All Up In My Head [Completed]

22 Rainy Nights

“Ganda ng sapatos mo ah.” aniya saka tinignan ito. It looks branded and expensive.

He grinned and said, “Bigay ni kuya Ewan.”

“Talaga?”

Masaya itong tumango.

“Sabi niya tuturuan niya raw ako mag-basketball," sabi nito.

“Marunong ba ‘yon?” she asked herself.

Well, most guys know how to play basketball, she thought.

“Huwag mong masyadong istorbohin ah. Ang daming ginagawa no’n," paalala niya sa pinsan.

“Ayos lang naman daw," dahilan nito.

Matapos nilang gawin ang assignment ni Tommy ay tinuruan naman siya nitong maglaro ng mobile games. Ilang beses siyang natalo. Nainis pa ang pinsan niya dahil hindi niya agad maintindihan ang laro. Sa huli ay binigay niya na lang dito ang cellphone dahil wala talaga siyang pag-asang manalo.

“Nasaan ka na ba...” she whispered to herself.

Hawak-hawak niya cellphone sa kamay at hinihintay ang tawag ni Ewan. May usapan sila na magdi-dinner ngayon. He said that she needs to dress up. May pag-alinlangan siyang gawin iyon dahil hindi nito sinabi kung saan sila pupunta.

Ngunit sinunod niya rin naman. She wore flowing midnight blue dress. Just few inches above her knee. Sinuot niya rin ang 3-inch heels niya para naman magmukhang matangkad. Her hair had grown a lot so she tied it in a loose braid.

Lalo lamang siyang naging kabado nang halos kalahating oras na itong late. Naglalabas-masok na siya sa kanilang bahay. When she got his text, she hurried to see him outside. A car pulled up in front. Binaba nito ang bintana.

“Hey, beautiful," he grinned.

“May kotse ka na?” she asked, surprised to see him riding a car.

Bumaba ito sa kotse. He was wearing a tux and a white dress shirt underneath. The first two buttons were undone. His hair is also brushed up. He really looked dazzling tonight, she thought. Na-miss niya tuloy ang ash gray nitong buhok. Ibanalik kasi agad nito sa itim after about 2 weeks.

“Sorry, I’m late. Kinuha ko pa kasi ‘to.”

Pinasadahan siya ng tingin ni Ewan. Napailing siya at nakaramdam ng hiya.

“Oh wow. Magmumukha na ‘kong busboy nito," ika nito.

“Sira!” she exclaimed.

“For you... Lilac flowers.” Inabot nito ang bulaklak sa kanya.

“Why do we have to dress this way? Ang sabi ko sa’yo huwag sa mamahalin, diba?” aniya.

Iginiya siya nito papasok sa kotse.

He grinned. “Bold of you to assume, miss.” She rolled her eyes when he used her own line. “You’ll see!” he added.

They droved around for about 30 minutes before arriving to half-wooden karinderya. There were christmas lights hanging around the ceiling. An old song is playing faintly. She held her head up and saw the their specialty, bulalo.

“Sabi ni Tommy paborito mo raw ‘to," sabi nito.

“That’s why you were bribing him," she laughed.

Nagkibit-balikat ito. “What can I say? You gotta play your cards well.”

“Dalawa pong order ng special bulalo niyo.”

Lila can't wipe the smile on her face. The two of them look so out of place but she didn't mind. The lady brought out their orders. Amoy palang ng mainit na sabaw ay natakam na siya. Humigop siya nang kaunti.