0.19
꒰ ♡ ꒱
"Malabo eyes mo?" naka-eye glasses siya the moment I laid my pairs on him. E, hindi naman siya naka-salamin kapag nakikita ko siya.
Rad tilted his head to look back at me, attired in his white polo school uniform and black slacks. He is spruced up, tapos naka-specs pa. He's looking through his notes and there's a crumpled burger wrapper occupying a space of the table. May nakatabi din na tumbler. He looks like someone na super taken care of, na minimal lang ang intake ng soft drinks, surrounded ng pillows kapa matutulog, 'yung type na may bimpo pa sa likod kahit college—or may asawa— na, tsaka palaging naka-baby powder.
Amoy baby powder nga siya. I situated the paper bag on top of my lap where the Lego keychains are. For delivery pa 'yung matchy lanyards, three days had passed na din, so I think the keychains will do for now.
"Nahihirapan lang ako 'pag madilim." his eyes stopped on the paper bag, pushing his hair back, "Ano 'yan?"
"Hehe. Later na . . . nag-order ka na?"
Tinabi niya 'yung burger wrapper ng naubos niya na na burger. He cleared his throat. "Sorry. . . sinamahan kasi ako ni Regan kanina." he unfastened his backpack and loaded it with his things. "Anong gusto mo?"
There's little-to-no customers, na super unusual. On usual days kasi, filled ng customers na nagd-dine in hanggang sa second floor. I don't know if it's because mag-a-around ten pm na rin at malapit na ang closing. In the end, sumama ako sa kaniya sa pag-order because I can't think of any. I don't know what to order yet so I skim through the menu.
"Burger akin."
"Ulit?" baffled kong tanong, obviously perplexed.
Hindi ba siya nagsasawa sa burger . . . last time 'yun din ang kinain niya. I blinked . . . and blinked for I don't know how many times na kasi seryoso pa rin ang mukha niya na 'yun ang order niya.
"Bitin." so bitin pa sa kaniya 'yung monster burger? hindi na lang ako nag-reply to that, baka isipin niya jinu-judge ko siya. "Wala ka rin kasabay kumain." he shrugged, brushing it off. Tumingin ulit siya sa menu board, pocketing his hands.
Nakapag-conclude na naman ako na super liit kong tao upon seeing our height difference. Parehas sila ng kambal niya na sinalo na lahat ng height but he's taller than Yarie.
I added a box of flavored chicken to our order. I figured na hindi siya mabubusog sa regular burger lang kasi na-digest niya na ata ang burger na nakain niya kanina or baka mabitin na naman siya. Bumalik kami sa table namin. Rad's holding the receipt of our dine in order, and kept on glancing at the monitor where the order number flashes. It does not take long, he insisted on taking the order at the counter.
"Is this yours?" sabi niya, nilalapag 'yung chicken box sa harap ko. "Ubos mo?" he looks like he's suppressing himself so hard from grinning—'yung parang inaasar niya ako—but he failed. Kinuha nung staff 'yung tray namin, Rad said his thank yous.
"Noooo . . . share tayo." I asked for a plate and utensils. "So. . . you like burger more kaysa chicken?" kasi hindi niya pinapansin 'tong bucket.
His shoulders lifted in a shrug, munching on his burger, "It's easier to eat. Kapag nakakalimutan ko kumain. Deadlines." kinagatan niya ulit ang burger niya. My chicken that I stabbed with fork is still whole, tapos siya . . . for only like two questions I asked, he already half-emptied the burger. He's not really lanky, I think it's his height that makes him look thin, but may laman at muscles naman siya. "What?" maybe I stared too much he had to ask.
What? I can never forget to eat. Even if my deadlines is hunting me down. "Lagot ka sa twin mo."
Rad snickered, he looked less threatening if he does that. "Mas galit pa siya kaysa kay Mama."
"You know what. 'Kala ko you're so masungit." pinanliitan ko siya ng mata. Inilapit sa akin ni Rad 'yung cheese dip kasi 'di ko abot and mas malapit iyon sa side niya.
"Sabi nga."
"Who?"
He looks away as if he's shy, "Secret." he grinned again, "Here." he pulled his 1x1 picture out of his wallet. I'm expecting it to be something like a selfie, but I doubt if he does that. Instead, high school graduation photo nya 'yun at isang baby Rad, who looks like he just cried, his little nose na namumula pa, and he's wearing a bear onesie na may bimpo sa likod.
Kinuha ko 'yun at nilagay immediately sa likod ng id ko, and it fitted there. The corner of Rad's ears turned red upon that. Gusto kong matawa, upon looking at his reaction.
Is this his first time? wala ba talaga siyang kahit anong naka-thing?
"Here 'yung akin."
I don't have printed with me than that. Pre-school picture ko 'yun na naka-jumper ako. I think . . . I think si Mommy nag-take nun.
"Put it sa id mo na." sabi ko. If namumula na 'yung ears niya kanina, mas lalo ngayon, and his cheeks looked flushed. 'Kala ko finally mag-sa-salita na siya, but he stuffed his mouth by munching on the burger. "Are you shy?"
"No."
"Really?" I eyed him suspiciously.
"'Di nga." hindi niya ako tinitignan. He crumpled the burger wrapper after he emptied it.
'Di ako naniniwala.
He's blushing pa rin e.
"But why me?"
"Why you what?" confused kong tanong.
"Fake boyfriend." he said, bringing up our contractual relationship into the table
"Oh. Sabi ko nga, aside na you're available that time . . . cute ka rin. Like those of my types. Suspicious naman kung hindi ko type 'di ba?" I doubt if someone will believe me if out of nowhere na lang ako hihigit because my past things arre always under the same category.
"You're so straightforward."
"Wow." I blinked, scoffing in disbelief "ikaw kaya 'tong nagtanong ng No Kissing"
MAS LALO LANG SIYA PUMULA.
Oh my god.
Rad looked away as if anywhere else but my eyes, "Uwi . . . ano . . . hanap na ako ni Mama." natawa ako because he's obviously bluffing and trying to dodge the set-up. Sinimangutan niya ako. Hinatid niya ako sa apartment, tapos nung inabot ko sa kaniya 'yung keychain niya dun sa set binili ko, he looked like the 1x1 picture na binigay niya sa akin, 'yung baby picture niya na kaiiyak lang, ang difference lang, he looks like na paiyak pa lang.
_____
NOTES
[the keychains in context]
ADDITIONALS