"Oy, wala nang magrereklamo ba't magkakapareho ha? Hirap hirap mamili ng pasalubong."
Our office seems like tyange as Windee shows all her pasalubong to our co workers. Out na dapat kaming lahat ngayon but anyone stays para sa pamigay ni mayora na iba't- ibang delicacies ng Batanes.
I sat on my table and just laughed on how funny they all looked like. My phone beeped and it shows unregistered number.
:What time will you be home?
My first thought was my mom. Siya lang naman ang palaging nagtatanong kung kailan ako uuwe sa bahay. But, it seems strange without the word 'sweety' and did she just changed her digits?
: - it's Superman.
I suddenly bite my inner cheek. It's just Adam, Kiena.
:Hey superman, we're about to.
I tried to pay my attention to my office mates, when my phone beeped again.
Adam: Alright, anything have on mind for dinner?
He sounds like someone who is patiently waiting at home.
: Anything would do. :)
Adam: Even me?
My eyes widened and I felt my cheeks getting hotter again with his response. Geez, this man really knows how to play.
: Masarap ba 'yon?
If he thinks I can't do what is he doing, he may be wrong. I even put a curious emoji.
Adam: Try, babe.
: Baliw!
After sending it, I put it back at my pocket. I don't want to see his reply, baka saan pa mapunta ang biruan. I don't know what I will be able to throw back anymore.
"Ee kay Kiena, anong pasalubong mo ?" Maven asked while tasting what he received.
"Bakla ka, dinalhan ko yan ng hand made party dress! Kabog ka diyan pag nagparty tayo. Nagkalaman pa naman yan sa sarap magluto ng pinsan ko!"
"Baka hindi na yung luto ang masarap, ha. Mukhang yung pinsan mo bakla! Napaka scam mo di mo binigay yung numero!"
Our office filled out with laughter and different question bombered to Windee about Adam. And as usual, mukhang iningit pa lalo sila ni Windee ng i-over describe ang pinsan niya.
"Matangkad, matcho, may abs, laking Canada na mukhang Greek Goddess! "
Napairap na lamang ako. Kahit simpleng salitang 'gwapo' ay pwede na.
Natapos din ang pamimigay ni Windee at nakababa na kami sa parking lot upang kunin ang kotse niya.
"Naku, kapag ako talaga nagipit, sasangla ko pinsan ko. Mukhang mabenta ee. Waha"
"Kanino mo naman isasanla, Dee?" Natatawa kong tanong.
"Gusto mo ba, Kien?" May halong birong tanong niya.
"Di ako tumatangap ng sangla."
"Kung sa bagay, baka kahit 'di ko yun isanla mapunta pa rin sayo. Yieeeh!"
Her statement made me speechless. Wala kong mabato pabalik.
"Oh, ano? Tameme ka ha! "
"You know what? Magpinsan talaga kayo!"
Our ride filled with Windee never stopped teasing about me and his cousin.
"Miyerkules, nagtapat ka ng iyong pagibig. Huwebes! Ay inibig din kitaaaaaa"
I covered my ears. Windee sang straight and loud with her laughter spread on the car.
"Windee! Walang ganyan!"
"Whaha. Whyyyy? Wala naman akong sinasabing kanta niyo 'to ha. Peborit ko lang!"
Hangang sa pagbaba namin ng sasakyan at pagsakay sa elevator ay iba ang ngisi nitong kaibigan ko.
"Saan ka nga pala galing kagabi? Ang sabi ni adong pagod ka. Nag marathon kayong dalawa?"
Hindi ko alam kung iirap ba ako o matatawa. Sa huli ay pinalo ko na lang siya.
"Aray, ko! Ano nga Kiena?"
Sasabihin ko ba?!
"Ahm. Naglakadlakad kasi ako, at hindi ko napansin napalayo na pala. Nakita ko rin si Joaquin, ayun na pag usapan ulit yung nakaraan. "
Her eyes widened when I mentioned Joaquin's name.
"Yung cute na best friend ng hayp na si Elton? Siya yun diba!?"
"Yup? Wait Dee, para naman artista ang na meet ko-- oh my, crush mo si Joaquin!"
It wasn't a question. By her reaction Kasi I can easily inferred that my bestie is into that man. I laughed so hard as it's her turn to be speechless!
"I got his number. Bibigay ko sayo or ... ibibigay ko sa kanya! Right! Akong bahala."
"Uyy bakla ka, h'wag. At anong crush! Eww Kiena, hindi naman tayo ganoon katanda pero late na tayo sa crush. "
"Whatever you say, Dee. You got an eye to him, huh. I'll keep that in mind."
From her grim expression, her lips formed into wide smile. I knew it! Gusto niya din!
"Nakapagluto na kaya si Adong ng hapunan?" That question answered one of my inquiry about Adam's action. So, I am right. He is really like that with everyone. He really do cooking. Nothing special.
I suddenly felt my energy lessen. I am now in self battling why I even considered his action special. Where in fact, I don't even known him for long. He came from Western. He knows how to get along well.
Windee opened the door so I just followed her and decided to take a quick shower before taking our dinner and that is if he cooked something already.
I woke up late, went to work late which makes my activity less but I feel like I do overtime. I picked white shorts and brown shirt and walked like a zombie all the way to the comfort room.
"Ewan ko. Baka nagbibihis lang." I heard Windee's voice as I passed by the kitchen. I know that they are talking and I just didn't looked back at them when I even felt their stares.
The warm shower helps to calm and relaxed my body. As soon as it touches my skin, I felt renewed. Pero hindi ako maaaring magtagal dito dahil paniguradong naghahanda na sila ng hapunan and I don't want them to think there is something wrong with me tonight.
Pagkaraan ko sa kusina ay napatigil ako nang may nakitang bisita. It looks like an african man , but his skin isn't that dark chocolate color and at the same age as ours, I think, the only difference is that he is burning with so much friendly aura as he even wave and smiled at me.
"Hi!" He says offering his hand for a shake. I suddenly felt awkward as my face looked bare and my hair is still covered with towel.
"Oh! Hello!" I returned with a smile.
Adam walks to our side and gave that man a drinks.
"This is Sancho, Kiena. I'm sorry I didn't inform you I got visitor." His eyes bore into mine and even surveyed what I am wearing.
"Not a problem at all, Adam. " I tried to break his stare on me as I divert it to Sancho.
