I was browsing through my phone, para i-double check ang mga pinamimili ko. Nasa supermarket ako ngayon. Mag-isa lang ako dahil may training ng basketball sila Emman kaya hindi niya ako nasamahan, paano, nalalapit na ulit ang finals ng basketball sa EIS CUP.
Nangalumbaba ako habang binabasa ang listahan ko sa phone. "Cereal, pancake mix, sausages, can goods, pancit canton, hmm, what else? Oh yeah, meat..." Isinuksok ko na sa bulsa ang phone ko at dumiretso na sa meat section.
Habang nag hahagilap ng meat sa fridge ay nagulat ako noong biglang may tumawag sa pangalan ko.
"Aria? Is that you?"
Agad akong nag taas ng tingin upang tingnan kung sino 'yun. Umawang bigla ang bibig ko.
"T-tito! Omg!" Dali dali ko siyang nilapitan.
I offered him a hand which he immediately grab. He plastered a tender smile as if he was really happy to see me here. We shook our hands.
"I didn't expect to see you here hija... how are you?" Ibinaba niya ang hawak na basket at tumindig ng ayos.
Lihim akong napangisi nang mapag tanto ko kung gaano ka-evident ang similarities nila ng boyfriend ko. Kitang kita ko na tuloy ang magiging hitsura ni Emman pag dating ng panahon. Parehong maangas ang galaw nila, pero not in a way na nakaka inis. Actually, I find it really cool.
"I'm doing great po. Kayo po ba? Kamusta po kayo? Nakabalik na po pala kayo ng bansa? Are you staying here for good na po?"
Napa-kibit balikat lang siya at namulsa.
"No, I'm already a foreign citizen, I'm only here for a short vacation. Atsaka, may offer rin kasing project sa'kin sa metro."
Napa tango tango ako.
"Saan po pala kayo nag s-stay ngayon?"
"Oh yeah, I'm staying at rendezvous hotels, just a few blocks away from here. I just dropped by to buy some goods. How about you? Why are you shopping alone? Are you now living independently?"
Nginitian ko siya ngunit agad rin akong napa iling.
"Nako, hindi po. Hindi po ako pinapayagan ng parents ko na humiwalay sa'kanila."
"Oh that's cool. So, I guess you're in charge with the groceries huh?" Pagak siyang natawa, at ewan ko ba. Sobrang hawig niya talaga si Emman sa kahit na anong anggulo.
"Actually tito... we have helpers naman po to do the groceries. These aren't for the house. Actually, uhm, it's for... Emman po. Ano po kasi, hehe, wala na po kasing stocks sa pad niya so... Ayun po." Hindi mapakaling sabi ko.
I put the strands of my hair behind my ear because of embarassment.
I watched him dropped his jaw on the floor and he looked extremely surprised. He doesn't know about us, of course.
"W-wow... I uh, I don't know what to say... A-are you guys?..." His forehead wrinkled.
I gave him twice a nod.
"We're actually dating for almost a year now..." I gave him an awkward smile and I swear, I didn't expect him to look so happy after hearing what I've said.
"Awesome! Wow! I just knew it the first time I saw you! There's no way that my man could refuse your charm and perseverance." Nilapitan niya ako at natigilan ako noong bigla na lang niya akong yakapin. "I really like you for my son Aria... I'm just, God, I'm really happy for you both."
Noong kumawala siya sa yakap ay para akong natameme, hindi ko alam ang sasabihin ko. Nahihiya ako.
"I couldn't think of anyone that's suitable for my son other than you." He gave me a genuine smile as he took my hand. "Promise me you'll take care of my boy."
CITEȘTI
Bukas Hindi Na Ikaw
Ficțiune adolescențiAria knows exactly what it's like to fall in love, thus, she knew that being trapped in this unrequited love wouldn't be easy for a true-blue heart. All the bridges she had to burn, through the depths of the sea she had wandered, and the narrower h...
