Behind the Barriers

16

16

"Should I go for the red lipstick?" tanong ko kay Greg. "Or how about the pink one? What do you think about my hair? Sobrang haba na ba nito?"

He opened his mouth, then closed it. Nagkunot-noo siya, halatang nawiwirduhan sa 'kin.

"Kailan lang po kayo nag-alala sa shade ng lipstick, Madame?" he asked.

"Now lang. Sabihin mo na kasi."

Simula nang maging kami ni CJ, mas naging conscious na ako sa sarili. I would find myself ordering a bunch of new clothes. It was all new to me. I can't help but to be nervous about it. Ayaw ko namang ipahalata sa kanya na hindi pa ako nagkaka-boyfriend before. It will be a social suicide!

'Tsaka wala pa akong sinabihan. Pero kahit na ganon, nahahalata naman nila na may ugnayan kami ni CJ. I don't seem to mind, too. Thinking about introducing him to my family as a boyfriend got me goosebumps. It will be very uncomfortable.

"Panigurado ay hindi naman po iisipin ni Attorney kung ano ang kulay ng lipstick ninyo," aniya. "Maganda ka naman sa paningin niya, Madame."

"Dali na kasi. 'Wag mo na akong bolahin."

I frowned. He chuckled. Later on, he chose the red lipstick so I applied it on my lips. Sakto naman na nag-text si CJ na nasa baba na siya. I can't help but to smile!

It has been 2 weeks but I still feel kilig whenever I think that he's my boyfriend. It is still surreal to even analyze it.

Kaagad kong nahanap ang sasakyan niya nang makarating sa parking lot. I smiled and went inside the shotgun seat.

"Hello!" I cheerfully greeted.

Kaagad na napangiti si CJ. "Hello. Seatbelt please."

Kaagad ko siyang sinunod at nagsuot ng seatbelt. He started the engine and we started to drive away.

"Saan tayo magla-lunch?" I asked.

"Secret para surprise."

"Is it Mexican? Chinese?"

He chuckled. "Basta. You'll see."

I got excited. Pero kaagad na nahupa iyon nang makarating kami sa mall. I've got a bad feeling about this. Kaagad niyang nabasa ang mukha ko at natawa.

"Why are you laughing?" I grumpily asked as we went inside the mall.

"Huwag kang mag-alala. Malinis 'to."

"I'm not thinking about that!"

He held my waist. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever."

I rolled my eyes and hid my smile like a teenager. May tiwala naman ako sa kanya kaya magiging ayos lang ang lahat. 'Tsaka panatag naman ang loob ko na walang gagawin na masama si CJ sa akin.

And if ever I got poisoned by food, I believe he'll be held responsible for everything.

"We're eating here?" tanong ko nang pumasok kami sa Inasal.

It was super crowded! Probably it's lunch time na kaya punuan. There are teenagers, adults, elders, mga bata, at sobrang sticky ng place tingnan kahit naka-full naman ang aircon.

"Yep." He smiled at me. "Promise, it's nice here. It's also clean."

I frowned. Gusto ko mang sabihin na lumipat sa isang mas exclusive na kainan ay tumango na lang ako. I also need to go out of my comfort zone. 'Tsaka baka isipin niya na talaga nang tuluyan na sobrang maarte ako.

Umupo kami sa pinakadulo. Walang tao roon kaya naman mas mabuti. I even checked the table if it was sanitized properly.

"Is it okay to spray alcohol?" bulong ko sa kanya.