Chapter 11
(He's not my boyfriend)
"Saan mo gustong kumain?" tanong ni Ken.
"Kahit saan.. pero I want Italian food right now." sagot ko.
"Italian food it is." nakangiting sagot niya. Tapos ay lumakad na kami.
"How's college? Wala na akong balita sayo.. you don't update much on facebook. At kung maguupdate ka man, they're more of pictures." tanong niya pagkatapos naming mag-order at hinihintay ang pagkain.
"Well, I'm a girl." nagkibit balikat ako. Girls love taking pictures. "College is okay. Ang hirap at hindi kagaya noong highschool na medyo chill lang." dugtong ko. "How about you? I heard marami ulit ang nagkakagusto sayo. I know because my cousin studies in your school."
"No.." tumawa siya nang mahina. "I don't want to be humble but I don't think that's true." nakangiting dugtong niya.
"Well, my cousin said so. And I have no doubt that many girls admire you."
"Well, okay, if you insist." nakangiting sagot niya. "How about you? Hindi ka pa rin ba nag-eentertain ng manliligaw?" tanong niya. Bigla siyang tumawa ng mahina. "Do you still remember Bart?" tanong niya.
"Oh, that guy." natatawang sagot ko nang maalala yung lalaking yun. May restaurant sila at dinadalhan ako noon palagi ng lunch. Not that he wasn't handsome, in fact, he's cute. But he was known as "Mr. Cold Geek" kasi isang beses, emcee siya sa isang event sa school and then he had a cold and it went too far. I don't wanna tell what happened next. And he hangs out with the other boys who does nothing but play yu gi oh cards (not that it's a bad thing) but to the point that everything he talks about is comics and he thinks he's one of the characters of that anime and it is already out of the line. He's already 15 that time, for Pete's sake!
"I thought he would never stop following you. I mean, lagi siyang nakasunod sayo at sa mga kaibigan mo tuwing recess at lunch time." natatawang sabi ni Ken. Natawa din ako sa alaalang yun. Oh, Bart..
"Yeah, lumayo na rin siya simula nang makilala niya si Massell, na naglalaro rin ng Yu Gi Oh Cards." sabay kaming napatawa.
"How about Anton?" tanong ulit ni Ken. Si Anton, yung manliligaw ko noon. Scholar siya sa school because he was really intelligent at nagkaron ng magandang reputasyon ang school dahil sa kanya. Pero sa school, hindi maganda ang reputation niya. May nahalikan siyang bakla noong fieldtrip namin, yung nanligaw rati kay Ken na bading. Inaantok siya nun then one of our gay classmates leaned in. Sabi niya, akala raw niya ako yun kasi the last time he opened his eyes, ako yung katabi niya. Kasi nasa gitna siya nun at nakipagpalit ako sa kaklase naming gay dahil katabi niya yung kaibigan ko. And then when we came back to our seats, it happened. Talking about laughing hard.. lol
"Kamusta na kaya yun?" natatawang tanong ko.
"I don't know but I guess he has a beautiful reputation now that he's in college." sabi niya. "Hmmm.. wala na akong ibang maalalang weird suitors mo. The rest were fine, bakit hindi mo sinagot kahit isa sa kanila?" dugtong niya.
"Wala pa sa isip ko yun, at hindi naman sobrang dami ng nanligaw sa akin, I think they were five, kasama na dun si Anton at Bart.. plus, I have kuya's."
"Ah.. oo nga, no?" sagot niya.
Then dumating na yung pagkain namin. Pagkatapos ay siya na ang nagbayad ng bills. Sabi niya, siya naman ang lalaki. Naglakadlakad pa kami sa mall ng medyo matagal then he brought me home. It was fun being with him and I enjoyed his company. Hindi naman kami gaanong close nung highschool, minsan naguusap kapag may group projects or nagkakasama sa mga gala pero hindi kami ganito noon.
"Thanks for the treat." sabi ko pagkababa ko ng sasakyan.
"No biggies. Thanks for accompanying me for the day. I had fun." sabi niya. I smiled. Hindi muna siya umalis at hinintay niya akong makapasok ng gate bago sila umalis. It was already 4PM. What a gentleman.
At papasok palang ako ng front door, may epal nang humarang, nakahalukipkip pa. Hindi ko siya pinansin at nagpatuloy ako sa loob, pero humarang pa rin siya.
"What do you want?" mataray na tanong ko.
"Where have you been?" tanong niya sa tanong ko.
"It's none of your business." sabi ko. Bigla niyang kinuha yung phone niya at may dinial. Pinakita niya sa akin na tinatawagan niya si kuya. Cinancel ko. "What is wrong with you?" tanong ko ulit. Tumawa lang siya nang mapakla. "Okay. I went to the mall.. if that makes you happy. Now if you'll excuse me, I am worn out." sabi ko at lalakad na sana ako ulit papasok sa loob pero humarang siya ulit.
"Who were you with?" tanong niya. Seryoso yung mukha niya at walang kangiti ngiti. "Don't you know that your kuya is coming home from Zambales tomorrow morning?" dugtong niya.
"It's none of your business.. and of course I know they're coming home tomorrow."
"Why aren't you preparing?"
"Bakit? Kailangan ko bang magpawelcome party?" mataray kong tanong.
"Pwede rin." tapos nagkibit balikat siya. Argh! Nakakainis talaga tong lalaking to.