Hindi ko talaga alam kung anong balak ni Kale, o kung anong ipapagawa niya sa akin. Ang alam ko lang ay may deal kami, at sinisingil niya na ako sa premyo niya doon.
Pero gustong-gusto ko na talagang tanungin siya kung anong gagawin namin pero hindi na ako nag-abala pa dahil alam ko namang hindi niya sasabihin.
Umaga pa lang ay halatang good mood na si Kale. Maaga siyang nagluto ng breakfast, hindi siya umalis ng buong umaga pero pagkatapos ng lunch ay nagpaalam ulit siya.
At that, I was hesitant to give him permission to go, kahit alam ko namang wala akong choice. It was as if I could do anything kung sasabihin kong wag nang umalis si Kale. Wala lang. Naalala ko lang nung mga nakaraang araw.
At natatakot ako na baka hindi siya bumalik. Paano kung indyanin niya ako? Hay, malilintikan talaga siya sa akin kung nagkataon.
"You'd be back on time, right?" paninigurado ko kay Kale. He was still standing right in front of the sofa where I was sitting. At mula nga nang magpaalam siya ay hindi pa ako sumasagot, ngayon pa lang.
Tiningnan niya muna ako ng mayroong nagtatakang ekspresyon sa mukha niya bago sumagot, "Yes, of course. Bakit mo natanong?"
Umiling ako. "Wala naman. Baka mamaya, paghintayin mo ko e."
"Maika, I won't do that. At seven, will pick you. Remember to wear a dress, okay? Can't wait to see you on it. Till later."
*
Ten minutes before seven, I was already in the living room, waiting for Kale. Of course I wore a dress like what he constantly reminded me. At sa kakaunting dress na nadala ko dito, this dress was the nicest.
But with how stylish Kale was, hindi ko alam kung anong magiging tingin niya sa suot ko. Hay, Maika. Tama na ng aang pag-iisip. You look okay. And that's enough.
Nang saktong seven na sa orasan sa may dingding ay biglang tumunog ang cell phone ko. Sinagot ko iyon nang makita ang pangalan ni Kale sa screen.
"Hi, Maika. Are you ready?"
"Yes. Nasaan ka na ba?"
I heard him laugh. "You're really excited to see me, huh?"
I rolled my eyes kahit pa alam kong hindi naman niya iyon nakita. "You said you'd be here at seven."
"Yeah, that's why I called. Labas ka, may nakaparadang sasakyan sa tapat ng gate."
"Huh? Hin-" At hindi pa ako natatapos nang putulin na ni Kale ang tawag. Hay. Grabe. Balak ko pa man din sanang itanong kung bakit hindi na lang 'yung sasakyan ko ang ginamit namin.
Ano naman kaya ang pakulo ni Kale? Tumayo na ako at inabot ang pouch sa center table saka ni-lock ang bahay at lumabas. Pagkalabas ko ng gate ay nakita ko nga ang isang sasakyang na nakaparada sa tapat. Lumapit ako doon.
I shot my brows up. Bakit parang wala naman si Kale? Balak ko na sanang tawagan siya para tanungin kung nasaan niya nang biglang bumukas ang pintuan ng driver's side at mula doo'y mayroong lumabas.
But it wasn't Kale.
"Hi, Maika."
"Raz?" nagtatakang tanong ko. "Anong... Bakit-"
"Kale asked me to pick you up. That's why I am here, your chauffeur for the night. So, are we ready to go?"
Kahit na nagtataka pa rin sa nangyayari, tumango na lang ako. Pinagbuksan naman ako ni Raz ng pintuan sa likuran. Nang makapasok na ako sa loob ay saka pa lang siya sumakay na rin at pinaandar ang sasakyan.
"Nasaan ba si Kale?" tanong ko kay Raz. Sandali niya akong tiningnan sa rearview mirror saka ibinalik sa daan ang tingin.
"You'll know when we get there," came his really helpful reply.
And I almost rolled my eyes. Did Kale tell him not to tell me anything? Ano ba kasing pinaplano ng lalaking 'yun?
'Yun at iyon lang ang laman ng isipan ko sa kabuuan ng byahe. Halos hindi ko pa nga namalayan na huminto na pala ang sasakyan kung hindi pa ako pinagbuksan ni Raz.
Binigyan ko pa siyang muli ng nagtatakang tingin na sinagot niya lang ng makahulugang ngiti.
Nang tuluyan na akong nakalabas ay hinarap ako ni Raz. "My job ends here. Enjoy the night, Maika."
Ibubuka ko pa lang ang bibig para tanungin kung nasaan si Kale nang nagpaalam na siya at agad na sumakay sa loob ng sasakyan. Hay.
Inilibot ko ang tingin sa pinagdalahan sa akin ni Raz. In front of me was a restaurant. The place seemed old, but it looked posh. Inakyat ko na ang iilang baitang ng hagdan patungo sa main entrance.
Nang maabot ko na ang double wooden doors ay mayroong lalaking nakatayo doon.
"Good evening, Ma'am. Do you have a reservation?"
Tumango ako. "Yes, under Kale Perez."
May tiningnan siya sa hawak na notebook saka tumango-tango at tiningnan akong muli. "Okay po, please proceed sa booth eight."
"Okay, thanks."
Pinagbuksan niya pa ako ng pinto saka ako pumasok sa loob. And wow. I didn't expect it will look like this inside. Kung kanina sa labas ay parang ang luma na ng lugar. The interior was breathtaking. From the fancy chandeliers that were hanging in the ceiling to the different lighting of the place, I was in awe. Tapos sinabayan pa ng instrumental na music sa background.
I felt like I was in a ball of a modern fairy tale. Napangiti ako. If this was a fairy tale, then I have to look for my prince.
Mayroong mga mga table sa gitnang bahagi ng restaurant. At mangilan-ngilan dito ay okupado na. sa magkabilang gilid naman nandoon ang mga booth. And at the lower left corner of it, sa bandang upuan nandoon ang numero. I immediately looked for number eight and I saw it was located at the right end corner.
Naglakad na ako papunta doon. At bago ko pa man naabot ito, nakita ko na si Kale, ang likuran ay nasa akin. But I could tell that he was wearing a coat. So, naka-formal din siya.
At tila may mata siya sa likuran at nalaman niyang nandoon na ako, dahil bigla siyang lumingon, ang ngiti ay lumapad nang makita ako saka siya tuluyang tumayo.
And I took the time to take in his appearance. He looked good. As in really good. Bagay sa kanya 'yung light green na button up shirt na pinatungan ng black coat. Then I remembered suddenly the dress I wore. It was also green, well a different shade but still. Para kaming nag-usap.
I looked back at Kale's face and saw he was smiling.
"Did you take a peek in my closet?" he asked suddenly. "You're wearing green."
Natawa ako doon. We were thinking the same thing. Napailing ako. "Masyado kang assuming, baka ikaw ang sumilip sa closet ko."
He smirked at my comeback. And I instantly know that he has something naughty in his mind. At bago pa man niya masabi 'yun, inunahan ko na siya. "Hold that thought, Kale. Kung ayaw mong magwalk out ako dito."
He chuckled. "You really know me, huh? And yeah, note taken, ayaw mong inaasar ka. I already learned my lesson before."
I smiled. Good boy.
"But on a serious note, you're really beautiful, Maika."
My heart fluttered at that. Hindi nito maitago ang kilig. "Thanks," sagot ko. "You look good, too."
He just smiled. "Shall we take our seats?"
Tumango ako at umupo na sa kabilang side ng booth, sa harap ni Kale. Nang makaupo na ako ay saka pa lang siya bumaba sa upuan niya.
Agad namang may lumapit sa aming waiter para iabot ang menu. As we picked our orders, I couldn't help but to ask Kale, "What's with this, Kale? Bakit tayo nandito ngayon?"
Inalis niya ang tingin sa menu at inilipat sa akin. He breathed deeply, "I just thought that we never had a proper date. So, I want to take you on one. And I don't want it to be just an ordinary one. That's why I didn't ask you about it. Idagdag pa na natatakot ako na baka umayaw ka."
I frowned at the last thing he said. There was his worry again.
Kale continued, "So, I planned to surprise you. Well, I just hope it was all worth it. I mean, that you're surprised and this night will be special for you."
Ngumiti ako. "I am surprised, no question about that, don't worry. With this being a special night..." huminto ako pansamantala at binigyan siya ng makahulugan na ngiti, "it can be, as long as hindi ka magwo-walk out gaya sa mga nauna mong date dati."
Kale laughed and I know that remembered those dates. Those dates I had set him up. Sino bang mag-aakala na ang dating nagse-set up sa kanya ay ang ka-date niya na ngayon? Sometimes, it was really crazy how things worked.
"Don't worry," sagot niya at saka inabot ang kaliwang kamay ko. "I swear to you that I won't walk out. Mahirap na, baka pag-alis ko, may makahanap agad sa'yong iba. And I will never let that happen, Maika."
My heart swelled from both happiness and giddiness. Kale could really say the nicest words. At hindi pa siya nakuntento sa mga salitang 'yun dahil inilapit niya ang kamay ko sa kanya at saka nilapatan ito ng halik.
At mas lalo pang lumakas ang tibok ng puso ko. Ugh, Kale.
Kale threw me a sweet smile before letting my hand go. Ibinalik na niya ang atensyon sa menung nasa harap niya at ganoon din ang ginawa ko.
The next minutes were spent of us talking as we ate. Mga random things lang. Tapos yung nalalapit na pasukan. Maya-maya pa nang biglang huminto ang background music na puro instrumental at napalitan ng slow love songs.
May ilang matatandang couple ang pumunta sa bakanteng space sa gitna at nag-umpisang magsayaw.
Pinanood ko pa sila nang ilang sandali hanggang sa ibalik ko na ang tingin kay Kale. He was smiling silly as he looked at me. Napataas ako ng kilay. "What?"
He gave me a slow shake of head and moved his gaze away from me. Akala ko ay yun na yun, babalik na siya sa pagkain. Pero, biglang tumayo si Kale at tumapat sa pwesto ko. Pagkatapos ay naglahad siya ng kamay.
I curiously glanced up at him.
That was when he said, "May I have this dance, Maika?"
At pabuka pa lang ako ng bibig nang bigla niyang ihabol ang, "Please?"
So, I had no choice but to nod. Inabot ko ang kamay ni Kale saka niya ako inalalayan papunta sa gitna kung saan nandoon ang ngayo'y dumarami ng mga magkakapareha.
"This is another first for us, huh?" Kale told me as he guided my hands on the top of his shoulders. Nang maayos na ang mga kamay ko doon ay saka niya ipinuwesto ang kamay sa bewang ko. Then we started to sway.
Naalala ko naman ang party ni Carmen. We were both dancing then, just with different partners. Tumango ako kay Kale. "Yeah, our another first."
Nanatili pa kaming ganoon hanggang sa matapos ang tugtog. Akala ko noon babalik na kami sa upuan namin. Ganoon kasi ang ginawa ng iba.
Pero nang nagsimulang tumugtog ang sumunod na kanta, sa halip na ayain ako pabalik sa table namin, marahan akong inilapit ni Kale sa kanya. My face now near his shoulder and his was closed to the side of my face. I could practically feel his gradual breathing on my ear.
Kaya't nang bumulong siya ay dinig na dinig ko iyon. "I love this song."
I smiled at that. I kind of like this song, too. Ang ipinapatugtog ngayon ay ang Stolen ng Dashboard Confessional. The slow version of the song.
I listened to its lyrics and fudge if it didn't strike home. And suddenly, I felt it. It started as a little bubble inside my heart until it got bigger and bigger and bigger. Parang gusto nang sumabog. Maybe, it was because of the atmosphere, plus the music, plus Kale and I's close proximity.
It felt like the words want an escape out.
At hindi nakatulong nang dumating ang pangalawang chorus dahil mas lumapit pa si Kale sa akin, at sa mahinang boses ay sinabayan niya ang kanta, "You have stolen my heart..."
Kale continued it and double fudge if my heart was not beating erratically.
And we stayed that way until he reached the last part. He shifted so that he could look at me as he sang the part, "You are the best one of the best ones. We all look like we feel."
At that moment, I was almost ready to say it. "Kale, I..."
But then he said, "What? So, how was my voice? You should feel grateful you were able to hear it."
And at that I know it was all just a song. Or maybe it was just me. And at that instant, I began to have reservations again, questioning it all. Maybe, Kale did steal my heart.
But to answer if I did able to do that to him? I'm afraid, the answer was no. Or at least, not yet.
#
hey guys! thank you for all you who're still reading this! :) salamat sa support. can't thank you enough.
Maika and Kale's story will end soon, we have like really really few chapters left, so i'm really really hoping you'll stick with me till the end! love you all. xx