Playing with Flames

14

"Sino 'yon? Manliligaw mo?"

Automatically, I stop walking and turn to look at Kyden who is now behind me.

Nasa isang mahabang hallway na kami ng 6th floor papunta sa office niya pero hindi pa rin siya tumitigil sa kakatanong tungkol kay Gavin. Samantalang tahimik naman ako at abala sa kakaisip ng pwedeng mangyari kapag nagharap na kami ng boss ko.

"Seryuso ka?" Walang gana kong tanong sa kaniya.

"Oo naman, seryuso yong tanong ko kasing seryuso ko sayo." He even winked.

"Tss, tigilan mo ako. Wala akong plano maging isa sa mga laruan mo, Kyden."

"Ouch naman grabe ka sa akin, Zebe! Para mo namang sinabing ang sama kong tao." He acted hurt and even held his chest.

I just shook my head and didn't reply anymore.

"So ano nga, Zebe? Boyfriend mo ba 'yon? Ex? Manliligaw? TOTGA?" Sunod-sunod pa niyang tanong ulit. Wala talagang plano akong tantanan!

"Totga?" I repeated.

"Oo, TOTGA. The one that got away, Zeb. Hahaha." He laughed out loud.

"Tss! Ang dami mong alam, Kyden. Alam mo kung nagkataong hindi kita dating nakilala, baka napaniwala mo pa ako kanina sa mga kilos mo roon."

"Hahaha! Yon ba? Sus, wala lang 'yon. Hindi mo kasi naitatanong may acting skills ako e." He boasts.

I just whirled my eyes at him and started walking again.

"Hindi seryuso na, Zebe. Kaano-ano mo si Goblin ba 'yon?"

Pangungulit pa niya ulit habang tinutulungan akong bitbitin ang ilang malalaking plastic na may lamang mga groceries.

"Gavin." I corrected.

"Ah oo, Gavin pala!"

"Oo."

"Anong oo?"

Ang daldal!

"Anak ng dati naming Boss sa snack bar. Gusto niya ako pero hindi ko siya gusto. Si Anna lang,"

"What about Gail?" He's now curious.

"Gustong-gusto siya ni Anna, hinahabol-habol pa. Kaso pinagtutulakan niya papalayo."

"You're gonna be kidding me?!" He asked in disbelief.

"Tss, you're asking me earlier about it, now you won't believe me." I said in sarcasm.

"Hmm, until now pa rin ba?" His tone change into a serious one.

"Hindi ko alam. Si Anna nalang ang tanungin mo total mukhang close naman na kayo." Sagot ko nalang bago tananguan siyang magpatuloy na ulit sa paglalakad.

Tumango naman siya pabalik bago naglakad ulit ng tahimik. Sumunod naman ako sa kaniya hanggang sa makarating kami sa tapat ng isang napakalaking pictuan sa pinakadulo ng hallway. Mukhang ito na 'yon!

I instantly compose myself again and inhale a huge amount of air.

"We're here." He said as if he was not joking around earlier.

"Hindi ka ba sasama papasok?" I turned to look at him.

"Hindi na may pupuntahan pa pala ako."

"Okay, ingat." Yon lang ang sinabi ko at napatango naman siya sa akin bago nilagay sa gilid ang mga groceries ng tahimik.

He pressed something on the side and unlocked the door using his code. We were both silent for a minute. His silence is unusual right now. I wonder if the thing I told him a while ago between Anna and Gavin has something to do with his silence. Well, it's not worth to think. When I heard the door open, I don't waste time. I fastly get in, though I felt nervous a bit.