All at Once (Absinthe Series 6)

Kabanata 26

Kabanata 26

All at Once

"Naninibago na naman ako sa buhok mo," sabi ni Ruth sa akin habang titig na titig sa aking mukha. Napanguso ako at hinuli ang dulo ng aking buhok. I had it chopped again. Ngayon ay nasa gitna na lang ng aking leeg ang haba nito.

"I like it short. Like this way. Hindi ka ba naiinis sa buhok mo kapag mainit?" I asked her. Binitawan ko na ang hibla ng aking buhok.

"Hindi naman. Nasanay naman akong nagtatali ng buhok kaya hindi rin ako naaalibadbaran."

"Siguro nasanay na lang din ako, tulad mo. I definitely look good on short hair."

"Yeah, you do," she agreed as she sips on the tea that I prepared for her. Ngayon na lang din nakabisita si Ruth sa akin sa condo na siya lang mag-isa.

I dipped the tea bag once again on the hot water. Pagkaraan ng ilang segundo ay inalis ko na rin. These are actually the tea bags that Raya gave me. Binili pa nila ni Helion nang maghoneymoon sa Japan.

"May problema ka?" I asked her because I noticed that she became silent. Nakatulala lang din sa tasa na kaniyang hawak.

Napatingin sa akin si Ruth. "Do you know a guy named Mikus Novou?"

"Mikus? Wala naman. But the name's familiar, I probably heard it somewhere."

"He's some kind of a businessman and  a car racer. Basta."

"Bakit? Ginugulo ka?" I asked.

"You know, Hally? Iyong cousin ko na sumali ng Binibining Pilipinas. Unfortunately, he had some kind of a crush on her. Hindi makapuntos sa pinsan ko at ako naman ang nakita. Unfortunately again, Hally being stupid, nireto ako sa lalaking iyon. And now, the guy was after me." Ruth rolled her eyes. Her face filled with irritation as she stared at poor cup of tea.

"For you to be that irritated, the guy must be handful. Hindi ba't car racer siya? Is he somehow not busy? Because he keeps on pestering you."

"Well," Ruth's lips pouted a bit. "He's quite busy these days and I'm kind of not used to it. Nasanay talaga akong pinepeste niya bawat araw."

I held out a teasing smile on her. Ruth's cheeks may not fluster but I know  she's quite a bit shy to admit that she's liking the guy now.

"Ano ba? What's with that look?" irita niyang tanong.

"You like him!" tinuro ko siya.

"No, I don't. Hindi porke't nagka-love life ka na ay isusunod mo na kami sa'yo."

I clapped my hands. "Isn't that amazing?"

Ruth rolled her eyes. "Huwag ako. I rather get myself killed than like the guy. He's not my type."

"Rogan's not my type but I liked him eventually," I argued. She just shrugged and ignored me. Tinitigan ko lang siya at pinagmasdan. Kaya siguro siya nandito ay dahil din doon. She can't stand the fact that no one's pestering her day so she's finding a way to sort out her problem with him.

"Tell me about him," untag ko at ibinaba na ang tasa. Napatingin sa akin si Ruth na napatulala na lamang sa pagtingin sa tsaa.

"There's nothing to tell. He's basically famous."

"I don't know him so, just tell me," I urged. Ruth rolled her eyes once again. Napangisi ako. Nagulat din nang ilabas niya ang cellphone at may kinalikot doon.

"What are you doing?" I asked her. Lumipat ako ng upuan upang makatabi siya. She was already on google and typing on the name Mikus. Nasa Mikus pa lang ay nakita ko na ang iilang suggestions.