Lose You To Love Me

Coincidence

Maxine

"Marg, nandito na ako. San ka banda?"

"On the way na ako Max."

"Okay. See you in a bit."

It's a Sunny Saturday. Tirik na tirik ang araw pero nandito ako ngayon sa mall. Magkakalahating oras na ata akong palakad-lakad lang dito sa Department Store to kill time habang hinihintay si Marg. Buti na lang air conditioned dito dahil kung hindi baka nahimatay na ako sa alta presyon.

Wala naman ako sa mood na mamili dahil wala naman talaga akong planong gumala ngayon in the first place. Napilit lang talaga ako ni Marg. Manonood kamo kami ng sine.  Heto't nakabili na rin ako ng dalawang tickets. Bitbit bitbit ko na rin ngayon yung dalawang free popcorn.

I decided to wait sa lugar na napagkasunduan namin ni Marg. Pumuwesto ako sa natatanging bakanteng mesa. However after almost 2 hours of waiting in vain, wala pa ring ni anino ni Marg na nagpapakita sa akin.

Ginalingan ko rin naman ata yung pagiging Ms. Punctual. Yeah, I arrived an hour earlier than our calltime kaya pakiramdam ko'y isang taon na akong naghihintay sa babaeng yun.

Speaking of the devil, I fished for my phone from my purse and dialled her number again pero ring lang ng ring. 

Naku, wag lang talaga na naliligo o nagbibihis pa to dahil masasabunot ko talaga to pagdating.

For the record, I ditched my plans of recording student's outputs and drafting my quarter exam today in exchange for this movie thing.

I tried again but to no avail. Out of coverage area na ngayon ang kaniyang cellphone

Naku, wag lang talagang ginu-goodtime ako nito dahil malilintikan talaga sa akin tong si Marg.

Napatayo na ako sa dismaya. Sakto namang pagtalikod ko'y nabunggo ako sa isang matipunong katawan na hindi ko na napunang papalapit sa aking pwesto.

"Oops sorry!" We said almost in unison.

"Ms. Aragon?" It was familiarity rather than surprise.

Oh the man from Room No. 3.

Agad ko siyang nakilala dahil sa kaniyang prominenteng brown eyes and thick lashes kahit na naka-uniform pa siya ngayon.

So he's a med student from a known university. Its written on the name plate he wears on his chest.

Aside sa brown eyes and thick lashes, he's got quite a pretty face and a pretty build as well. In an instant napasadahan ko na pala ng tingin ang kabuuan ng lalaking kaharap ko ngayon. I guess he's doing the same. He was like scanning my physique with his dark brown eyes.

"I'm sorry about the popcorn Ms.  Aragon.  But here are your tickets." He smiled as he handed over the tickets.

Talaga lang ah? Ang bilis naman ata niyang napulot yung nagkalat na popcorn and yung tickets. Or did I stare that long not to notice him do it all?

"Thanks. No worries. Hindi ko na rin naman ata gagamitin."

"Watched it already? Mukhang hindi pa naman nagalaw yung popcorn ninyo Ma'am Aragon."

"No I mean. Yung kasama ko kasing manonood mukhang hindi na darating. And Max na lang. Just call me Max." I added. Napakapormal naman ata nung Ms. Aragon or Ma'am Aragon. Pakiramdam ko tuloy kausap ko lang yung estudyante ko.

"I see. Sayang naman Ma--- I mean Max."

"Eh ikaw ba? What brings you here by the way? Baka gusto mong panoorin since nandito ka na rin lang. I can lend you the tickets?"