The Calm and the Storm

05

05

Huminto kami ni Jeno Emmanuel sa ilalim ng poste sa parking lot. Huminga ako nang malalim. Napansin ko na pinapanood niya ako kaya nabitin ang pag-exhale ko at tumingin sa kanya. He looked like he was about to smile. But he cleared his voice and looked away.

"Maraming salamat," I said.

"I don't think if I should say you're welcome."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Bakit naman?"

"I feel so guilty. Was that your boyfriend?"

"No way!" kaagad kong sagot. I cleared my voice and looked away. "I mean... wala akong boyfriend. Hindi ko 'yun boyfriend."

Jeno Emmanuel looked relieved. He stood properly and crossed his arms. "But I think I was being rude, Trinity. Perhaps, that was your date?"

Dahan-dahan akong tumango.

"Oh..."

"Pero I don't really know the guy. Masyado lang talaga siyang weird. Tsaka 'yung bigote niya..." I trailed off. Tumaas bigla ang mga balahibo ko nang maisip iyon.

"Bigote?" Jeno Emmanuel's monolid eyes widened.

Natawa ako bigla. "Kasi iyong bigote niya. Palagi niyang hinahawakan. And we were eating! It's just so disgusting."

He softly chuckled. I wanted to record it for my ringtone. O di kaya ay para sa alarm ko. Oh how amazing the mornings would be if I woke up to the sound of his laughter.

"Pero thank you talaga. It was very awkward. I know it is a disaster," sabi ko.

"How about your date?"

Nagkibit-balikat lang ako. "Anyway, how about your cousins?"

"Nagpaalam ako."

"And they're okay that you left them to help someone?"

Jeno Emmanuel stared at me. "Yep. And for the record, you are a friend, Trinity."

Napangiti ako sa sinabi niya. We are not that close, so I doubt that he'll consider me as a friend. Tsaka for the record rin, si Ate naman talaga ang kaibigan niya.

"May gagawin ka pa ba?" tanong niya.

"Wala na. I'm going home after this."

"I noticed that you did not eat properly earlier. How about we grab something in the convenience store?"

He was asking me to spend more time with him. Or was it my illusion? In front of me is my college crush... or still my crush. Pero iniisip ko pa rin si Ate. I don't want to cross with her. But he was thinking of me as a friend. Ako lang siguro ang nagbibigay ng malisya.

"Okay. I'm also hungry."

Jeno Emmanuel smiled softly as he put his hands in his pockets. Ngumiti rin ako at sinabayan siya sa paglakad because I don't know where we're going.

It was silent between us. Mas mabuti rin iyon at baka may masabi pa akong hindi maganda. And even if we did not say anything, his silence was so comforting. This is better than the date I had earlier. Way better.

Pinagbuksan niya ako ng pinto pagdating sa convenience store. Nauna akong pumasok at sumunod naman siya.

"Thanks," I mumbled.

It was so silent, especially that it's only us plus the sleepy cashier. Naghanap na kaagad ako ng pagkain habang palihim na nakatingin sa kasama ko.

I noticed that he picked a cup noodle. So he's going to stay for a while? Akala ko ay aalis kami kaagad. Imbis na bottled water ay nagtungo rin ako sa coffee machine. I also picked some bread because I am honestly hungry.