Smashed

Chapter 5

Chapter 5  #smashedsrs

Kumunot bigla ang noo niya habang nakatingin lang sa mesa. "Mali," I heard him mumble to himself. "Before the name, I should ask..."

It was my turn to develop creases on my forehead. Bakit niya kinakausap sarili niya?

He lifted his gaze which resulted to our eye contact. "Sigurado ka ba talaga na okay lang sa'yo? Baka napilitan ka lang... o ano? Saka wala ka namang boyfriend, 'di ba?"

The concern was very evident that it even lingered in his eyes even after he spoke. Naalala ko rin na nilinaw niya naman sa text na hindi ito sapilitan. He must be really nice, huh?

Umiling ako. "Hindi, ah. I told you... Kung kailangan mo ng tulong. At wala akong boyfriend."

I said it like I didn't hesitate at all. I did, at first. Pero mukha nga namang mabait si Uno at hindi naman ako magsisisi sa pagpayag ko rito.

Tinitigan lang ako ni Uno nang walang sinasabi. Para bang tinatantya niya ang honesty meter ko. My answer was the truth. I was genuine so I didn't have to worry about my eyes and I stared back at him.

I saw it as a good start that we were able to stare at each other. Wala kasi akong ibang hiling ngayon kundi ang maging komportable man lang muna kami sa isa't isa. Iyon man lang sana ang kayanin namin.

'Di ko naman kasi in-expect na may pahabol na plot twist itong taon ko.

Bumuntong hininga siya matapos ang ilang segundo. In-adjust niya nang kaunti ang nakatupi niyang mga braso sa mesa. "Okay. Buti naman."

Napangiti lang ako. Kitang-kita ko talaga ang relief niya roon. Kung sabihin ko sigurong hindi ko talaga gusto, sasabihin niyang huwag nang ituloy ito. He will be that respectful to my decision. I could see. I could tell.

He cleared his throat quietly. "Juno Jupiter Zorca..."

Napatingin ako sa kaniya na may bahagyang lito dahil parang pamilyar at narinig ko na kanina. Pinigilan ko ang sarili na matawa kalaunan.

I just understood what he meant when he was talking to himself earlier. May sequence of events ba siyang hinanda? Mali na nagpakilala muna siya kanina?

I cleared my throat too. "Rivithymia Sio," I introduced myself, stifling a smile because of my previous thought.

Matipid siyang tumango at nagsalita agad. "Uno... Nickname ko. I'm twenty. February 14 ang birthday ko. Aquarius."

My lips pulled apart. "Valentine's day!" hindi ko napigilang bulalas.

"Hmm." He nodded. "Ikaw?"

"Rivi 'yung nickname ko. I'm nineteen, you're a year older lang. May 8. I'm a Taurus."

Nakita ko ang bakas ng pagkabigla sa kanya. "Parehas kayo ng birthday ng Ate ko."

Namilog ang mga labi ko. "Oh, really?" natutuwa kong sagot.

"Oo. She's twenty-four."

"Ahhh," sabi ko habang tumango-tango. "Four years agwat n'yo ng ate mo."

He briefly nodded. "Maganda 'yun. Baka maging girl crush mo kapag nakilala mo na," he bragged, chuckling lightly.