigil yung video. Nang iangat ko ulit ang mukha ko, nagkatinginan kami ni Joao and burst into laughter.

Bago umuwi, dumaan muna kami sa Banapple at dun na kumain nang dinner. I was craving for pasta, ganun din siya.

"Hindi ka ba nagdadiet?" Biglaang tanong niya saken.

"Nope, why would I? Am I fat?"

"No, of course not. Pero diba nagmomodel ka?" Tumaas ang kilay ko nang tanungin niya ko non. I don't remember talking about it kanina or kahit nung nasa Batangas kami.

"How did you know?" I asked him.

Nilunok niya muna ang kinakain niya, then wiped his mouth using the napkin beside his plate.

"Neil mentioned it."

Tumango-tango na lang ako. We talked about random stuff. His reaction was priceless when I told him na jejemon ang tingin ko sa kanya nung una. He's not a bad company after all.

Habang kumakain ay pinanuod namin yung video kanina.

"Shit, nakakahiya tayo kanina."

"Pero aminin mo, it was fun." He said suggestively.

"And crazy."

Tawa kami nang tawa, ni hindi namin pinansin ang masasamang tingin samen nung ilang customer.

"Remind me not to make you jealous." Pang-aasar niya.

"You wish, Michael." I mocked him.

"Whatever, Liza Soberano." He countered-part, raising an eyebrow.

Just like that, we burst into another round of laughter again.