#WUM3
Dahil wala naman akong tiwala sa kanya, huminto ako sa corner store; Snack Stop, malapit sa apartmenet building ni Riva — sa tapat lamang. The store was kind of spacious, kalahati iyong book shop at kalahating mini grocery store. It was air conditioned like Mini-Stop and 7-Eleven, even the style. Sa labas ay may apat na lamesa at mga upuan, palipasan ng oras at kainan. Madalas kaming kumain ni Riva rito kapag walang pagkain sa apartment.
Umupo agad iyong Ajax sa asul na upuan at inubob ang kanyang mukha sa lamesa, pagod mula sa pagsunod sa akin. Ang daldal niya rin kasi habang naglalakad, marami siyang kuwentong bata. Sobrang random. Although, it made me think he's harmless. He's just really like a kid who wanders a lot.
"Hi, Sori!" bati sa akin ni Keith, anak ng Snack Stop owner. Nagyoyosi siya malapit sa pintuan at walang pang-itaas.
I nodded and lifted my plastic bag with cup noodles.
"Puwede bang kumuha ng mainit na tubig? Babayaran ko na lang."
Kumunot ang noo niya. "Huwag mo na bayaran, parang iba ka naman! Pasok ka lang!"
Tumango ako at nilampasan siya, naramdaman ko ang pasunod niya sa loob. Nilapag ko ang plastic bag sa counter at binuksan iyong cup noodles bago tinapat sa water dispenser, I glanced at Ajax through the glass wall and saw him innocently scanning the place.
The street isn't pretty crowded here, kaunti lang ang nadadaang mga sasakyan at mga tao.
"Sino 'yong kasama mo? Boyfriend mo?" tanong ni Keith at kumapit sa water dispenser habang nakatingin sa akin.
Umiling lang ako. Bakit siya nagtatanong?
"Bakit mo kasama? Nanliligaw?" pangungulit niya.
"No," I answered coldly as I took the cup and walked past him.
Natawa siya. "Buti naman, akala ko pumapayag kang magpaligaw sa iba pero ako basted agad. Ang unfair noon."
Huh?
I smugly walked out and left him there without a word. I don't seriously like being questioned a lot especially when it's nonsense. Keith was trying hard, I never told him to like me and try to court me — I don't understand why he'd call me unfair if ever I let someone court me.
Ano namang pake ko sa nararamdaman niya?
I settled in the different table across Ajax, he was looking at me then took a glimpse where I left Keith at the store's doorway who is now talking to some customer.
I know the question he has on mind now.
Tumayo siya at lumipat sa lamesa ko, I pretended busy with my cup of noodles while blowing to cool it a bit. I pulled the chopsticks apart and started eating noodles.
"Sino 'yon? Tiyuhin mo?"
Halos maubo ako sa tanong niya, I wanted to laugh but I didn't. Is he being serious right now?
"Ang sama makatingin sa akin, e. Parang strict uncle," dagdag niya sa makapal na boses.
I decided to keep eating to avoid reacting on his ridiculous question. I didn't expect that, I thought he was gonna ask if Keith's my boyfriend like the common stupid question every time they see me with a guy.
"Hindi ko relative," simple kong sagot.
Keith doesn't look like an old man, he's just really muscular and tall but not taller than this monkid.
Lumabi siya at tumango.
"Hapunan mo ba 'yan? Noodles? Bakit noodles lang?"
Dami talagang tanong nito.
