Valouise went inside the Perfecto Café. Agad naman n'yang hinanap si Verne. He was in the table, in the corner of the café. Lalapit na sana sya ngunit para s'yang napako sa kanyang kinatatayuan ng mahagilap nya ang isang pamilyar na lalaki. How come Bylur be there? He was talking to Verne like they were that close. Habang nakatitig lang sa dalawa ay sinadyang itinapat ni Bylur ang kanyang tingin sa dalaga. Valouise gasp when she saw his cold gaze. Bumuntong hininga sya at pinalakas ang loob na lumapit sa kanila. Get it together, girl!
“H-Hi!” Valouise shutters. Agad namang nag angat ng tingin si Verne at Bylur sa kanya.
“Oh hi, Louise!” pagbati rin ni Verne. He was about to offer Valouise a seat, nang-uupo na sana s'ya sa tabi ni Verne ay biglaan s'yang nahulog sa upuan. Biglaan ba o sinadya talaga? It was Bylur who used his pyschokenesis to make Valouise fell from that well-shaped chair. Napakagat labing tumayo si Valouise sa hiya. He's crossing the line. Valouise was gritting her teeth. To avoid that situation, she knows where she should sit, next to Bylur.
Nagulat si Verne sa ginawang pag-upo ni Valouise sa tabi ni Bylur ngunit hindi na nya ito kiwenistyon pa at tinanong nalang nya kung ayos lang ba si Valouise, “You okay? Masakit ba?”
“I'm okay!” kibit-balikat na sagot ni Valouise. Nagkatitigan ang dalawa at nabalot sila ng katahimikan. That long moment of silent was broke when Verne offered Bylur and Valouise to order.
“She likes Cappucino but she already drank one this morning, I suggest you to order an iced americano?” Bylur said that made Verne and Valouise looked into each other in confusion. Valouise faked a chuckled at tiniris ang giliran ni Bylur but the lord seems not affected.
“Ahmm magkakilala kayo, 'diba? But h-how come he knows what you drank—”
“Well, she's living with me. We're together in the same house, we're under one roof. It's been almost two weeks actually, to be exact it's been eleven days. So, I knew what she drank, what she eat, what she likes, what she want.” Bylur hissed. Valouise just found herself scratching her own forehead. Talagang sakit sa ulo itong lalaking ito.
“P-Pano kayo nagkasama sa isang bahay? H-How d-did the two of you m-met?” Verne stuttered in shock. Valouise had a hint that Bylur will say what he said to the police before. Wife.
“She's my—”
“We're working together actually. May hinahanap kami a-and I'm the only o-one who can help him.” She cuts Bylur off and the looked into each other. Bylur was gazing at her so cold.
“Ohh—”
Valouise felt the awkwardness that Verne felt. Hindi naman sya ganoon kamanhid para hind iyon maramdaman.
“Bylur! Can you give us some space for a while? I think we need to talk, just us!” diing sambit ni Valouise at walang pag-aalinlangang tumayo si Bylur.
He sat down in a distant table from them. Kahit naman lumayo sya, alam nyang kaya nyang marinig ang pag-uusapan ng dalawa kung gugustuhin man n'ya at oo gusto nyang marinig iyon.
Except for eavesdropping, he studied Verne's anatomy and even read his mind. He just waited for the two. Seeing Valouise laughing on Verne's jokes and statements, he can't avoid being pissed off. It took them almost one hour talking. Nang tumayo na ang dalawa ay lumapit kaagad si Bylur. He knows that Verne will offer her a ride and he doesn't want that.
“Are you two done? I will drop off somewhere with Valouise.” He immediately said as he held Valouise hands.
“Oh? Can I come—”
“No! It's just our business, I'm sorry to say that, bro! So, we gotta go. Drive safely!” Sagot ni Bylur at iginiya palabas si Valouise. Pinapasok n'ya ang dalaga sa kotse. Then, he went to the driver seat.
“A-Asan tayo pupunta?” Tanong ni Valouise.
“I thought you're going to the market?” Bylur's voice was full of sarcasm, “But you lied and met with Verne? Alone, Valouise!
“V-Verne's my friend a-and mag-go-grocery naman talaga a-ako p-pagkatapos ng m-meeting namin eh!” Valouise defended herself.
“Meeting or flirting?” Bylur asked and turned to see Valouise straightly to her eyes.
“A-Ano ba problema m-mo? At teka, bakit ang dami mong tanong? Nagseselos ka ba?” Instead of answering him, she asked.
“Jealous? Why would I be jealous when I know you're mine?” Bylur answered her sarcastically. Valouise doesn't know why but she stopped breathing, her heartbeat skipped beats. Thousands of butterflies flew on her chest.
“Earth to my Val!” pag-pukaw ni Bylur nang mapagtantong natameme ang dalaga. He just found himself chuckling because of Valouise reaction.
“Let's go to the supermarket for some grocery. Seatbelt!” Bago pa man nakabawi sa kanyang tamang huwesyo ay wala sa sariling nagseatbelt sya at patuloy parin n'yang iniisip ang sinabi ng dyos. From stopped heartbeats to irregular heartbeats. Ang lakas ng kabog ng dibdib nya na para bang nakikipagkarera ito sa umaandar na kotse. She didn't heard anything else but only her own heartbeat.
She just got back to her senses when they arrived in the supermarket. Lalabas na sana s'ya ngunit nagtaka s'yang lumabas din si Bylur at pinagbuksan sya ng pinto.
“I'll buy groceries with you,” Sa simpling mga salita na iyon ay kinilig ng subra si Valouise. She don't know why but that seems so romantic and sweet for her. She will buy groceries with Bylur.
Si Bylur na mismo ang kumuha ng pushcart, hindi lang isa kundi dalawang pushcart na ikinagulat lalo ni Valouise.
“Bakit dalawa?” tanong nya.
“Buy all you want, for sure you would want to buy lots.” Seryosong sagot ni Bylur na nagpakunot ng mukha ni Valouise.
“I would want to if I have much money but my money has limit, hindi ako katulad mo. I haven't opened my flower shop which I missed a lot and also, I haven't publish any book right now so wala akong income. Yung savings ko nalang ang meron ako—”
“Too much words. Who said you will pay?” Taas kilay na sambit ni Bylur.
“Ikaw magbabayad?” parang nabuhayan si Valouise sa narinig. Ayos na yun, hindi nya magagastos ang savings nya.
“Yeah, so let's go before they will close up!” sagot ni Bylur at nauna nang maglakad papasok. Patalon-talon namang sumunod si Valouise.
Nauna silang pumunta sa canned goods area at iba pang preservative foods. Bumili sila ng pangunahing pangangailangan, mga gamit para sa banyo at kusina at pagkain mismo. They bought anything that Valouise could think what they need— she need. They brought meats, vegetable, fruits and snacks like junkfoods, biscuits, all Valouise's favorite snacks, they bought it all.
“Tama na siguro 'yan?” tanong ni Valouise kay Bylur na s'yang nagtutulak ng dalawang pushcart na ngayon malapit nang mapuno.
“Do you have anything else you want to add here?” tanong naman ni Bylur. Valouise thought about it for some seconds until she realized she wanted some wine also.
“Isa nalang,” sagot ni Valouise.
“Okay, let's get it.” Then they went to the wine stalls.
Hindi makapagdesisyon si Valouise kung ano ang bibilhin nya, it's either Full-Bodied Red Wine of Penfolds or the Rosé Wine of Marchesi Antinori. Both are her favorite. It taste so luxurious not just its taste but also its prices. Masarap ang mga wine na iyon pero subrang mahal naman.
“What are you doing? Get what you want already.” Bylur whispered in her ears. Doon na laman nya napagtanto na nakapatong sa balikat nya ang mukha ng binata. Their face was so close that in just one move their lips might met.
“N-Nagdadalawang isip k-kasi ako, i like this two brands of wine.” Sagot ni Valouise habang tinuturo ang dalawang bote ng maiinom.
Before she argues, Bylur got the two wines, not just one bottle each, three bottles of each type. Napanganga si Valouise sa ginawa ng binata.
“N-No! Masyadong mahal tapos ang—”
“Mas mahal kita!” Said Bylur then went his way to the counter, leaving Valouise behind who wants to jump because of those tickling butterflies in her chest. Tanginang 'to, kung hindi kalang pogi eh.
FAITH
•|| fairyF8tales ||•