I look at him like he's my salvation.
Nang inayos niya ang pagkakasuot ng suot niyang itim na baseball cap ay nasaksihan ko ang bahagyang pagkakakunot ng noo niya habang nakatingin sa akin. My eyes followed his every move. When he glance over his shoulders, my eyes also did the same.
I notice that he's talking to a guy. Hindi pala siya mag-isa.
I'm really hopeful that he won't ignore me. After all, Mavin Jaranillo and I already had few interactions before.
"Ano ba 'yan?! Hindi marunong tumabi!"
Agad akong bumaling sa nagsalita. "Uh, sorry po," paghingi ko ng paumanhin sa mama bago pumagilid.
Hindi na pala ganoon ka-crowded sa daanan. The people can now move freely, even though the accessible space was less than the recommended space.
"You're here…"
Agad kong nilingon ang nagsalita. Nahigit ko ang hininga ko nang makita si Mavin Jaranillo sa harapan ko. Bakit hindi ko napansin ang paglapit niya? Sinulyapan ko muna ang pinanggalingan niya bago nagsalita.
"You're here, too. Coincidence again?" I smirked. I don't know where I got my confidence to talk to him this way.
He angled his head, an amuse smile made its way through his lips. "Hmm. Why are you just by yourself? Nasaan ang mga kaibigan mo?"
Dahil doon ay nabura ang ngiti sa labi ko. Right, my friends. As I shift on my weight, I cleared my throat silently.
"Uh, I'm alone…" I awkwardly said.
"Alone…" he repeated, his brows slightly furrowed. "Mag-iikot kang mag-isa?"
I bit my lower lip as I look around the area. I'm fine wandering alone but with those families and groups of friends around, I might just feel envious. Kung umuwi nalang kaya ako?
"If you want, you can just come with us."
I immediately brought my eyes back to him.
"You're inviting me to tag along with you guys?" pagkukumpirma ko sa narinig.
He nodded, looking serious. Ngumuso ako. Just because we had few interactions before, are we already considered friends? But he doesn't even know my name…
"Do you… even know me?" I carefully asked after a few seconds of silence.
Noong una'y nakatitig lang siya sa akin. But then suddenly, he let out a low chuckle that made my face flushed. Why is he laughing?
"Silly. It's already our sixth meeting and you just asked me now?" he has this playful smile on his lips.
I pouted. "I just wanna know…" I said, almost like a whisper.
Nag-iba ang paraan ng pagngiti niya at umayos siya ng pagkakatayo. Then he suddenly extended his arm and said, "Sebastieno Mavin Jaranillo."
My mouth unconsciously half-opened, shocked that he actually introduced himself. Bumaba ang tingin ko sa kamay niya. Hmm, he has really long and thin fingers. Tinanggap ko naman ito.
"Akila Fiorella Tresvalles," ani ko bago tinagpo ang tingin niya.
I feel something strange at the way he look at me. Dumaan rin ang ilang segundo bago naghiwalay ang mga kamay namin. When we did, awkwardness come between us. For a change, it was me who started a conversation.
"So, you are with your friends… Iba sila sa mga kasama mo noon?"
He shifted on his weight and slightly turn his body towards the direction of his friends. "Oo. Do you want to meet them?" he glance at me.
Tinignan ko naman ang mga kaibigan niya. They stand few meters away from us, kung saan ko kanin nakitang nakatayo si Mavin Jaranillo. Hindi sila nakatingin sa direksyon namin. Nakapaikot sila at tila may pinag-uusapan. They look harmless. Saka, hindi naman siguro ako ipapahamak ni Mavin… 'di ba?
"Sige. I'll tag along with you guys," tugon ko sa offer niya kanina.
Nang hindi siya nagsalita ay tinignan ko siya. When I saw him staring at my face, I look at him questioningly. Later on, an unknown emotion come across his face.
"Let's go," he drawled.
I nodded slowly. Nilapitan namin ang mga kaibigan niya. It was the shortest guy among them who first noticed us. Kinalabit niya ang mga kasama kaya naman napatingin rin sa amin ang dalawa pa. I cannot help not to notice the way they look at me. Parang may kahulugan…
Mavin introduced me to them. It's easy to determine who's who because they have distinguishable look. Iyong mukhang Korean, he's called Jadriel. Uno naman iyong mukhang bad boy, at Siggy iyong kulot at pinakamaputi sa kanila, he's the shortest one.
"Saan na tayo?" tanong ni Mavin… sa kanila.
I figured I should call him casually now. Calling him by his full name is indeed too formal.
"Mamaya pa namang gabi iyong jamming. Maglibot nalang tayo. Tignan ang mga booths," sagot noong mukhang Korean--ni Jadriel.
It's kind of weird to hear him speak fluently in Filipino while staring at his face. Is he really Korean, as in by blood, or it's just that his face resembles a Korean?
"Hindi ba iyon naman talaga ang plano?" nagugulong saad noong… ni Siggy.
Nakita ko ang pagsiko sa kaniya ni Uno. Sa kanilang lahat, siya lang ang mukhang purong Pilipino. Including Mavin sa lahat na 'yon dahil maging siya ay may pagka-mestizo.
Tumikhim naman si Mavin. "Saan tayo unang pupunta?"
Siggy glanced at me. "Ladies choice…"
My eyes slightly widened in surprise. Agad naman akong napalingon kay Mavin. Mukha namang agad niyang nakuha ang ibig kong sabihin dahil siya na ang nagpasya. He said a place and the boys then started to move. We followed them close by.
Inangat ko ang kaliwang kamay ko upang harangan ang direktang pagtama ng sinag ng araw sa mukha ko. Alas tres palang ng hapon kaya naman masakit pa rin ang tama ng araw sa balat. Napatingin ako sa sa bagay na lumapat sa ulo ko. I touch it and confirmed that it's really a cap.
Nilingon ko si Mavin sa tabi ko. He's ruffling his hair making it messy, but in a good way. When he notice my gaze, his eyes shifted on me, giving me a questioning look.
"Thanks," I muttered.
"Sure," he drawled with a hint of a smile on his lips.
Ibinalik ko na ang tingin sa harap. Habang mabagal na naglalakad ay pasimple kong inayos ang pagkakaparte ng bangs ko. I'm not sure if the cap complements my look, because I'm wearing a floral embroidered puff sleeves white top paired with high-waist jeans and some ballerina flats.
Sinulyapan ko si Mavin. He's so casual today. He's just wearing a black shirt, some dark jeans, and sneakers.
Nauunang maglakad ang mga kaibigan ni Mavin habang kami nama'y nahuhuli ng dalawang hakbang. I think we're going to the farther part of the park. Not long after, naintindihan ko na rin ang balak nila. They intend to start looking at the last booth.
"Cover your ears. It will be noisy soon," Mavin whispered to me.
Nagtataka ko siyang nilingon. "Why?"
Imbes na sumagot ay ngumisi lang siya. Weird. Pero kalaunan ay naintindihan ko na rin ang ibig niyang sabihin.
Every now and then, Siggy would make a comment at every booth we're passing by. Sometimes, Uno and Jadriel would share their comment too. Mavin, on the other hand, would just speak if his friends would asked for his opinion. Tahimik lang naman ako sa isang gilid, silently appreciating and criticizing the booths. Kung talagang may magustohan, I would snap a picture of it.
Napatingin ako kay Siggy nang magbigay siya ng komento tungkol sa kinakain naming suman na binili sa isang booth kanina. This time he made a comment in Spanish. I am intrigued by the way he pronounces the words.
"Yeah, I agree with you. This is good." I replied, speaking in Spanish also.
Natigilan siya sa balak na pagsubo ng suman at nilingon ako sa nanlalaking mga mata.
"What? Ikaw din?!" gulat niyang saad, still in Spanish.
Nagugulohan kaming tinignan ni Jadriel. Wala namang reaksiyon si Uno. While Mavin… I glance at him. He's still eating his pancit habhab but I notice amusement in his eyes. Siggy, on the other hand, began throwing one question after another at me, not allowing me to speak.
"My abuelo's father is a Spaniard. So that's why…" I explained when he's gone silent.
"Woah! Talaga? Fake lang ako, e. Itong si Jaranillo, may lahi ding Espanyol e. Ilan nga ulit? Pero ang alam ko half-german shepherd, half-husky siya e…" yumugyog ang balikat niya sa biglaang paghalakhak.
Hindi rin naitago ng dalawa ang pagtawa. I heard Mavin hissed, so I cleared my throat to stifle a chuckle that's trying to go its way. He has an interesting group of friends.
Nang matapos naming matignan lahat ng mga booths ay nag-aya si Siggy na pumunta kami sa isang burger restaurant that's just around the area, according to him, upang magkaroon ng proper snack. Pumayag na sina Uno at Jadriel. But only when I agree that Mavin agree, too.
Nilakad lang namin ang papunta sa sinasabi nilang restaurant. It's true that it's just around the area. Pagkarating sa lugar ay hindi ko maiwasang hindi masdan ang paligid. It was cozy and seems to be a hangout place made especially for students.
I never been in a place like this. But now that I'm going to experience something like this, I can't help not to feel thrilled. Tinanggal ko ang cap ni Mavin saka sumunod na sa kanila sa counter.
Naabutan ko si Siggy na nakikipagde-debate sa io-order ng dalawa. In the end, Jadriel has the final say. Wala tuloy siyang nagawa kundi ang bumulong-bulong nalang sa isang gilid. He's so child-like. Cute.
"Anong gusto mo?" tanong ni Mavin sa akin nang nagbabayad na ang tatlo.
With that, I quickly scan the menu board. Hindi ko alam kung anong kukunin dahil hindi naman ako pamilyar sa pangalan ng mga pagkain. It will be helpful if only there's a picture next to it.
"What can you recommend?" I glance at him.
Nakatingin rin pala siya sa menu board. Mabilis na lumibot ang mata ko sa mukha niya. Napakurap ako saka nag-iwas ng tingin.
"That is a good one…" Mavin whispered as he points at a certain name of a burger on the menu.
I gently nodded my head and memorize the name. Pagkarating sa counter ay sinabi ko na sa cashier ang order ko.
"Make it two, Miss. Just make the other drink in large size," si Mavin.
The cashier repeated our order and when confirmed, said the total amount. Inilabas ko ang wallet sa bag at naglabas ng yellow bill. Nang iaabot ko na ito ay hinarang naman ni Mavin ang kamay ko. Sinundan ng mata ko ang pag-abot niya ng blue bill sa cashier.
"Ako na, Akila." he turned to me.
Napakurap ako. He said my name like it's natural for him to say it.
I glance at the menu to check the price of the food I ordered. Nang makuha ang kabuuang bilang ng babayaran, binuksan ko ang wallet upang tignan kung may ganoon akong bilang ng smaller bills. When I realized that I only got a hundred and some red and orange bills, I look up to Mavin.
"I think I'll just pay you next time," I told him. "At school tomorrow. Tama. Bukas nalang, total Lunes naman na pala bukas…"
Mavin pursed his lips but I was quick to saw the glint of amusement in his eyes. "Up to you, Akila. Okay lang naman kahit hindi na…"
Kumunot ang noo ko nang hindi marinig ang huling sinabi niya dahil sobrang hina ng pagkakasabi niya. He then turned to the cashier when she called him for his change. Nang makuha ang sukli niya ay umikot na ako at tumingin sa paligid upang hanapin kung saan pumwesto iyong mga kaibigan niya.
Hindi gaanong marami ang customers ng restaurant kaya naman maraming bakanteng lamesa. Narinig ko kanina kay Siggy na mamaya pa ang pagdagsa ng customers. He must be regular to know that.
"They are probably outside."
Napalingon ako kay Mavin. He pointed the way using his chin. After that, he lead the way. Sumunod naman ako sa kaniya. Ibinalik ko na ang ball cap niya kanina kaya naman suot-suot na niya ulit ito. Nadagdagan na naman ang pagka-misteryoso niya dahil doon.
Sometimes… I feel like they is something more about Mavin Jaranillo.