"Uy, bruha. Did you left somet--" I wasn't able to finish my words when I found out that it isn't my bestfriend who's standing now infront of me.
Dang! Why is he here?
"Hi?" Alanganin niyang bati sa'kin with a warm smile drawn on his lips.
Iniwas ko ang paningin ko sa mga labi niya. Ayokong pagnanasaan ko na naman yun. Nakakasuka!
"What are you doing here?" Pagtataray ko sa kanya. Even though, my heart is panting inside.
"U-uhm.... Checking you out?"
The F? Checking me out his face.
"Well, Steph--- I mean as what you can see, I'm doing fine. And checking me out is none of your business. So, you can leave now." I don't want to be rude at him. But, yeah! I just want him to stay out of my sight. I can't deal with him today. Wala pa nga akong first step sa plano ko.
"Yeah, yeah. You're DEFINITELY doing fine with that crutch on your side." Sarkastiko niyang ani sa akin habang nakaturo sa saklay na gamit ko.
Edi hindi ako okay. Paki ba niya.
Pinaikotan ko lang siya ng mga mata.
"What really are you up to? At paano kang napunta rito? Are you a stalker? Sinusundan mo ba ako?" Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.
"Yung paa mo, kamusta?" Instead of answering my questions, he squatted infront of me to lower down his level at tiningnan ang paa kong ngayon ay namamaga na at namumula pa.
I can't help it but to stare at his worried expression while he's looking at my ankle.
Ganyan ba mag-alala ang isang Stephen Stonward?
"Come here. Let me treat your sprained ankle. And! Don't you dare say that you're fine, 'cause I know you're not. Just don't refuse my help this time." Wala sa sarili akong tumango sa kanya which makes him smile again.
Ang sipag niya namang ngumiti, ano?
Hindi ko man lang namamalayang marahan na pala niya akong inaalalayan papasok sa unit ko. He guided me to sit at the sofa in the living room, atsaka siya lumuhod sa harapan ko.
Dahan-dahan niyang kinuha ang paa ko at inilagay sa may ibabaw ng tuhod niya. Akmang kukunin ko sana yung paa ko, nang mariin niya akong tinitigan. Na may expressio'ng 'Wag kang magulo look!'
Aish! Naiilang ako eh. Idagdag mo pa itong puso kong kanina pa tumitibok ng pagkalakas-lakas dahil sa mga pangiti-ngiti niya. Dang! He still have an effect on me, which is not healthy for me also.
"I used to be a med student before, so don't worry. At alam ko ring naiilang ka sa akin, don't be. Aalis rin naman ako after nito."
Saglit siyang nag-angat ng tingin sa akin, showing me his genuine smile. Ayan na naman. Bago siya bumalik sa pag-asikaso sa paa ko.
He changed a lot. He became more handsome and manly as well. Yung magandang build na taglay ng katawan niya ay halatang pinaghihirapan. Oo, at gwapo na siya dati pa, maganda na rin yung pangangatawan niya. Yet, he became more attractive and charismatic now.
Pinagdarasal ko pa naman dati na sana mabawasan man lang yung gandang lalaki niya. Pero baliktad ata ang nangyari eh. Unfair!
Hindi ko maiwasang titigan siyang seryoso at ingat na ingat sa ginagawa niya. I don't know what is he doing right now, wala naman kasi akong kaalam-alam tungkol sa mga medical chuchu na yan.
I reached for my phone na nasa ibabaw lang ng sofa malapit sa akin. Kagat-labi kong inopen ang camera and I unconsciously capture a photo of him while treating my ankle. Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit ko ba ginawa yun. Baliw na naman ata ako e.
I hid my phone at my back bago pa niya ako mahuli tsaka ako bumalik sa pagtitig sa kanya.
Nabalik ako sa ulirat when he snap infront of me.
"H-huh?"
"Aist! Hindi ka nga nakikinig. I said how was it?" Bahagya siyang napapahalf-smile habang umiiling-iling pa dahil sa reaksyon ko.
"How was what?" Sige titigan mo pa, ayan, nagmukha ka na namang tanga.
"Aist! Try to move your ankle." Sinunod ko yung sinabi niya, I slightly move my ankle.
Napapangiti ako ng kunting sakit na lang ang nararamdaman ko dun. He's good.
"Better?" He asked.
I smiled at him and just nodded as a response.
"You're cute." I heard him murmuring something that didn't reach clearly to my ears.
"Did you say something?"
"Nothing. By the way, I'm Stephen." alam ko "And you are?"
He extended his hands towards me, offering for a handshake. I was hesitant to tell him my name, my first name.
"Lorraine. Lorraine Gomez." Pagpapakilala ko using my second name, tsaka ako nakipagkamay sa kanya. Nginitian niya ako and so I give back the favor to him.
"So? Alis na ako. See you around."
See you around?
"Tsk. Two units away lang yung unit ko from here. We're on the same floor. So, see you around." Nakangiting pag-iimporma niya.
Bahagya akong napamaang sa sinabi niya. We're on the same floor? Ibig sabihin malaki ang posibilidad na magkikita kami most of this days? Does this mean na kelangan ko ng lumipat ng building? Aish!
"Ipahinga mo muna yang paa mo, baka mabinat pa yan. Don't bother to stand up to close your door. I'll do it for you." I didn't even bother to say bye at him. Hinayaan ko na lang siyang lumabas at inilock ang pintuan ko.
Hindi ko man lang siya napasalamatan sa paggamot sa paa ko, baka isipin nun na wala akong utang na loob.
At ano namang pake mo sa iisipin niya, Shania, aber? Bahala siya kung anong iisipin niya. Aish! Panay ngiti pa siya kanina sa akin. Oh, I forgot!
Nagbago na pala ako, I'm no longer the dugyot Shania before, I've changed into a fine woman now. At malamang sa malamang he didn't remember me or even saw a familiarity in me. That was few years ago, so I don't think na natatandaan niya pa.
That's not even a memorable day for him. Baka worst day, pwede pa. So, I guess, that explains why he keeps on smiling kanina. Because he didn't see me as the ugly duckling Shania he happened to embarrassed before, he sees me as Lorraine now. Hindi ang Shania'ng kulang ng paligo dati.
Damn you Stephen and your playboy side!