How to Avoid Heartbreaks

2

"Ahem," Oceanne and her other brother both faked a cough.

I averted my gaze from the intimidating brother to the younger one. His eyes darted from me to his older brother with an amused expression on his face. They both shared a knowing look before he introduced himself.

"Nice to meet you, Otello," I said, offering a hand. "London here."

"Why didn't you shake hands with my kuya?" aniya kaya agad kong nilahad ang kamay sa kuya niya.

Siniko ni Oceanne ang nakababatang kapatid habang si Orion naman ay nakipagkamayan sa akin. Agad kong binawi ang kamay nang may maramdamang kakaiba. Hindi pa nakatulong ang pa ubo-ubo ni Oceanne at Otello.

Kalma lang, self! Huwag magpadala sa kagwapuhan niya!

"Crush mo noh?" bulong ni Oceanne. Siniko ko ang baliw ngunit tumawa lang ito at pinaupo na kami.

Magkatabi kami ni Oceanne at kaharap ko naman si Orion. We waited for their parents who, according to Otello, were still dealing with their staffs downstairs.

The rooftop restaurant that we're in is actually owned by their family. Huli ko nang nalaman na may-ari pala ng mga hotels at condominiums ang pamilya nila. The condominium I'm staying are actually theirs as well!

Habang naghihintay, panay ang bulong ng kaibigan sa akin ng kung ano-ano. Ang dalawa niyang kapatid ay may sariling mundo at mahinang nag-uusap. Sumulyap ako sa kanila at mukhang seryoso ang usapan nila kaya itinuon ko na lang ang atensyon kay Oceanne.

"So, bet mo?" aniya.

Bigla kong natandaan ang list kaya agad akong umiling, alam na ang isasagot.

"Hindi ko nga siya type!" mahina ngunit may diin kong bulong.

Rule #1:

Never admit that you have a crush on someone or you're starting to like someone.

Okay lang magkaroon ako ng crush, pero hindi ko yun pwedeng aminin sa sarili ko na crush ko nga yung tao. It's like Iknow within myself that I "like" someone but I didn't actually tell myself that "I like him". And as long as hindi ko 'yon sinabi sa sarili ko, safe ako.

The first rule is really essential because most of the time, after I follow this, my feelings usually fade afterwards. At isa pa, kung aaminin ko sa sarili ko na like or crush ko nga ang isang tao, whether I like it or not, mag-iiba talaga ang kilos ko. Magiging awkward ang pakikitungo ko sa kaniya.

At kung aaminin ko sa sarili ko na may gusto ako, ang susunod kong gagawin ay, siyempre, ipagsasabi ko 'yon sa mgakaibigan ko at sure akong tutuksuhin ako ni Oceanne hanggang sa malaman ng lahat.

At isa pa, mas madaling ideny na wala nga akong gusto sa isang tao kapag hindi ko 'yon unang inamin sa sarili.

Bigong ngumuso ang kaibigan sa narinig. Hindi nagtagal, dumating na rin ang kanilang mga magulang. Mabait ang mag-asawang Alvarez ngunit madaldal. Mula noong nagsimula kaming kumain, chikka na nang chikka si tita Viella.

"So, London, you said you'll be studying at MIT and your parents are in another state. So saan ka nakatira? Do you have a condo? Are you living alone?" aniya at nagtataka akong tinitigan.

"Yes po. I'm actually staying in one of your condominiums."

Mangha itong tumango-tango, may kakaibang ngiti sa kaniyang labi. "That's nice! Orion here kasi is also finding a place near that area since may bagong building kaming pinapagawa and he's the one in charge in making sure that everything's going well."

"Maybe you should get the unit next to London's," she suggested, bringing her attention to her eldest. "Or maybe you're looking for a flat mate, London. Para hindi ka ma homesick!" Pabalik-balik ang kaniyang tingin sa aming dalawa ni Orion.

What? Flat mate?

Naku po, tita! Kayo ang may-ari ng building tas ipapa-hati mo pa ang condo ko sa anak mo?

"I don't mind living alone po," I declined politely.

"Oh, it's fine." She waved her hand dismissively and turned her attention to Orion. "But you really should get a unit in that building. I'm sure you and London would vibe well."

"We'll see, ma," maikling sagot ni Orion bago kinuha ang glass ng wine.

Tita Viella then brought her attention back to me again. "And oh, you're an engineering student, right? Maybe you want to go to the site. I mean, I think it would be beneficial for you. Orion here could just pick you up and you two could go to the site together."

I wanted to reply but no words came out since I honestly don't know what to say. And even if I have something to say, I still wouldn't be able to say something since tita Viella spoke again.

"Don't worry, Orion is a gentleman. And he's also friendly. I'm sure you'll be entertained by him," aniya na nagpa-ubo-ubo sa kaharap ko na nasamid yata.

Hindi na napigilan ni Oceanne ang tawa at humalakhak na. Ganoon din ang ginawa ni tito Orchie at Otello.

"What? I was just suggesting," ani tita Viella na napakamot ng ulo.

Anong klaseng pag-eentertain po ba ang pinag-uusapan natin, tita?

At bakit parang interesado ako?

Napangisi ako sa naisip at mukhang nakita iyon ni Orion na nahuli kong nakatingin sa akin. Agad niyang binawi ang tingin at inubos sa isang lagok ang basong puno ng wine. He licked his lips and I shamelessly stared while he did. My eyes seemed to be stuck at him and I couldn't avert my gaze.

Nabalik lang ako sa wisyo nang mahina akong kinurot ni Oceanne sa braso. Huli ko nang napagtanto na lahat sila ay nakatingin pala sa akin habang nakatulala ako kay Orion.

Naramdaman ko ang pagkahiya at parang gusto ko nalang magtago sa ilalim ng mesa. I acted like nothing happened and brought the glass of wine to my mouth instead.

"Here." Napaigtad ako nang inabot ni Orion sa akin ang bote ng wine. Napatingin ako sa glass at nakitang wala pala iyong laman!

From my peripheral view, I saw Oceanne smirking. Kagat labi kong pinatong ang glass sa mesa at sinalinan iyon ni Orion ng wine. Hindi ako makatingin sa kaniya dahil sa kahihiyan at tinuon ang pansin sa mga kamay.

"T-thanks," I stuttered, glancing at him, a boyish grin on his face.

I cleared my throat, hoping it would take the awkwardness away. Oceanne, on the other hand, really wanted this to happen so she voiced out how good Orion and I would look like as a couple.

Buti na lang at dumating na ang cake at kinantahan ng birthday song si Oceanne kaya napatigil siya sa panunukso. We ate desserts and continued chatting. Good thing the topic wasn't about me nor Orion.

Nang lumalim na ang gabi, napagdesisyunan namin na umalis. I thanked tita and tito for the warm welcome, earning a hug from tita Viella. Niyakap din ako ni Oceanne habang kumaway-kaway sina tito at Otello. Ang seryosong Orion naman ay nanatiling nakatingin sa gilid at hindi man lang ako tiningnan.

Tsk! Wala bang kahit isang "bye" diyan? I thought, disappointed.

I waved at them for the last time before going inside my car and drove home. After I took a half bath, I threw myself down on the bed and covered myself with the duvet.

Pagod akong humikab ngunit hindi pa ako dinadalaw ng antok. Biglang lumitaw ang mukha ni Orion sa isipan ko at dahil don, mas lalo lang akong hindi nakatulog.