Sweet Pacific Breezes (Provincia de Marina Series #4)

Kabanata 14

Kabanata 14

Sweet Pacific Breezes

"I cannot believe you just told them I was your girlfriend!" Tila eksahirado kong sambit kay Isidore nang makaalis na kami sa food stall na pinagkainan namin. It was still crowded in the tourism strip so we were walking closer to each other, our arms bouncing against one another.

"And ano? Jealous? I ain't the jealous type."

"It seems that you liked the situation very much, Cleora."

"No?" I grinned inwardly. "Ang sinasabi ko lang, magaling kang sumabay sa trip ko. Don't you think we're having some improvements here? I mean, ikaw, you're improving."

"In what aspect?" I felt him glancing at me.

"You're becoming a proper human."

"I am a proper human," he said emphasizing the first word. "What makes you think that I'm not?"

"First of all, masungit ka. Second, I feel like I had to give you a million bucks just to see you smile. Don't you think it's weird that you're not fond of smiling? Pinaglihi ka ba sa ampalaya?"

"As far as I can remember, hindi ako pinaglihi ng nanay ko sa kahit anong bagay. And I do smile."

"Hmm?" Tumigil ako sa paglalakad para masilip siya. Amidst the crowd of people, I was able to admire his face, drenched under the heat of the sun. Maliwanag ang natapatan naming pwesto, nasa pagitan ng mga canopy kaya naman lumusot ang init ng araw.

His fair skin glowed, making his sweat glistened. Namumuo ang pawis sa kaniyang noo at hindi rin nakaligtas sa aking paningin ang basa niyang leeg. His skin was blushing from the heat. Kita kong naningkit ang mga mata niya habang nakatingin sa akin.

"What is it?" he asked me with curiosity in his eyes.

"I want to see you smile. Ang sabi mo ay ngumingiti ka naman kaya bakit hindi mo ipakita sakin," hamon ko sa kaniya.

His eyes narrowed more. Nang bahagya siyang yumuko ay halos hindi ko na maaninag ang kaniyang mukha dahil sa liwanag.

"Bakit kailangan kong ngumiti? There's no reason for me to smile."

Napanguso ako. Talagang naghahanap pa ng rason para ngumiti. Hindi ba pwedeng ngumiti na lang siya kahit wala namang rason? Hindi naman siya pagsasabihang baliw dahil nakangiti. He's not alone right now so people will just think he's happy to be with me.

Thinking of another thing, I grabbed my phone from my backpocket and aimed it at him. Sinilip ko siya mula sa camera at nakita kong nagtatanong na naman ang kaniyang mga mata.

"What? You should smile, I'm taking a picture of you," I commanded. Luminga-linga siya sa paligid. There were still people passing by, 'yong iba, iniiwasan na nga kaming dalawa kasi may ginagawa kami. I can see some girls glancing at us. 'Yong iba ay parang kinikilig pa.

Kinuha ko ang pagkakataon na iyon para kuhanan siya ng litrato. I took a candid shot of him, with his back against the light. Hindi masyadong kita ang kaniyang mukha roon. I took another picture, this time, I adjusted the brightness so that it would focus on his face. Saktong nilingon niya ang aking cellphone.

"When will you put your phone down?"

"Hindi ka pa ngumingiti kaya hindi ko ibababa."

"You're using this as an excuse to take a picture of me," he accused. My brows furrowed questioningly. I even snickered at him.

"Hindi ba pwedeng mahilig lang akong kumuha ng pictures? What makes you think I'd want a picture of you, here in my phone?" Winagayway ko ang aking cellphone. "Kung ayaw mong magpakuha ng picture, okay lang naman."