Running After The Dusk

01

Halt

"The number you have dialed.... "

Napasapo ako sa noo ko nang marinig ko ang boses sa kabilang linya. It's almost 7pm and yet I still can't see any single shadow of Kleo. Tumingin ako sa mga basong nakabalandra sa harapan ko, pangatlong mango shake ko na pero kahit dulo ng buhok niya ay di ko pa namamataan.

Inis kong ibinaba ko ang telepono ko at nagpagsyang maghintay uli ng ilang minuto. I looked at the view outside the window and let out a sigh.

This place has always been so peaceful. Wala kang maririnig kundi mga nagkakantahang ibon at kalmadong hampas ng hangin, dagdag na din siguro ang mala classical na kanta na pinapatugtog ng restaurant.

"Halt! Sorry I'm late, I still have to prepare a lot for the party tomorrow." My eyes shifted to the woman sitting infront of me.

I was right.

It was her, casually placing her bag down the chair beside. Inirapan ko siya bago ilipat ang mga basong nasa harapan namin sa kabilang lamesa.

"You're always like this." I uttered, exhaling a large amount of air.

She smiled before raising her hand to order, agad rin namang lumapit ang waiter sa amin at ngumiti.

"Yeah, and you're used to waiting?"  Umiling na lang ako bago pasadahan ng tingin ang daanan. It's a peaceful night and I don't wanna pick a fight with her dahil paniguradong magbabangayan lang kaming dalawa kaso parehas naman kaming hindi nagpapatalo. Perhaps, we might end up pushing ourselves on the terrace and laugh on who's gonna fall first.

"A salad will do, how about you?"

Napakunot ako ng noo bago ibalik ang tingin ko sa kanya. The peaceful thoughts running through my head was immediately replaced with a disgusted one. I stared at Kleo, obviously questioning her ngunit nakaawang ang bibig niya na tila bang hindi magets ang mukha ko.

Duh?

A salad for dinner?

Who the hell would eat that at this hour?

"I waited for almost an hour tapos salad lang pala order mo? edi sana nagpadeliver nalang tayo sa bahay n'yo."

Tumawa siya. "Today is a strict day for my diet. I can't eat too much." Inilipat niya ang menu sa kabilang page bago ibalik yun sa waiter. Hinintay ko siyang magsalita kung anong order ko.

"Anyway, give her a steak, I'm sure she's been craving for that." Kleo lazily pointed me before giving the waiter a smile. Nag bow naman agad ang babae bago umalis.

Agad na lumiwanag ang mata ko at ngumiti sakanya. She really knows my weakest point, the steak.

"Whatever."

Kleo and I were always like this ever since the freshman year. Kung anong order n'ya, yun din ang order ko. Maybe because I'm too lazy to look at the menu and I don't have the time to choose. Nakakainis kasi tumingin lalo pag gutom ka. The moment you open the menu you saw pizza and then the other page carbonara naman. Di ko tuloy alam kung ano kakainin ko, I might end up ordering all the food that is listed on the menu.

"Seriously, what took you so long?" Tanong ko habang iniinom ang mango shake na kanina pang nakalapag sa mesa. Medyo sabaw na rin ang lasa dahil matagal nang nahanginan but I don't bother and just took a sip on it – sayang naman kung itatapon.

"Had to check the venue for tomorrow. It should at least be perfect." She took a sigh as she leaned her back. Tiredness also covered her voice, mukhang pinaghandaan niya nga talaga ang magiging debut niya.