XXXVI
Hindi ko mapigilang mapairap nang makita ko ang pagmumukha ni Hob. He was smiling from ear to ear and he seemed enjoying stalking me. I was eating my late dinner when he suddenly appeared beside me. His plate was full of unidentified foods.
"What are you eating? Damo?" He asked with a disgusted look on his face while looking at my place.
"It's a salad." I lazily told him.
"Damo lang 'yan na pinasosyal, pinaarte lang ang pangalan." He took a bite on his food. I looked back to my camera to scan the pictures I've taken a while ago when I roamed the city.
"Are you free later?" He asked incoherently. Tinapunan ko naman siya ng tingin at punong-puno ng pagkain ang bibig niya nang magsalita. Men will always be men. I told myself.
"I'm free later but not for you." Muli ko siyang inirapan.
"Alam mo, ang sungit mo na. Dati naman patay na patay ka sa akin pero ngayon, parang diring-diri ka na makita lang ako." Napanganga naman ako sa sinabi niyang iyon at hindi ko napigilan ang masamid.
"I will appreciate Hob Lucas if you'll leave me alone." I narrowed my eyes. He was irking me, obviously.
"Mag-isa tayong dalawa, ano'ng masama? Magkakilala naman tayo ah." Pagpupumilit niya.
"I'm here to enjoy myself, hindi kasama ka." Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mga mata. Bakit ba niya ipinipilit ang sarili niya?
"Wala namang masama kung susubukan mong kasama ako, 'di ba? Besides, we know each other for a long time."
"Hob Lucas, ano ba?" Tumaas bahagya ang boses ko dahilan para mapalingon ang ilang tao sa pwesto namin.
"Ma'am, are you okay?" Tanong ng isang waiter sa amin. I was about to say something when Hob interrupted me.
"Yes, we're fine. We are just having some husband-wife talk here." He flashed a smile and put his arm around my shoulders.
I'm dumbfounded and lost my words.
"You look good together po, sir. Bagay na bagay po kayo." Ani ng waiter na para bang kinikilig pa sa aming dalawa.
Agad akong lumingon kay Hob at ngumiti lang ito nang malawak sa akin.
"Seriously, Hob Lucas?" I narrowed my eyes. Kapag hindi ako nakapagpigil, sasamplain ko na ang lalaking 'to ng matauhan.
"We can handle ourselves, she's just pregnant with our first baby." He gave him a sweet smile.
I lost my words again.
"Sige po, enjoy your dinner po." The waiter smiled back.
"Seriously, Hob Lucas. Ano bang pumasok d'yan sa isip mo? Why did you tell her that?" Inis na inis kong sabi sa kanya. Bigla tuloy akong nawalan ng gana kumain.
"What? You know it wasn't true. I was just having a good time. Ikaw ba?"
"Sa tingin mo?" Nakasimangot kong sabi sa kanya. Tumawa naman siya at aaminin ko, iyong tawa niya ngayon ay para bang ang saya-saya niya.
"Ngayon na lang ulit ako nakatawa ng ganito. Mas masarap pala ang walang trabaho, ano? No stress, no pressure at walang nagdidikta sa akin kung ano ba ang dapat kong gawin." Nakangiti niyang sabi at nagpatuloy sa pagkain.
"Baka gusto mo munang tanggalin ang braso mo?" Sabi ko sa kanya. Tumalima naman siya sa sinabi ko at agad na tinanggal ang braso niyang nakaakbay sa akin.
"But to tell you honestly, Nathalia. You became a fine woman, you look more beautiful." He was looking at my eyes when he told me that and I don't know why my heart's pulsating became irregular.
