5th

The world is indeed small.

Why did I forgot that he's a Cardinal? I shrugged. He's here. Ano pang magagawa ko?

"Hi, Mister and Misis Cardinal!" my dad greeted them.

"This is my one and only daughter, Yvanna," my dad introduced me to them. Mr. Cardinal nodded and glanced at Isaac.

"My son, the future of Cardinal Incorporated, Isaac,"

Yumuko ako and I rolled my eyes. Future my ass.

"Shall we get a food so that we can eat? Let's talk after we get food," sabi ni mom na halatang gutom na.

Kumuha na kami ng pagkain at nauna na akong umupo. Sumunod naman si Cardinal.

"I didn't know you'll come," panimula niya.

"So alam mo palang ama ko si Ardryan Gaumond?

He laughed, "Baka nakakalimutan mong tinanong kita about niyan?"

Oo nga pala. Noong nasa MTS kami, tinanong niya kung related ba 'ko kay Ardryan.

"And you even forgot that I'm a Cardinal, huh," he said.

"Sorry, nawala sa isip ko." Sagot ko. He just laughed.

"Do you have any idea kung anong paguusapan nila at bakit kailangang kasama tayo dito?" tanong ko while I'm slowly slicing my food.

"I don't have any idea either. Siguro para para may kasama silang magmayabang ng mga business nila," sabi niya. We both laughed.

"Hala, magkakilala na pala kayo?" tanong ng mommy ni Isaac nang nakarating na sila sa table.

"Yes," tipid na sagot ni Isaac.

"Nice," sagot ng mommy ni Isaac at napatingin kay mommy. Sabay silang ngumisi.

What's with the creepy smile?

"Uh, pwede ba kaming umiba ng table ni Yvanna? So that you guys can talk freely, as well as kami," paalam ni Isaac.

Totoo naman kasi. Ang awkward lang.

"Sure!" buti naman pumayag ang daddy ni Isaac.

We stood up atsaka kinuha ang plates namin at lumipat sa kabilang table.

"Is this okay with you? Ang umiba tayo ng table?" tanong ni Isaac.

"Better. Ang awkward ng tingin ng parents natin, eh," sabi ko. Sabay kaming natawa.

Silence. Mga kubryetos lang ang naririnig ko at mga tawa ng parents namin sa kabilang table. Wow. They seem to get along already, huh?

I was busy browsing through my phone when I remembered something. Tumingin ako kay Isaac and to my surprise, he was also looking at me.

"What?" tanong niya.

"I have a question,"

"Spill."

"Anong ginawa mo sa Abreeza nung nakaraang araw? Ang lapit lang ng SM eh, ba't ka napadpad doon?" sunod sunod na tanong ko.

"Ikaw din, ba't ka napunta doon? Eh, ang lapit ng SM,"

"'Wag mo ko sagutin ng patanong ulit, aba. Sagutin mo muna ako." I said then rolled my eyes.

"Nililigawan mo ba 'ko? Ba't kita sasagutin?" he joked.

"Wala ka talagang kwentang kausap kahit kailan." I said then rolld my eyes again.

"Sasagutin na. Baka matanggal mata mo kaka-irap eh." he laughed then continued, "Ah, may ni-meet lang doon. Eh, taga Cabantian 'yon, alangan namang sa SM kami magm-meet diba. Napakalayo na."

"Ah, okay." I said.

"Why are you suddenly curious about me?"

"I was just asking! Feeling ka ha?" Sabi ko kaagad.

"Defensive," he joked.

"I'm not, finish your food, idiot." sabi ko. Tumawa lang naman siya.

We talked about how hard our courses is when my mom called us.

"Isaac, Yvanna, come, sit with us again."

Tumayo kami at pumunta sa table nila, at umupo sa upuan na kung saan kami dapat nakaupo kanina.

"Uh, ano meron?" tanong ko.

"We we're actually planning to merge our company since we get along so much," Sabi ng mommy ni Isaac.

"Tapos? Ba't kami nasali?" tanong naman ni Isaac.

"We're also planning to do fix-marriage for the both of you since you two get along naman," Sagot ulit ng mommy ni Isaac.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko't napatingin kay Isaac, ganon din siya saakin.

"What?! Mom... no, ayoko." sabi ko kaagad kay mommy.

"Why, hija? Close ka naman na kay Isaac, eh," Sabi ni mommy.

Aba. Kung close, pakasal agad?! It's not even a year since we've met!

"I choose to disagree, mama, Yvanna and I are still young. And I think you can merge your companies without us getting married," Isaac said.

I do not have any ideas when it comes to business, but I guess he's right. Atsaka, bata pa kami ano! I'm still in my 2nd year of college as a fine arts student. Jusmeyo.

"But we want a Gaumond and Cardinal collaboration, that is why, as our only child, we are only asking for this." Mommy said.

Yumuko ako, at napatawa. Only asking for that my ass. I've been living my life na sumusunod sa orders niyo. But this, getting married is just too much.

"Did we made you shocked, hija? I'm sorry. I just want you and my son together," sabi ng mommy ni Isaac.

Biglang tumayo si Isaac, "Excuse us," he said at kinuha ang kamay ko't lumabas kami ng Restaurant.

"Saan tayo pupunta?" tanong ko habang nagd-drive siya.

"Jack's Ridge, let's get some fresh air." sabi niya.

I looked at the time and it's almost 10 PM. Maaga pa pala.

Nakarating na kami ni Isaac sa Jack's Ridge.

We get to see the beautiful city of Davao due to the city lights. Nakakawala ng stress ang ganda nito.

"Did this made you better?" biglaang tanong ni Isaac.

"Yep. I miss it here, thank you," I said sincerely.

"Sorry if my parents are like that," he started.

"Sorry din. My parents really love pressuring and commanding things pero ito 'yung utos nilang ayaw kong sundan," I said.

"Ayaw mo saakin?" tanong niya.

"It's not like that. Grabe ka," he laughed, then I continued "Ayaw kong magpakasal ng maaga. I get that I'm on a legal age already, but wala pa akong nararating sa buhay ko kahit ang successful ng parents ko at may pera kami. Gusto ko namang may mapatunayan muna ako bago dumating sa ganyan," sabi ko't tumingin sakanya.

"Totoo. I'm not even an Engineer yet. I wanna reach my goals in life first before I get married." He said at tumingin saakin pabalik.

"What?" tanong ko.

"Ang ganda mo pala, 'no?" biglaang puri niya.

Uminit ang pisngi ko at umiwas ng tingin. Tumawa siya.

"Wala bang thank you diyan? Minsan lang ako magcompliment sa babae, ah," sabi niya.

"T-thank you," sabi ko.

Tumawa lang naman siya.

Deretso lang ang tingin namin sa view. Napakaganda talaga ng Davao. Kung pwede lang gumala ng gumala kahit may pasok, eh, ginawa ko na talaga.

He broke the silence when he started a conversation again.

"Are you busy this weekend?" he asked.

"Hmm, let me see my schedule for a moment," I said, he nodded.

Kinuha ko cellphone ko at tiningnan ang calendar at notes ko kung may gagawin ba ako. Wednesday ngayon, eh. Mas maraming gagawin kapag week days kaysa sa week ends. And upon checking, wala namang mga importanteng gagawin this weekend. Salamat.

Makapagpahinga din sa acads, kahit papaano.

"Uhm, wala naman," sabi ko at binalik ang cellphone ko sa bulsa ko. "Bakit?" tanong ko.

"Hmm," then he looked at me in the eyes and said,

"Let's date?"

---

thank you!