Walking in the Wind (Valdemora Series #2)

Chapter 3

"Ria!" the voice echoed. Boses iyon ni mama na papalapit at ang lalaking nasa harap ay mas lalong lumapad ang ngiti. Napapikit ako ng mariin.

Pahamak ka talaga minsan, Ma.

I welcomed her while she eyed our customer. I gave him my warning look to just get out of here but he didn't got it. Tuloy ay tinanong pa ito ni mama kung ano rin bang bibilhin.

He's just standing there the whole time to ask my name! Hindi talaga aalis kapag hindi nalalaman iyon? Balak talagang maghintay?

"Wala po. Napadaan lang," halos umikot ang mata ko sa tono ng pananalita nito. Akala mo hindi malandi. "Nice meeting you, Ria."

He waved his hand and winked at me before vanishing in front of us. Binigyan ako ni Mama ng nagtatakang tingin.

"Manliligaw?" there's a hint of not wanting that term asked to me.

"Hindi. Napadaan lang," I defended. Napadaan lang naman talaga iyon dito. And I won't tell her the reason why that guy was here. Sasabihin ito kay Papa kung saka-sakali.

Ano nga ulit pangalan nun? Joaquin Gabriel?

"Alam mong hindi payag ang Papa mo," she warned me.

Tinatak ko naman sa isip ko iyon pero hindi ko naman manliligaw iyon. He's too perfect but his attitude won't pass to me. Wala iyon sa standards ko.

A manwhore is not on my standards' list. He's just a normal guy who's not my dream.

Lahat ng katangian na gusto ko ay wala sa kanya. He's totally the opposite. And I am not wishing to see him again. Too impossible.

Sigurado akong magdadala na naman iyon ng babae at bibili ng condom sa pinagtatrabahuhan ko. The basic solution on that is to not be the cashier for the entire time.

Okay na sa akin iyong naglilinis ng kalat at nag a-arrange ng mga stocks doon.

That's more quite easy for me. At least, kapag may mga gagawin at kinabukasan na ang deadline ay free ako. No hassle.

"He's not my suitor," ulit ko pa.

I continued what I'm doing. Nanatili pa rin ang pagtataka at pagdududa sa akin ni Mama.

My parents got married not so early. Sakto lang iyong edad at pareho namang may natapos. Kahit si Papa ay mas piniling makatapos at makapagtrabaho bago naisipang magpakasal.

No wonder they both want it to happen for me too. Mas gugustuhin ko rin naman iyon bago isipin ang ganoong bagay.

I'm their only child so it's not surprising knowing that they want me to have a work first before committing into relationship.

Monday came and they informed me about the contest. Iba-ibang school daw ang maglalaban at dito gaganapin.

I just shrugged after knowing that. Alam ko na rin ang takbo nito dahil palagi akong nagiging audience noon.

I made Sunday as my rest day dahil mukhang naukupa ng Joaquin na iyon ang utak ko noong sabado. Ewan ko ba kung bakit nagawa niyang pasukin kahit na ayaw ko sa personalidad niya.

He's too far from my ideal man, of course, except for the good looks. I won't be plastic but I am one of those women who bases on the looks.

Pero turn off na kaagad kapag kabaliktaran ng mukha mo iyong ugali mo. That's a big no for me.

Nagpapa-print kami ngayon dito sa computer shop. And Chesca being herself, gave her number to the student from other university. Kaunting getting to know each other tapos nagpaplano na ng magiging agenda.