Unbind the Strings

Twenty Nine

"Good morning. Paki-sundo na ako rito kanina pa ako nag-aantay, manang."   That's the first text I've received the moment I woke up. my brows furrowed as I read his text message. Pareply na sana ako but he sent another one. "Joke lang, Cali ko. Take your time po, willing to wait." I smiled. Takot na takot ka ba, Liam?

Like what he said, I took my time and enjoyed every bit of prepping for school. I was about to get my bag and his car keys when I received another text from him. "Wala na bang mas itatagal pa 'yan, Cal? Tagalan mo pa lalo 'yung parang pagong na walang paa."  Natawa ako sa text niya. Eto na nga papunta na, atat masyado. Tsaka 6 AM palang, what's the rush?

I started the engine and drove through Mcdonald's to grab some breakfast for us. Napakabait ko naman at talagang nag abala pa ako sa pagkain niya. Why am I even doing this? I don't react but I know what he likes here, napapansin ko naman 'yun sa tuwing oorder siya kasama ako.

I made it to their house and saw him waiting outside. He gave me a serious look when I stopped the car. He went to reach the door and entered the car. Hindi parin niya ako kinakausap, he must be annoyed that I didn't reply to his text messages. 

"Chicken fillet ala king with mushroom soup and hot chocolate?" I said while smiling as him. His frown slowly turned into a smile. 

"Nag-alala ako sa'yo tanga ka." he said, trying to control his smile. Aba, nag papabebe pa.

"Eh nag drive thru pa ako sa Mcdo para bilhan ka ng breakfast, eh. Ayaw mo? Akin nalang." I tried to get back the paper bag but he doesn't want to give it to me.

"Akin ka nalang." He smiled and grabbed the food inside the bag. Hindi parin maalis ang ngiti sa mukha niya. "Parang tanga naman 'to, lalaki ako ang baduy ko kiligin puta!" he said while punching the side of his seat. "So you're observing me, huh?" he asked, glancing at me.

"Hindi ah, asa ka naman. Magaling lang ako mag-observe. Kumain ka na, dala mo ba gamot mo? Uminom ka ba kagabi saka kaninang umaga?" I asked him while looking straight at the road.

I glanced at him and caught him smiling while sipping through the hot chocolate. "Hoy, uminom ka ba gamot?" I asked him again. 

"Cali, I'm not used to you saying those things. Tangina puro ka naman pakilig agang-aga." He's still smiling at hindi masala ang ngiti niya. 

"Masanay ka na." I giggled and looked back at him.

"Aba, bumabanat ka na rin ah. Where did you learn those things?" 

"Google, dumb ass." 

"Hindi mo naman na kailangang mag ganyan ganyan sa 'kin kasi kahit wala kang ginagawa, kinikilig parin ako." he looked away and sipped through his drink again.

We made it to the school and we got a lot of attention from different students when we went out of the car. Daig pa namin artista sa dami ng matang nakatingin. I looked down and walked straight, I noticed that Liam isn't beside me so I looked back and saw him talking to students.

"Oh issue na naman? Nagsabay lang pumasok, issue. Oh uunahan ko na kayo, hindi pa kami. Nanliligaw palang ako, happy na? Satisfied? Tsaka huwag kayong tingin nang tingin kay Cali, may dumi sa ba uniform niya, ha? Babalitaan ko kayo 'pag kami na 'wag kayong mag ala-" I grabbed his shoulder and told him to stop talking to them.