UNLOVED.

07

Stalker

"Goodevening, Ma'am. May I have your order?" Tanong ng babaeng waitress. Ako ang kausap pero nakay Jacob ang tingin.

Mabuti na lang at may cap ako, hindi niya ako nakikilala.

"I'll have one mocha frappuccino with 2 pumps of caramel syrup." Sabi ko tsaka nilingon si Jacob na umiinom ng coffee niya.

"Yun lang po ba, Ma'am?" Tanong muli ng waitress dahilan para mapunta muli ang atensyon ko sa kanya. She's still looking at Jacob.

"Yes, thank you," pagkasabi ko non ay umalis na siya.

"Are you busy? Sorry for wasting your time. It not my intention to drop my wallet that day. I was in a hurry." I said.

"It's fine." Uminom muli siya ng kape.

"Uh... H-how are y-you?" Hindi naman siguro masama kung tatanungin ko siya diba?

Tumikhim ako. "Uh, sorry, I should've not ask-"

"I'm fine." Simpleng sagot niya.

Ilang minuto pa akong naghintay, umasang magtatanong rin siya sakin.

"How about me? H-hindi mo ba ako tatanungin kung kamusta na ba ako?" Nagulat ako dahik kusang lumabas sa bibig ko iyon.

Damn it, Aeri. What the hell are you doing?! Its so embarrasing. Gosh!

"I wasn't planning to ask you but, sige, how are you?" Seryosong tanong niya.

"G-good." Napapahiya na ako shit.

Kinapa niya ang coat niya at may kinuha sa bulsa niyon. It was my wallet. Nilapag niya iyon sa table at inilagay sa harap ko.

"Sorry, hindi na ako magtatagal. I have to go now. I just went here to give you this." Tumayo na siya. Nanatili lang akong nakatingin sa kanya.

"Thank you, Jacob." I sincerely said.

He just nod at me. "Btw, Congrats, I heared you got engaged with Architect Elisha Gonzales. Best wishes for the both of you. I'll go now." Aniya tsaka dirediretsong naglakad paalis. He didn't let me talk.

Pero when he said that, I saw anger and pain in his eyes. Hindi ko inakalang magkikita kami ulit. Hindi ko rin inakalang sinlamig niya ang yelo.

"Ma'am, here js your order." The waitress said.

"Where is the bill, Miss?"

"Uhm, binayaran na po ni Engineer Jacob Ma'am." Aniya na may halong landi sa boses.

Napairap ako sa kawalan. "Oh, okay. Thank you."

Tumayo na ako at umalis sa coffee shop. Buti na lang nasa plastic cup yung order ko at hindi ko na kailangang ipatake out.

Since malapit kang dito ang condo ko, mabilis akong nakauwi.

Kumain ako ng dinner tsaka nagshower. After kong gawin ang usual night routine ko, humiga na ako sa kama habang kausap ko si Elisha.

"How's your day?" He asked.

"Fine. Nakakapagod. How about you? Did the conference went well?"

"Yeah, I had the chance to meet other famous and greatest Architects in Asia. I really enjoyed talking with them. They were all kind and friendly."