Air and Fire

04

"Huh?" I said. 

He flashed a smile. Girl! He looks angelic

"You're such a weird old man, you know?" dagdag ko pa. 

Patapos ko na ang kinakain ko.

"Excuse me?" 

"Why? Did I offend you?" What a question! "Is twenty-five considered old for you?" malumanay na tanong niya. 

Ilang tono ba ng boses meroon itong lalaking ito?Handa akong kabisaduhin lahat. 

"Hmm... Ask the seven years age gap." I laughed. 

"Really, huh? Then do not let me hang out with you if you think seven years gap is weird," seryosong sabi niya at nagbabadya nang umalis.

"I was just kidding, F-fre... Kuya?" Eh kasi nga seven years eh! Anong itatawag ko? Hindi naman puwedeng love or crush. Hays. Charot!

"What the fuck, Aeian? Seriously?" iritadong sabi niya. 

Kaya agaw atensyon 'to eh. Kahit na hindi malakas ang boses niya, halatang nafu-frustrate.

 "What? Am I wrong? Hello, seven years!" I took the last bite of my burger.

"If you don't stop with that seven years of yours..." 

"What do you want? First name basis? Ang dami-dami mong pangalan." 

He crossed his arms against his wonderful chest. Kahit nakabalot, alam na alam mo anong hitsura sa loob. 

"You choose." 

"Why do we need it anyway? Lagi ba tayong magkakasama? Will we use our names to call each other often?" Siyempre, pakunwaring tanong as if ayaw.

"Don't you like that?" Lumakas bigla ang tibok ng puso ko...

"I w-want all of them..." pagche-change topic ko.

"What do you mean?" 

"All of your names are great. It would be such a waste if they won't be used. So how am I going to do that then?" Pag-iisip ko. 

"Am I going to call you Frederick now, then will call you Imarcus, Reandro and Emmanuel later on?" Tumawa na naman ako dahil sa naisip kong iyon. Parang tanga lang.

"You want that? Then use the initials." 

Tumingin siya sa mata ko at bigla akong nakaramdam ng kuryente.

"F-I-R-E... Fire?" It makes sense! Ang hot."

Yes, Air?" It is as if his brown eyes suddenly turned to gold when an immediate spark happened within milliseconds. WHAT THE FUCK? MY HEART JUST DROPPED AND I IMMEDIATELY FELT THE HEAT ON MY CHEEKS. 

"Stop it," diretsong sabi ko sa kaniya. 

"What? Don't you like that? Those are your initials." Umamo ang kaniyang mukha.

"No one calls me that," pag-amin ko sa kaniya. Ayaw ko kasi ng ganoon. Hindi ko naman talaga pangalan pero iyon ang itatawag sa akin? But of course, he's an exception. I love how his voice suits that word. Pleasing.

"No one calls me Fire, too." So, am I special now? 

"How come?" Tumayo na ako dahil maya-maya lang ay mags-start na ang klase ko. 

"It's just that I don't like it." Sinundan niya ako at kita kong nagbubulungan ang mga babaeng staffs at estudyante habang nakatingin sa kaniya. Yes, he's that attractive. Hawak-hawak pa niya ang white hard hat niya. 

"Bilisan mo nga riyan. Pinagtitinginan ka na, oh!" Ang bagal ba naman niyang maglakad! 

"Then you won't also like it once I use that!"