I called Ahron to explain and she was cool with it. Good thing din na kaibigan pala namin ang kumuha ng picture. Nagulat pala siya sa nakita kaya s-in-end niya ang photo. Thankfully, my bestfriend made things up to clear the issue and the photo was now deleted.
Anyway, we were sure na hindi siya mag-i-ingay about it but we couldn't say the same for the rest na nakakita. So far, wala pa naman kaming nababalitaan na issue anywhere so baka okay naman.
Ahron asked me for details but I told her sa pasukan na lang. Hindi ako makapagkwento dahil baka biglang dumating si Kuya Andrei.
I kinda left them sa raft kasi in the pretense na pagod na ako. They let me. Kuya Andrei let me. Which just fueled my suspicion na baka nakita niya nga ang picture. If he did, he was definitely doing a good job at keeping mum about it.
Kung magtatanong naman siya, I intended to tell the truth. He's reasonable at maiintindihan niya ako for sure. Isa pa, mahuhuli niya rin naman ako. But seeing that he wasn't doing anything, ako rin, walang gagawin. I wouldn't ask kung nakita niya. Mahirap na! Mamaya hindi naman pala.
Nagpapakiramdaman kami ni Kuya hanggang kinabukasan. He kept on glancing my way, observing me. I kept on lifting my brow at him, questioning him. Kunwari 'di ko alam ang mga tingin niya.
Frankly, I didn't like keeping secrets from him—or from any of them. But there was still a tiny part of me that was afraid of what their reaction was going to be. What if they ask me to stop helping at the event?
I didn't want that. Ayokong makaapekto sila sa duties ko as a council member.
The next day, tinodo na namin ang bonding. Nag-fishing kami, snorkeling, at namili ng maraming souvenirs. Now, we were done. Pabalik na kami sa Las Piñas at dito ako sa Aventador ni Kuya Andrei nakasakay. He offered na sumabay ako sa kanya. I thought that was it. Na finally, magtatanong na siya.
But nope, he didn't. Kuya Andrei instead gave me a teasing smile and remained quiet the entire ride back home.
Hindi na ako masyadong nag-isip pa. I was tired and sleepy kaya natulog na lang ako.
***
Monday and Tuesday came and passed without much incident. Puro lectures at dance rehearsals lang. Now, it was the long-awaited Wednesday.
Magkikita na naman kami. Kung alam lang ng Racel na 'to kung paano niya ginugulo ang isip ko. Why was I even allowing him to cloud my mind nga ba? 'Di ko rin alam. Bahala na sila nina Kuya sa issues nila. I wasn't part of it, anyway.
"You'll meet today?" Ahron asked me.
Naglalakad kami sa hallway, palabas na ng building.
"Yeah," sagot ko. "'Di ko nga lang alam how. I wasn't able to get his number."
She lifted a delicate brow. "'Di nakuha o 'di kinuha?" She chuckled. "I'm not surprised. Paano ka ba na-pair up with him?"
Gumagala-gala ang mga mata ko sa paligid. Alisto ako sa mga nakakasalubong namin. Kung talagang may nakakita sa 'min at nag-assume na may something sa 'min ni Racel, dapat may nakukuha na akong weird looks, 'di ba? Or something that would give them off. Pero so far wala naman.
"Dapat si Christelle talaga." Tiningnan ko si Ahron ng ilang segundo. "Nakipagpalit siya, babe."
"Why would he do that?"
I shrugged. "May alam daw siyang venues. 'Di na 'ko umalma — baka sabihin unprofessional pa 'ko. Anyway, did you tell the others?"
She pursed her lips. "No. Mas okay na konti lang tayong nakakaalam."
She was right but I felt absolutely weird about this as if may forbidden relationship kami nitong si Racel when in fact, wala naman. Kung hindi ko lang alam na OA magre-react ang mga kuya ko, hindi ko naman talaga itatago 'to.
"What do you plan to do now?" Ahron asked again.
Nakaalis na kami sa Liberal Arts building. Malapit na kami sa parking lot.
"I dunno. I'll just wing it."
"Sucky plan," she muttered under her breath. "I don't like this. This—all of this spells trouble."
I sighed. "Not like I have any choice. Besides, as long as hindi malalaman nina Kuya, nothing will go wrong."
"Sorry talaga, Jan. This is an honest mistake on my part."
"It's fine. It's not that big of a deal naman talaga."
"How was he around you anyway?"
"Three words." I was making face as I answered. "Cold. Weird. Annoying."
She looked at me in a weird way, urging me to elaborate.
"I dunno, babe. I'm still trying to decode him," sagot ko. "How about you? Kayo ni Justin?"
She groaned. "I blocked him. He's annoying, too."
"I guess it runs in the crowd." Natawa ako at sinundan siya. Huminto kami sa kotse niya. She faced me with an apologetic smile on her face. She was feeling guilty, probably. Gusto niya akong samahan pero ngayon din kasi ang uwi ng ate niya from Canada.
I waved her apology with a laugh. Then I felt a vibration in my bag.
Napakunot ang noo ko nang makita kong unregistered number 'yon.
Unregistered number:
Here.
Napaisip ako kung sino. Could it be Racel? But how?
Me:
Where's here and who's this?
Unregistered number:
Racel G.
I'm here at Starbucks.
I paused, stunned. Mga ilang segundo kong tinitigan yung message. Paano niya nakuha ang number ko. Kay Christelle?
I received another message.
I'll wait for you.
Napakunot ang noo ko sa nabasa ko.
"What's with the face?" tanong ni Ahron, referring to my bewildered expression. "Who's that?"
I removed my gaze from my phone to look at her. "Si Racel," I said in disbelief. "Nasa Starbucks daw."
"Waiting for you?" Her pink lips curved into a smirk. "Not an asshole after all. Go ahead. Mas okay na sumabay ka na lang sa kanya."
A part of me was screaming this was a bad idea. It felt like I was adding fuel to the fire. Yari ako kapag may nakakita ulit sa 'min. But what could I do, really? Paalisin siya? Magsasayang lang kami ng oras kung gano'n.
And to be honest, I felt relieved, in a way, that he came all the way here just to pick me up. Hindi ko na kailangang manghula kung saan kami magkikita. So he was considerate din pala? Or was this him just trying to be civil?
Napaisip tuloy ako sa nangyari noong nakita ko siya sa Centrex. He acted like a prick then. Nainis talaga ako because I hated being ignored like that.
But now that I was thinking about it, I had sudden realizations about him. What if may issues lang siya that day? Bad day or something. I remembered Justin's expression kasi. He seemed surprised din.
Did I judge him wrong? Not to mention there was that moment in Starbucks pa. He was unnerving the whole time with all the blatant staring, but at least he acknowledged me. I could even say we talked like professionals.
Okay, so I wasn't really sure about any of my theories but I'd give him the benefit of the doubt.
At any rate, he deserved as much if he went out of his way just to pick me up. We were going to work together so might as well be civil as early as now. And I meant good civil. No silent treatment and cold shoulders like the last time.
I'd give him a chance, then. Not as the dude that my brother hated but as the university rep that I had to work with. I'd just have to keep what Kuya Paul said in mind and be on my guard. I still had no idea how this guy ticked. Kung player ba siya o what. If so, what type and kind, and not knowing was unsettling me.
I arrived in Starbucks in no time. Palabas siya nang makarating ako and I couldn't help but take in his appearance. Unlike last time, hindi siya naka-uniform. He was wearing a plain black shirt na yumayakap sa lean figure niya all too perfectly. I could see his sculpted arms, telling proof that he was an athlete. May silver chain hanging around his neck.
He finally noticed me. I saw recognition lit through his face. He nodded at me and went over to his car. Napansin kong may hawak siyang paperbag and drink from Starbucks.
I made way to his car—a white and blue BMW. He opened the door for me. With that act alone, naisip kong chivalry wasn't dead yet with this one.
Sumakay na rin siya at pinatunog ang sasakyan. Then, he glanced at me with his hooded, smoky eyes.
"Here," he said, sabay abot ng paper bag and ng frappe.
I was confused. "What's this?"
"I thought you'd be hungry."
I blinked then furrowed my brows in confusion. "How did you know na I haven't eaten yet?"
"You told me your schedule." He shrugged. "Gut feeling, I guess."
I accepted the paper bag and the frappe and mumbled my gratitude. Inside, there was a banoffee pie. The drink was Dark Mocha too. Hoshet. Naalala niya yung in-order ko last time?
I was moved. I really appreciated little gestures like this.
"Thanks," I said, smiling a bit.
His gaze lingered for a full minute. Then he nodded and drove away.
We were quiet in the entire duration of the ride. Hindi naman awkward pero uneasy pa rin ako na kasama ko siya. This was all so wrong.
Who would've thought I'd end up in this situation? With this guy, no less?
Without meaning to, my eyes landed on him.
To be fair, nakaka-starstruck din pala talaga 'tong si Racel. May dating ang mga mata at labi niya. Tapos may earring din siya, sa right ear. Itim 'yon at bilog. Bagay sa kanya.
I didn't realize I had been staring until he darted to me and our gazes connected. I didn't look away kahit na nahiya ako. It would only make me look weirder.
He raised a brow, looking slightly amused. Hindi nagbago ang facial expression niya. Unreadable pa rin but there was that gleam in the eyes that made the difference. I didn't know how that was possible.
Dahil ayokong ako ang mauunang lumingon palayo, I cleared my throat and diverted his attention. "Eyes on the road."
His shoulders moved, an indication that he was chuckling silently.
I leaned back in my seat and pinned my gaze to the front, my cheeks slightly heating up. Para mawala ang hiya ko, I focused on the task at hand.
We have three prospects for the venue. From what I researched, outdoor sites sila na may kasama nang accommodation. Yung una naming pupuntahan, isang activity site along Emilio Aguinaldo highway. Sumunod yung sa Mahogany Avenue. Tapos yung sa Sta. Rita na, along Magallanes drive.
When I got bored of reading the same thing, nagbasa na lang ako ng acads to keep me from falling asleep.
"You're reading?" started the guy beside me. Ang lalim ng boses niya, I noticed, pero hindi yung sobrang lalim. Sakto lang.
Napatingin ako sa kanya, nakaangat ang mga kilay.
His attention was pinned on the road. "Don't read right now. Lalabo ang mata mo."
"Ayos lang naman. Malabo na," was all I said in a casual tone before I went back to reading. Maybe I was kind of being rude but I didn't know how else to respond.
Buti na lang hindi na siya sumagot. After what felt like eternity, nakarating na kami sa Tagaytay. Akala ko dire-diretso na kami pero nabigla ako nang huminto siya sa isang fine-dining restaurant.
"Let's eat first," he declared.
Mag-po-protesta sana ako pero wala akong nagawa nang lumabas na siya. I immediately followed after him.
"Hindi pa naman ako gutom. Can we skip this?" I asked, suddenly hyperaware of the people around us.
He studied me closely, deeply. Parang may binabasa sa mukha ko.
I felt uncomfortable again and fought the urge to look away.
"We'll be quick," sabi niya lang, "I'm hungry and you haven't eaten yet either. I'm not about to let you starve now," he finished in that same quiet tone and walked into the restaurant.
I sighed in frustration.
Wala na. No choice, sinundan ko na lang siya. A few curious people turned when we made our way to a table. Ang iba sa kanila, nagulat pa nang makilala siya. Then they stared at me like they were trying to figure out who I was.
See. This was exactly why I wanted to skip this. May makakakilala sa kanya dito for sure. He's the star player of Centrex. Kilala na yata siya sa buong Luzon, if not the entire Philippines. He was as good as being a celebrity now.
"Here," Racel said when we reached the other end of the restaurant.
Dinala niya ako sa dulo kung saan wala masyadong tao. Hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili ko. I kept on rubbing my neck, a gesture of anxiety for me.
Sana talaga walang makakilala sa 'kin dito.
Racel ordered for us. We didn't bother with the small talk. Kapag tumitingin siya sa 'kin, hindi ko na lang pinapansin. I didn't want him to see how anxious and frustrated I felt about all of this.
Binilisan ko ang pagkain but damn. It was still the longest lunch of my life.
Even more awkward pa kasi ang romantic ng ambiance dito. Aware din ako na pinapanood niya ang bawat kilos ko. Like that one time in Starbucks except ngayon, it was much, much closer and more exclusive.
If this was any normal situation, I'd call him out on it pero wala na ako sa huwisyo. Masyado akong kinakabahan na baka may makakita sa 'min.
Iniisip ko pa lang ang magiging reaksyon ng mga kuya ko, kinikilabutan na ako.
Nakahinga lang siguro ako nang maluwag nang makaalis na kami. I tried paying the guy back for my meal but he rejected it. Nag-thank you na lang ako. Kahit papano, I appreciated what he did pa rin.
I am well aware of that guy pride thing, too. I know some guy's ego is bigger than them and would never let any girl pay for them, so I let it be.
After lunch, we finally reached the first venue on the list. I scanned the place habang siya ang nakikipag-usap sa front desk. I walked around the place and took photos for documentation.
Mm. In fairness. Maganda dito. Malinis. 'Yon nga lang, hindi gano'n kalaki. Pero pwede na. Workable naman.
Parang ilang minuto pa lang ang nagdaan, lumapit na agad si Racel sa 'kin. Hindi ko mabasa ang mukha niya kaya 'di ko masabi kung nakakuha ba siya ng reservation o hindi.
I lifted my brows. "So?"
"They're booked," marahang sabi niya.
"How about sa ibang dates?"
Umiling siya. "They're booked for the entire month and the coming months."
So we had no choice but to go to the next option.
Mukhang function grounds yung sumunod. Pwedeng retreat house, pwede ring team-building site. Mas malaki kumpara sa una naming napuntahan pero tough luck. Booked din sila dahil sa retreats.
Nang papunta na kami sa huli, uneasy na naman ako. A sinking feeling settled in my stomach. What if booked na rin sila? What then?
Hindi ko na muna pinag-aralan yung grounds ng Sta. Rita. Dumiretso na ako sa front desk para mag-inquire kaso masyadong maraming tao. Mga nakapila at mag-che-check-in yata.
Nagkatinginan kami ni Racel.
He shrugged nonchalantly while I sighed. Ilang oras na kaming bumabyahe. It was getting tiring at this point. Lalo na kung maghahanap kami from scratch.
Tumambay na lang muna ako sa may pintuan habang hinihintay namin na maubos ang mga nakapila sa reception.
I was getting bored. Ang tagal, grabe.
Sa sobrang inip ko, nagawa ko nang makipagkwentuhan kay manong guard. Nagtanong-tanong ako tungkol sa lugar. Kung bakit parang patok na patok sa mga tao. Puro teens and families kasi ang mga nandito, pansin ko.
Tahimik lang na nakikinig si Racel. He looked seriously bored out of his mind. Nakasandal lang siya sa glass door, his arms crossed.
Lumayo ako sa kanya para mas lumapit sa guard.
"Ang dami pong tao ngayon. Napupuno po ba 'to?"
"Ganyan talaga dito. Peak season kasi ngayon."
Medyo napatalon ako nang maramdaman ko ang paglapit ni Racel. Our shoulders touched and now, we were standing too close to each other. Damn. I took a step back and pretended he wasn't affecting me.
"What are the facilities po ba sa loob?" he asked.
Manong guard told us may obstacle maze daw sa loob. That got my attention. Gusto kong masubukan 'yon kaya sana may vacant schedule sila.
"Tingin n'yo po makakakuha kami ng reservation?" tanong ko.
"Naku, ma'am. Hindi ko po alam. Pakitanong na lang sa receptionist," he said. Then he raked his eyes over us and gave a wide smile. "Kayo po ba ni sir ang mag-che-check in?"
Uh oh. Parang alam ko na kung ano ang gusto niyang sabihin.
Nahiya ako sa tanong. Mukha ba kaming gano'n? I was barely even looking at the guy. Mabilis na nagpalit ang expression ni Racel. From bored to amused.
Oh. So now he's interested?
"Hindi po. Para sa Youth Camp po namin 'to."
"Ah, gano'n ba?" Nang-aasar na yung ngiti ngayon ni manong. "Pero kayo? Mga bata pa kayo, a. Wag muna kayong magseseryoso masyado."
Namula yata ako. Naramdaman kong uminit nang sobra ang mga pisngi ko. Ramdam ko rin ang paglapat ng tingin sa 'kin ni Racel. Poker face lang siya pero sigurado akong tumatawa siya behind that stoic expression. He was watching for my reaction.
"Uy, hindi po!" paglilinaw ko. "Magka-partner lang po kami sa pag-aasikaso ng event."
"Wag ka na mahiya. Bagay naman kayo, e." Tumawa si manong.
Nagtaas ng kilay si Racel.
Hoshet. Could this get any more embarrassing?
"Hindi po talaga, Kuya."
"Ano lang? Magkaklase lang?"
"Hindi rin po."
Napakamot siya ng ulo, mukhang nalito sa sinabi ko. Dapat mag-e-explain pa ako pero biglang umalis si Racel sa tabi ko. Oh. Wala na palang nakapila sa front desk. I followed him. Nag-inquire kami tungkol sa reservations at rates nila at kung kaya ba nilang i-accommodate ang dami namin.
Halos mapasigaw ako sa frustration nang marinig kong wala rin silang vacant schedule para sa date na gusto namin.
My god. We waited for nothing then!
Nagpaalam na ako kay manong guard na tumatawa pa rin. Hindi pa muna ako pumasok sa kotse dahil nag-iisip ako. What now? This was the last venue we had in mind. Kung dito sa mga ito, puno na, what more pa sa iba? Puro retreats and field trips ang dahilan nila.
Kung wala kaming makukuhang lugar dito, mapipilitan kaming magpalit, either ng location or ng dates. Baka mauwi kami doon sa mga malalayo.
Bumaling ako kay Racel. He was leaning against the door of his car, thinking. His arms were crossed and his eyes were on the ground, unfocused.
And then, he suddenly pulled out his phone and started texting. After a few seconds, may tumawag sa kanya. Lumayo siya sa 'kin para i-take yung call.
Pinanood ko siya habang nakikipag-usap. From time to time, he was sneaking glaces in my direction as if making sure na nando'n pa ako.
From the way he moved, hindi mo iisipin na sikat siya sa Metro Manila. There was no hint of arrogance whatsoever in the way he carried himself. He was aloof but respectful. The commanding presence was there—unmistakable. There was firmness and certainty in his every move, like everything was calculated and well thought-out. But he was so subtle and quiet that he wouldn't strike you out as someone standoffish.
He could be annoying with all the staring, though. Alam ko naman na sinasadya niya 'yon. He was pressing all the buttons to get a reaction. Alam ko kasi napapansin ko na ngumingiti siya kada nagre-react ako. Why, I'd never know though. Mischief? Plain curiosity?
When the call ended, Racel walked back to me.
"Let's go," he told me.
I got confused. "Saan?"
"To Kabangaan."
"Baka puno na rin do'n," I pointed out.
"That wouldn't be a problem," he replied vaguely.
Huh. What did he mean by that? Akala ko magiging tahimik lang ulit kami sa buong byahe. But he surprised me when he suddenly spoke up.
"I know you're concerned about people seeing us together," he began while steering the wheel expertly. "I don't really blame you."
Nakatingin lang ako sa kanya, waiting for what he was about to say. He looked at me for a second, tentative and quick, bago tumingin pabalik sa kalsada. "We don't have to be friends kung naiilang ka," he was saying. "You don't even have to pretend. Let's just get this thing over with and be on our way after." Tumingin ulit siya sa 'kin.
Okay. That was random. But I liked the idea. He couldn't have said it better.
Pero bakit gano'n? Bakit pakiramdam ko, sinasabi niya 'yon mostly for my benefit? Guni-guni ko lang ba 'yon or did I really hear a twinge of empathy sa boses niya?
"My thoughts exactly," sabi ko na lang.
He nodded at me, and that was that.
So napapansin niya palang naiilang talaga ako sa kanya. Good. Hindi siya manhid.
For certain reasons, I liked that.
***
The place he mentioned, The Green Palace, was huge and dazzling. Parang enchanted jungle ang theme ng lugar kasi pagpasok ko pa lang, marami na akong nakikitang log decorations at mga puno. The scent of fresh flowers were also permeating the air, overpowering my senses.
Wow.
May ganito palang lugar sa Tagaytay?
May sumalubong na lalaki sa 'min. Racel gave him a quick nod. Sinundan namin siya papuntang front desk.
Nag-uusap sila habang naglalakad kami. So this was the one he was texting earlier. Yung tumawag sa kanya. Did that mean makakakuha na kami ng reservations?
I hoped so.
"How did you find this place?" I asked him.
"My dad is the co-owner of this place."
Napatigil ako. "Wait, owner? You mean you own a place naman pala pero nagpakahirap pa tayo maghanap ng iba?"
Gods. That meant nagsayang lang pala kami ng oras.
He shrugged his shoulders. "I don't want to depend on my father's connections if I can have my way. But we really have no other choice."
Yung manager na mismo ang nakipag-usap sa kanya sa foyer. I was there but I maintained my distance. This was his turf. Mahirap nang ma-tsismis.
I frowned at myself, realizing what I did the entire day. Para lang pala akong props ngayon. Wala akong naitulong. Baka makisali na lang ako sa ibang pairs. Sa food or giveaways. Tutulong na lang ako nang hindi naman kami mapahiya.
It took a while to complete the booking. Finally, nakita ko nang nakipagkamay si Racel sa manager. Mukhang tapos na sila mag-usap. Tatawagin na sana ako ni Racel nang biglang may sinabi yung lalaking sumundo sa 'min.
"Sir, sino yung kasama mo? Girlfriend mo po?"
Embarrassment immediately surged through me. Here we go again! Kapag ba magkasama, dapat may relasyon na? People these days!
"Yeah," simpleng sagot naman ni Racel.
My eyes widened in shock. Did he just say what I thought he said? What the hell?
Hindi ko alam kung saan ako magre-react. Sa tanong ba o sa sagot. Basta ang alam ko lang, something fluttered wildly inside me.
Nang sa wakas paalis na kami, nginitian ko na lang ang mga tao at mabilis na naglakad palabas.
This guy was making me go nuts! Maayos naman ang usapan namin kanina. Alam niyang naiilang ako sa kanya. Alam niya yung issue niya sa mga kuya ko. So bakit niya pa sinabi 'yon? Here pa of all places?
He said I was his girlfriend.
Was he out of his mind?
Anger was rising in my chest but I tamped it down and mustered the best pokerface I could manage.
He looked so damn innocent right then and there, na parang he didn't do anything wrong just now.
"Are you going to explain to me what you just did?" I asked, my tone sounding a bit clipped.
Hindi siya natinag sa matalim na tingin ko. He stared back at me through his long lashes and hooded eyes, still calm and collected. "It's easier to say that. Kaysa mahabang paliwanagan na naman," sagot niya, sabay kibit-balikat. He said it so casually that it annoyed the hell out of me. Parang wala siyang pakialam sa possible consequences ng ginawa niya.
Of course. He had nothing to lose. I, on the other hand, had my brothers to think of.
Hindi ko na mapigilan. I just had to ask.
"Tapatin mo nga ako. Are you messing with me?"
He raised a brow, parang nagulat nang bahagya. He composed himself. "No," he lazily answered.
Hindi ko na pinahaba ang usapan. I just wanted to go home. Ayoko na rin sumabay sa kanya kaya naglakad na ako palayo. Naiinis ako. He was definitely playing with me. Tama nga si Kuya Paul. He's not someone to trifle with. What's worse, hindi ko siya mabasa at all.
Pinag-isipan ko ang susunod na gagawin ko. Ang alam ko, nasa bahay ngayon si Kuya Andrei. Magpapasundo na lang ako sa SM Dasma.
Narinig ko ang pagsunod niya sa 'kin—and then I felt his hand around my wrist. Nilingon ko agad 'yon kaya mabilis din siyang bumitaw.
"Where are you going?"
"Home," I answered curtly.
A soft frown reached his lips. I noticed the slight twitch of his brows as they furrowed. "The car's in the opposite direction. Where are you going?"
I heard the frustration in his tone. What he said wasn't a question. It was a subtle way of telling me I was close to reaching his limit as well. Well, I expected that.
From the start, I knew that getting along was impossible. Kahit na hindi kami magkakilala personally, we already had a history, kahit pa indirect lang. Hindi biro yung issue sa pagitan nila ng mga kuya ko. And not to point out the obvious, our first and second meeting weren't really the best. They sucked.
Pumikit ako at huminga nang malalim. Trying to collect myself. Then I looked up at him, much controlled and feeling less irked. "Thank you sa pagsundo sa 'kin pero 'di na 'ko sasabay pauwi." He waited for me to elaborate. I let out a long sigh. "Magkikita kami ni Kuya Andrei."
Mukhang nakuha na niya. He's brilliant enough to understand what I was trying to say.
"Where?"
"SM Dasma."
"How are you going to get there?"
"I'll find a way."
Hindi na siya sumagot. He just walked back to his car and got in, pulling out of the curb. Good. So he got the message.
Naglakad na ulit ako. Walang dumadaan na jeep sa lugar na 'to kaya kailangan ko pang sumakay ng tricycle bago makasakay ng jeep. I hadn't really tried commuting like that but there's a first in everything.
As I walked down the street, Racel's car caught up and moved rather slowly beside me. The window slid down.
"Get in," sabi niya, in that deep authoritative voice of his. I admit, he sounded kind of hot when he's worked up like that. But I wasn't going there. This guy was off-limits. Anyone else but this guy.
I stopped and threw him a look. Huminto rin siya sa pag-andar. "Didn't you hear me? I'm meeting my brother."
"I'll take you there," paglinaw niya, "You don't have to worry. Hindi ako magpapakita sa kapatid mo. I'm not stupid and I don't want to start a fight."
"Thanks, but no thanks," I replied. I couldn't risk it. "It's really fine."
"Must you be so difficult?" rinig kong sabi siya sa sarili. He let out a plaintive sigh and ran a hand through his hair. "Don't be so stubborn. Just get in"—his voice rose an octave—"I don't want anyone telling me na iniwanan kita dito."
"No one will know naman so just get a move on," sagot ko. "Tulad nga ng sabi mo, we don't have to pretend we're friends. Hindi kita isusumbong."
He lifted a brow. "I brought you here. That makes you my responsibility. So get in."
We leveled gazes for awhile, testing the air and sizing each other up, neither of us willing to back down. I was getting tired and impatient kaya ako na ang nagbigay.
I sighed sharply. "Fine," sabi ko, sabay pasok na. I crossed my arms and scowled at him. "You win this time."
Umiling lang siya at pinaandar na ulit ang sasakyan. He looked stoic again, as usual, but I could've sworn I saw a quick tug of a smirk flashing across his lips.
I didn't want to admit this kahit sa sarili ko but damn.
That looked seriously hot too.