EHLEIN POV'S
Sa sobrang gulat ko sa ginawa nya ay agad akong napatayo mula sa aking pagkaka-upo.
"Sorry, I remember I still have something to do. Patty we need to go", kinakabahang wika ko saka kinuha ang aking tray at mabilis na lumakad paalis.
Hindi pa ako tuluyang nakakalayo when I felt a hand gripping my left arm.
"We need to talk".
"Sorry, I'm busy".
"Like hell you are. You're just avoiding me aren't you?".
"Paki mo ba? Sino ka ba para pansinin ko?", iritang wika ko saka pilit na binawi ang braso ko mula sa kanyang pagkakahawak.
Unfortunately, he isn't letting go and he even gripped my arm tightly.
"Ano ba? nasasaktan ako!".
"See me at the center stage at 5. Don't even try to defy me or else I'll show up at your apartment. Got that?".
"What?".
Hindi na sya muli pang nagsalita. Binitawan na nya ang braso ko saka sya lumakad paalis.
Nakapako parin and paningin ko sa kanila nang lapitan ako ni Patty.
"Ehlein, what does this guy named 'Hessiah' want this time?".
"Maybe he wanted to confront me for returning the necklace that he gave me".
"Tinanggap mo na lang kasi sana. I guess that guy wouldn't stop unless you accept it".
Napatingin ako kay Patty.
"I'm not accepting anything from that rude guy, Patty. Ayokong magkaroon ng alinmang koneksyon sa lalakin 'yun".
"So, anong gagawin mo ngayon? If hindi ka pupunta sa usapan nyo, siguradong pupuntahan ka talaga non sa apartment mo. Teka, pano nga pala nya nalaman kung saan ka nakatira?".
"He probably ask someone".
"So what now. You know you can't hide from him forever".
"Can I stay at your place tonight?".
"Sigurado ka bang ayaw mo talaga syang makaharap mamaya? Mas mabuti sigurong kausapin mo na lamang sya at personal na tanggihan ang binibigay nya".
"I don't want to see him", I said flatly.
"You sure hate him, huh?".
"I do".
"Okay then, sa bahay kana matulog".
I move close to her and lean my head on her shoulder.
"Thanks", I mutter.

She lightly pat my head.
"Basta ikaw".
Our class that day ended at around 4:10pm kaya saglit muna akong dumaan sa aking apartment upang kumuha ng iilang gamit. After about 5 minutes of travel, we finally reached Patty's house. Where still at the gate when Patty suddenly spoke.
"Ang aga mo ngayon kuya ah?".
I immediately looked back and saw a tall man behind me. Tumingin din ito saken then gave me a slight smile.
"Who's this?", tanong ng kuya ni Patty sabay patong ng kamay nito sa aking ulo.
"Ah, si Ehlein nga pala kuya, classmate slash bestfriend ko. Dito muna sya tutuloy ngayong gabi".
He's hand was still on my head when he unexpectedly lowered his head and look at me closely.
"Hi there, cute face. Wanna go on a date with me?".
"Huh?".
"Kuya, pwede ba tintatakot mo 'yung tao eh".
Bahagyang natawa ang kanyang kuya. Bumitaw na ito mula sa pagkakahawak sa aking ulo saka naglakad sa direksyon ni Patty.
"Relax you big baby. I'm just joking", wika nito saka ginulo ang buhok ni Patty.
"Do that again and I'm gonna punch you".
Ngumisi lang ang kuya nito saka sya nito nilampasan upang pumasok na sa loob. Right after makapasok ng kanyang kuya ay humarap si Patty saken.
"Si kuya Samuel nga pala".
"He's kinda tall. Is he a Varsity player?", hindi ko maiwasang komento.
"Dati oo. Sa ngayon naka-focus muna sya sa studies nya. Being a 4th year college student is a tough year you know".
So he was just 2 years ahead of us.
"Patricia!!!", rinig naming sigaw ng kanyang kuya.
We immediately went inside and saw her brother standing infront of the door.
"Ba't ka ba sumisigaw?".
"The doors locked. I don't have any spare key with me".
"Umalis ba sina mama?", tanong ni Patty sa kuya nito saka lumapit sa pintuan upang buksan ito.
"I got a text from them na pupunta muna sila kina lola. They'll probably be home at 10".
"Okay. So sinong magluluto ngayon? You know that I sucks when it comes to cooking".
"Fine, I'll do it. But you do the dishes".
"Deal".
Tumingin naman si Samuel saken.
"What would you like to eat?".
"Huh? ahm...anything would be fine", sagot ko.
"Mahilig sya sa mga shrimp dishes, kuya", sabad ni Patty.
Agad naman akong napatingin kay Patty. Ngumisi lamang sya saken bago ako hinila papasok ng bahay. It was almost 7 pm nang tawagin kami ni Samuel upang maghapunan. Sobrang nabusog ako lalo pa at sobrang sarap ng pagkain. He's cooking skill was superb and it really got my taste.
I helped Patty with the dishes and soon after that ay natulog na kami. We still have classes tomorrow and as of me, kailangan ko pa gumising ng maaga upang agad na maka-uwi ng apartment.
"Ano 'yan, Ehlein?", bungad ni Patty saakin pagkapasok ko sa classroom.
"It's a disguise".
She probably wasn't expecting to see me wearing a wig and a nerdy glasses. And it's also a surprised that she immediately recognized me.
"Well, technically it suits you. But for some reason, para ka ring weirdo sa suot mo".
She literally complimented and insulted me at the same time.
"Will it work? I mean this disguise?", tanong ko.
"Siguro. Mukha ka nang ibang tao".
"Here", sabi ko sabay abot sa kanya ng isang wig at glasses, "You need to wear a disguise too".
She just gave me a blank expression.
"Hindi ko susuotin 'yan", aniya bago tumalikod at naglakad patungo sa upuan namin.
Matapos ang ilang minutong negosasyon ay napapayag ko rin si Patty na magsuot ng disguise. However, she just wore the glasses and refuse to wear the wig. Mabuti narin 'yun keysa sa wala.
A week passes and that rude guy doesn't seem to recognize me or Patty dahil ni minsan ay hindi na namin ito nakita pa. With the kind of attitude he has I'm sure sumuko na ito at naisipan na lamang na pabayaan ako. I was starting to feel at ease until one day...