Nine Days With Jude [CLAVERIA #1]

DAY 4

"I THINK this is the first time na nakita kitang nakangiti," he said.

I immediately straightened my lips and squinted my eyes away from him.

He chuckled. "What are you doing here anyway? It's already past midnight. May nakalimutan ka ba ulit dito? Sarado na rin 'yung simbahan."

"W-Wala. N-Napadaan lang."

"With your pajamas on?"

I looked down at myself. I'm wearing pajamas and even house slippers. "Ano bang pake mo? Ikaw? Bakit andito ka? Bakit lagi kang nandito?"

"I told you already, malapit lang ako dito."

"Puro school and universities dito. Are you living in a dormitory? Are you still a student?"

Ngumiti lang ulit siya. "Halika nga dito." I was startled when he suddenly held my right hand and brought me closer to him.

He removed his jacket which revealed his white shirt inside, ang linis niyang tignan. Then he placed his jacket over my shoulders. I was blown away by his action.

"Let's exchange slippers too."

I came back to my senses when I saw him almost removing his slippers. "I'm okay. You don't have to do that."

"Are you sure? Manipis lang 'yan, malamig ang semento."

"Anong manipis? Excuse me, high quality 'to."

"Sabi ko nga," he said while smiling. Nakakainis, bakit palagi siyang nakangiti? "Anyway, where do you plan to go?"

"H-Hindi ko alam. Ikaw? Saan ba punta mo?"

"Hindi kasi ako makatulog so I plan to go at the near coffee shop."

"Sarado na 'yung Starbucks."

"Nope, not there. Sa Caffeine District."

"Bukas pa 'yun ng ganitong oras?"

"It's actually closed already but I know the owner. Nagsabi na ko sa kanyang if he can extend even for thirty minutes lang."

"Wow ha?"

"Let's go?"

"Let's use my car."

He nodded.

THE ambience is so good and relaxing. Kakilala nga siya ng owner as he welcomed us as we enter. He even looked at my pajamas, maybe because he's wondering. Ha! Pake niya?

I ordered coffee caramel and he ordered strawberry frappe.

"So you like pink?" I asked.

"Hmmm...kind of."

"Are you gay?"

Hindi man lang siya nagulat sa tanong ko so I guess it's confirmed. Instead, he just smirked then humalumbaba sa harap ko. He stared at me intently then blinked.

"Fine, fine, you're not."

Saka lang siya umayos ng upo. "Hindi mo pa sinasagot tanong ko."

"Ano 'yun?"

"Why are you here?"

"I told you already, napadaan lang ako."

"Liars go to hell."

"My life is already hell."

He cleared his throat. "Sorry." He sipped from his frappe and did not bother to speak again.