30

Mabilis na lumipas ang mga araw, at ngayon nga ay ang pang-anim na araw na ng hiningi niyang isang linggo sa binata. She still don't know how to let go Leo's hand in an easy way. Napakahirap.

Lalo na kung mahal na mahal niya ang binata. Sobrang mahal.

"You know what I don't really like shopping," she informed Leo while they are strolling inside this nearby mall.

Pagkatapos ng trabaho nilang pareho ay may usapan silang magkikita sila dito. She don't know what they'll do here, basta sumama na lang siya dito. Basta kasama talaga ang lalaki ay ayos lang kahit sa ibang planeta pa sila pumunta.

"Really? That's unusual for the girl. Usually girls I knew, they rather spend their remaining time in shopping like my Mom," Leo's voice sounds amused, he's holding her hand.

"I don't know. Maybe I'm not a woman," she joked a bit, "Anyways, how your Mom looked like? Kamukha mo ba?," she added a question.

Nakapamulsa namang naglalakad lamang ang binata, "They say I'm the boy version of my Mom and my sibling, Levis really looked like Dad."

"She's undeniably gorgeous then," she really wondered how his Mom acted in person.

"She's on her nth out of the country trip. But when she gets home, I'll invite you in our home to meet her."

Doon naman siya natigilan at bahagyang napatitig sa side view ng binata.

How she can meet her Mom if they will soon leave each other's arm?

"My Mama loves to go outside the country, too," she tried to not spoke up about his invite.

"Oldies today became their hobbies that thing. Ganoon ata talaga kapag tumatanda na," he stopped in front of a small arcade.

"Well, maybe. But if I was given a choice, I would rather stay in a place where there's a lot of trees and nearby sea. Away from this polluted city, away from stress, away from reality."

"Then, we must find that place soonest!"

Hinila na siya ng binata papasok sa loob ng maingay na lugar na iyon. She has no idea that he like to spend his time playing some stuffs here.

But what he have said, mapait siyang napangiti. It's too impossible to grow old with him. It would be perfect, grow old with her.

"What do you want to play first, baby?," nakaakbay naman sa kanya ngayon ang binata habang pumipila sila sa bilihan ng tokens.

She shrugged her shoulders, wondering her eyes on this crowded arcade, "You choose, the decision is yours."

"Alright! This will be fun!"

Buti na lang at napili niyang magsuot ng isang jumper na green ngayong araw, not her working attire. Habang ang lalaki naman ay nakasuot ng isang white polo shirt and a maong short just below his knees. May balak pala itong maglaro ngayon like a teenager, hindi man lang siya in-informed.

They spent two hours in that arcade laughing and playing different games. Iba't-ibang laro ang sinubukan nila, and being with him ay parang bumalik siya sa kabataan. It's so melancholic to feel this kind of happiness. At hindi niya alam kung kailan ito mauulit.

Whatever, she's happy today. That's what matter right now.

They are now inside this mall's food court, eating. Nakakapagod din ang pinaggagawa nila kanina!

"Baby, can we go tomorrow in your townhouse?," she opened up a topic habang hinihintay ang kanilang orders.

Nakapangalumbaba namang tumingin sa kanya ang binata, "Wow! You wanted to come there again?," his voice sounds amused like he's not expecting her for that.

Nagkibit-balikat naman siya, "Why not? Bawal na ba kong pumunta dun?"

"Not that. You know what happen naman in my townhouse," he's trying to give her the message indirectly.

And she get it.

"I didn't forgot about it, baby. And there's no big deal about it," kahit doon mismo sa lugar na iyon nawala ang kanyang iniingatan na virginity.

But she has no regrets. She is more than willing to give her soul to Leonardo. Basta ang binata, kaya niyang ibigay ang lahat kahit maubos pa siya.

"Baka maulit," he joked and laughed a bit.

She pinched his cheeks unconsciously, "Siraulo!,"

"Why not? Sex is better for the second time around," at ito na naman po siya.

Agaran naman niyang sinipa ang binti nito sa ilalim, "Watch your mouth. We're in a public! You're so scandalous!," napalingon-lingon pa siya sa paligid kung may nakarinig ba, mabuti na lang at wala.

"I'm a scandalous man when I'm with you, baby," he even winked at her, hindi dama ang ginawa niyang paninipa dito.

Napailing na lamang siya sa inaasal nito. Sometimes, she don't get Leonardo, napaka-bipolar din.

Dumating naman na ang orders nila kaya naging tahimik na ang binata.

"I'll fetch you 3pm sharp in your condo tomorrow. Just bring extra clothes at baka masira ang susuotin mo bukas," Leo broke the silence between them.

Oh, yeah. He's a monster on bed.

"How about your work? Is it fine for you to under time? We can go after work naman," she suggested.

She's glad that Leo accepted her idea. But she don't want his work to be affected by it.

Tumigil naman sa pagnguya ang binata, "I owned my time tomorrow, baby. No case to handle. And kapag ganoong oras pa tayo aalis baka matutulog na lang tayo pagkarating natin."

"Alright, then," she lose in their conversation.

"How about you? Is it fine with your boss?," aniya.

I'm the boss, she wants to voice out.

"Of course, baby. No worries," she assured him.

"Good! Then we're settled for tomorrow, then."

Yeah. We are, she thought at the back of her mind.

"DAMN, DUDE! Is it too corny?," Ethon asked him just after finishing their arrangements.

Nakapamulsa namang ipinalibot niya ang paningin sa kabuuan ng paligid, "Sakto lang naman, ah," he defended what they've done.

Nag-make face naman ang kaibigan sa kanya bago pasalampak na hinagis ang katawan sa couch, "You never did these before, pare."

Nagkibit-balikat naman siya at umupo naman sa kabilang couch, kaharap lang ng sa kaibigan, "Maybe, it's time for change?," he joked slightly.

"If that's the case, I don't want to fall in love again," puno pa rin ng pandidiri ang mukha nito.

Napaka-bitter talaga ng walang hiya!

"Nasasabi mo lang 'yan dahil hindi ka pa nakaka-move on kay Cia."

"Sino nagsabi, bro?," at tumuwid pa ito sa pagkakaupo, "Look at me, dude. I'm so handsome, there's no stained of a brokenhearted man!," tinuro-turo pa nito ang sarili.

"Okay, whatever you said," he shrugged his shoulder again.

Kinuha na lamang niya ang pitsel ng juice at nagsalin sa sarili niyang baso.

"Ayaw mo talagang maniwala sa akin, Attorney! Mahilig ka sa painting, pero hindi mo man lang ma-appreciate ang real art na nasa harapan mo!," at nakuha pa talagang magdrama ng gago.

He raised his middle finger on him while gulping his juice.

Naagaw naman ang kanyang pansin nang biglang mag-ring ang kanyang telepono. At rumehistro dito ang pangalan ni Aishana.

He picked it up, "Why, Ai?," pambungad niya dito.

Mataman namang nakatingin sa kanya ang sariling kaibigan.

"I need you here," Ai spoke up on the other line.

His eyebrow creased, "Something happened?"

"Yes, dear. Makakapunta ka ba?," matamlay ang boses ng dalaga.

Napatingin naman siya sa relong pambisig just to checked the time, "Nasa Antipolo ako, it may take hours for me. Ayos lang ba?"

"Of course. There's nothing to worry about, dear."

"Alright, I'll hang up na. Just wait for me there."

"Okay, take care, dear. I love you," and with that the call ended.

Binulsa naman niya ang sariling cellphone pagkatapos.

"Anong sabi?," nakaabang na talaga sa kanya ang kaibigan.

"Emergency," he answered at tumayo na mula sa pagkakaupo.

"Na naman?," hindi makapaniwalang tanong na naman nito.

"WHAT'S THE sudden call, Toni?," bumungad sa kanya si Vixen na nakasuot ng isang black loose shirt and a faded jeans paired with Adidas shoes, suot pa rin nito ang kanyang dog tag at cross earring.

"Have a seat first, Vix," at iginiya niya dito ang upuang nasa kanyang harapan.

They are inside this coffeeshop just beside her condominium.

"Okay," umupo naman ito sa kanyang harapan ng hindi nagrereklamo.

Just in time, dumating na rin ang in-order niyang kape.

"Here's your coffee, Ma'am Toni," the counter girl personally delivered her order on their table, plastered with a smile.

Nakangiti namang tinanguan niya ang dalaga, "Thank you."

"No worries, Ma'am Toni," at hinawakan pa nito ang suot na ball cap bago tumalikod ng muli sa kanilang gawi pabalik sa counter.

"You ordered a coffee for us na, ah," Vixen with a wide smile.

"Ayaw mo ba?," napataas pa ang isa niyang kilay.

Agaran namang umiling ang kaharap, "That's not what I mean, Toni. I was just wondering why'd you called me at this hour. Hindi naman pwedeng miss mo lang ako?," he's now back on his boyish aura, or pilit lang talaga nitong pinapagaan ang atmosphere sa pagitan nilang dalawa.

Whatever it is. She's still glad that Vixen is really a one call away friend. Hindi nagbago ang trato nito sa kanya kahit ilang beses na niya itong ipinagtatabuyan.

"I think I needed your help right now," hindi na siya nagpatumpik-tumpik pa.

Napangunot-noo naman ang binata sa kanya, "What is it, Toni?"

She sipped first on her coffee, "I'll explained everything, don't worry."

At ipinaliwanag nga niya ang hinihingi niyang tulong sa binata. Naging mabilis lang naman ang pagpapaliwanag niya dahil naunawaan nito kaagad ang gusto niyang iparating.

"You told Cia about this?," pagkuway tanong ni Vixen sa kanya.

Iwinagayway naman niya sa harapan nito ang sariling cellphone, "I texted her an hour ago."

Tumango-tango naman ito, "Okay. You have my back, as always, Toni."

She held his hand on the table at nakangiting tiningnan ito, "Thank you for being there for me, Vix. You never failed me."

"Hindi naman kasi talaga ako mawawala sa'yo, Toni," at hinigpitan pa nito ang pagkakahawak sa kanyang kamay, assuring her that he will never leave her.

And she's fine with this.