Winning Hurricane

III - Clonidine

Nakita ko nalang ang sarili kong naka-sunod sa kanila hanggang sa maka-pasok kami sa isang Fil-Mex restaurant. My grandma immediately took all the shopping bags Hurricane was holding for her and placed it sa katabi niyang upuan. I was left with no choice but to sit beside him.

"So.. do you have someone right now?" Lola asked smiling pero patingin tingin din siya sakin. Ugh. I know what she's doing. I can't believe this, hindi naman niya to ginawa kay Cyclone!

"Wala po." Ang galang niya, nakakagulat.

"Really? You don't like someone right now?"

"Study first po," Oh, bullshit. Siya? Ako nga may crush na senior namin, siya pa kaya?

"Sus.. everyone have their someone."

Hindi ko alam kung ano ba ang pinag-lalaban ni Lola. Gusto ba niyang marinig na siya ang someone ni Hurricane? Charot.

"Crush lang po,"

I looked at Hurricane, he's smiling shyly. Medyo napakamot pa sa batok at hindi maka-tingin ng ayos kay Lola. The hell? Marunong pala siya mahiya. Baka si Lola crush niya?

"Really? What is she like?"

He cleared his throat, getting uncomfortable. Hinayaan ko nalang si Lola mag-tanong. I can't deny the fact that I am kinda enjoying him seeing being like this. Yong hindi mapakali at nahihiya. Nakakapanibago.. last ko siyang nakitang ganto was that night nong graduation party namin..

"She's.. very pretty po. Matalino and.. mataray."

I watched him blushed! His ears were all red. Oh my! Kinikilig ba siya? Dine-describe lang naman niya yong crush niya!

"Oh. Is she law student too?"

I heard them talking about Huricane's work kanina nong nag-lalakad kami kaya nalaman ni Lola na law student siya.

He cleared his throat again, "No po."

"So working na?"

"Hindi ..din po."

"Still in college?"

"Hindi na po.."

Hindi law student. Hindi working at hindi college. So.. tambay?

"Oh, I see. Why don't you pursue her?"

As much as I enjoy seeing Hurricane being uncomfortable hindi ko din maiwasan hindi mahiya. Sobrang tsismosa ni Lola! Grabe, frustrated reporter ba siya? Gusto ko sanang sabihan si Lola but it's disrespectful na gawin yon nang may ibang kaharap. Kahit pa gaano kahinahon.

Hurricane drinks his water, geez. "Crush lang naman po."

Lola nodded her head before she glanced at me. What?

"My apo, she's very pretty too. Very matalino and mataray. She's a med student kaya masyadong busy. I am worried nga walang nanliligaw, baka tumandang dalaga." She whispered the last words.

My goodness! Gusto ko nalang lumubog sa lahat ng pinagsasa-sabe ni Lola. Baka mamaya mabanggit na naman niya ang mga bayag!

Mas kita ko kung paano dumoble yong pagka-pula ni Hurricane. Teka, may sakit na ata to?

He cleared his throat again. May tonsillitis na ba siya?

Pa-simple akong nag-fill ng water sa baso niya since naubos na niya kaka-patikim tikim dahil sa mga sinasabe at tinatanong ni Lola.

"Buti naman po," he answered. Napatigil ako, mas lalo namang lumawak ang ngiti ni Lola.

Anong 'buti naman'?!