Fragmented Rhapsody

Fragment 03

03
Convenience Store

"So, you also shoot?" pagbasag ko sa katahimikan habang pinapanood ang kaniyang mga kamay na maingat na nagbubukas ng mga cup noodles na aming binili. Sinunod naman niyang hugutin ang mga rekado galing sa loob at inilapag ito sa ibabaw ng lamesa.

"Swinerte lang yung tira ko kanina," inosente niyang sagot. I frowned at that. He picked up the two cups and placed them under the hot water machine. He's waiting for the cups to be full. Hinarap niya rin ako ng may ngisi sa labi.

Pinalipas ko ang pabalang niyang sagot at hindi na siya hinarap. Ayoko na makipag-talo sa taong ito because it would just be a waste of time. Marahan akong sumandal sa lamesa at pinasadahan ang kabuuan ng convenience store bago humalukipkip.

I don't usually go to places like this. It's too bustling and buzzy for my own liking. Maraming tao masiyado at sa oras na malaman ni Papa na nagpupunta ako sa mga lugar na tulad nito, tinitiyak kong wala ng susunod na pagkakataon pa. 

He always warns me not to go to places that are too crowded, or where public is most expected to gather around. 

 However, despite of the potential danger, I found myself agreeing with Octavian. Besides, I'm with him. He's not a threat to my safety but to my mental health, yes. We rode on his Ducati and decided to stop over to have an early dinner because we were both hungry.

 I though we could eat in a fine resto but we didn't. All of the dining stalls we passed by were already full and occupied, and we can't afford to wait and stay any longer. Mayroon pa kaming klase at ito na talaga ang pinakamabilis na paraan. Cup noodles can save the night. 

"Let's go," rinig kong sabi niya. "Sa labas tayo, puno na rito sa loob..."

Tumango lamang ako at naunang maglakad. Kasalanan ko kung bakit wala na kaming maupuan para kumain. I could have looked for a seat earlier and let him prepare our food alone but I didn't. I hate to admit it but I'm a bit anxious that I'm out to places like this. Although I go to Ampersand, the fact that I always inform Papa about it is safe – because I knew he would always have one bodyguard or two to tail me in case something happens.

Bago ko pa mabuksan ang pinto palabas sa store ay naunahan na ako ng siko ni Octavian. Walang hirap niyang sinangga ang kaniyang siko para mabuksan ang pinto habang hawak-hawak ang dalawang mainit na pagkain. Tinignan ko lamang siya at tinaasan ng kilay.

I heaved out a long breath before following his steps out of the place. Paglabas ko, the cold breeze momentarily froze me on my position because I'm just wearing a t-shirt. Nagamit ko na ang long-sleeve ko kanina at ito na lamang  ang natitira. 

I gathered my long brown hair forward and draped it over my shoulders. Nilamig ako bigla at buti na lang mahaba ang aking buhok kaya pwede siyang pansangga sa lamig. Tinanaw ko kung asan na ang lalaking kasama ko at agad namang nagtama ang aming tingin.

Mariin siyang nakatitig sa akin na para bang kanina pa niya ginagawa ito. He puckered his lips upon sensing what just happened. With knotted eyebrows, he jerked his head towards a certain direction and I swear he looked fucking hot on that movement. His hair swayed with his head, outlining his sharp jaw and supple neck.

Realizing that I praised him too much in my mind, I averted my gaze and neared him. 

Agad na rin akong umupo sa sinasabi niyang pwesto at kinuha agad ang cup noodles ko sa kaniya pagkalapag niya nito sa lamesa. Napapalibutan kami ng mga customer din na kumakain tulad namin. Some are students reviewing, others are plainly eating by themselves, mayroon ding mga tumutungga ng beer at higit sa lahat, ang daming...couples.