Before I go outside, ginawa ko muna ang morning routines ko. Dali dali akong nag-toothbrush at nag-mouth wash. Mahirap na, baka may bad breath pa ako.
Paulit ulit rin akong naghilamos, ngunit kahit anong gawin ko ay mugto pa rin ang aking mga mata. Kanina pa akong naiinis, halos mamula na rin ito kakakuskos, hanggang sa nagsawa na ako. Bakit ba kasi may pag-iyak iyak ka pang nalalaman kagabi, Eunice. Tsh!
I wear my simple red dress matched with my step in and oh--- I wore shades too.
Saglit pa akong umikot sa circular mirror saka tuluyang lumabas.
“I can't believe this, someone prepared half in hours just to see me. How sweet, hasn't it?” I slowly took a sideward glance at him as I closed the gate. He is wearing a suit, prenteng prente siyang nakasandal sa kaniyang Black Ferrari car and he's eyes glued into his phone. Ni hindi man lang siya nag-abalang tumingin sa gawi ko.
Mabuti at may isa pa siyang phone dahil sa pagkakaalam ko ay-- wait.
“T-thirty minutes?” stutter, I asked. Umabot na pala ako ng kalahating oras sa pag-aayos?
“Yeah,” ibinulsa niya ang kaniyang phone and this time tumingin na siya sa akin, “Pfft,” he laughed softly as he saw me wearing shades.
My brows furrowed. Ano bang nakakatawa?
“Masyado bang nakakasilaw ang kagwapuhan ko, kaya naisipan mong magsuot ng shades?” muntikan na akong mabulunan sa sarili kong laway. Hindi rin pala 'to mayabang, dahil dinaig niya pa ang bagyong Yolanda sa kahanginan.
Napansin ko ang paglapit niya kaya napaurong ako. Papalapit ng papalapit ang mga yabag niya, pabilis rin ng pabilis ang tibok ng puso ko.
I look at the other direction, dahil kahit may harang ang mata ko ay tumatagos pa rin ang mga titig niya.
Umurong ako ng umurong hanggang sa mapasandal na ako sa gate.
Those stare's... I feel like I'm an ice that ready to melt anytime.
Ilang beses akong napalunok ng laway bago magsalita. I no longer retard our staring contest. “A-ano palang g-ginagawa mo r-rito?” I asked out of nowhere, saka ko lang narealize ang sinabi ko ng tumaas ang isang kilay niya. Just fuck, Eunice. Where those words came? Isn't obvious? He's here it is because of his blazer. Gosh! Can I edit out that part? Or can I time travel back to ten seconds ago?
Argh! Kung nakamamatay lang ang mga titig niya malamang nakalibing na ako.
“Just so you know, I'm here to get my blazer, idiot,” he clicked his tongue then smirk. Why the hell is he keep's calling me that? Kahapon twerp ngayon idiot? Tell me, do I look idiot when I'm with him? Tsh! Come to think of it, Eunice. Sasabihan ka ba ng ganon kung hindi?
“W-wait me here... K-kukunin ko l-lang,” I uttered, avoiding his gaze. And wait--- bakit ba ako nauutal? Heck, umayos ka nga, Eunice!
Hindi ko na hinintay ang sagot niya, dali dali akong pumasok sa loob, then I grabbed his blazer. Halos magkandarapa pa ako sa pagtakbo, dahil baka ino-orasan na naman niya ako.
Woo! I took a deep sighed before I open the gate. Just give it back to him then leave, Eunice. As simple as that.
Pinagpagan ko pa ito bago iabot sa kaniya.
“T-thank y-you pala,” here I go again. I can't control my tongue, it keeps stuttered. Mabuti na lang at hindi niya binibigyang pansin ang pagsasalita ko.
Maglalakad na sana ako papasok ng mapahinto ako sa itinuran niya.
“Did'nt I tell you that you should clean it before handed it to me?” inayos ko ang bridge ng shades ko at hinintay ang sunod niyang sasabihin. “Take a look this once, it has a stain of your fucking blood! How irresponsible, Eunice Saavedra,” I slowly shot a further glance at him. He is shaking his head while clicking his tongue.
How did he knew my name? Argh, maybe Neoma mention it to him.
Marahan akong napapikit ng maalala ang sinabi niya. Ano na namang katangahan 'to, Eunice? Dahil kulay itim ang blazer na 'yon ay hindi ko kaagad napansin na may bahid pala ng dugo. Argh! Stupid, Eunice, stupid!! Parang gusto ko ng sabunutan ang sarili ko, for the nth time, napahiya na naman ako.
“S-sorry, h-hindi ko agad n-napansin,” my voice are trembling as I fixed the bridge of my shades, again. Kailan ba ako magiging komportable sa harap niya? Hindi naman ako ganito sa ibang tao, but when it comes to him... Argh! I don't know why, tumitiklop 'yung tapang at taray ko.
“Nah, it's okay,” he said while removing his things inside of that blazer. Nakahinga naman ako ng maluwag.
“L-lalabhan ko na lang, p-para m-makabawi ako s-sayo,” those words sally on my mouth. Gosh! What was in the world am I saying? Ni hindi nga ako marunong maglaba.
Kunot noo niya akong sinipat mula ulo hanggang paa. Base on his gestures, he probably won't believe from what I've said. “No need, I can buy a new one, idiot,” he spoke coldly. Again, his words sent shivers down my spine, parang nakikipag usap ka sa Presidente ng Pilipinas kapag nagiging cold ang boses niya.
“And wait, do I heard it right. Gusto mong makabawi?” he asked, I nodded. “Instead of washing this blazer of mine-- with stains of your damn blood-- date me,” my eyes quickly widened. I didn't expect that he will offer me a date. Besides we didn't knew each other, either.
“B-but--”
‘An empty street,
An empty house,
A hole inside my heart. I'm all alone, the room are getting smaller~~’
Naputol ang sasabihin ko ng mag ring ang phone niya. Gusto ko tuloy matawa sa ringtone niya. Akalain mo sa hangin niyang 'yon, fan pala siya ng bandang Westlife?
“Yeah? Yeah, yeah, yeah right,” napatingin siya sa gawi ko. Nagulat ako ng bigla niyang ibato sa akin ang kaniyang blazer. “Yeah. I'll be there in just twenty three minutes,” 'yung huling walo na salita lang ang naintindihan ko sa pag-uusap nila dahil puro 'yeah' na ang ilan.
“I'll now go ahead,” he turn off his phone then open the door of his car. Ang buong akala ko ay sasakay na siya pero tumingin muna siya sa direksyon ko. “Get prepared for our date, idiot. I'll fetch you later, around ten thirty in this morning,” he then winked at me.
I watched him to get up on his car until he vanished on my sight.
Phew! Nakahinga ako ng maluwag saka tinanggal ang shades ko.
This is the first time na may lalaking nag alok sa akin ng date.
Date, date, date. Hmm, what was popped in his mind at naisipan niyang makipag date?