chapter 7

Water

"You should have just called me so I can lend you some money!" she ranted. I frowned.

"Ehh! Nakakahiya naman," she rolled her eyes and crossed her arms against her chest. Ay, wala nga pala siyang hinaharap. Charot.

"Since when did you feel the shame?" I glared at her.

"Ang sama ha! Buraot lang ako pero nahihiya rin naman ako minsan! Minsan nga lang!" she tsked. 

"Oh, eh pa'no 'yan? Kaya mo ba? You never did boyfriends before. Baka nga hindi mo pa alam ang mga ginagawa ng mga mag-boyfriend and girlfriend," I rolled my eyes. 

"Alam mo? Umuwi ka na lang kaya? Tinutuya mo lang ako dito eh."

"Eh totoo naman kasi! Never ka pang nagka-boyfriend!" 

"Eh sa ayoko eh! Bakit ko pipilitin? Hindi naman ako katulad mo na kapag sawa na sa isa, hanap na lang ulit sa listahan mo then, boom! May bago na ulit kinabukasan!" 

"You're so harsh to me, Yenji! If you want, I'll give you some list of guys here in Mercedes! I'll plan a date for you!" 

"Date?" napalingon kami sa nagsalita.

"Kerbien!" bati ni Teasia at tumayo. Tumaas ang kilay ko kay Ash.

"Why are you still here? I thought you already left?" I asked and leaned on the bench where I was seated.

"The call just ended a few minutes ago," I chuckled and glanced at my wrist watched.

"Wow ha. Ang tagal mo namang makipag-usap sa phone," I uttered.

"Yeah. What's the problem with that?" sasagot na sana ako ng mag-ring ang phone ni Teasia. She turned her back against us and answered the call.

"Oh, okay.. yes.. I'll just wait here at the shed.. yes, okay," and then Teasia already hang up the call and faced us again, smiling. She looked at me.

"My driver was already fetching me up for a minutes from now. We'll drive you home if you want," she offered. I chuckled and quicly shook my hands on her saying that it was okay.

"Nah, I'll just take a bus or a jeep."

"Sure?" I nodded. Maya-maya lang ay pumarada na sa harapan namin ang kotse nila. Kumaway sa amin si Teasia at nagpaalam na. Nang makaalis ang kotse ay tumayo na rin ako at sinakbit ng muli ang bag sa balikat ko, hindi na pinansin pa si Ash na nasa gilid lang, nakatitig sa akin. I sighed and walked away. I can feel that he's following me so I stop.

"What?" I asked. He licked his lips and pushed his hair back but some of the strands still fell on the sides, making it a messy one but he's still looking good with it. It's too unfair for me.

"Don't take bus. I'll just drive you home," then he shrugged.

"Hindi na. Sanay na naman ako," sagot ko at tumalikod na sa kanya at lumakad papunta sa sakayan ng jeep. Kunwari lang naman kanina na magba-bus ako eh. Ayoko talaga sa mga gano'n nasusuka ako. 

I heard him tsked behind me. "Don't be maarte. Ako na nga ang nag-aalok sa'yo."

"Sino ba kasing may sabing alukin mo 'ko? Eh ang sabi ko ayaw ko nga?" naiinis kong tanong at pumila na.

Nanatili naman siya doon sa gilid dahil ayaw atang madikitan ng mga taong nandito. Tss. Ang arte porket mayaman.

Ang mga babae naman dito ay panay hagikhik at tingin kay Ash na para bang ngayon lang nakakita ng pogi. Nagulat ako ng kalabitin ako ng isa sa mga babae roon.

"Ate, boyfriend mo?" umirap ako at tumingin muna kay Ash na nakatitig pa rin sa akin habang nakapamulsa ang isang kamay niya.

Supladang tiningnan ko siya. "Yes, why? Gusto mo? Sorry akin na siya," pamamakod ko. Ngumiwi siya at bahagyang lumayo sa akin. 

"Let's go, Yenji," aya ni Ash. 

Umirap ako sa mga babaeng naka-ngiwi sa akin. "Let's go, love. We're going on a date, right?" parinig ko sa kanila. Umirap ang isa sa kanila kaya siyempre inirapan ko rin ng bonggang-bongga. Ano? Inggit kayo 'no? Level-an niyo muna ang kagandahan ko bago kayo makakuha ng lalaking may pangalan na Ash. But sorry, he's already taken in my dreams. Psh.

"I told you, I don't like endearments like that!" he ranted when he got in his car. Namangha ako sa loob nito. Kulay grey ang kotse niya. Sa backseat ay may mga donuts. I bit my lips. J.Co iyon. Favorite ko. 

He put the key on the ignition and the engine roared. Tiningnan ko siya ng matagal. We both buckled our seatbelts.

"What's your address?" I gritted my teeth. I took out my phone from my bag, open the note app and search for my address. I saved it there. 

When I already found it, I throw my phone to him. He startled but he still managed to catch it as he glared at me.

Ang mga kilay niya ay magka-salubong at seryosong-seryoso sa pagda-drive. Ang panga niya'y umiigiting na akala mo'y makasalanan ang ginawa kong pag-tawag sa kaniya kanina ng 'love'. 

Eh sinabi ko lang naman 'yon dahil sa mga feelingera kanina sa sakayan ng jeep! 'Di niya ba 'yon na-gets? Sa bagay, slow naman ata itong si Ash. Sayang. Gwapo pa naman.

"And what are you saying that we're going on a date? Hell no!" he yelled. His grip on the steering wheel tightened. I heavily sighed and shook my head.

"Maka-hell no ka naman akala mo kapapangit ko! Napaka-attitude mo naman!" sigaw ko pabalik, nakakunot na rin ang noo. He glanced at me for a second before he sighed and stayed his arm on the window and his other hand on the the steering wheel. He massaged the bridge of his nose.

Maya-maya lang ng kumalma na ata siya ay tinuro niya ang likuran.

"Do you want the donuts? Feel free to eat that," umirap ako at tumingin na lang sa labas. 

"Hindi na! Nawalan na ako ng gana!" hindi naman sa patampo epek ako pero parang gano'n na nga. Minsan lang magkaro'n ng chance na gan'to kaya sinusulit ko na.

He tsked. "Then don't. Ako na nga ang nag-aalok, ang arte-arte mo pa," napamaang ako sa sagot niya. Nilingon ko siya at pinitik ang tenga. He muttered a curse underneath his breath. Tumalim ang sulyap niya sa akin.

"What's your problem?! You dumbass!" he yelled again.

"Napaka-sungit mo! Bakit nga ba ako pumayag sa ganito? Nakaka-buryo ka!" sabay dabog na kinuha ang donuts sa likod at kinain iyon.

"You said you'll not eat that, right?!--" I cut him off.

"Shut up! Manahimik ka! Zip your mouth you mothercrackers!" then I made a face on him. He rolled his eyes at tumingin na lang muli sa harapan.

"I have an ice tea at the back too. Baka mabulunan ka," dagdag niya. Ngumiwi ako.

"I have water with me. I don't need your what? Ice tea? Pang-mahihirap lang 'yon," matapang kong tugon. I saw how his brow shot up.

"So you mean I'm poor?" tumango-tango ako. Grabe ang sarap talaga ng donut na 'to. 

"I think it's the Ice Tea who's not meant for poor people. I'm not sure, maybe you just got that water from a faucet, and I'm sure, it's not even a mineral one or filterized water."

Umirap ako. "Ang yabang mo talaga."