Pieces of You

"Why can't you tell her the truth? She deserves it." Wala sa sarili kong tanong habang pigil ang aking hininga. His presence is indeed intimidating, lalo pa it ilang dangkal lang ang pagitan ng among mga mukha.

He looked in my eyes and to my surprise, he smiled so sweet. So sweet that I got the butterflies in my stomach.

"I know. I bet she knows it already. She's just confused." I gulped with his words.

"Sabihin mo na." Hindi ko alam kung ano ang pumasok sa isip ko at nagsabi ko iyon sa kanya.

He stiffened and then a slight smile made its way to his lips.

"I will." He pinched my nose and ruffled my hair.

Nainis ako sa ginawa niya pero nananaig pa rin sa akin ang pakiramdam ng magkahalong kaba at galak.

May pagkatorpe rin pala itong lalaki. I just smiled at the thought.

He draw his faced and then grabbed his tea. Nagpaalam ito sa akin na magpapahangin daw muna siya. Tsk. Napakaemo.

"I might consider the idea of being honest because you told me to. So I guess telling that you're beautiful with that dress on, counts." Sabi nito at lumabas na. He left me dumbfounded with his words.

Bakit ganito na lang ang impact niya sakin? He's turning my heart in chaos-a beautiful chaos.

"Oh? Bakit ka nakatulala diyan? Mukha kang ghinost." Natatawang wika sa akin ni Geille nang lumabas ito sa fitting room na suit ang isang dark green night gown. Bagay na bagay ang gown na suit niya at kita ng-kita ang hubog ng kanyang katawan. She's stunning. Sino'ng lalaki ang hindi mapapalingon sa kanya? I bet none. Na kaharap ito sa salaminhabang pasulyap-sulyap sa gawi ko.

"Don't mind me. Nate-" She raised a brow at me.

"Uh. Don't give me that look."

"Am I?" Painosentenitong sagot saka inayos ang laylayan ng kanyang night gown.

I just heaved a sigh. Am I that obvious? Geez.

"Nasaan na pala ang mokong?"

She reached out for the burger on the table at itinuro ito, asking if Nathan brought it for us. I nodded in response.

"He's out. Magpapahangin daw."

"I think I just skipped an episode."

I gently ruffled my hair and pushed it into a messy bun. Why do I feel it's Abby interrogating me?

Bumuntong-hininga naman ako. Nagtaka ako na ngingisi-ngisi na sakin ang babae habang nakaupo sa tabi ko.

"Frustrated? Ano ba ang sinabi ng lokong 'yun?" Imbes na sagutin siya ay nanatili akong tahimik habang bumabalik sa isip ko ang mga sinabi nito.

"I lie to suppress my feelings. Dahil hindi ko alam kung paano pa pipigilan ang sarili ko kapag nasabi ko sa kanya ang totoong nararamdaman ko."

"I might consider the idea of being honest because you told me to. So I guess telling that you're beautiful with that dress on, counts."

"Hey." She snapped her finger at me.

"Ang lalim na niyan, friend. Baka malunod ka. Marunong ka bang lumangoy?" Natatawang saad nito habang sumubo ng burger at sumipsip sa kanyang soda.

I just can't keep it out of my mind. The way he stares and talked at me, parang may laman at ibig sabihin ang lahat.

"I bet he's hitting on you." Plain na sabi ni Geille kaya napalingon ako dito.

Gulat ang mukha at namumula. Why me?

"You're kidding. He's not hitting on me. I'm not even his type."

Napatawa ako ng hilaw at saka sumimsim sa kape kong nanlalamig na.

"Why not? Sinabi niya ba sayo na hindi ka niya type?"

Tumitig lang ako sa katabi ko habang ang atensyon niya ay nasa burger na nasa kamay niya.

"See?" Napasalampak ko ang aking likod at di mapakali.

"You looked so shocked."

"Aish!"

Natawa naman si Geille sa naging reaksyon ko. She ended up teasing me.

"Are you sure you don't want to fit more? Wala ka pang napipili."

Geille's checking the ball gowns and night gown she chose while I was at the counter leaning.

"Don't mention about it. Gagawa ko na lang ng paraan. Saan ba tayo mamaya?" I asked her while I was looking for my phone inside my sling purse.

"Paraan, my foot. Oh, yes. Let's go get our lunch, sasabay tayo kay Nathan pagkatapos dumiretso na tayo sa parlor."

Sinenyasan niya ang isang sales lady na okay na ang kanyang mga orders. She signed some paper and paid the bills.

When I heard her mentioned Nathan's name, nervousness crept in me. Hays. Bakit pa kasi kailangan naming sumabay pa kung pwede namang kotse nila ang gamitin? "What's with the face? Oh, yeah. Wala tayong choice. Papa needs their driver. Emergency e. So we got to stick our noses to your lover boy."

Napangiwi naman ako ng marinig ang salitang iyon sa kanya.

Loverboy? Urgh. Napairap na lang ako at saka nagsimulang maglakad papalabas ng boutique.

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Narinig ko ang pagtawag sa akin ni Geille pero hindi ko na siya pinansin. I let out a sigh on my nose.

Is this even happening? Kung saka-sakali, hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin. Gusto kong maging Taha an ang mundong but it was the least of expectations to fall in love-not when I have one.

It feels like I am being a cheater. Damn.

As soon as we got in the Parlor Shop ay inasekaso agad kami ng mga crew.

I sat on the soft cushion in front of a long mirror. Nakakatawag-pansin ang interior design ng Parlor Shop na ito. Ang ganda ng ventilation, lights and the paint gives a radiant and good vibes mga papasok dito. The smell of the shop is not sharp on the nose, hindi gaya sa iba dahil na rin siguro sa chemicals na ginagamit nila sa buhok.

The Parlor Shop does hair treatments and such, braids, make-up and all. In short, swak for a total make-over.

I rely it all to Geille. She knows better than me when it comes to beauty and fashion.

I saw Nathan came in at umupo sa malapit sa akin, he was a meter away kaya hindi ako masyadong naiilang sa kanyang presensya. Konti lang. Lalo na kapag nakatitig siya sakin. "Eat this."

He reached to me the food he have in hand. It was wrapped in a box with a familiar logo of a fast food chain.

"What? Gusto mo bang subuan kita."

Agad ko namang tinanggap ito nang nagbitaw ito ng biro na ikinailang ko.

He's really making a fun out of me!

I heard him laugh softly.

"Pwede naman e."

Napakagat-labi ako nang banggitin niya iyon. Hindi makapaniwalang tinitigan ko siya.

He just smirked at me.

"Hoy, ikaw." Geille pointed at Nathan while she sat at my right. Pinagitnaan talaga nila ako.

"It's Nathan. Don't hoy ikaw, me."

"You're so conyo. You know that?"

Geille was laughing at how Nathan spoke. Pati ako ay di napigilan ang pagtawa kaya minasamaan niya rin ako ng tingin. "You sound so bakla."

Nagsisimula na naman si Geille sa panunukso kay Nathan kaya kumain na lang ako kaysa mastress sa bangayan nila.

Ang sakit nila sa ulo.

Later on, na tahimik rin sila nang magsimula nang ayusan kaming tatlo ng mga parlorista. Nathan wants a cut and a hair color so he was on a standby while his hair is soaked with bleach. Busy ito sa pagtitipa ng kung ano man iyon sa ka niyang telepono.

While Geille who's beside is resting his head on top of the cushion habang may kung anong pinapahid sa buhok nito ang parloristang umaasekaso sa kanya.

Her hair is quite long so it can take time to treat it.

Ako naman ay nagpatrim ng buhok at magpapacurl ng buhok. Well actually, it was not my idea. It was Geille's.

She said my straight hair looks plain and boring. Ang sabi niya ay bagay sa akin ang wavy na buhok dahil mas magmumukha akong babae.

"So pag di kulot, mukha ng lalake?" Pambabara at sarkastikong sambit ko sa kanya ngunit imbes na tumugon ito, kurot sa braso lang ang inabot ko mula sa kanya. Napabalik naman ako sa reyalidad nang nagvibrate ang aking cellphone sa table na kaharap ko.

1 new message. Kanino naman kaya ito?

Nang binuksan ko ang mensahe nito ay una kong napansin ang contact name nito.

Nathan.

Awtomatiko namang napagawi ang atensyon ko sa kinaroroonan niya.

He was leaning his head on top of the chair, his eyes close while his hair is turning blonde. Tuloy, nagmukha siyang bampira sa kulay ng kanyang buhok.

He looks so manly I can't stop adoring him.

Aish! Ano ba itong nasa isip ko?

Binasa ko naman ang mensahe niya.

What is it that he has to message me instead of saying it personally? Ang lapit lang naman namin sa isa't isa.

I have something to tell you.

Nagtaka naman ako.

What is it that he wants to tell me?

Kinabahan naman ako nang mabasa ang kanyang text.

I shifted my gaze at him again. Nakapikit pa rin ito habang ang cellphone ay nasa kanyang kamay sa kanyang bisig.

Why are. You playing mith my feelings, Nathan? Bakit ganito na lang ang nararamdaman ko kapag nandyan ang presensya mo?

And why are you being vague? Sobrang naguguluhan na ako.