Chapter 20
"Lei, can I court you?"
Okay.
A moment of silence for my slow brain.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Now, what was that again?
"Ano 'yon?" I asked. I couldn't smile. Baka kasi prank? O baka kasi namali lang ako ng rinig. So I had to ask him again. Para di ako magmukhang tanga.
Though I already looked like a fool right now.
He smiled. Para bang ang saya-saya niya. "I want to court you."
Shet na malandi. I wasn't just hearing things, right? He's saying he wants to court me, right?
"Okay, I'm sorry. Nabigla ata kita," he grumbled. Now he looked like a shy kid.
"Oo. Konti," parang tangang sagot ko. "Pero tama naman 'yong narinig ko diba? Na... gusto mo akong ligawan?" I asked. Nahiya pa ako. But I just want to clarify things. Baka mamaya mali pala 'yong narinig ko at nagha-hallucinate lang pala ako dito.
"Yes, you heard it right," nakangiti niyang sagot.
Now that was sure.
Fudge!!!!
I pursed my lips. Kapag hindi ko ginawa 'yon, baka magtitili na ako dito. Kasi gusto ko na talagang tumili at sumigaw at magpagulong-gulong sa saya. Shet, ito na 'yon! Nangyayari na ang pinaka-pinapangarap ko!
"Lei?" He called. He was looking intently at me. Nakalimutan kong nagtatanong siya and I need to answer. Pero shems, anong isasagot ko?
Okay, ligawan mo na ako!
Go Andrei! I've been waiting for this!
Wag ka nang manligaw! Tayo na agad!
Yes na yes, Andrei!
Ugh. Parang baliw.
"Take your time thinking," he said, smiling. "Ah, right. I'll still court you even if you say no," he added. He then began eating. Nakangiti pa.
Napatulala na lang ako kay Andrei. Is he for real?
"Kumain ka na," he said when he saw me staring. "Ba't ka kasi hindi kumain kanina? I felt guilty."
"Hindi rin naman kasi ako gutom kanina."
"Lei," he called.
Tingin lang ang tanging nagawa ko. Hindi na nga ako katalinuhan, mas lalo pa akong nabobobo sa tuwing tinatawag niya ako sa pangalan ko. There was something in the way he calls me.
"I don't like it when you're starving yourself. Ang payat mo na nga, magpapalipas ka pa ng gutom?" Pangangaral niya. Pero ewan ko ba. Hearing him saying all these things suddenly made me smile. Ang sweet lang. "Why?" He asked when he saw me smiled.
Napayuko ako and smiled secretly again. "Kapag nagsimula kang manligaw, dapat sabay tayong kumain when we have the chance para may gana akong kumain."
Shet na malandi. Ang landi ko.
I didn't hear anything from Andrei. Kaya I looked up. Then I saw him looking at me and smiling. Napansin ko ring medyo namumula ang mukha niya. Pati ako tuloy ay nakaramdam na rin ng init sa mukha.
"Okay," he replied.
Ito na talaga 'yon. Hindi na mapipigilan. Manliligaw ko na si Andrei!
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