K A T A R I N A (•GXG•)

54.

K

"Baby, ano bang maganda? Ito..." Tinuro ko 'yung stack ng pang paint at 'yung mga nasa kabila nito. "O ito?" Nakangiti naman si Andrea at umaktong nag- iisip nang malalim.

Kinurot ko siya saka tinanong ulit. Nasa National Bookstore kami ngayon. Pahinga ko sa company namin. My parents are needed for a meeting so there wouldn't be any work getting involved in the office today. Gah, finally. More time with my girlfriend.

Fiancée.

I smiled at the thought.

Nagulat ako nang parehas kunin ni Andrea 'yung pinagpipilian ko. "Para wala nang pag- isipan pa. Parehas nating kunin okay?"

"Noooo." I refused. "Gusto kong pumili ka."

Then she stared at me.

Kinuha niya iyong kamay ko at hinawakan nang mahigpit.

"Tara. Babayaran kita sa cashier." Sinimangutan ko siya at tumawa naman siyang malakas. "Biro lang. Ikaw naman kasi. Parehas nga natin bilhin para masubukan rin anong mas maganda. Okay baby?"

Well, she had a point naman.

After we paid for it, pumunta muna kaming Starbucks to get ourselves our somehow daily dose of coffee. This is our usual date. Madalas sa bahay lang kami, dahil marami akong gawain na kailangan tapusin para sa company namin, and of course her, she also has things to accomplish on her own. Medyo busy din siya lately. I just normally ask how she's been doing. Minsan lang din siya magkatime para magdate kami ng ganito, sa labas.

"So, how does painting make you feel?" She asked, leaving my train of thoughts.

"I feel a little more relaxed whenever I do paint." Sagot ko sakanya. She held my hand whilst staring into my eyes. "That...that one does make me feel really light baby."

She smiled. "Mahal kita."

"I do love you too." I told her in return.

"Huwag mo masyado pinapagod katawan mo sa trabaho, okay?" Pinagsasabihan nanaman niya ako. Hmmmp. "Magpapahinga ka lagi. It's better to take rest from time to time."

I rolled my eyes at her. "Makapagsalita. Pero pag nag- aano tayo, wala akong naririnig na ganyan sa'yo."

Nanlaki ang mata niya.

I smirked in return.

Oh my! I want to laugh so hard pero nasa coffee shop kami at nakakahiya kung tatawanan ko siya nang malakas sa loob.

"Stop making fun of me. Damn it!" I hear her cursing more under her breath. "We're not talking about that."

Nagiging seryoso ang mukha niya at mas lalo akong natatawa. Mukhang may paghihiganting magaganap nanaman.

Mabilis niyang binago ang usapan. "Tito said mahilig kraw magpaint ng iba't ibang klase ng sky." Oh, napag- usapan pala nila ang pagpapaint ko. I didn't know about that.

"Yes. I find myself oddly fascinated with that." Sagot ko. "You know, like, how the clouds usually form."

"So usually, ang pinapaint mo ay 'yung mga sky na pa- ulan?"

I furrowed my eyebrows at her question. "What do you mean?"

"Kasi diba? Tuwing nag- aano tayo. Madalas ganoon 'yung panahon."