"Shuta ka, may paiyak-iyak ka pang nalalaman, mahuhulog ka rin naman pala," Clyde made a disgusted face.
"Aba! Siya sisihin mo," sagot ko bago uminom ng milktea.
"Pero.. sa tingin ko naman, mahal ka no'n," tumingin siya sa labas. "Siguro," dagdag niya.
"Ba't siguro pa?" angal ko at umakmang babatuhin ko siya ng unan na nasa gilid ko. Nakakagago talaga kausap.
"Hindi naman ako ikaw para sagutin 'yon. Bobo ka ba? Bakit? Nakahalikan ko na ba 'yon?!" tuloy-tuloy niyang sabi. Tinuloy ko naman ang pagbato sa kan'ya ng unan.
"Ang ingay mo," pinanlakihan ko siya ng mata at tinignan ng masama habang nakatungkod ang dalawa kong braso sa lamesa.
"Kabanas ka girl," tinawanan niya lang naman ako.
I rolled my eyes and looked outside. I was shocked when I saw Eric on the other side of the road. He was standing seriously glaring at me; both of his hands were in the pocket of his hoodie.
I felt my heart pumping and I swallowed hard. Tumingin ako kay Clyde na seryosong gumagamit ng phone.
"Clyde," I reached for his hand through the table.
"Oh?" he looked up and I shifted my sight outside again. My brows furrowed when Eric was already walking away.
"S-Si Eric nakita ko," I don't know why I suddenly felt uncomfortable, the way he looked at me.
"Saan?" he looked outside.
"Wala, umalis na," I leaned on my chair as my heart was pounding so fast. I held my chest and I carressed it to calm myself.
Kunot-noo naman akong tinignan ni Clyde. "Okay lang 'yan, baliw ka," he tried to comfort me.
Tumunog ang cellphone kong nasa bag kaya kinuha ko agad ito. I inhaled large amount of air. It was Greg and I answered his call immediately.
[Ms. Scarlet]
"Yes?" I asked.
[Would you mind checking an offer from a well-known streetwear brand?]
"Yeah sure, I'm outside," sagot ko.
[Okay, let's meet in the café near my studio]
I agreed and hang up the call. Nang matapos kaming mag-catch up ni Clyde ay lumabas na rin kami ng sabay sa milktea shop.
"Hala, ate Scarlet!" lumingon ako sa apat na mga batang babae. Sa tingin ko ay nasa high school palang sila.
"Hay nako," agad na sabi ni Clyde at huminto rin. Alam niyang matatagalan na naman kami rito.
"Hello," I waved a hand and put my glasses on top of my head.
"A-Ate pa-autograph naman po oh," sabi ng isa at sunod-sunod silang naglabas ng papel.
"Oo naman, amin na," I laid a hand to get their notebook and pens.
"Ate, grabe ang ganda niyo po. Tapos ang bait niyo pa. Tapos sobrang gwapo pa ng asawa. Grabe ate, ang perfect niyo po. Sana all talaga," pambobola ng isa. Natawa naman ako.
I held another pen and paper to sign it, I was smiling. "There's no perfect, though. You just have to be yourself," nagsalita ako habang nagsusulat sa papel.
"Yes po ate Scarlet," sabi ng isa. Tinignan ko ulit sila; lahat sila ay nakangiti habang hawak ang mga nasulatan kong papel.
"Tatandaan ko po mukha ng PA niyo para madali ko po kayong mahanap," biglang sabi ng isa. She giggled.
Nagulat ako at agad tumawang lumingon kay Clyde. "E-Excuse me? I'm her friend," pangtataray niya.
Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mata at bahagyang tinapik sa kamay. Tinatakot pa ang bata.
"Ay, sorry po," sagot naman nito at kinagat ang pang-ibabang labi.
"Thank you po!" sambit nilang lahat. I opened my arms to hug them. They all look cute.
Nakahinga naman ng maluwag si Clyde na naghihintay lang sa gilid. I put my sunglasses back and we parted ways when we went to our car. I was playing music from my phone when it turned off. I muttered a curse when I realized that I needed to charge it. I gripped on the steering wheel because I didn't brought my damn powerbank.
"Hi," Greg stood up from her chair to greet me.
"Hello," I smiled and sat beside him. There was a laptop placed in front.
"So, here's the brand and look at their shirt," he started scrolling down on the pictures. "It's aesthetic," he added.
I nodded while pursing my lips. "Oh, that was good," I pointed at the screen when I saw a great design.
"Yeah," Greg nodded by what I said. He continued scrolling. "This will launch next week and they wanted you to model it," he said.
Ngumuso ako at nag-iisip ng desisyon. "Okay, I accept it," sambit ko.
"Good, so I'll text you the details for meeting. Maybe it's just in one day and then proceed agad sa photoshoot," he informed me.
I nodded and we talked about other stuff after that. I am now driving back home. Bumaba na ako pagkatapos kong mai-park ang kotse. I was startled by a loud horn. I held my chest and looked at the car of Travis. Kumunot ang noo ko at pinanuod siyang mag-park hanggang sa bumaba na siya.
"Henlo," I greeted when he went near me. He looked emotionless like what the hell.
Dinaanan niya lang ako kaya napanguso naman ako. Tumakbo ako para makasabayan ko siya saka humawak sa braso niya.
"Hey," I smiled and tried moving it but he still remained cold.
"Uy?" kunot-noo kong tanong nang makapasok na kami sa bahay.
Binitawan ko na siya at padabog na umupo sa sofa. I crossed my arms with furrowed brows watching him walk to the kitchen. I rolled my eyes before I sighed.
Naglakad na siya pataas kaya sinundan ko na ulit siya. I bit the inside of my cheek before I followed him inside his room. Nilapag ko muna ang purse ko sa TV cabinet. Hinawakan ko ulit ang braso niya nang pumasok siya sa walk-in closet.
"Huy," I called him, pouting. Nakahalukipkip ako sa braso niya habang tinitignan siya.
His other hand started to loose his necktie. I could see his veins from his hand. I did a puppy eyes and pouted again.
Ginulo-gulo ko ang braso niya dahil hindi parin siya tumitingin sa'kin. "Uy, what is your problem?" I asked in a shrill voice.
He sighed. "Check your phone," he now looked at me.
"My phone's off," he raised a brow by what I said.
"Who said that you should turn off your phone while meeting somebody, huh?" inalis niya ang kamay kong nakahawak.
"Low battery phone ko," agad kong sabi.
His eyes widened a little and it then filled humor. "Oh shit, sorry," he chuckled and tried to hug me but I stepped backward.
I hissed and looked at him coldly. He just laughed and catched me. Nakatayo lang ako nang yakapin niya ako. "Inaaway mo 'ko," I pouted.
"Sorry na baby ko," he kissed the top of my head and hugged me again.
I hissed to stifle my smile. Tinulak ko siya ng mahina para makaalis sa yakap niya.
"Pa'no ulet?" I raised a brow.
"Sorry na baby ko," ulit niya.
I laughed. "Uto-uto amputa."
He rolled his eyes on me and we both laughed.
"You wanna go to La Union?" he held my hand and sat on his bed. I could see his chest from his unbottuned polo.
"What are we going to do there?" I asked.
Nagulat ako nang hinila niya pa ako kaya naman napakandong ako sa kaniya. His arms were now encircling my waist.
"Roam around? I want to see the beach," he smiled and his adam's apple portruded.
"Uhuh, pwede," I said after thinking. I don't have any important schedule for tomorrow.
After packing enough clothes, we let Jen and Maya know that we're leaving. We're now on our way to La Union and the sun is already setting.
I took a video of the view that is seen on my window and I shifted the camera to Travis. His one hand is placed on the steering wheel while the other was holding mine. He smiled and looked at me. Tinaas niya ang magkahawak naming kamay at hinalikan 'yon. His brows went up and down after that hence I laughed on the last part.
"Yay," I said when he parked his car.
We booked a hotel that has bar infront of the beach. Nagparoom-service nalang kami para sa dinner. We're now walking to the beach even it's night already.
"Hey, look at the moon! It's beautiful," sambit ko habang nakahawak sa kaniya. Hinahangin din ang buhok ko.
"Yes, just like you baby," he smiled while looking at me.
We sat on a chair and I think this is intended for couples. There were light bulbs in different colors too.
"How was your life in Canada like, you're not with your parents right?" I started.
"Yeah, I admit it was hard but eventually I got used to it. I've learned how to live by myself," he shrugged.
"Aw," both of my hands were now holding his right hand.
"I really thought tito and tita Evelyn don't have a child," I chuckled.
He sighed. "It's the car accident that traumatized you," I stopped with what he just said.
"W-what?" I stuttered.
"Yes, baby. Don't get mad, please? Tita said that I should open about that thing to you," he said before holding my hand tight. He swallowed hard.
"You conviced yourself that you're not with your dad in the incident. You got
traumatized and then after weeks, you don't remember anything anymore. We met when you were 6, Scarlet," I scoffed as tears left my eyes.
"Shh," he carressed my back.
"What was that for?" I wiped my tears. "So alam niyo lahat ang tungkol doon?"
"Yes," he said softly. Niyakap niya ako kaya napasandal ako sa dibdib niya.
I sniffed. "So why did we get married? Huh?" I asked in a broken voice.
"Scarlet.. I will never forget that day we promised to marry when we get old," he answered. "We quickly had a crush on each other when we've met," he chuckled.
I hissed before I sadly smiled although I can't remember everything. "Totoo?" tanong ko.
"Yes. Did you know, when I saw you, you were eating ice cream and you really look goddamn cute. And then, you were running because of excitement but you're ice cream fell on the floor so you suddenly cried," he laughed.
"Such a baby Scarlet," he chuckled. "At that time, I hurriedly bought a new ice cream for you. You stopped crying and smiled to what was I holding before you took it," I could hear him smiling.
"We sat on the grass and I was
watching you eating. 'You, I want to marry you' you said out of nowhere and I was surprised," he laughed.
"What the heck? Sinabi ko 'yon?!" tinignan ko siya sa gulat. Tumango ito habang nakangiti.
"Did you know what I replied?" tanong niya. Umiling lang ako habang nakasandal sa kaniya.
"I said, 'No, we're too young for that' Then, you looked at me like you're ready to swallow me," he laughed hard and I found myself laughing too.
"You disagreed, 'Marry me please?' I could still imagine how you looked cute giving me your hand."
"Then I said, 'I may not marry you now but I will find a way when we get older' and I'm thankful Scarlet because you're now right next to me," he kissed the top of my head.
"But even if that didn't happen, if we met in a different way, I could still see myself.. loving you," he added.
xoxo