#ILWTG09 Chapter 09
"We have a quiz on Monday," Yago said.
"I know. Nag-aral na ako."
"Finished digesting?" he prodded.
"Almost done," I replied, and then turned my back on him. "Zip me up?"
Yago zipped up the dress I was wearing. Pablo asked me out. Ilang beses na kaming nagkita, but this was the first time na he asked me out. As in iyong date? Usually kasi sa bar niya lang kaming dalawa. Now, we're having dinner later! I was nervous! Minsan kasi I get tongue tied in front of him. He looked really good. I always made a mental note to check myself whenever I was around him. Mamaya nagddrool na pala ako!
"Do I look okay?" I asked. I twirled in front of him. I felt nervous dahil technically, first date talaga namin 'to ni Pablo. I wanted to look good! "Di naman sobrang igsi ng dress ko? I don't want him to get the wrong impression."
Yago was just staring at me. I awkwardly smiled. The way he's staring... Tsk.
"Where is he taking you?" he asked. Nakaupo siya sa couch ko. He was watching my every move. Wala nga ako sa Pangasinan, but I felt like my Dad's here dahil kay Yago! Sobrang higpit! Sobrang daming tanong! I didn't want to tell him about this dinner kasi alam ko na ganito iyong magiging reaction niya... but for some reason, nagawa niyang makuha iyong sagot sa akin! Minsan, sobrang amazing talaga ng prodding powers ni Yago. He'd make a great litigation lawyer.
"Resto."
"Where?"
I turned around to look at him. I was wearing a black eyelet dress. I pulled my hair up and started to tie it in a bun while maintaining eye contact with him.
"Look, Yago, I appreciate the concern, but I'll be fine... You know Pablo naman, 'di ba? He owns the bar you frequent. I'm sure I'll be okay."
I was holding his stare, but a few moments later, I started to feel uncomfortable because he wasn't breaking the contact. Muli akong tumalikod sa kanya para kumuha ng tubig. But even with my back on him, I could still feel him watching my every move.
"Just tell me the place, Rory."
"Fine. He's taking me to Sofitel."
Agad na nanlaki ang mga mata niya. Bigla kong na-realize kung ano ang naisip niya sa sinabi ko. I felt my whole face turning red all of a sudden.
"Sa Spiral!" I continued, feeling defensive all of a sudden! Palibasa kapag siya ang nagdala sa hotel, automatic na sa hotel room ang diretso!
"Alam ba 'to ng tatay mo?"
Humarap na ako sa kanya. My lips parted. 'Di ko alam kung matatawa ba ako or what!
"Seryoso ka, Yago? Para kang tanga! Ang lapit lang ng Sofitel! And public place naman 'yun," I told him because now, he's seriously overacting! I was dating Pablo. Of course normal lang iyong ganito!
As I waited for his reply, I noticed how he was just staring at me. Pero habang lumilipas ang bawat segundo, mas lalo akong kinakabahan. I wanted him to say something... anything... but the radio silence was making my head hurt.
I couldn't take him being pissed at me.
"Look..." I said as calmly as I could. "I'll text you once we arrive there. I'll be fine, I promise... And if I sense that something is wrong, I'll text you asap."
He still wasn't saying anything, so I sat down beside him and laid my head against his shoulder.
"Hanap ka na kasi ng girlfriend para 'di ako lagi mong nakikita," I gently said. Pansin ko kasi ever since wala ng nilalandi si Yago, ako lang talaga nakikita niya. Bawat galaw ko, pansin niya. Lagi siyang naka-bantay sa akin. Weird nga kasi ang dami namang nagpaparamdam sa kanya. Kahit pumunta lang kami ng grocery, dami ng nakikipag-usap na babae sa kanya, e. It's weird how grocery seems to be a good place to find a date.
But Yago ignored what I said.
"Text me when you're there," he said, then stood up. Muntik na akong mpahiga sa couch dahil bigla siyang umalis! Tignan mo 'yun!
* * *
While waiting for Pablo, nagsulat muna ako ng digests. Nang magtext si Pablo na he's five minutes away, niligpit ko na iyong mga gamit ko. I went next door and knocked on Yago's door.
"What?" he asked when he answered the door.
I was, again, taken aback when he answered the door. He's not wearing a shirt again! Ugh! I knew there's nothing I could say! Sinabihan ko naman siya before na bawal siyang tumambay sa unit ko at maglakad ng topless—na sinunod naman niya. Wala naman akong control sa isusuot niya kapag nasa unit niya siya.
"Uhm... nandyan na si Pablo sa baba."
He nodded, then he told me to wait. Pagbalik niya, he handed over a small paper bag.
"Ano 'to?" I asked while opening it. Nang makita ko ang laman niya, I looked at him. I didn't know how to react! I didn't know whether to be annoyed or to laugh. "Don't tell me you just happen to have a pepper spray lying around?" I asked, my brow arched. "Binili mo pa ba 'to for me?" tukso ko sa kanya.
He clicked his tongue. "Just take care. And text me when you arrive. And text me again when you're home."
Pinisil ko iyong cheeks niya. "Cute mo talaga," I said habang inaalis niya iyong kamay ko sa cheeks niya. "But yes po. I'll text you. Though don't wait up. Baka late na ako maka-uwi."
Mabilis namang kumunot ang noo niya nang marinig iyong late na pag-uwi ko. Mabilis din akong umalis. Alam ko na agad na may sermon na kasunod! I just heard him shouting my name as I got inside the elevator.
* * *
The ride was... okay. Pablo was quiet. Hindi ko alam ang sasabihin ko. I didn't know what to talk about! Lately, my life revolves around law school. I didn't want to bore him with that. But I didn't have anything else! Hindi ako updated sa mga nangyayari outside law school... besides sa pagiging updated ko sa memes courtesy of Yago. That weirdo.
"You're quiet," he said.
I looked at him, feeling in awe at how good he looked. He looked so mature. I didn't know what I was doing here. But I wanted to be here. I liked him. But I just didn't know what to do around him.
"I don't know what to say."
He laughed. His laughter sounded so crisp. "What are you up to lately?" he asked. "Haven't heard from you for a week."
I frowned. "I told you midterms namin, right?"
He nodded. "How was the exam?"
I shrugged. "It was okay..."
He nodded again. Ugh! Ako ba iyong problema? Did I just kill the conversation? But I didn't want to rant to him about law school! Baka kasi hindi niya maintindihan kasi he's not from there. Baka isipin niya na OA ako or what. I didn't want to make a bad impression.
Thankfully, we were ushered. Pag-upo namin, I got my phone. I needed to text Yago. Baka biglang sumulpot dito iyon kapag hindi ako nagtext. Feeling ko talaga sa perspective ni Yago, terorista si Pablo. Sobrang grabe maghinala, e!
"Sorry, had to text someone," I said nang mapansin ko na naka-tingin sa akin si Pablo.
"Let me guess... Yago?"
I awkwardly smiled. "Yeah..." I said, not wanting to talk about him. I had this feeling that they didn't like each other... but more on Yago didn't like Pablo talaga. Okay naman si Pablo before, but lately, feeling ko nagsstart na rin siya umayaw kay Yago. Grabe naman kasi si Yago. He's not even trying to hide his dislike kay Pablo. As in harapan iyong pagpapakita niya.
"You two are really close," he stated. It wasn't a question. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know what to say. It suddenly felt like I was trapped in the middle... between the two of them.
"Yeah..." I simply answered. I wanted to move on from the topic, but it felt like Pablo wanted to dwell on it. "He's my classmate and we're neighbors... So, there's that."
Pablo nodded, and then sported that charming smile. "I see."
"We're just friends," I said. I didn't know why I had to say that!
"I know," he replied.
Later on, Pablo asked me when my vacation's gonna be. I was wondering why he asked me that kasi that's three months away pa... Ayoko kasing magplan for the future. 'Di ako sigurado kung hanggang kailan 'to. I mean, sure, I really liked him, but I wasn't sure if he shared the same feeling. He's older than me, much more experienced. I didn't know what his deal was. And I was afraid to ask.
For the rest of the evening, we talked about random things. I enjoyed it a lot because I could feel that he's trying to engage me to talk. Akala ko kasi talaga mapipilitan na akong magrant about school para lang may masabi ako! Thankfully, we share the same love for traveling. I love traveling alone. Siya rin pala! And it was surprising na sabay kaming pumunta sa Indonesia before, but we never met! What a coincidence!
"Thank you," I said when he pulled over in front of my condo.
He flashed me a smile. Ugh. Ang gwapo! "I hope you enjoyed."
I nodded and smiled. "I did. I hope I didn't bore you?"
He let out a short laugh. "No, never."
Then there was silence. I hated silence.
"Uhm... so, talk to you soon?"
He nodded. Bubuksan ko na sana iyong pinto ng sasakyan nang magulat ako. He called my name, prompting me to turn my head and look at him. Then, he cupped my face. He was staring intently into my eyes... and I just got lost in them. I felt like I was holding my breath as I waited for his lips to touch mine.
And there it was.
Fuck.
God, he's too real.
"Good night, Rory," he whispered against my lips when he finally let go. Pakiramdam ko ay naka-limutan kong huminga. I simply nodded, unable to come up with words. Hanggang sa makababa ako ng sasakyan niya, I still felt like I was in a daze.
I stood there, watching as his car got further and further away.
I didn't know for how long I was standing there. But I started to feel drops of rain on my skin, but for some reason, I could move... until I felt the droplets no longer. I looked up, only to see me under an umbrella.
"Yago," I called, seeing him standing beside me. "Kanina ka pa?"
He nodded, looking at me. Naka-kunot ang noo niya. I was about to ask him what was wrong again when I felt him wiping the side of my lips with his thumb.
"Seriously, Pablo..." he whispered under his breath as his forehead was in full crease. He sounded so pissed.
"Bakit galit ka na naman?"
Instead of answering, he told me, "Hold this." And then handed over the umbrella. I had to raise my hand because he's a lot taller than me. Dalawang kamay na ang gamit niya para punasan ang mukha ko. What was wrong with my face?!
"If he's gonna kiss you, he must fix you," he said, his brows joining the arch protest.
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. I got my phone and stared in horror nang makita ko kung bakit naka-kunot ang noo ni Yago. Kalat-kalat iyong lipstick ko! God!
Agad kong nabitawan ang payong para takpan ang labi ko. Yago laughed and picked the umbrella.
"Ngayon ka pa nahiya?"
"Bakit ka kasi nandito?!"
"You told me you'd text me."
"Kapag nasa condo na ako. Nasa labas pa ako ng building!"
The asshole just shrugged. "I got bored," he said. "And hungry," he continued, showing me the banana he bought from the convenience store.
Hinampas ko siya. "Nakaka-inis ka!"
"So, you two made out?"
Tinakpan ko ang tenga ko. "Shut up!"
"Invest in kiss-proof lipstick, Rory. You're gonna give me nightmares. I don't wanna be informed if you kissed Pablo."
I showed him my middle finger. Nang bumukas ang elevator, I pushed him out. "Take the next one, epal ka!" sigaw ko sa kanya pero tawa lang siya nang tawa. Pagdating ko sa floor namin, I quickly went inside my unit. Narinig ko iyong katok ni Yago pero hindi ko siya pinansin.
The next morning, hapon na ako lumabas. I didn't want to study with Yago dahil alam ko na iinisin niya lang ako! Paglabas ko, I grunted when I saw a paper bag in front of my door.
'Please don't give me nightmares,' was written on the note. And inside the paper bag were different brands of kissproof lipstick of the shade that I usually wear. That fucking Ysmael Agosto!