Cold Summer Nights || On-Hold

FIVE

Itinuloy ko nalang kainin itong pagkain ko. Nang matapos ako, nilibot ng paningin ko itong restaurant na pinagdalhan sa akin ni ate.

The interior is well-designed and minimalistic. Beige, white and coffee complements each other as the restaurant's decorations and wall color. The food's not that cheap nor that expensive. And the entire restaurant's is so good because the seats were equally distributed for every individual coming in. Table for two were on my side, for three-comers were on the left and for more were on the other side of this restau.

Upon appreciating the interiors, I noticed someone familiar to me. She's talking with someone over the phone and she's with a girl who's sitting on one of those good-for-two tables.

Tumayo ako at pumunta sa kanya. Nang akmang malapit na ako sa kanya ay agad naman siyang lumapit sa 'kin.

We're just behind this lady who I think she was with Lian. Just by looking at her back, I felt a sudden nervousness in my system plus the fact that my palms became sweaty. I just ignored it since it doesn't matter anyway.

"Em! Kumusta ka na? Maayos ka naman siguro. Naging magkaibigan naman tayo nung elementary hanggang ngayon, baka pwede naman akong makisuyo sa'yo?" nag-aalalang tanong niya.

"Sige, ano ba 'yon?"

"I have a friend with me, she invited me to go out with her kasi bihira lang naman siyang bumisita dito, and so I said yes. Kaso, alam mo naman ako. Ang sabi sa amin, mamaya pang hapon ang practice namin ng sayaw, eh bigla silang tumawag at ako nalang daw ang wala. Ayaw ko namang iwan mag-isa itong kasama ko, baka pwedeng ipaubaya ko siya sa'yo? Kailangan na raw kasi talaga naming makumpleto ang sayaw dahil nag-adjust daw ang competition into later date. Baka pwede mo siyang samahan gumala gala. Huwag kang mag-alala, alam niya ang lugar dito sa atin, she's been with me before. Isa pa, kilala naman kita, and I know that you won't do any harm to her." worry was seen all over her face.

"Ano ka ba. Sure. No worries. Just tell her properly that you are running unexpected errands for today para maintindihan ka niya. Leave her to me, who is she?"

Kinalabit naman ni Lian ang babaeng nasa kanan niya lang. Tumayo naman ito agad at humarap sa kanya.

"Uh, pasensya ka na Riley. Hindi ko kasi talaga inaasahan na magpapatawag sila ng practice dahil biglang naadjust ang date ng contest." pagpapaliwanag ni Lian sa babae. The name sounds familiar, huh.

"Ayos lang. Don't worry, I can handle myself. Just go para hindi ka na mahuli." sagot naman ng babae.

"But I have talked to someone. I told him to be with you for today. Btw, here he is." tsaka siya lumingon sa akin

"Sure." natigilan kaming dalawa ng kasama niya.

"Wait... I know you! Ikaw yung ipinakilala ni Raven. Uhm... Em!" gulat niyang sabi habang nakangiti. Napangiti na lang din ako.

"Riley! Oo, si Em nga. Ikaw pala ang kasama ni Lian." sagot ko naman.

"Oh? Magkakilala naman na pala kayo eh. I already explained to both of you my reasons and I badly need to go already. Em, take care of my sissy. Riley, don't worry, kilala ko na 'yan. You're in good hands. Excuse me, then." paalam ni Lian tsaka na rin umalis.

Sudden awkwardness filled our atmosphere.

"Oh! Wait for a second!" tsaka niya ako tinalikuran.

"Waiter!"she called the attention of one of the waiters here. Nagbayad siya ng order nila tsaka siya nagbalik ng tingin sa akin.

"Labas na tayo?" tanong ko na ikinatango niya naman kaya't lumabas na kami ng restaurant. How is it so coincidental that we unexpectedly met here? I chuckled in my thought.