"Ma'am Sunny, may bisita po kayo," sabi ni ate Rosa, kasambahay nina Sunny.
Nagkatingan kami ni Sunny.
"Baba lang ako," paalam niya sabay takbo palabas ng kwarto.
I wasn't in the mood to even move. Hindi ko alam kung gaano katagal na akong natulala sa litrato ni Bryce sa dart board na nakalagay sa likod ng pinto nang bigla itong bumukas.
"Come on, I just—"
Napaupo kaagad ako sa kama nang mapansing hindi si Sunny ang nagbukas nito kundi isang lalaki.
"—missed you," the man continued in a confused tone as our eyes met. Nanlaki ang mata ko.
The moment our eyes met made me realize something, I've met him before!
"Kuya, may bisita ako dito! Wag ka makulit!" Naiinis na sabi ni Sunny na nakasunod pala doon sa lalaki.
"Kuya? What?" naguguluhang tanong ko kay Sunny habang palipat-lipat ang tingin sa kanila nung lalaking nakangisi na sa ngayon.
"Sorry Kim ah, ito kasing si kuya Nickey ang kulit. Pinsan ko nga pala, laking abroad."
"I told you not to call me Nickey anymore."
Nickey? Reminds me of Bryce's ex! God, hanggang dito ba naman?
"Mas gusto ko 'yon, e!" She kept on pulling him out of her room but the man didn't even move an inch. "Fine. Kuya Gabo, labas na! Next time mo na ako bisitahin!"
"Hey, it's you," he said in all smiles. He even pointed his index finger at me. "You remember me, don't you?"
Kumunot ang noo ni Sunny at napatingin sa akin. I bit my lip and shook my head. Siya 'yon! Siya 'yung nasa sinehan na sinampal! 'Yung manloloko na walang konsensya!
"You're lying! It's me, your seatmate."
Now that there's light, I can see him better than I had the first time we've met. Pareho sila ng mata ni Sunny, matapang at malalim. He would've looked like a bad boy if it weren't for the huge grin plastered on his face.
"Seatmate?" Si Sunny naman ang naguguluhan ngayon.
I sighed and stood up. "I'll call you later to explain," sabi ko kay Sunny. Lalagpasan ko na sana silang dalawa nang hawakan nung Gabo 'yung braso ko.
"Don't ruin my image to Sunny that much, okay?" He laughed. I glared and shrugged him off me.
***
"Kim, may problema ba?"
Halos mapatalon ako sa gulat. Nakauwi na pala si Kuya, hindi ko namalayan. Umiling lang ako.
"Kanina pa kita tinatawag, e. Tulala ka diyan." Umupo si kuya Ken sa tabi ko.
"Wala, Kuya. Why were you calling me, by the way?" I lazily stared at him.
"Tinatanong kasi kita kung gusto mo manood ng movie. I've got movie tickets, 'di kami matutuloy ng girlfriend ko next week e. Dalawa 'yon, isama mo na lang si Sunny."
Napataas ang kilay ko. "Kakabreak niyo lang nung chinita mo na girlfriend last week, may bago ka na agad?"
Ang player rin talaga nitong si Kuya. Kaya feeling ko minsan ako 'yung sumasalo sa mga karma niya, e.
He just grinned and left the tickets on my table. Tiningnan ko 'yon and saw that it's a romantic movie. Mukhang maganda naman kaya inaya ko na si Sunny.
"Okay, sige. Kita na lang tayo sa mall next week," sabi niya through phone. "Pero pano mo nga nakilala si kuya Nickey, I mean, Gabo? Anong pinagsasabi niya na seatmates kayo?"
Pumikit ako at minasahe ang sentido ko. "I was watching a movie in the cinema, he was beside me. 'Yun lang."
"Talaga?" May halong pagdududa ang boses niya.
"Yup."
"So paano kayo nagkakilala? Parang close kayo, e. Hindi naman siguro lahat ng nakakatabi mo sa sinehan namumukhaan mo, diba?" I heard her gasp from the other end of the line. "Nilandi ka ba? Viniolate ka ba?! Saksakan pa naman ng kalandian 'yon!"
Natawa ko. "Nope, maeksena kasi 'yung pagbebreak nila nung girlfriend niya don. Your cousin is one hell of a jerk, you know?"
"Narinig mo 'yon? Gago ka kasi," bulong ni Sunny na nagpakunot sa noo ko.
"I know that! But don't you think she's being a bit judgemental? She doesn't even know me well."
Napasabunot ako ng sariling buhok. Bakit umeepal na naman ang isang 'yon?
"No offense, Kuya, pero totoo naman kasi. Kita mo kahit sino mahahalatang playboy ka!" sagot ni Sunny sa pinsan niya. "Teka, sorry bes gusto raw kasi marinig ni kuya Nickey kung paano mo siya sisiraan sakin."
"Gabe! Not Nickey," angil nung pinsan niya.
Bumuntong hininga ako at binaba na ang telepono bago ko pa marinig ulit ang boses nung pinsan niya.
Lumabas na lang ako ng kwarto at tumambay sa living room hanggang sa dumating si Mommy. I kissed her on the cheek lightly.
"Honey, have you thought about it?" Umupo siya sa tabi ko.
I looked straight on the television as I shook my head. Nakita ko siyang umiling sa gilid ng mga mata ko.
"Okay, tell me if you changed your mind. Is your brother home?"
"Yeah..."
"Have you eaten?"
"I'm still full."
She nodded and tapped my head before heading upstairs.
***
"What in the world are you doing here?!"
Sunny's cousin grinned like crazy at my reaction once I saw him at the mall's cinema.
"What? I bought my own ticket. I have a date!"
I saw beside him a beautiful girl of my age, wearing a black tight dress. She was all over him, who's wearing a black polo and denim pants.
Bumaling ako kay Sunny, she just shrugged and dragged me inside the cinema. Pagkaupo ko, mas lalo akong nairita nang umupo 'yung pinsan niya sa tabi ko katabi rin ng date niya.
"Gabe Gabe, saan tayo after?" The girl asked in a seductive voice that made me cringe.
"Nice one, Gabe Gabe, Gabo lang 'yan kina Tita eh," natatawang sabi ni Sunny.
"Wherever you want, Sheila," he said completely ignoring Sunny.
"Sheila?!" The girl went hysterical.
Tumawa ako. "That's probably the girl from last week."
Napatingin sa akin 'yung babae tapos sa Gabe Gabe niya. Galit na galit 'yung itsura niya, si Gabo naman napakamot na lang ng ulo sabay pilit na ngiti.
"You know what? Everyone's telling me na hindi ka lang two-timer, na marami kami. I can't believe na wala akong pinakinggan sa kanila! Break na tayo!" Then boom. A slap. What a pretty familiar scene.
Nagwalkout 'yung babae, samantalang hindi pa rin nakakabawi mula sa pagkakasampal 'yong Gabo. He's looking at my side now while holding his cheek.
Ngumisi ako. "What's with you getting slapped at cinemas?"
Humalakhak siya at lumapit sa akin, amoy na amoy ko na ang pabango niya.
"You're too nosy for a seatmate, though."
