Eyes On Me, Baby (COMPLETED)

Chapter 36

Chapter 36

Austin Archangel originally said na susunduin niya ako ng 4PM sa bahay, pero 5PM na nang dumating siya. Ayoko ng nale-late. It's a waste of time. But I kept on telling myself that he's busy. Instead, I just opened my script and continued reading and making notes para kapag nag-usap na ulit kami ni George. Para kasi sa susunod na semester pa iyong sa short film, pero marami pang kailangang gawin for pre-production.

"Hi," sabi ni Austin Archangel nang makita ko siya na naka-tayo sa harapan ko. He was wearing a maong pants, white Champion shirt, and white sneakers. "I'm sorry—the meeting ran long."

I nodded as I put my iPad inside my bag. Tumayo na lang ako. Nagsabi siya kina Ate Gina na aalis na kami. Tahimik lang ako na naglalakad hanggang sa makarating kami sa sasakyan niya. I quietly put on my seatbelt.

"Hey..." he said.

Tumingin ako sa kanya. "What?"

"Are you mad?"

"No."

"You're too quiet—the different kind."

"Iba-iba ba iyong pagka-tahimik ko?"

He nodded. "There's the comforting silence... and there's this silence."

"This silence?"

"The scary one."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "How is this scary?" I asked dahil hindi lang naman ako nagsasalita. Kapag tinatawagan niya ako sa FaceTime ay ganito rin naman. I would usually just continue doing what I was doing and he'd do the same. We're just doing our own business habang naka-bukas iyong FaceTime.

"Is this because I'm late? I'm really sorry," he said.

"You could've messaged me."

"What? I definitely texted—" sabi niya at saka kinuha iyong cellphone niya at napaawang ang labi. "Oh. The text did not come through," he continued at saka pina-kita sa akin iyong text na mayroong pulang exclamation point sa gilid.

I looked at him.

"Thank you," I said. Kumunot ang noo niya. "I thought you were just late. I don't like waiting for nothing."

He was looking at me. "I know... I'm sorry. I really thought the message was sent. I'll double check next time," sabi niya sa akin. I nodded. Naka-tingin pa rin siya. "So... you were really mad?"

"No."

"You lie now?"

"I don't lie," I said. "Lying is tedious," I explained. If I lied, I would have to remember every lie I ever told... My brain capacity was not built for that. It's just way easier to tell the truth. "I was not mad... just disappointed."

Tumango si Austin Archangel. "I understand... but I promise it won't happen again," sabi niya bago siya nagsimulang magdrive.

Austin Archangel did not tell me beforehand kung saan kami pupunta. All he told me was to dress comfortably, so I was wearing my usual attire—black leggings and white shirt. Dala ko rin iyong varsity jacket niya, just in case na malamig sa pupuntahan namin.

We pulled over in front of a two-storey building. Austin Archangel unbuckled his seatbelt. I unbuckled mine, too. Lumabas na kami sa sasakyan. I looked around. We're in Quezon City, but I was not too familiar with this place. Kuya Robert's always driving me around, o kung hindi siya ay si Austin Archangel ang kasama ko. I would be lost kung aalis ako mag-isa... but then again, there's the Internet. I would be fine.

"Where are we?" I asked.

"Private theater," he replied. Kumunot ang noo ko. He smiled at me. "Remember back in Zambales? There's a list of movies you want to watch, but we never got the chance to watch them all?"