Unintentionally Yours

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 2

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The crowd is alacritous to celebrate the Hammerheads against the Predators of the New Yornia University. Sett’s team is leading the game and as usual, he’s the one killing the game. I look to his friend who is now sitting alone in the bleacher. Where did the blonde girl go?

Ruth touches my hand causing me to look at her. She waved her hand ‘go’, saying that I should take the opportunity to sit beside him.

I took a deep breath as I stand up, ready to sit next to him.

“Hi” I greeted. He looked at me and smiled as I sit.

“Popcorn?” he asked while he offers his popcorn to me.

“Sure,” I said as I reach out a couple of his popcorn.

“Aren’t you hosting this competition?” I asked as I remember that he was the representative of our school.

“I told them I don’t want to” he casually says.

“Then why don’t you just say no to me if you don’t feel the same way to me in the first place” I whispered as I stuffed my mouth with popcorns.

“What? Sorry, did you say something?” he asked.

I shook my head saying nothing and stuff more popcorn onto my mouth. I lean even more to the chair and look at Ruth who’s laughing at me silently.

I look at the man beside me who’s seriously watching the game as it gets more intense. I then turn my gaze to football players busy doing their business. Why do I feel so small? Suddenly, Haunth became even farther. I don’t know if I am still affected by Sett’s words but it is starting to come to me that I maybe don’t have any chance.

I stand and pick up my purse, ready to go home and have another breakdown every time I am close to Haunth, when a hand grabbed me in my wrist. I turn to see Haunth’s confused face.

“Where are you going? Are you okay?” I expected that he may be at least look worried but I hyped myself too much that it was just confusion written all over his face.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Bili lang ako maiinom. Anong gusto mo?” I slightly smiled at him trying to hide my feelings.

“Nah. I’m good,” he said as he turned back his gaze to the field and goes back to his seat.

You just didn’t care, did you? Beads of tears started forming on each side of my eyes. Why am I so emotional? I look at the skies to stop my tears from falling as I am silently trying to calm myself down.

I didn’t notice that Ruth was behind me as she held my hand and drag me out of the field.

“Saan tayo pupunta?” tanong ko kay Ruth na hila-hila parin ako ngayon kasabay nang pagpunas ko sa luha na muntikan nang kumawala kanina.

“Punta tayong mall, libre mo ‘ko” nakangiting sabi niya sa ‘kin.

I am so lucky to have a friend like her. She knows what to do whenever I am starting to doubt myself. I love this girl so much.

I smiled back at her and said “Ano pa nga ba?”

Puwede naman kami hindi na pumasok since celebration lang naman ngayon. Never ko na ata talaga ma-enjoy itong celebration ng school with Haunth. It’s our last year na rito and nagbabalak sila mommy na sa States nalang ako mag-college. I whistle out of frustration. Anyway, start palang naman ng Academic Year. I have 9 more months.

“Saan tayo pupunta?” tanong ko kay Ruth.

“Sa mall nga. Saan mo ba ako balak ilibre?” balik na tanong into.

“I don’t know. Saan mo ba gusto?”

Nakalabas na kami ng school lahat-lahat at ‘di parin namin alam kung saan ko siya ililibre.

Naglakad nalang kami papuntang mall since malapit lang naman ang mall sa school at wala pa naman si Manong panot para sunduin ako. Speaking of Manong Panot, i-text ko nga muna siya na papunta kaming mall. Manong Eduardo is our family driver. I reach out for my phone in my pocket and texted Manong Eduardo immediately and put it back in my pocket. I don’t want to bring out my phone whenever I am at a sidewalk because I always see snatchers snatching phones to people who walks to the sidewalk with their phone.

“Ne”

Napapitlag naman ako ng may isang matanda na ang nakatabi sakin habang naglalakad at si Ruth ay nauuna maglakad.

“A-ano po ‘yon?” gulat paring tanong ko sa matanda.

Mapayat ito at puti na ang buhok. Naka-white shirt s’ya na naka-tuck-in pa sa suot niyang khaki pants na mayroong partner na black loafers. Ang lakas naman makaporma ni tatay.

“Brokenhearted ka ‘no?” tanong nito na siya namang ikinakunot ng noo ko.

Huh? Ano raw? Ganoon ba kahalata sa mukha ko na broken hearted ako at pati matanda na-curious sa pagkabigo ko sa pag-ibig?

Napahinto naman sa paglalakad si Ruth sa harap namin at hinawakan ang kamay ko.

“Pasensya na po, mauuna na po kami” magalang na paumanhin ni Ruth at hinila na ako papasok ng mall.

Nang makapasok kami ng mall ay agad akong hinarap ni Ruth nang nakasimangot.

“Ikaw, tigilan mo nga makipag-usap sa mga ‘di mo kakilala” naiinis na sabi ni Ruth sa akin.

“’di ko naman s’ya makakausap kung ‘di mo ko iniiwang maglakad”

“’di ka naman maiiwang maglakad kung nakatingin ka sa daanan at hindi nagkakalikot ng phone”

“Sorry na. ‘wag kana magalit. Nagpaalam lang ako kay manong panot na nasa mall tayo. Libre nalang kita ice cream tutal ‘di ako nakakain ng ice cream kanina” sabi ko na ikinatanggal ng pagsimangot ng mukha niya. Pagkain lang talaga magpapakalma rito.

Iceberg Acme Blvd.

Agad na kami dumiretso sa ice cream parlor na agad naming nakita na nasa bukana lang ng mall para pakainin ang halimaw na nasa sinapupunan ni Ruth. Paano ba naman kasi, hindi mabusog-busog. Basta pagkain, ‘di papatalo.

“What can I do for you, my ladies?” the confectioner asked with a smile glued on his face which seems to be fake when we entered the ice cream parlor.

I suppressed myself from laughing by biting my tongue. On the other hand, Ruth was laughing her ass off saying that his smile was cringe-worthy. This girl is so straightforward. The guy started to blush as he was biting his lip trying not to smile possibly realizing how stupid he looks.

“You can smile, Kuya. Hindi ka naman namin isusumbong. You don’t have to be too formal and cringe at the same time” I said as my smile escape and so does he.

“Yeah, it’s too much to handle” Ruth said na halos mangiyak-ngiyak na katatawa.

Tumikhim naman si kuya at muling tinanong ang order namin.

“Hmm. I want Buttered Pecan” sabi ni Ruth na namumula na at nakakagat sa labi niya sabay takip ng dalawa niyang kamay sa mukha niya. Ikaw ba naman kasi salubungin ng binatang nagtitinda ng ice cream na pilit nakangiti at tinawag ka pang “my lady”. Ang corny lang.

Napatingin naman ako sa lalaking sumalubong samin at namumula parin siyang nakatingin kay Ruth na tawa nang tawa. Tinignan ko ang name tag nito at nakita kong Kaiden ang pangalan niya.

Tumikhim naman ako para makuha ang atensyon ni Kaiden na nakatitig lang kay Ruth.

“Mint Chocolate Chip naman sakin” sabi ko sa kaniya at nginitian lang siya.

“Bro, libre mo naman ako. Nanalo na nga ako eh!”

Napatingin lahat ng customer including us sa malakas na sigaw ng lalaking pumasok sa ice cream shop. Agad ko namang binalik ang tingin ko sa nakatalikod na si Kaiden na ginagawa ang ice cream namin. Kung kelan gusto ko mag-unwind ‘saka naman nagpapakita lalo itong si Haunth.

Nagulat naman ako sa biglaang pag-akbay sa akin ni Ruth.

“What?” tanong ko rito.

Inginuso naman ni Ruth si Kaiden. Huh? Anong nginunguso nito kay Kaiden?

“Anong meron?” nagtataka kong tinignan si Ruth. Instead of answering me, itinaas-baba niya ang iyong kilay niya na may nakakalokong ngiti.

Nanlaki naman ang mata ko kay Ruth. Seriously? In front of my Haunth? It’s been a while since we did this.

I leaned closer to Ruth and whispered “You want me na pagselosin si Haunth?”

“Yas,” she said as she was smiling widely.

We used to do this noong may gusto si Ruth sa isa naming kaklase noon. She loves doing it even though we both know na ang luma na masyado ng move na ‘yon but still, sometimes it’s effective. I’m just not sure if effective ba ‘yon kay Haunth. Baka magmukha lang akong ewan lalo na’t ‘di ko pa naman ‘to natatry.

Sett and Haunth sat 4 chairs apart from us so they probably will hear us if gagawin nga namin iyong plano ni Ruth. Kaiden looks like he’s around our age so it wouldn’t be that awkward if haharutin namin siya ni Ruth.

“Baka pagalitan si Kaiden?” bulong ko kay Ruth.

“Sinong Kaiden?”

“Iyong si my gentleman” napangiti na naman si Ruth at agad ko itong pinigilan para humalakhak.

“Tumigil ka na nga katatawa. Susungalngalin kita” banta ko rito at pinanlakihan ng mata. Agad naman itong umakto na isinara niya ng zipper ng bibig niya.

Kaiden is still a little red noong nilapag niya iyong ice cream sa harap namin.

“Here you go, one buttered pecan and one mint chocolate chip ice creams for my ladies…”

I smiled staring at Kaiden. Hiyang-hiya na siguro siya sa amin. Hininaan niya tuloy iyong “my ladies”.

“What did you say?” I asked smiling at him. Gosh, sana naman itong ngiti ko hindi gaya ng ngiti sa amin ni Kaiden kanina.

Kaiden cleared his throat and repeated his line.

I bit my lip as I refrain from laughing. I can feel that my face is starting to get red. Nakakahiya at the same time pilit kong pinipigilang mapatawa.

I look at Ruth and she refuses to send me help as she turns back her gaze on her ice cream. Kinain niya lang iyong ice cream niya.

I sit straight as I try to look through my peripheral vision to see kung ano iyong ginagawa ni Haunth. Napatingin naman ako kay Kaiden na inaayos iyong menu boards. Gosh, I feel so stupid. Hindi rin naman siguro eepekto? Tapusin ko nalang tutal naumpisahan ko naman na.

“Uhm, Kaiden?” I asked softly preventing my voice from a quiver. Napatingin naman sa ‘kin si Ruth.

“Can I take another look at your menu?” my face feels so freaking hot. Para akong lalagnatin sa kaba. Naguumpisa naring mamawis at manlamig itong kamay ko.

Kaiden looks at me in confusion but decided not to ask. He grabbed the menu boards sitting beside him.

“Yeah, sure, my lady,” he said instinctively the moment he reaches it out to me. I almost laugh at the way he talks. When will I get used to his words?!

“Thank you,” I said sweetly while making eye contact with him causing him to blush. Great. Buti nalang at nag-blush s’ya. Does that mean effective itong ginagawa ko?

“D-do you need anything else?” he said and stands in front of me.

I want to say that I need him but I just can’t say it caused me to just bite my lower lips. I feel so stupid. I heard Ruth cleared her throat making me release a smile and a faint laugh.

“Gosh, sorry. Titignan ko lang muna iyong iba niyo pang ice cream” I said and tried to cover my face for a second as I felt my face became warm due to embarrassment.

I saw their contact number in the lower part of their menu. I wonder, sino kaya iyong may-ari ng contact number? Probably not Kaiden since he’s already the confectioner but why not try for the act? Should I ask for his number? Or is it too much?

“Uhm, Kaiden?” pagpukaw ko sa atensyon ni Kaiden.

“Yes, my lady?”

I titter at his actions. Somehow, I feel sorry for him dahil siya pa binibiktima ko. Let me just get over this, Kaiden.

“Can you come here a little closer?” I ask him lowering my voice. Napansin ko naman sa peripheral vision ko na napatingin iyong dalawa sa puwesto namin ni Ruth. I slightly glance at Ruth and I saw her faint smile as she was still eating her ice cream.

Lumapit naman sa akin si Kaiden at nagkatinginan kami sa isat-isa. Kinakabahan ako, hindi ko alam paano tatapusin itong act ko.

I lean closer to him as I pointed to the eleven-digit numbers written at the bottom of the menu board. Our face is so close and I can’t keep a straight face. I hope my voice won’t quiver.

“Is this your number?” I almost choke at my own saliva and so does Ruth with her ice cream.

Kaiden froze for a second and cleared his throat as he leans back to stand straight and smiles unconsciously causing me to smile back at him mischievously.

“You know what, that’s enough. Hinahanap na siguro tayo ni Manong Eduardo” sabi ni Ruth sabay higit sa akin palabas ng shop.

“What? B-bye, Kaiden!” I said and quickly put my p*****t on top of the counter. He waved goodbye to us unconsciously.

Napadako naman ang tingin ko sa dalawang lalaki na hindi ‘man lang umimik. I suddenly felt a twinge in my chest.

Yeah, as expected. No reaction.

“Bakit?” tanong ko kay Ruth.

“I can feel the tension earlier, I guess that’s enough” sabi ni Ruth nang hinihingal.

“Tension? There’s no tension, Ruth. There’s nothing besides how stupid I acted there” I said as I sighed in disappointment. Napahinto naman ako sa paglalakad nang may maalala.

“Teka, ‘di ko pa nakain iyong ice cream ko!” I realized.

“Ano ka ba, kinain ko na” Ruth casually said. Tinignan ko naman ‘to ng masama.

She giggled and wrapped her arms around my shoulder. Mas matangkad kasi sa akin si Ruth that’s why she likes resting her arms on my shoulders.

“Punta nalang tayo ng Art Hub” sabi niya sabay kindat na siya namang ikinalaki ng mata ko.

Our favorite place in this mall is the Art Hub. It’s been a while since the last time I went there. That place just has so many memories of me together with the people I cared a lot about.