Paradox [BoybandPH]

f i f t e e n

Hindi ko maisip kung pano ko na-survive yung mahigit tatlong oras namin na biyahe kahapon pauwi.

"Syempre naman, iingatan ko 'to."

Matapos kasing sabihin yun ni Joao, the atmosphere switched to something else. Napapansin kong laging ganun. Kumportable kami tapos the next minute, nagiging awkward bigla. Hindi ko alam kung nararamdaman niya rin yun o ako lang.

Ni hindi ko maintindihan ang sarili ko bakit ako naiilang. He's just another guy.

Pero the whole ride, nagpanggap akong tulog. Well, eventually totoong nakatulog naman talaga ako halfway. Buti na lang naisip niyang magpatugtog to lessen the awkwardness. But God knows how much I restrained myself from singing with the music!

Hello? Ariana Grande kaya yun!

But, Dangerous Woman didn't really help in calming my nerves!

Wait. Why Ariana of all singers? Is he gay?

Oh my god.

"Gay? Sinong kasapi ng federasyon?" Patrick asked.

Napatingin ako sa kanya but absentmindedly made a face. Did I say it out loud?

What if he's gay? Pero, ano naman ngayon kung bakla siya? Why would I care?

"Huy, ate girl! Naloloka ka na ba? Okay ka lang? Malapit dito St. Lukes, tara. Patingin ka na." He insisted.

Tinignan ko siya nang masama, pero napabuntong hininga rin. I seriously need to stop zoning out.

"Sef. Seryoso, ano problema? Kanina ka pa tulaley? Otoko ba tong pinoproblema mo?"

I raised an eyebrow, "Anong otoko otoko pinagsasabi mo dyan?"

"Lalaki." Patrick answered nonchalantly, sitting down next to me.

"L-lalaki ka dyan. Bat ako mamomroblema sa lalaki?"

"Ewan. Ramdam ng radar ko eh." Sagot niya na kunwari'y tinitignan ang kuko niya.

"Psh. Bakit nga pala hindi ka pumunta kahapon? Ha? Dara was expecting you pa naman." I rolled my eyes at him.

He just smiled at me sheepishly and was about to talk nang pigilan ko siya.

"Hep! Tigil. Parang ayoko nang malaman." Tinaas ko pa ang kamay ko.

Natawa na lang siya, isang malanding tawa.

Leche. Thankfully, he dropped it at hindi na ulit nagtanong pa. Natapos ang last break namin and we worked our ass off til the end of shift. Naka-leave pa si Dara.

The next few days passed in a blur.

I spent the whole week working. Unfortunately, busy ang lahat kaya hindi kami nakalabas nung weekend.

Zzzzzk! Zzzzzk!

Naramdaman kong nag-vibrate yung phone ko kaya naman agad ko 'tong kinuha from my apron's pocket.

Kesh calling..

"Niks!" Tawag ko kay Nikki at inabot ang tray na may espresso at croissant. "Pakidala naman sa table 8. Sagutin ko lang to."

Zzzzzk! Zzzzk!

She just nodded and took the tray. Bahagya naman akong lumayo saka sinagot ang tawag ni Kesh.

"Oh, napatawag ka?"

"Uy, giiiirl." Maarteng bati ni Kesh. "May shoot tayo next Friday, lunch time."

"I can't, Kesh. May duty ako nun—"

"Sef. Para sa brochure yon ng sikat na tshirt company, tatanggi ka pa ba?"