Once In Katipunan

Chapter 05

"Hey, you look so uncomfortable, are you ok?" Mapanuksong tanong ng driver ko.

We've been travelling for half of an hour already, hindi ko alam kung saan niya ako balak dalhin.

It was a coinsidence to compliment each other with our clothes. He's wearing a light blue Lacoste short sleeves polo with a pair of maong pants and white sneakers. We looked like a couple.

Kanina pa ako nakatingin lang sa dinaraanan namin at iniiwasang tumingin sa kaniya. Pa'no ba naman kasi, bigla bigla nalang babanat nag gano'n, para tuloy akong uod na binudburan ng asin pero pinipigilan ang sariling mangisay.

"Tumigil ka na nga, just drive, ok!" Kunwaring inis na sabi ko, kahit na kanina ay para na akong kamatis sa sobrang pagkapula.

"Why, baby? What's wrong?" Tukso niya. I glared at him before answering.

"Isang tawag mo pa ng baby, bababa ako ng sasakyan mo!" Banta ko sa kaniya na mahina niya namang ikinatawa.

"Ok, I'll stop. Just erase that grumpy look on your face, you look like you're ready to rip someone's neck." Tawa niya.

"Anong like? Tototohanin ko talaga kapag hindi ka pa nanahimik diyan. Saan mo ba ako dadalhin?"

"We'll going to Intramuros." He said before looking back to the road.

"Huh? Bakit doon?" Takang tanong ko.

"I don't know. I just want to feel the nostalgia lingering on the place. Like, I just feel that I'm also set to mark my own history in that place." Aniya.

Ako naman ay litong lito sa mga sinasabi niya.

"Ewan ko sa'yo, dami mong alam." Sabi ko nalang.

Since we've started travelling, the atmosphere didn't felt different, except for that uneasy feeling that I have because of his sudden compliments and flirty advances.

Hindi ko rin naman uurungan sana yung mga panlalandi niya dahil sanay rin ako do'n. Hindi ko lang magawa ngayong sabayan siya dahil masyadong nakabibigla ang mga salitang lumalabas sa labi niya.

In just a few minutes with France, I already felt assured that he wasn't really the kind of man I used to think he is. He's actually the opposite of what I accused him.

He's a gentleman, he never stopped asking me if I need anything while we're on our way. He also talk to me like we knew each other for a long time, but I know that he just want to make me feel comfortable with his company, which I admittedly say I am. I am actually enjoying his company.

I got used with his teasing remarks he was blabbering since from the start. He's just too talkative and he really didn't stop from talking.

What I also like about him is that he never brought the mall incident into the topic. He probably thinks that it might trigger trauma from me so he just didn't bring it up. It's admiring because he really seems to value sensitivity in an utmost degree.

"Matanong ko lang," he eyed me a little when I talked. "Paano ka pala napunta sa mall nung gabing 'yun?" I curiously inquired.

"I was with my friends that time,"

"With Armand?" Singit ko.

"Yeah, and how did you know that I have a friend named Armand?" Kunot noo niyang tanong.

"I just knew. Sige na sagutin mo na ako." Pagbabalik ko sa usapan kanina.

"Okay sige, tayo na."

Nanlalaki ang mata at asar ko siyang binalingan ng tingin na agad naman niyang ikinatawa.