Get Through the Night (ACATN Book 2)

Chapter 12

Chapter 12
"Best"

"I need your contact number," he says, sounds like a demand.

I tear my gaze off the flower. I lift my face to meet his gaze. May munting ngiti pa sa labi ko. "For what?"

That made him arch one brow before responding. "To communicate."

I was a bit absent minded dahil nga saglit na natuon sa bouquet ang isip. Tumitig ako sa kanya, may halong pagtatanong.

"Why? You don't want to give your number?"

I pulled myself together. "No. Uh, I'll just get my calling card." My eyes roam around the café searching for Lita. May hawak siyang calling card ko.

"You don't memorize your digits?"

"Ah, kabisado naman."

He slid his hand on the pocket of his jeans. Sa paglabas nito hawak niya na ang isang itim na phone. He unlocks it and clicks on one of the applications.

"Here," aniya nang inumang sa akin ang cellphone niya. "Type it here."

Kinuha ko iyon at may pagmamadaling inalala muna ang phone number ko bago iyon itipa. I handed back his phone after I was done.

He raised his phone a bit to see my number, it was quick.

"What name would you like me to input here?"

I was trying my best not to frown kahit medyo nakakalito siya. But then my heart hammers as a part of my brain feeds me answer that is very uncalled for. At sobrang nakakahiya pa! Saan ba galing iyon?

His lips twitched. Napadako tuloy doon ang mga mata ko. Agad din akong umayos.

"I-Ikaw na ang bahala," sabi ko habang nilalabanan ang panunuyo ng lalamunan ko. "Puwede namang Polka na lang. P-Puwede ring buong pangalan. It's up to you. Pa'no ka ba maglagay ng c-contact name?"

"Hmm..." He started typing with one hand.

I took the chance to check the people kung may nakaligtaan akong lapitan at kausapin. Para na rin magkaroon na ako ng excuse na tapusin itong pag-uusap namin. How long have we been talking? Umabot na ba sa limang minuto?

Binalik niya ang phone sa bulsa niya. Nasa akin na ulit ang mga mata niya.

"Hindi mo ba kukunin ang number ko?" tanong niya.

Dapat ba?

Of course! I need his money... Hindi ganoon ka kailangan pero makakatulong. Iyon 'yon.

"Ayos lang ba?"

He looks at me with amusement. He looks at me as if he is thinking of something funny. Ano naman kaya iyon? At bakit ako nag-aabala pang i-interpret ang bawat reaksyon niya?

"I didn't change my number."

I still memorize his number. I swallowed sharply as I hesitate to pretend that I no longer remember it. Sa titig niya nga lang sa akin tila alam niya na. Kaya wala ring silbi kong magpapanggap ako.

"What time do you prefer me to contact you?"

"Anytime. Any day."

"Kahit hating gabi, puwede?" Dapat ay sa isip ko lang iyon pero kusa nang nanulas sa bibig ko. Siyempre, hindi puwedeng sa ganoong oras dahil napaka unprofessional na, istorbo pa. At bakit naman ako tatawag ng ganoong oras kung sakali? I hate how my thoughts get so stupid most of the time.

"I'm just kidding," agap ko. "I will message you as soon as possible, Engineer."

"I'll expect that."

Hindi na rin nadugtungan pa ang usapan namin. Tinawag ako ni Mommy dahil siyang pagdating ng Ninang kong imbetado rin.