Something New

Thirty Nine

Everything was so new to me, I mean, having a suitor is not new, but the efforts George makes was refreshing for me. Maybe because he's also the first one that I actually genuinely fell for and that someone I approved of courting me.

"Saan ka tumutuloy?" tanong ko pagkakita ko sa kanyang umayos ng tayo mula sa pagkakasandal nya sa old pick ni Tay Eman.

"Dyan sa tabi tabi." sabi nya na ikinataas ng kilay ko, obviously ay hindi naniniwala.

"Doon sa shop, pero uuwi na ako mamaya." sabi nya na napapakamot sa ulo.

"Sa shop? Yung pinuntahan natin kahapon? Wala ka namang kama doon." kunot-noong tanong ko but also low key worried because where would he sleep there?

Hindi sya komportable, sa sahig? Eh concrete finished yung sahig ng shop nya, mas malamig yon kapag gabi.

"Huwag ka ng mag-alala, ayos lang ako." sabi nya bago ako pagbuksan ng pinto ng sasakyan at pumasok naman ako.

"How would I not be worried? Eh kung magkakasakit ka naman sa panliligaw sa akin then---"

"Uuwi na ako mamaya, wag mo na akong awayin please?" sabi nya bago ini-start ang sasakyan. I rolled my eyes at him then stopped when I realized something.

"Wait, dapat sa kotse namin ako sasakay to work!" I said and look outside the window and I can't see Zeke anywhere.

Narinig ko syang tumawa ng mahina kaya tinignan ko sya ng naghihinala.

"You sneaky man!" I said and he just laughed while driving.

"Hindi ko alam pano mo napapayag ang tatay ko na manligaw ka at ihatid ako ng ganito." sabi ko habang nakatingin sa kanya at nakakurus ang mga braso.

"Nagpaalam ako, pumayag naman sya." sabi nya sabay kibit-balikat na ikinataka ko.

"Textmate kayo?" naguguluhang tanong ko na ikinatango nya.

"Oo, kinuha ko number nya noong unang punta ko dito para makapagpaalam ako sa kanya ng deretsyo. Akala ko din hindi nya ibibigay, pero binigay nya."

"Then how did you knew that I usually go to work at this time?" I asked, obviously shocked and bewildered on how for the first time, my father gave his number personally to someone he just met. It's only 7:00 in the morning, I usually make time for the traffic and such.

"Tinanong ko si Tita." sagot nya sabay pihit ng steering wheel to turn left.

"As in my mom?" gulat kong tanong at tinignan nya ako saglit bago tumango.

"Oo." sagot nya na parang nalilito sya sa akin kung bakit gulat na gulat ako.

"Baka pati numbers ng mga kapatid ko meron ka na din?" comment ko, it was supposed to be a joke but I was shocked when he thought for a moment before nodding his head.

"Si Augustus, ibinigay nya ang number nya, si Austin, hindi kasi wala pa daw syang sim." sagot nya sa akin na ikinanganga ko.

I guess he's also the first man my family approved of courting me too.

"Wow." I said, not believing what I heard, how can he get my family's phone number that easily?

Eh mga sikat na businessmen nga and some socialites can't even get my family's personal number and all of them need to go through my father's secretary or Joe. Or if you're an acquiantance, sa business phone ang deretsyo nila.

"At teka nga, why does my family have your phone number when I don't even knew you have a phone?" nakasimangot na tanong ko na ikinatawa nya, pansin ko na nasa loob na kami ng parking lot ng PKE, may balak siguro syang tumambay sa kotse since medyo napaaga kaming dalawa.