Habang nagbibiyahe si Mentius pauwi ay hindi ko na alam kung magsasalita pa ba ako o hindi. Since natatagalan kami sa grocery, nagagabihan tuloy kami.
"Want to grab some coffee?" He asked.
10 boxes of condoms?
Bakit hindi maalis sa isipan ko 'yun?
"I'm sorry about earlier."
"Huh? Sorry saan?" I asked.
Napangit siya habang nagmamaneho. Alam ko na rin naman siguro kung tungkol saan. Kaya I should make myself clear.
Pero come on, were definitely in our mid 20s. Siguro naman Van already had a girlfriend. Baka naman may asawa na siya diba? Tapos di ko lang alam.
"What are you think about?" He asked as he managed to balance the speed of the car while talking to me.
He doesnt took his sight sa high way. Pero di naman rin malayo ang mall sa village kaya okay lang.
"Sorry to ask about this. Bothered ka ba sa binili ko kanina?" Sabi niya.
Uhm, kailangan niya pa ba talaga magtanong sa akin? I mean I dont care if he freaking bough 10 boxes of condoms.
Maybe it's Varys?
Weird.
Hindi naman siguro nagpapabili ng condoms yung mga lalaki. Maybe, Van just really had something going on with his life.
"Uhm, no." I said.
Dying inside.
Napatingin siya sa akin ng saglit.
"Really? Do you think I'm a fuck boy or player?" He said.
Napatawa naman ako.
"I dont really meddle with anybody's life eversince. Actually, hindi ako sociable sa whole years kong nag-aaral. Pero alam ko na kung para saan yung condom pag bibili mga lalaki. Just to be safe. 'Di ba." I said.
He smiled.
I saw how his smile shaped in his mouth. Why? Why? Bakit siya ngumiti? Is he that amuse to my answer?
"I didnt know you were this talkative." He said. Parang nararamdaman kong nag lighten up yung mood. Para bang bigla siyang sumaya.
"Glad I brought it up." He murmured.
Okay.
Masaya siya na napag-usapan namin. Why?
Hmm.
Nakarating na kami sa bahay ko. Tinulungan niya naman ako sa mga paper bags full of grocery goods.
"Okay na. Dito na lang siguro sa labas iiwan." Sabi ko nang tapos na kaming ilagay sa floor muna yung mga paper bags. But they're too many and too heavy.
"Tatawagin ko nalang si Mom ko para magdala nito sa loob." Sabi ko.
But he is insisting. I can see it in his eyes.
Okay, Angel. Why do I feel like I am analyzing every moves that he makes? To understand him more? To know him more?
Still bothered with those condoms.
Dapat hindi ako judgmental.
I realized this what it feels like to have someone na kasabay umuwi. At yung tipong available kapag nag-iisa ka. I never had one before. Its good to have a friend.
"I'll help you take in inside. If its okay." Sabi niya. Pinagbubuhat na niya yung mga paper bags, aayaw pa ba ako?
I just nodded and took the rest of the paper bags and we went inside together.
"Ako na mag-knock." I said pero nung pipindotin ko na sana yung doorbell e muntik na malaglag mga paperbags na dala ko. Gosh, may itlog don.
But Van got me.
Amazing how he could immediately sprint and catch me using his hand. Like he just literally transferred all the paper bags in his one hand and manage to save me.
Okay.
Mabilis naman na nanlaki ang mata ko. Couldnt he more careful.
Van and I chuckled nang marealize namin na parehong may mga itlog na laman yung paper bags.
"Phew, that was almost—"
The door swung opened.
Napatingin si Mom sa akin at saka nanlaki ang mata niya ng makita niya si Van.
"Hi." Mom said to Van.
"Good evening, Mrs. Horfelia." Sabi ni Van.
"Oh, magkakilala pala kayo ni Angel?" Sabi ni Mom.
"We should probably get this stuffs inside, Mom." I said and rushed inside. "Van, please."
Van followed behind me but he seems very polite that he walked slow as Mom is watching his very steps.
Matapos naming malagay sa kitchen ang mga papers bags. Fully packed and heavy as hell.
"Water?" I offered to Van.
He nodded, "Oh, of course."
I nodded as I took the water bottle from the fridge. But as I turned around Van was standing too close infront of me. Nahulog yung baso sa kamay niya pero nasalo niya rin kaagad when he bent in closer. To me.
Closer.
Closer.
His chest is literally leaning unto me.
"Too thirsty?" I asked habang lumayo na ako sa kanya at saka nilagyan ng tubig ang glasses niya. Uminom na rin ako when Mom's head suddenly popped in.
"Okay, Uhm. Van right? I made a lot of dinner tonight and I think Van should eat with us." Mom said.
"Oh, thank you Mrs. Horfelia."
Mom smiled as she winked at me. Okay what was that supposed to mean?
YOU ARE READING
Van Mentius Lim: My Pain (Completed)
Romance"My Pain is you, Van Mentius." - Angel Horfelia The story of "My Pain" revolves around Van Mentius Lim and his journey to finding love and acceptance. Van, tired of playing games and having ill-fated relationships, finally meets a girl who changes...
