The Goodbye Girl

chapter o2 : deal and rules

"Wait up . . . Your basher became your customer? Don't tell me this is one of those 'enemies to lovers' thing?"

"You are one impatient guy, huh?"

"Nah . . . Believe me, I'm the patient one in the gang. Ipagpatuloy mo na ang kuwento."

✦ ✦ ✦

"Let me get this straight, the Bryan Emanuel wants my help?" Ngumisi ako at saka sumipsip mula sa blueberry smoothie na binili niya para sa akin. 

"Hinaan mo nga ang boses mo," mahina niyang sambit sabay libot ng paningin sa halos walang katao-taong cafeteria. His jacket's hoodie was already up and we were literally sitting at the farthest corner of the room pero parang nag-aalala pa rin siyang may makakita sa amin.

Is is really that bad to be seen sitting at the same table with me?—I couldn't help but ask myself. Not that I care, of course. It's just that it made me curious, 'yon lang.

"It's not that bad, you know." Nagkibit-balikat na lamang ako at sumandal sa kinauupuan. 

"Ang ano?" kunot noo siyang napatingin sa akin. Even with his wrinkled forehead, his gaze still felt gentle and kind.

"Asking help to say goodbye." I took another sip from my smoothie and sighed. "Bakit mo ba pipilitin ang sarili mong gawin ang isang bagay kung hindi ka naman komportable? At bakit mo kailangang harapin ang isang bagay nang mag-isa kung may makakatulong naman sa 'yo?"

Bryan stilled, and in that moment, his forehead eased. There was total calm in his face as he stared back at me. It looked like he was no longer confused and hesitant. In fact, it seemed like we were finally at the same page.

Sa isang iglap, unti-unting naningkit ang kanyang mga mata. "Biruin mo 'yon, may saysay ka rin palang kausap?"

"Actually, sales talk lang 'yon. Wala talaga akong kuwentang kausap." Hindi ko napigilang matawa, at gano'n na rin siya na halatang nagulat sa pag-amin ko.

"But for reals, though. The only reason I'm wasting my time here with you is because nilibre mo ako ng blueberry smoothie and potential client ka. I won't force you to avail my services kung my agam-agam ka. Besides, no refund 'to kaya dapat siguradong-sigurado kang mamamaalam ka talaga." Nagtatawanan man, I made sure to set things straight with him.

"Huwag kang mag-alala, siguradong-siguradong mamaaalam ako," he assured me with the same gentle smile and sweet-sounding little chuckle.

Ako naman ang biglang natigilan. There it was again. The unfathomable sparkle of sadness in his eyes.

"You're not planning to un-alive yourself right? Because if you do, better count me out and seek help instead," the words just flew out of my mouth, but I meant every word. "Bro, I may be capitalizing on people's shortage of bravery, but I have my principles too. There are certain lines that I will never cross," dagdag ko pa.

Tumawa lamang siya ulit at saka sumipsip ng blueberry smoothie niyang nagsisimula nang matunaw. He swallowed and grinned like a gentle and kind-hearted little devil—I don't know, those were just the vibes I got from him. But to be fair, I'd call him an angel kung hindi niya lang ako binigyan ng 1-star review.

"Bakit?" Ako naman ang napakunot-noo dahil sa pagkakatingin niya sa akin, idagdag pa ang kanyang ngisi.

"I'm glad you mentioned lines, because I want to draw some with you." He started rubbing his hands together, and then picked up a little piece of napkin from the table. He grabbed something from his pocket at nakita kong isang ballpen pala na kulay pastel blue ang katawan at may kulay dilaw na bituwin sa tuktok.

"Cute ballpen. Elementary school boy ka?" pang-aasar ko.

"Ha-Ha," he puckered his lips for a playful frown and started writing on the napkin. "Sa kapatid ko 'to. Buy 1 take 1 daw."

He looked so serious while writing on the napkin, but I couldn't really take him seriously dahil sa ballpen na gamit niya. 

I grabbed my smoothie and took a sip again. Nilibot ko ang paningin sa paligid, nagbabaka sakaling maka-tiyempo ng cheesy fries. Lagi kasi akong nauubusan nito.

Akmang tatayo ako mula sa kinauupuan nang bigla na lamang nilapag ni Bryan ang piraso ng napkin sa mismong harapan ko. 

"Let's follow these rules while working together." He smiled with eyes closed, raising five of his fingers.

"Mukha kang ewan." Bumuntonghininga na lamang ako at naupo ulit.

I moved the piece of napkin closer to me and read the first rule out loud. "Rule 1. No personal questions."

"Mmm-hmm!" Bryan pressed his lips together and nodded. "You'll help me say goodbye, no questions asked. Subukan mong magtanong at kakaltasan ko ang bayad ko sa 'yo."

I rolled my eyes, puffing out air through my nose. "As if naman interesado ako sa personal life mo."

"Mabuti naman." Ngumiti siya at saka tinuro ang pangalawa sa listahan. Siya na mismo ang nagbasa nito, "Rule 2. No Judgments!"

I couldn't help but snort again. "You judged me first. Binigyan mo ako ng 1-star review, but look who's asking for my help now?"

Saglit siyang pumikit at bumuntonghininga bago tinuro ang pangatlo sa listahan. "Rule 3. No meddling."

I shrugged and leaned my back against the chair. "No worries. I never really wanted to be a member of the Mystery Inc."

He burst into chuckle and raised his thumb. "Okay, that was a good reference."

I looked down to the list and read the fourth rule myself. "No attachments."

The fourth rule was so absurd that I couldn't help but look up at him and wince a little. "What do you think of this? Some romcom trope where we both say we won't fall in love but end up falling in love anyway?"

"That's not what I mean."  Humalakhak siya't nagsandal ng dibdib sa mesa, dahilan para maglapit nang bahagya ang mga mukha namin, dahilan para matitigan ko nang malapitan ang mga mata niyang may bahid ng hind maipaliwanag na kalungkutan.

"Then what do you mean?" tanong ko naman.

He started counting through his fingers, starting with his thumb. "Hindi tayo magpapansinan kung hindi naman trabaho ang pag-uusapan. Hindi mo hahanapin ang social media accounts ko. Hindi mo ako tatawagin sa totoo kong pangalan. Hindi ka magre-research tungkol sa akin. at higit sa lahat, wala dapat tayong litrato na magkasama."

Nagulat ako sa mga narinig, pero mas nagulat ako nang makitang seryoso siya sa pinagsasabi niya. Hindi ko tuloy napigilang matawa. "Ang guwapo mo ha? Tingin mo ma-a-attach ako sa 'yo? Hindi kita type uy!"

"Mabuti naman kung gano'n." He flashed his sweetest grin again and laid out his hand. "We have a deal?"

I shook his hand and grinned back. "25% downpayment and we're good to go,  Blueberry."

"Blueberry?" His eyebrows furrowed as he tilted his head slightly.

I tilted my head back just to mess with him. "May problema ka?"

"Not a problem, Tree." He grinned again and nodded. "Just don't forget the rules."

✦ ✦ ✦

"Let me guess, you broke the rules?"

"You really like interrupting my story, huh?"

"Ibig sabihin, tama nga ako?"

"Ano sa tingin mo?"

"I think that Blueberry guy is a weirdo to be laying down all those rules."

"Weirdo? Let me tell you something about Blueberry . . . "