Eliana
Napangiwi ako at tumango nalang, sumasang-ayon sa gusto niyang mangyari. Nararamdaman ko na rin naman na ang gutom ko dahil hindi ako kumain ng almusal kanina.
“She’ll come,” Alaric confirmed my gesture. “Let’s go.”
"Okay! Tara na!" Tina went to me, clinging to my arm.
Hindi ganoon kalayo ang pinili nilang kainan. It was not more than a five minutes walk from the school. I almost rolled my eyes when I heard they plan to eat sa Jollibee. Hindi naman sa I judge these guys’ choices or anything, it’s just that sometimes it’s not healthy.
I don’t even know what meal to pick right now that isn’t spaghetti and burger kasi ‘yun lang ang gusto ko sa fast food na ‘to. Well, I love beef mushroom or whatever. Just not in the mood to have it.
"Ano sa 'yo?" Tina asked. "'Yun nalang sa'kin." turo niya sa pagkaing iba-iba ang nakalagay.
"I'll just have the usual, I can’t think of anything else right now," I said as I hand her my money. “Hanap nalang ako upuan? Mukhang mauubusan tayo kasi Lunes.”
“Samahan na kita.”
Alaric whispered through my ear which made my brows knit together. Halos mapairap ako nang salubungin niya ang tingin ko kasama ng isang maliit na ngiti.
Hindi ko siya sinagot at iniwan na lang doon. Dinig ko naman ang yapak nito na kalaunang naglaho sa dagat ng tao. I mentally slapped myself thinking about our interrupted moment minutes ago.
This usually happens when that guy does things he usually does but in my eyes, it’s not. Do you get my point? I mean for him those are normal, not for me.
I chose the four-seat table not far from them. Katabi ito ng malaking salamin at malapit sa pinto ng Jollibee. Kita ko ang mga pumapasok at lumalabas.
Napako ang mga tingin ko sa mahabang pila kung nasaan naiwan ang dalawa. Alaric and Tina seems to be arguing on something. Nangunot ang noo ko nang makitang mahinang hinampas ni Tina ang braso nito.
Minsan iniisip ko kung paano kapag hindi kami ilang ni Alaric sa isa’t isa? Hindi man halata sa mga nangyari kanina pero that’s just how we fill in the huge awkward space between us. By teasing and annoying each other. I do want us to get closer and make our relationship deeper.
As I see it right now, we’re not even friends to start with. It’s not even a hate relationship. It’s between casual and awkward which I can’t even explain.
I saw how Alaric laugh at her grumpy face. Nakagat ko ang labi at inalala kung may pagkakataon bang natawa rin sa akin si Alaric sa paraang hindi niya ako inaasar. None, I guess? I can’t even remember how we first met.
Napaayos ako bigla ng tayo nang makitang palapit siya sa gawi ko. His eyes landed on mine, a small smile appeared on his lips.
"What’s yours?" tanong niya pag-upo sa harap ko. “She won’t even tell me, we had a little argument about it.” he jerked his thumb towards Tina’s direction.
“What argument? Anong tinanong mo?” I frowned much in confusion.
Kumamot siya sa kilay niya. His elbow was resting over the table.
“Tinanong ko kasi si Tina kung ano ‘yung inorder mo. You said it’s what you usually get so I want to know, that’s all…”
"I ordered spaghetti with chicken. Tapos may large fries and iced tea 'yung drink. I usually order that because pasta's my favorite." I answered.
Tumango siya ng marahan. Nakatitig lamang ako sa kanyang mga mata, he was doing the same. Kalaunan ay tumango siyang muli at nag-iwas ng tingin.
It was like he just processed something in his head. Nadako naman ang mga tingin ko sa kilay niyang kinamot niya kanina. It was a bit messed up now, the hair was scattered facing different directions.
“Still looks cute…”
“Hmm?”
Napalingon agad siya sa akin.
“You were saying something?” Tanong nito. Umiling lang ako.
Ilang minuto pa ay dumating na si Tina kasama ang iba sa order namin. Agad kong sinilip ang nasa tray at nakitang wala pa 'yung sa'kin. Iced tea lang 'yung meron sa mga inorder ko.
"Hoy! Alaric, how dare you!” She blabbered as she place the meals onto the table from the tray. “Hindi mo man lang ako tinulungan!” Narinig ko naman ang pagtawa ni Alaric.
“You didn’t even answer my question.”
“What does that have to do with you helping me with the food?” Tinulungan ko na siyang ilapag ang mga pagkain.
I was smiling as they argue. Hindi ako nakatingin pero ramdam ko ang pagtataray ni Tina kay Alaric.
“Ano ba! Ang pangit mo umirap!”
Napalingon ako kay Tina nang sabihin niya iyon. Alaric was laughing but my smile faded upon hearing that juicy laugh he did. His eyes landed on mine as his eyes almost shrink.
Awang ang labi ko habang nilalabanan ang tingin nito. He motioned the food on the table as he cleared his throat. His laugh lingers in me even if he already stopped. Tina’s soft giggles can still be heard.
“Kain na, tama na ‘yan.” Tina then said. “It’s not a big deal to me, let’s eat, yay!”
Tinignan ko ang iced tea sa mesa. Wala pa iyong akin. I heard them talking for a while. Habang ako ay tinititigan lamang ang inumin sa harap. Shaking it a little.
"Hindi ka pa kakain? Where's yours, wala pa?" Nag-angat ako ng tingin kay Al na siyang nagtanong.
Tina stopped herself from starting her meal. I press my lips together and shake my head lightly.
Nakita ko naman ang ilang pagkurap ni Alaric kasabay ng pag-igting ng kanyang panga. His tongue played on the insides of his cheeks. Nag-iwas nalang ako ng tingin at humigop sa iced tea ko.
His reaction… I don’t understand, he looked pissed off for some reason but as I replay his face in my mind it doesn’t seem right.
“Wala pa?” Tanong nito muli. May diin na ngayon and bawat salita.
Umiling ako. "Wala pa 'yung akin."
He then roamed his eyes around like he was looking for something. Nanlaki ang mata ko nang tumayo siya at may tinawag na waiter. They were talking for a while until the guy walked to our table as Alaric led the way.
Kinuha naman ni Alaric ang resibo na nakalapag sa lamesa at inabot sa waiter. Seryoso siyang nakikipagusap sa waiter at natauhan lang ako nang banggitin niya ang order ko.
"Yes, that. How long will it take?” he asked, the voice stern and stiff.
The waiter double-checked the receipt. "Pahintay nalang po saglit. Spaghetti with chicken and large fries po, ‘no Ma’am?”
Binalingan ako ni Alaric na nakataas ang kilay sa akin. Nataranta naman ako sa pagsagot, I nodded. “Yes po. Nandito na ‘yung iced tea.”
The waiter nodded and smiled at me. “Saglit lang po ma’am, pahintay nalang po saglit.” he bowed slightly.
I just nodded at him and brought my gaze back to my drink. I played with it, shaking it a little as I watched the ice dance along with the liquid.
Thinking about how Alaric approached a waiter just for a pending meal is too much for me. We can wait for it, darating din naman, ‘diba? He doesn’t have to do that! I’ve never done such a thing before, was it normal?
“Let’s wait. Here you can have my burger for a while. I don’t like it anyway,” I frowned at him, he was handing me the cheeseburger in hand.
“‘Yan muna, Eliana. Habang hinihintay mo. Parang medyo matatagalan ang daming estudyante…” Tina whispered.
Tinitigan ko lang ang inaabot ni Alaric sa akin. This is too much. I tried recalling a moment that has the same scene as this one. But he never offered food to me before.
He was just casual and won’t even bother to land an eye on me before, one reason I had a crush on him for weeks which faded due to the same reason. Nagustuhan ko siya kasi alam kong mahirap niya akong magustuhan pero I uncrush him kasi alam kong mahirap niya nga akong magustuhan.
“Eat… Come on…” inilapag niya ito sa tabi ng inumin ko. “I can hear your tummy growling from here.” he chuckled.
“Hoy! Hindi ah!” Galit ko siyang tinignan. Kunot ang aking noo.
Sinuklian niya lang ako ng mahinang tawa at marahang pag-iling.