Every Game

Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Peace

We had lunch together. As usual, it was a treat by the most generous person I've known. It was not as luxurious as before but still quite pricey. Unlike the last time, we spent longer in that resto. We talked about the favor I asked.

"Why not just tell them the truth?" He raised his thick eyebrows.

I shook my head as I sipped on the glass of water. As if naman hindi ko pa naisip 'yon. But I can't... I won't. Hindi naman importanteng malaman nila dahil alam kong balang araw ay maaalis din ito. I know this won't last. So, why bother?

"You don't need to do anything, don't you worry." I gave him an assuring smile. "Pwede kang hindi magsalita habang andyan sila. You can either smile, nod and smile again. No need to talk."

He groaned. "You know that I can't stay long not talking. Saka hindi ba mas suspicious 'yon? Baka akala nila ay napipilitan lang ako at hindi kita mahal."

"Mahal?" Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "Hindi mo ba maintindihan? Hindi mo kailangang mag-act na boyfriend material. You don't need to be those guys in fictional stories. Just your presence is enough."

He eyed me, lazily.

"How about kiss?" He smirked. "I think one kiss can eradicate their doubts. I mean... We did it before. I wouldn't mind doing it again."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Kinuha ko ang table napkin sa lamesa at itinapon 'yon sa kanya. Imbes na mainis ito ay mas nilawakan niya pa ang kanyang ngiti.

Yeah, boy. You have a dashing smile that can magically captivate easy-to-get girls. I yield about that.

"I wonder how many girls have been captivated by that smile?" I suddenly got curious. "Sigurado naman ako na may mas maganda sa akin---"

"Who says you're beautiful?"

I rolled my eyes, ignoring that insult.

"My Dad and Mom," I mentally answered his question,

"Bakit ako ang napili mo? I mean, to play this game," I asked.

Pinagsalikop niya ang kamay sa ibabaw ng lamesa at bahagyang dumungaw papunta sa akin. Pinaningkitan niya ang mukha ko na parang sinusuri ang bawat detalye nito. It felt awkward but I fought the urge to look away.

"You have that beautiful small eyes," he muttered. "Those deluding lips, small and pointed nose." He nodded his head before leaning on the chair, still looking at me. "I like your hair too. Yeah, nothing special about you. But I was running out of time that time to be choosy. Ikaw lang ang pag-asa kong maituloy ang game. Kung hindi ka pumayag siguro no'n ay malamang na failed na agad ang first task."

I ignored his description of mine and focused on the three last sentence. "Naka-time limit ka no'n?" paglilinaw ko. "Nasaktuhan mo ako sa daan? Wala kang choice? Kaya napilitan ka lang?"

"Yep! Yeah. Yes. Yah."

"Pero kailangan ba talaga babae ang kasama mo? Can't it be a friend? Lalaking kaibigan? Don't you think that would be better. Hindi ka na mahihirapang pakiusap---"

"I have no friends," he cut me out.

Ilang segundo akong natahimik. "You're kidding me, aren't you?"

"Why make friends? Do you really have to invest feelings for those extra baggage in your life? Life is a long journey full of different branches, not everyone will come your way. So... Why bother?"

I nodded my head. I respect his perspective about that.

"Can I say something about that?"

He laughed. "Spill it out."