NAGULAT SI TASHA nang itigil ng binata ang sasakyan malapit sa university na walang masyadong dumadaang sasakyan. Mapuno sa lugar na iyon at baku-bako ang daan, sobrang dilim pa.
"Why are we here?" tanong niya rito nang kalasin nito ang seatbelt.
"Hindi ko ba p'wedeng i-date ang girlfriend ko?"
Saglit siyang natigilan sa sagot nito.
Girlfriend.
Hindi pa buong napo-proseso sa isipan niya ang pagiging girlfriend nito. It's still a feeling that she couldn't accustomed.
Marahan siyang tumikhim. "Bakit naman kasi dito sa madilim at tagong lugar mo pa naisipang mag-date?" tanong niya rito, samantalang may inabot ito sa backseat.
"So you want us to date in public? It's fine with me. Ewan ko lang sa'yo."
Can beers pala ang inabot nito at isang supot. Binuksan nito ang isang can at inabot sa kan'ya, hindi niya iyon pinansin.
"Ang akin lang sana umuwi ka na lang. Amoy alak ka na nga 'tapos alak pa rin ang ibibigay mo sa'kin. Idadamay mo pa 'ata ako kapag may nangyari na naman sa'yo, e."
He slightly laughed. She should be annoyed by now with Marcos but she can't also deny that his laugh is such a music to her ears. "Bakit ba ang init ng ulo mo sa'kin, love? May dalaw ka ba?"
"Well, incase you don't know, Sir-" aniya na sinalo ang tingin nito, "hindi ako umiinom ng alak."
Nabitin ang iinumin sana nito. "I'm sorry," he sincerely apologise. "Akala ko kasi umiinom ka kasi nagtatrabaho ka part time sa resto."
Tasha shake her head. "It's fine. Hindi mo naman alam. At isa pa hindi naman tayo gano'n katagal nagkakasama, e," aniya. Kinuha niya ang isang supot na may tatak ng isang sikat na fast food.
"Iyan na lang ang kainin mo," anito, "...or p'wede rin namang ako."
Nagtaas siya ng tingin. "Ang halay talaga ng bibig mo, 'no?"
"Mahalay ba? Bakit hindi mo rin kainin para manahimik?" anito saka tumungga.
Hindi niya alam kung nakainom lang talaga ito kaya masyadong bulgar ang lumalabas sa bibig nito. Hindi naman kasi ito gano'n manalita.
"Nalilib*gan ka ba, Marcos?" prangkang tanong niya.
Nabilaukan ito ng iniinom. "Damn, love," anito sa pagitan ng pag-ubo-ubo.
Dali-dali niyang inabot rito ang tissue na kasama sa binili nito.
He cussed once again. "Why would you ask that?" he unbelievably asked after wiping his nose.
"Ang babastos kasi ng lumalabas sa bibig mo, e!"
His lips forms an 'O', astound by what she said.
"Alam mo iuwi mo na 'ko. Gabi na." Umiwas siya ng tingin dito.
"Later." Hinawakan nito ang baba niya, naramdaman niya ang lamig sa palad nito. "Look at me, Tash."
Sinasalo nito ang tingin niya, pilit siyang umiiwas. "Please, love, look at me."
Nagmatigas siya. "Why are you so cold? Did I do something wrong?"
"Nothing," labas sa ilong niyang sagot.
"Nothing?" he said, not convinced.
Tasha looked down. Natatakot siyang mabasa nito ang mga mata niya. "Iuwi mo na ako."
"I won't. Not until you tell me what's your problem," pagmamatigas nitong sabi.
"Wala nga akong problema." She tight-lipped.
He let go of her. They both stayed silent for a minute. Paano ba niya sasabihin dito ang nararamdaman? That all of a sudden she felt like she don't deserve him.
Masyado itong mataas para sa kan'ya.
"It's always been like this." Malalim itong bumuntong hininga. "You, pushing me away... repeatedly. But you know what? Nasasanay na ako."
Ramdam niyang nasasaktan na naman niya ito.
"Hindi naman 'yun," aniya sa kapos na hininga.
"Then, what?"
"Kalimutan mo na. Iuwi mo na ako." Umayos siya ng upo at yumuko.
"Gano'n ba kahirap sabihin kung anong problema mo?" His eyebrows knits.
Tasha unconsciously played her fingers. "P-para kasing ang t-taas mo masyado para sa katulad ko," she stammered.
"Where is this coming from?"
Hindi rin niya alam.
He held her hands using his right hand. "Love, listen to me," anito sa nang-aamong boses.
She just bit her lower lip. She just wish he doesn't feel her trembling.
"I honestly don't know how to make you feel at ease. I'm not the romantic type of guy, as you can see. All I do was to chase you... make every damn thing for you to allow me to be with you! But... I'm trying, love," he stated.
Tasha just kept quiet and all ears listening to him.
"Sinusubukan ko lahat para h'wag mo akong paulit-ulit na itulak palayo. I'm trying and doing everything to be a perfect partner for you.
Hindi mo lang alam kung gaano mo ako napasaya nu'ng sinabi mo na ikaw naman ang aakyat pataas para makasama ako. That finally, sinusubukan mo na rin akong ipaglaban man lang.
Kaya hindi ko alam kung saan nanggagaling iyang sinasabi mong masyado akong mataas para sa isang katulad mo. 'Tapos basta-basta na lang... galit ka na naman sa'kin." He lowly chuckled after saying those words.
Bigla siyang tinulak ng konsiyensiya niya.
"I'm sorry," she apologized, her voice is shaking.
Ilang segundo ring hindi ito nagsalita.
Maya-maya pa ay lumuwag ang pagsakop nito sa mga kamay niya. "It's fine." He let go of her hands. "I should get you home."
His voice is a bit dismayed, she ill at ease—like something might happen.
Mabilis niyang pinigilan ito sa braso nang ikinabit na muli nito ang seatbelt. "Saglit lang."
"May hindi ka pa ba nasasabi?" tanong nito sa matamlay na boses.
"Sorry na," bahagya pa siyang lumabi.
She saw him blink his eyes before slightly pursing his lips. "It's fine." He cleared his throat.
Mahinang nakagat niya ang labi. Para siyang maiiyak sa sakit nang tila may nakabarang bikig sa lalamunan niya. "Sorry na, love," sumamo niya habang nakayuko.
MARCOS force his self to look away after seeing Tasha bowed her head.
He doesn't know how and what to feel. Aaminin niya, medyo nasaktan siya sa sinabi nito at ang biglang panlalamig nito sa kan'ya. Minsan naiinis ito sa kan'ya, bubungangaan siya pero hindi sa puntong mapipikon ito sa pinagsasabi niya.
They were fine when they're exchanging texts. Hindi ito basta-basta mang-i-indiyan kapag may pinag-usapan sila, magpapaalam ito kapag ayaw nito. Kaya nang umuwi siya sa bahay niya at maabutang wala ito roon, nagtaka siya. The Tasha he knows won't do that.
He heard her sniffed. "Sorry na, love..."
He pretended not paying attention. Then, he saw her unclasped her seatbelt from his peripheral vision.
Marcos rattles and held his breath when Tasha crossed their gap and seated on his lap.
"Tasha..." he said, still holding his breath.
Her fair complexion cheeks turns to crimson red and biting her lower lip before saying, "Let me make it up to you, hmm?"
BLAD'S NOTE: Good morning! To all whose been reading this, just hoping you won't get mad at me— I'm currently editing/rewriting/revising the ENTRADA of this series, entitled RODEO ENTRADA: RODRIGO 'RIGO' SERNA III ( The Playboy Programmer). I am now 70% on the work of the said story. Apparently, the update today was to announce that this story is to be HOLD (for a while), while I'm still working on the first installment. Just give me a month or less, and I swear to focus on this! I do hope you would understand!
And if you are a fan of a complicated plot story, do and feel free to read the first installment of my series! Thank you! 💙