CHAPTER 2
Alexander Dior Chua
"May check-up siya sa Vet mamayang 2:00 PM, tapos nandyan nadin yung mga dog food sa bag at pati narin yung laruan niyang bola na color green. Tsaka ayaw niya palang kumain pag walang fresh milk sa food niya kaya I'll give you money nalang kasi hindi ako nakabili pagpunta ko rito." Mahabang lintaya niya sakin habang sinusuklay si Cookie, ang pomeranian niyang aso.
"'Yan lang 'yung dala mo?" Turo ko sa maliit na bag niyang nasa sofa.
"Yeah. May mga damit na kasi ako dun. Okay lang talaga sayo na iwan ko dito si Cookie?"
Napatango nalang ako kahit hindi ako ganun kahilig sa mga aso. Pa-impress din kasi ako anuba.
"Alis na ako, Lex. Bye Cookie!"
Nang maka-alis si Cindy ay naka hinga rin ako sa wakas. Ewan ko ba, ang lakas ng tama niya. Tinahulan lang ako ni Cookie buong umaga at nakatulog naman matapos ko itong pakainin. Wala na akong ginawa noong time na 'yon kundi ang manuod ng anime.
My phone rang at dali-dali ko itong kinuha, only to find out na alarm lang pala para sa consultation ni Cookie sa vet. I wore knitted vest on top of a white shirt and ankle pants with my Chuck Taylors. Ilinagay ko ang aso sa backseat at pinaandar ang sasakyan. Umabot ng two hours ang byahe dahil sa traffic- that almost kill me with boredom.
Things I do for love.
When manong guard saw me, agad niya akong pinagbuksan ng pinto.
"Thank you" I said with a smile.
"Good afternoon po sir."
Nang makapasok ay nakita ko agad yung Veterinarian ni Cookie, yup I know him.
"Alexander?"
"Hi doc!" I greeted him with a smile.
"Let's go inside para ma check-up ko si Cookie."
"Sige." Nakaka-intimidate talaga si Doc James pag malapitan. This guy infront of me is James Michael Alfonso. He told me to call him by his first name, na nakasanayan ko naman, pero I insisted. He worked hard for that title kaya dapat lang na ibigay ko sa kanya.
Ever since I transferred in his school when I was in third grade, I saw him as my older brother ever since. His Grandad and my Mommyla was bestfriends since they were little kaya mas naging close pa kami.
When we got inside his room, he started checkin up on Cookie at niresitahan ito ng gamot. Cookie is pregnant kasi kaya need niyang ichek-up from time to time.
"She's due next month and when she starts whining na parang may masakit sa kaniya at hindi mapakali, manganganak na siya nun kaya you should call me right away para ma assist ko kayo if ever." He said looking at my eyes.
Tumango naman ako dahil sa totoo lang, wala akong pakialam. Hindi ko naman aso to eh!
I was at the counter, buying Cookie's med, when Doc James approached me. Wala na yung puti niyang coat na suot-suot kanina. He's wearing a white polo tucked in his denim pants paired with his Dr. Martins.
Nice shoes.
"Where are you after this?" He flashes his set of white teeth to look godlier. Saan ba pinaglihi 'to?
"Huh? Uhhm. Uuwi na?" Wala naman akong plan after this, besides binge watching my favorite anime series and eating junks, wala na talaga.
"How about dinner with me?"
Okaaaaay. This is not the first time na nangyari 'to, and to tell you the truth, I don't swing that way.
Yeah. James is... openly gay.
"Now?" Dinner at 3? Seryuso?
"How 'bout cinema, then dinner?" He raised his brows, smiling, and waiting for my answer.
"Paano yung work mo?" Don't take this the wrong way, pero I just can't say no. If you were me, I know you'd do the same.
"They can handle it."
How do I say no, when he's so... (I want to say annoying but ehh) persistent?
"Okay." I just don't want to look rude, but this guy has been bugging me for months now. Naghahanap lang talaga ako ng timing to turn down his feelings or anything he's having for me, because ang hirap plus he's already a friend. A closed friend for that matter.
Maybe Cindy feels the same.
"Wait for me, kunin ko lang bag ko."
Tumango naman ako at lumabas para ilagay sana sa back seat si Cookie, when I notice a guy came out of a black Audi R8 beside me, and guess who this motherfather is?
"Didn't know you were into older men." He said blankly.
Napa-nganga ako dun, mga three seconds. Sinong older man? Si Doc James!?
Three years lang agwat namin kaya anong older man pinagsasa I Neto?
Liningon ko siya at sinabing, "I didn't know you were a stalker. Ganun mo ba ako kagusto para sundan dito?"
He took off his sunglasses and looked at me intently and said,"I don't give a shit 'bout you. At ano yan? Pomeranian, really? So gay." I saw his smirk when he said that G-word. ARGH!
"This isn't even mine!"
"Whatever."
Sasagot pa sana ako nang pumasok na siya sa loob ng vet at lumabas naman si James.
"That was Blake. You were talking?" He asked.
"Nope. He's just an ass as ever." Which is true.
"Hahaha, why is that? I thought you two were friends."
As if.
"We were never." He chuckled at my reply.
We got into the mall at five at ang daming tao. I don't like crowded places, to be honest. Pero narito na kami kaya wala nang atrasan. Halloween is coming, at nagkalat ang mga pumpkins na over used na and other decorations sa buong mall, where people are everywhere.
"What do you want to watch?"
We were in Pet Cabin, para siyang mini playground na may mga tubes for pets na pwede mong iwan for a short period of time when you're in the mall. Cookie was wagging his tail and happily bouncing when we left him.
Cute.
"Are you up for something scarry?" I asked.
"Sure"
And yeah, we went for something scary nga. He's the one who chose the movie, it was about a nun who was possessed by evil inside the church. Ironic, but it was terrifying. Knowing how a scaredy cat that I am, ayon, super pikit naman ako sa mga nakakatakot na part ng movie. Tapos tinawanan lang ako ng mokong. I'm sure he's having the best time of his life.
After the movie, he told me that we're going out for dinner. I even suggested na dito na lang sa mall, but yeah, napaka-consistent niya sa pagiging pabibo, kaya I silently sat at the passenger's seat, while looking out the window and touching my tummy whose already having complaints. I don't even know where he's taking me. After seems to be forever, nakarating na rin kami.
AND GUESS WHERE HE BROUGHT ME!
It was at the Antonio's. Potaena ang mahal dito!
"James, alam mo namang ang mahal dito. Sa iban nalang!" I tried opening the car's door while saying that kahit alam kong naka-lock na. Paki niyo ba!?
"Nope. I already made a reservation for us. Don't worry, treat ko naman eh."
He opened the door for me and offered me a seat in a table that has a "reserved" sign. He called a waiter told him to take bring the food na pina-reserve niya rin. The ambiance was romantic as hell, Imma say that. The table was filled with food that was worth thousands of pesos. Damn.
While the music started playing, he look onto me and gestured to start eating, na ginawa ko naman. He is making that landi face again.
"You have something to say?" Sabi ko nang hindi ko kinaya ang mga pasulyap niya. Hindi kasi ako makakain nang matiwasay, scratch that, hindi pa ako nakakakain!
"Alex."
"Yes?"
"I want to court you."
Ay POTA!
Kahit hindi ko pa subo yung steak? May ganito na agad? I've already expected this, pero gutom na gutom na ako!
"Dean. We've talked about this." I call him by his second name when I am serious about things.
"I've tried,Lex. I've tried. Pero hindi ka mawala dito." He said that while pointing to his chest.
"Okay."
Nabigla naman siya dun. I know labag sa kalooban ko but this guy's did his best and he deserves a chance right? I mean, a chance to prove himself?
But to whom? To me? Bakit? Sasagutin ko ba siya?
Taena gusto ko nang kumain!
"Huh?" He said, eyes wide open with surprise.
"I said 'Okay'."
Isusubo ko na sana yung steak na mukhang masarap at kanina pa ako kinakausap na kainin siya, when he held my left hand.
"You're letting me court you?" Hindi talaga siya makapaniwala. Hahahaha same.
Tumango naman ako at tinaas ang tinidor para isubo nang tumayo siya at inakap ako. Hawak hawak ko pa yung tinidor buset!
I'm going to regret this... but at least he's happy. That's what matters, right?
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