Captured Me

48: Boyfriend

It all started with Aling Cora. I should’ve known she’d be the source of all the chaos the moment she stepped into the bakery that morning, armed with her signature knowing grin.

“Uy, Jaz, may bago ka na palang boyfriend!” she announced as she handed over a crumpled bill for her daily pandesal. “Kahit hindi mo kami inimbitahan sa pamamanhikan, okay lang. Naiintindihan namin.”

I froze, nearly dropping the tray of pandesal. “Ha?! Sino pong boyfriend?!”

“E sino pa? Yung gwapo na pabalik-balik dito. Taga-siyudad pero lagi kang tinutulungan magbenta? Si Mark!”

“Si Mark?!” I exclaimed, my voice a mix of shock and disbelief. I stole a glance at Mark, who had just walked into the bakery, looking too at ease for someone being accused of romantic intentions.

Instead of reacting—like denying or even clarifying the situation—Mark just smiled at Aling Cora, calm and collected. “Well, I guess I’m flattered, Aling Cora,” he said casually, shoving his hands into his pockets.

I blinked at him, stunned. “Mark, wag kang ganyan! Hindi ka nakakatulong!”

“Bakit?” He shrugged, his grin widening. “It’s not a bad rumor.”

“Hindi talaga?!” I shot back, my voice nearly a screech.

Aling Cora laughed like this was the best teleserye she’d ever seen. “Napaka-charming mo talaga, iho. Bagay naman kayo ni Jaz. Tama na ang denial!”

Mark chuckled. “Salamat po, Aling Cora. Napaka-supportive niyo.”

I gawked at him. “Mark Adrian, stop encouraging her!”

But instead of taking me seriously, he simply winked at me, which only made me redder in the face.

By lunchtime, the entire barangay had joined the circus. Every customer, from kids buying candy to titos grabbing soft drinks, had something to say about my new boyfriend.

“So, kailan ang kasal?” asked Mang Ben, our suki for soft drinks.

“Uy, Jaz, pakilala mo naman siya formally!” added another tita.

“Grabe ka, Jaz,” my cousin chimed in during lunch. “Sa lahat ng lalaking puwede, ang jackpot mo pa talaga si kuya Mark. Akala ko pang-lifetime lang ang ganyan.”

“Wala akong boyfriend!” I exclaimed for the hundredth time. But my voice was drowned out by laughter and teasing.

Meanwhile, Mark—traitor that he is—just went along with it. “Baka naman ayaw mo lang i-announce, Jaz?” he said with a mock-serious tone.

“Mark Adrian Tan, lumayas ka na!” I snapped, though my cousins were laughing too hard to help me.

The teasing continued into the afternoon. When Aling Cora came back for another round of pandesal, Mark decided to make things worse.

“Aling Cora,” he said, leaning casually on the counter, “ano po ba ang tingin niyo—bagay kami ni Jaz?”

“Bagay na bagay!” Aling Cora declared without missing a beat. “Perfect na perfect! Basta, iho, huwag mo siyang sasaktan ha.”

“Of course, hindi po,” Mark replied, looking too smug for his own good.

I groaned, pressing my forehead to the counter. “Mark, please, tigilan mo na.”

But instead of stopping, he turned to Aling Cora again. “Aling Cora, bukas treat ko na ang buong barangay ng pandesal. Sabihin niyo sa lahat, ha?”

My jaw dropped. “Mark, are you serious?!”

He grinned at me. “Well, I got the money.”

Aling Cora clapped her hands in delight. “Ay, napakabait na bata! Salamat, iho!”

I stared at him, baffled. “Why are you like this?”

He just smiled, leaning closer to me. “Because, Jaz, if they think I’m your boyfriend, might as well act the part.”

I shoved him lightly, but my cheeks were already burning. “Bahala ka na nga, Mark.”

And as I watched him laugh with Aling Cora, I realized there was no winning against Mark Adrian Tan. He wasn’t just charming the town; he was charming me, too.