43

Hinila ni John ang upuan at pinaupo n'ya ako doon at ganun din ang ginawa n'ya sa isa pang upuan para makaupo din s'ya. Ang lamesa na natatabunan ng puti na tela ay naka-set sa pinakasentro ng boulevard. May dalawang stainless steel some plate na cover sa harapan namin ni John, mga pagkain ang nasa loob panigurado. There's a gold human-shaped candelabra at the centre of the table and it is surrounded by a lot of petals of red roses to make it look more elegant. May dalawang mamahaling wine glass ang nakapwesto sa kabilang bahagi ng lamesa.

Tinanong ko s'ya, "how did you get the electricity? And also this food and decorations..?" That was embarrassing to ask him but my curiosity couldn't stop me. When I'm always with him, I would just kind of questioning myself about what was he up to again. He is full of surprises. I knew that I had once a crush on him before but I wasn't able to know him better.

"I hired some designers and my cousins helped me and they took care of it. There's a muffler generator at the corner for the electricity. The waiters from my own restaurant were arrived first and settled up this foods before we went here."

"Oh?" I was speechless. Tumawa nalang ako at nag iba ng usapan. "Drop the formality. You're too workaholic. You sounded like a businessman even you're not at work though." Sumandal ako sa upuan at pinagkrus ang mga braso ko sa may dibdib.

Nanginig naman ang buong katawan ko sa paraan ng pagtitig n'ya sa'kin. Para bang hinihigop ang aking kaluluwa palayo sa katawan ko.

"I just can't believe you've totally changed.." Bulong n'ya pero rinig na rinig ko naman. Tumitig lang din ako sa kan'ya kahit ilang na ilang na ako dito sa kinauupuan ko. Hindi ko alam pero nasasaktan ako sa paraan ng pagkasabi n'ya, sumasakit ang dibdib ko. "Para bang nawala na ang dating Emelita Sun Dela Peña na kilala ko noon. Noong una, hindi pa s'ya marunong umarte at nagsasalita pa ng tagalog, nagsasalita lang ng english kung kailangan. Wala na din 'yong Emelita na mahinhin at mala-anghel kung magsalita, so innocent and fragile. Imposibleng hindi ka magbabago sa loob ng anim na taon. Naghintay ako sa'yo noon, at inakala kong hindi ka magbabago. Na ako parin... na ako parin ang sinisigaw ng puso mo."

'Ikaw parin naman..'

"Am I still there?" Mahinang sabi n'ya habang nginunguso ng bahagya ang labi na tinuturo ang dibdib ko.

Tumitig ako sa kan'ya. Alam kong ilang segundo nalang at mahuhulog na ang mga luha na kumakapit sa ilalim ng mga mata ko. "Ang tagal na no'n malamang magbabago talaga ang nararamdaman ko." Sarkastikong sabi ko at pinunasan mga luha gamit ang kamay ko bago pa ang mga ito mahulog.

Biglang umigting ang panga n'ya sa pagsabi ko no'n. Nakita ko ang kan'yang kamao na nakapatong sa lamesa. Nanginginig din ang kan'yang mga labi na para bang may gustong sabihin. "Before my parents die, my mom said that true love last forever. If you are deeply in love, your love will last forever."

"Pa'no kung wala na? Anong magagawa mo?" Agad na tanong ko. Kung alam lang n'ya kung paano ako nangangamba dito.

"Then I'll do anything to bring it back." He said directly.

Umiwas ako ng tingin at ilang segundo kaming tumahimik bago ako nagsalita at iniba ang usapan. "K-kumain na tayo."

Ilang segundo pa bago n'ya binuksan ang bowl na takip at doon lang nawala ang kaba ko nang makita ko ang laman ng bowl. Biglang tumunog ang tiyan ko dahilan para mahiya ako ng sobra.

He smirked and now, he's back to being an asshole again. I sighed when the atmosphere has finally changed. "Hungry?"

"Ahm.. no."

"You are, sweetheart."

I groaned. I was tongue-tied at the same time. I just want to eat and that's what I did. Nakayuko lamang ako dahil sa hiya. But I took a glance at John and I caught him staring at me. My forehead creased. "Don't you want to eat? Aren't you starving?"

He smiled. "I am."

"Then stop staring at me and eat." I looked down and started eating my foods. It was delicious.

"I just love to stare at you." Hindi parin s'ya kumakain. He just keep on staring at me. Damn. "I don't want to lose you." Alam kong iba ang ibig n'yang sabihin do'n.

I stared at him softly and sighed. "I told you, I have a boyfriend."

Biglang dumilim ang hazel na mga mata n'ya. "I told you, he's not your boyfriend anymore."

"At sino ka naman para magdesisyon sa realsyon namin, aber?" Humalukipkip ako at mataray na sinalubong ang matalim na titig n'ya.

"He's no good for you. He will just hurt you and leave you behind."

"No. He won't, John. He's so good to me, he was always there for me when I was hurt. Louis was my mentor, adviser, my bestfriend, my lover... everything. He's different from the other guys."

Mas lalong kumuyom ang kan'ya kamao nakita kong gumagalaw na ang kan'yang panga. Naglalagablab ang mga mata n'ya ng apoy at parang handa nang makipagpatayan.

"If he's your lover, why'd you end up dating me, huh?"

Lumaki ang mga mata at bibig ko dahil sa galit. "I'm not dating you!"

"You are. Stop arguing with me. You've already ruined our date, babe."

"This is not a date. This is just a dinner."

He rolled his eyes and smirked. "Okay then. This is a dinner date."

What the hell? Tanginang lalaking 'to.