"We are going out on a date."
Nabingi ako sa mga salitang binigkas ni Gian kina Faye at Mimi. Hindi ko alam ang sasabihin ko kaya natahimik ako matapos sabihin iyon ni Gian. I started feeling somewhat nervous and my legs were trembling. Why did he say that? My cheeks were burning and I am out of words to speak.
A part of me says I wanted to hear and accept those words from him. Another side of me says I am afraid of commitment. Ito ang unang pagkakataong may isang lalaking lumapit sa akin at nagsabing he wanted to go out with me. At first, I thought it was a simple going out between friends. Now, he meant like going out? As boyfriend-girlfriend?
Napatingin ako kina Faye at Mimi para tignan din ang reaksyon nila. Nakatitig lang sila sa akin, parehong nakataas ang isang kilay at naka-krus ang mga braso. I was about to explain myself when the intro of the movie had started and we faced the front view. Now I need to tell them everything after this.
Naging tahimik na kaming lahat at nag-focus sa panonood. Nag-ayos ako ng upo at nakaramdam ng goosebumps sa intro pa lang ng movie na papanoorin namin. Sana lang hindi gaanong nakakatakot itong movie dahil ayaw na ayaw ko ang genre na ito. Wala lang talaga kaming choice ni Gian kaya napili namin 'to.
I remained speechless and distracted myself from the movie by eating the food we bought earlier and by drinking my soda. A few minutes had passed, and the air condition inside the theater started blewing a freezing temperature. Napatingin sa akin si Gian nang makita niya akong nanginginig pero walang kibo.
I saw him removing his sweater and noticed that he was actually wearing long sleeves inside it. He lent me his sweater and I didn't refuse anymore because I might die of coldness. "Thank you," I whispered as I wore his sweater. It smelled a lot like him that's why I buried my face in it.
"True ba na nakakatakot itong pinapanood natin? Akala ko kasi Romance ang theme nito dahil sa ka-sweet-an ng dalawang iyon," I heard Mimi say and even pointed at me. Masama ko silang tinignan pero nagpatuloy na ulit sila sa panonood.
Sa tuwing may susulpot na nakakatakot na scene sa screen, hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili ko na mahawakan ang kamay ni Gian na nakapatong sa chair niya. Mukhang hindi naman siya affected at ayos lang sa kaniya. I saw him smiling and then held my one hand with the both of his hands. His big hands were caging mine but they somewhat gave warmth towards my body.
"Your hands are sweaty," he whispered to me. I almost took them back but he held them tight, assuring me it's alright. Ganito kasi ako kapag sobrang kabado na. Nagbabasa ang kamay ko kasi hindi ako mapakali. "Are you comfortable?" tanong niya sa akin na kaagad ko namang tinanguan.
Whenever there's a jumpscare scene, I am holding onto Gian's hands tight. I noticed he wasn't even scared and he kept on smiling though he isn't looking my way. Ilang pang minuto ang lumipas at natapos na rin sa wakas ang movie. I didn't notice I was still holding Gian's hand until the end. When I realized, I took them back inmediately when he stared my way.
"Bakit ang dami yatang langgam dito?" tanong ni Faye na kunwari ay inaapakan ang sahig na may langgam. Tumayo na silang dalawa at inayos ang pagkakasakbit ng kanilang mga bag. "Kasi nga, may nakita silang matamis. Sino ba namang hindi lalapitan ng langgam kung gano'n?" segunda naman ni Mimi. Nagtawanan lang sila atsaka na naglakad palabas ng aisle ng mga upuan.
Tahimik na sumunod kami ni Gian sa kanila kung saan man nila balak magpunta. Tumigil kami sa harap ng Starbucks, mukhang balak bumili nina Faye at Mimi kaya parang mapapabili na rin ako. I cannot resist coffee. Pumasok na kami at tahimik lang din si Gian na naglakad, nakasunod lang sa likuran ko.
"Ma'am, Sir, we're about to close na po. May I suggest na i-take out na lang po ang order niyo?" The lady in the counter said. Tumingin muna sa amin si Mimi na para bang kumuha muna ng opinyon atsaka na tumango sa babae. "Ma'am, this will take five minutes po. You can sit down first," she added.
May lumabas na lalaki from the counter atsaka siya pumunta sa harap ng wooden table na malapit sa counter. He placed down the chairs and gestured us to take a seat. When I was seated, that's when I felt their stares at me. Gian was besides me, standing and busy roaming his eyes around the café or he's just avoiding everyone else's gaze.
"Kailan pa?" I heard someone spoke but I pretended I didn't notice. "Bea," said a low voice of a woman that's why I shifted my eyes on her. She's once again raising a brow and her arms were crossed.
"Actually..."
"It just happened. Today. This is the first time we went out together," Gian answered for me instead. Faye and Mimi looked like they weren't convince and so making me a little bit uncomfortable. They are pressing their looks at us. Good thing the counter lady called for us already and I immediately stood up to get what we ordered.
"Let's go? Late na, e. Baka nag-aalala na si Lolo," sabi ko sa kanila. Hindi ko na hinintay ang sagot nila atsaka na ako nagpatuloy sa paglalakad, papunta sa parking lot kung saan pinark ni Kuya Ben ang kotse ni Gian. Medyo nahuli pa sila kaya naghintay ako sa labas ng sasakyan hanggang sa makarating sila.
"Bilis nating maglakad, ah," sabi ni Mimi atsaka inayos ang pagkakasakbit ng kaniyang bag.
"Here's your coffee. Mabuti siguro na inumin na natin agad at baka lumamig pa." I tried to shift the conversation the best as I can. I handled them their coffees and also gave one to Kuya Ben who was silently seating in the driver's seat, probably he was so bored waiting for us that's why he's jamming with the music with his head bobbing a little.
We stood there, in the middle of the underground parking lot while we silently sipped our drinks. Good thing everyone isn't already talking this time because they all looked tired. "Can I go inside the car now?" Mimi asked and Gian nodded that's why she made her way in. Faye followed her after she threw her cup on the trashbin.
Gian went near me and leaned on the car. "Are you alright?" he asked while he took a sip from his cup.
"Oo. Medyo napagod lang kalalakad," I shortly replied and I saw him nodding his head. He shook his cup using his hand, meaning he had emptied it already. I can feel he doesn't know what to do or what to say.
"Did you enjoy?" he asked. I took the last sip of my coffee before I answered him and stared right back at him. I nodded and gave him an assuring smile. I took out my phone to see the time on my lockscreen. It is almost late. "I think we should go," I heard him say. He opened the car door for me and I looked at him before I entered in.
Umikot na siya atsaka na sumakay sa shotgun seat. Napatingin ako sa gawi nina Faye na ngayon ay nakapikit na ang mga mata at mukhang napaidlip na silang pareho. Nakakonekta pa ang tig-iisang earphone sa tenga nila. Sumandal na lang din ako sa backrest atsaka tahimik na naghintay hanggang sa makarating kami kina Mimi.
Tinapik ko ang kamay ni Mimi para gisingin sila. "Mimi, andito na tayo," bigkas ko nang magbukas ang isa niyang mata. Nag-ayos siya ng upo atsaka niya ginusot ang mga mata niya. Tinanggal na niya ang earphone atsaka iyon iniabot kay Faye.
"Gian, salamat ha. Ingat kayo. Bye, Beys." paalam ni Faye sa amin dahil inaantok na nakayakap ngayon si Mimi sa kaniya na parang bata. Kumaway na ako sa kanila bago pa umandar ang sasakyan. Nakita kong nakaakbay na pinasok ni Faye si Mimi sa bahay nila habang papalayo na ang kotse.
A few minutes had passed at nakarating na rin kami sa bahay. Bumaba na ako atsaka kumatok sa car window upang magpaalam kay Kuya Ben at kay Gian. "Thank you po, Kuya Ben. Thank you, Gian," bigkas ko.
"Alright," Gian responded and he leaned properly on the backrest. "Goodnight, Bea," he greeted and smiled. I waved my hand at them and Kuya Ben started the engine again. I waited until the car is far enough for my vision to see before I went inside our house.
It was already 9:30 PM when I arrived at the house and good thing Lolo isn't around waiting for me. I went towards my bedroom and I'll just take a half-bath there before I sleep. I did my skin-care routine and teeth-brushing before I took off the towel from my head and hang it up on the towel line.
I heard my phone beeping that's why I took it and read the messages I just received.
From: Gian
I had arrived home.
I hope you really had fun today.
Though Faye & Mimi weren't what I
planned.
But it's alright, there are plenty more
days to have fun with you
Goodnight for now, babe.
I almost squealed while reading his messages because it is actually my first time receiving those from someone who isn't a friend to me. I covered my mouth so that I wouldn't make any noise. I even made my legs hit the mattress while I was lying by my front.
To: Gian
Hey, it's Mine.
Have a nice sleep, prince. ♡
Sweet dreams.
When I pressed the sent button, I almost panicked when I saw what I just typed. I almost face palmed myself because I accidentally slipped my childhood nickname in my message. I am freaking out that I was carried away by my feelings. Now that he knows, what would be his reaction?
From: Gian
It's you.
You are Mine.
My childhood bestfriend and long
time puppy love.
I was suddenly awakened by someone who was screaming my name outside my room. I rubbed my eyes to clear my vision and turned to my side to wear my glasses because I couldn't see things properly. I remembered I fell asleep on Gian's message. I hope he's not mad at me. He should understand me because I was really tired yesterday after a long day.
I started stretching my arms while walking my way to the balcony. I stopped midway to do body stretching too when I once again heard someone was shouting from the outside.
When I pulled the curtain sideways and opened the glass door, I saw Gian was standing right infront our house, near the garden. "Good morning, princess!" he even greeted and waved his hand at me. I smiled at him because he felt so small while I was meters away from him.
I was about to turn my back to meet him downstairs when I suddenly flinched after hearing a loud gun shot. When I looked again where Gian was standing, I saw him lying on the ground, blood was coming out of his body.