Secret Identity

treat

Nathalie

We won the contest last night and today I'm going to meet Darius because he will treat me. Yeyy!

We had a deal remember?

I'm kinda nervous and excited. Hindi ko kasi alam kung anong kalalabasan ng araw na 'to.

Yesterday I told him to just wait for me at the front gate of our school since I don't have his phone number yet. May malapit kasi na plaza doon kung saan marami ding pagkain and I really wanna try the food there.

I'm on my way to the living room when Mister Wiever suddenly speak. I didn't noticed his presence.

"Where are you going young lady? It's so early in the morning" he checked his watch "It's just 7am, you don't have class right? Don't you?"

Oh right. I forgot to tell them.

"I'm gonna hang out with my friend." he raised his eyebrows "Where's mom and dad?" I quickly asked.

"In the garden"

I go to the garden and I saw my parents eating breakfast. I walk towards them and kiss their cheeks.

"Good morning Abeoji, Good morning Mom" I greet

"Good morning sweetie." mom replied "Mukhang may pupuntahan ka?"

"Yeah. I forgot to tell you last night that we won the contest and I had a deal with my friend"

"A friend?" dad asked with a hint of suspicion

"Yes! He's gonna treat me today."

"He?" abeoji continued "Are you sure he's just a friend?" I nod at him

"Ne Abeoji. No worries."

"What a shame. I thought he's your boyfriend." my jaw literally drop from what I heard. Seriously?

"Don't you have a boyfriend sweetie?" mom asked. I quickly shook my head.

"None yet." mag-sasalita pa sana sila pero I cut them off. "Mom, dad I really have to go. I think my friend is already waiting for me." they nod so I quickly walk towards our garage to get my car.

But before I enter it I hear mom shouted "Good luck to your date"

I felt my cheeks blushed. Gosh mom, it's not a date. Great, what she had said is not helping. It just add to my nervousness.

I stepped on the gas and stop for a while to open our gate, but I saw dad already did it for me, I mouthed a "Thank you" before I proceed.

Habang palapit ako ng palapit sa school, ramdam ko rin na pabilis ng pabilis ang kabog ng dibdib ko.

Relax. Kakain lang kayo. It's not a date okay?

"Hi!" bati ko sa kanya nang makababa sa kotse.

Ngumiti lang ito. Oh boy. Mallows.

"Kanina ka pa?" I continued to ask, tiningnan naman nya ang kanyang relo .

"30 minutes early I guessed" he shrugged his shoulder. Okay! I just made a bad impression.

"I'm really sorry about that-" hindi ko na natapos ang pag-a-apology ko dahil bigla ulit itong nag-salita.

"Tsk. You don't have to say that. You're just on time Alie" Crap! Did he just call me names? And Alie? Ugh. Mallows.

"What did you just call me?"

"Bakit? Ayaw mo?" here he goes again. I shook my head and replied.

"Syempre gusto!"

***

Marami pala talagang food stall dito sa plaza, naririnig ko lang kasing pinag-uusapan ito nila Jean. I didn't know na maganda din pala ang lugar.

"Mas maganda dito pag gabi." napatingin naman ako kay Darius. Well, actually kanina pa kami nag-iikot pero wala pa rin kaming mapiling pagkain. Napakarami kasi.

"Really?" tumango ito.

"Mas marami kasing tao at may magagandang lights display pag gabi." paliwanag pa nito.

"Wow." that's all I can say. Even though I wanted to see it I know that my parents will get worried if I came home late and besides baka di na nila ko payagan.

School schedule is my only exception, sometimes they allow me to stay at my friends house.

"Anyway, ano bang gusto mong kainin?" pag-iiba nya sa usapan. "Kanina pa kaya tayo paikot-ikot dito."

I roamed my eyes around the area and saw a vendor grilling some chicken intestines and chicken feet. Many people were gathered there so I guessed it probably taste good. I think I'll give it a try.

"I want to try that" I pointed the vendor's food stall and Darius looked at it.

"Alam mo ba kung ano 'yon?"

"Uhm. Chicken intestine and chicken feet?" I don't know what they call it in Tagalog so I just want to play it safe pips. Bigla na lang itong umiling tapos muling bumaling sakin.

"I'll buy you one if you tell me kung anong tawag don." is he teasing me?

"Bituka ng manok at paa ng manok?"

"Pffft. Hahahahaha!" he burst into laughter and his face were all red. What? Hindi ba yun yung tawag don? As confused as I was, it suddenly hit me. Darius is laughing. I look at him amused and I can even speak. Did I just make him laugh?

"What's funny?" I ask fake annoyed.

"You." he said and continued to laugh. He even shook his head.

"I'm gonna try something else. You're making fun of me." Before I could make a step I already felt his hand holding mine.

"Teka lang." he take a deep breath to calm himself and became serious. "Sigurado kang gusto mong i-try yon?"

"I changed my mind" keep it cool Nath, wag papadala sa charm nya. Kunware inis ka.

"No. Try natin yung bituka ng manok at paa ng manok." he teased before he dragged me towards the stall. I also heard him snort. Seriously?

"It looks delicious" I unconsciously said when we got into the stall.

"Ilan ba gusto mo?" Darius asked.

"Lima nito. Lima rin nito." I pointed it nalang baka kasi matawa din yung vendor

"Kuya, Lima ngang isaw tsaka lima ding adidas." sabi nito sabay abot ng bayad.

So, isaw at adidas pala tawag 'don.