"Anong kailangan mo sa akin dimunyu ka?" Pambubungad ko.
"Woah, no 'who's this?' Did you finally save my name? Kikiligin na ba ako." Wala na talagang ginawa itong lalaki na 'to kun'di mang-asar.
"Ano na namang pakay mo sa akin?" Binaliwala ko ang mapang-asar na banat niya.
"Wala lang, pakiramdam ko inaalala mo lang ako e." Humalakhak siya.
"No way!" Mabilis na dipensa ko. Okay, I was thinking of him perp not because I was worried about him, na curious lang ako.
"Wala na bang reporters sa office mo?"
"Wala naman na, why?" Kunot noong tanong ko.
"Good. My gagawin ka ba tonight?" He asked.
"Matutulog?" Sarkastikong tugon ko.
"Hmm... Gusto mo tabihin kita?" May kapilyuhan sa boses nito. Argh! His teases! I knew how he plays but he kept on coming!
"Oo!" I quickly answered pero hjndi iyon ang gusto ko na lumabas sa bibig ko. "Oo! Tapos lagutan kita ng hininga gamit unan ko."
Good thing, I was quick witted.
"Sayang." He tried to sound disappointed but I heard a small chuckle after. "Can I take you out on a date? I mean to make-up to all the trouble I caused you this past few days?" He sounded so hopeful.
Kaming dalawa lang? Kakain kami ng kaming dalawa lang? Edi parang nakikisalo ako sa pagkain kama ang hari ng impyerno. Ayaw ko pa malista pangalan ko sa ibaba. Kaming dalawa? Yuck! Hindi ko ma-imagine na peaceful meal ang pagsasaluhan namin. Baka mamaya magkalat lang ako sa restaurant, know Ieous? Argh love fancy restaurant.
"What if I reject your invitation?" Mapanghamon na tanong ko.
"I'll drag whtever the fuck you are. Deal?" Anin'ya na may bahid ng pagbabanta.
"Saan ba?" Tanong ko. I need to get dress... said the one who was ewing about the idea of us sharing same dinning table.
"Jollibee."
*************************
I was never been this appointed in my life. Not because kakain kami sa Jollibee, puñeta I love Chicken Joy but the unusual loudness inside the whole Jollibee building because Ieous threw a kid's party for the orphanage he's been helping for a couple of years now.
I stood there besise Ieous who has a wide smile. Magkasalungat talaga ang itsura namin. Kitang kita ang disappointment, kawalan ng interes at katamaran sa mukha ko nang makita ko ang mga bata. Itong unggoy naman na kasama ko sobrang excited nang makita ang mga bata.
"Look how cute they are." He was giggling. He was watching the kids shaking their butts, dancing with the tutubi.
"What?" I gave him an disgusted look. He turned his head at me. "Are you a pedo?"
He mirrored my expression.
"Where did that come from? Of course I'm not! That's crazy!" Mariing utas niya. "I just love kids." Bumalik ang tingin niya sa mga bata. His eyes soften.
Pinanood ko na rin ang mga bata na natutuwa habang sumasayaw kay Jollibee. This kids, they don't have their parents but they were blessed to be surrounded by good hearted people. I wonder if they experience what I did before a hand offered to me. Did they slept on the greasy and smelling street at cold nights? Stole some pandesal and apples? Been hurt by kids and adult? God, my nose felt something and my eyes were watering. Must stop thinking the painful memories. I was just a kid when I faced the cruelty of having nothing and just myself but it never left my mind. I remembered every detail of it.
Chapter 17
Start from the beginning
