WHAT ARE WE?

[8]

//Leon's POV//

Nasa isang clothing store kami ngayon. Anarisa's helping Inna pick new clothes, ang cute nila tignan. I love how they bond together.

"I think mas bagay itong top na ito sa baggy pants na bibilhin mo." I heard Anarisa told Inna, "Really, Doc? Pero what color do you prefer? Blue or Purple?"

"The purple one. And you can call me Tita nalang, we are not in the hospital naman, so you can stop calling me Doc or Doktora na, masyadong formal," Anarisa said and patted Inna's head while smiling.

Hayst, ang cute. Natutunaw na naman yata ako sa mga ngiti niya.

I didn't realize that I was smiling at them na pala, si Inna na ang nagsabi.

"Bakit? Bawal na ba ngumiti ngayon?" 

"Pwede naman po."

-

"Which one do you think bagay sa'kin?" Anarisa asked me, she's holding two sleeveless dress up, with two different colors, the other is pink while the other one is floral red dress.

"The red one." I simply answered.

She looked at it and handed me the red dress. Ako nga pala 'yung ginawa nilang taga hawak ng mga pinili nilang mga damit.

Anarisa was busy picking more clothes nang lumapit sa'kin si Inna.

"Tita-Ninang, matutunaw na si Tita Ris sa tingin mo."

"What?" I asked, hindi ko kasi siya narinig ng maayos busy kasi ako tumingin kay idol. Ay sorry my false.

"Sabi ko po, baka matunaw si Tita Ris sa titig niyo." ulit nito, I just chuckled at what she said. Biglang lumingon si Anarisa sa'min and I saw her smile nung makita niya na magkasama kami.

"Are you done yet?" I asked Inna, "yes po, pero si Tita Ris, namimili pa po ng mga damit niya."

"Ako na magbabayad ng mga 'toh." I said, "Sige po, Thank you!" Inna said and hugged me.

Lumapit sa'min si Anarisa na may mga hawak na sweater at mga damit.

"Done?" I asked, she nodded and smiled "Yes, All done." she answered.

I took the things na hawak niya and went to the counter. Ako na ang nagbayad ng mga binili nilang dalawa ni Inna. Nagprotesta naman siya noong binayaran ko ang mga damit na pinamili niya pero wala na siyang nagawa.

"Thank you, Leon. But you didn't have to naman."

"No it's okay. Think of it nalang as a 'thank you' sa pagsama mo sa'min ni Inna."

"Sus. Bigla nga lang akong sumipot eh."

"But we did enjoy hanging out with you. Right Inns?"

"Opo. Saya niyo talaga kasama Doc, what if pasayahin niyo na si Tita-Ninang for a long ti-" Inna wasn't able to finish what she was about to say dahil tinakpan ko ang bibig niya. Masyado na talagang madaldal itong pamangkin ko.

-

"So... where to next?" I asked Inna, it's past 9:00 pm already, katatapos lang namin kumain. Anarisa is still with us.

"I have to get home na po. Maaga pa pasok ko bukas." sagot nito, "Okay. Hatid na kita."

"No need, Tita. I brought my car po." Inna said, "ah ganun ba, osige, hatid ka na namin ni Ris sa labas." I said.

Naglakad kami papunta sa exit ng mall at doon na iniwan si Inna. She hugged Anarisa and I bago siya umalis.

"Ingat ka!" Anarisa said, "Ingat ka, text me when you get home." sambit ko. Naglakad na paalis si Inna papunta sa parking lot.

"I'll hatid you nalang sa condo mo." I told Anarisa, I am still holding the paper bags with the clothes that she bought.

"Magtataxi nalang ako. Out of the way ang condo ko."

"No, it's okay."

"Nako, mabobother pa kita."

"Don't worry, when it come's to you, I don't bother." I said and smiled, medyo kinilig naman 'tong kausap ko. Inalis niya pa pagkakatingin sa'kin at sinubukang magpigil ng smile HAHA.

Hindi naman na siya humindi at naglakad na kami papunta kung saan ko pinark ang kotse. I opened the shotgun door for her. I started the car and drove off.

Nagpatugtog kami habang nasa sasakyan, dahil noong una ay walang may gustong magsalita sa amin. Wala rin akong maisip na itopic kaya hindi nalang ako nagsasalita pero nagkaka eye to eye contact kami. And when we do, it's either siya 'yung magaalis ng tingin o ako.

"Kumusta ka?" I asked para mawala na 'tong awkward air sa'ming dalawa, "okay naman, medyo busy lang sa work, how 'bout you?" she answered, "Okay naman din, busy sa work pero nakakaya naman. Buti nga at naipasok ko pa sa sched ko ang hangout namin ni Inna."

"Oo nga eh. It's good to see you two. Cute niyo tignan."

"Kayo rin. Magmukha kayong mag tita. It's a plus points."

"Plus points sa?"

"Wala."

"Luh, sige." she said and pouted while her arms are folded.

"Sige." I said and unconsciously pinched her nose kasi ang cute niya. She just stared at me shocked by what I did, ako rin naman nagulat sa nagawa ko. "Sorry." I said and cleared my throat.

"N-no, it's okay." she answered and smiled.

"Pero para saan 'yung plus points?" she asked again air quotting the words 'plus points'. "Wala nga. It's nothing."

"Okay." She said then opened her phone, tinutok niya sa'kin 'yun at pinicturan ako. Paano ko nalaman? Hindi niya na-off 'yung flash ea. Nahuli ko tuloy.

"HUY! Why did you take a photo of me?" I said while laughing at cinocover 'yung back ng phone niya kasi baka picturan ako ulit.

"Wala lang. Cute mo kasi."

"ako lang 'toh, ano ba, masyado ka namang nai-in love"

"Ang hangin, Leon." she said and we laughed. "You too." I said, "anong you too?"

"You're also cute." I said and smiled at her, "ay hindi ka gaganiyan for today" she said laughing, "I'm not joking, Ris. You're really cute."

"That's so kind of you, Leon. Thank you!" Risa answered and smiled, being a beautiful doctor, Ris receives compliments left and right, be it with colleagues or even with strangers or patients. But to be honest, Leon's compliments are the best ones for her. She would choose Leon's compliments out of all the compliments she receives, but still, she'll be grateful for those people who appreciate her beauty and her work as a doctor.

"So, how's your love life going?" The doctor suddenly asked, nabigla ako sa tanong niya so I looked at her and blinked twice to know if I heard it right. And yes, I did hear her right so I cleared my throat at her sudden question.

"Wala bang ibang tanong? 'Yan na talaga?" I joked

"Seryoso kasi"

"Well, wala pa'rin naman akong special someone. But I do find this certain someone interesting."

"Uyyy sino 'yannn" she said with a teasing voice, I just chuckled at what she said and shook my head. 

Sino pa ba, edi ikaw emz

"Ikaw? Siguro may boyfriend ka na noh?"

"Huh? Sorry I'm listening to all by myself by celine dion." we both laughed sa sinabi niya, "baliw" I wasn't able to control myself from saying a not so good word.

"Pero legit? Wala talaga?"

"Bakit? Gusto mo bang mag-apply bilang jowa ko?" she said, then silence. Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa, maybe she felt the awkwardness because after a few seconds she said "joke lang".

-