“Hello?” sabi ko
“Jane?” that husky voice again. Bigla akong kinabahan, huminga muna ako ng malalim bago sumagot.
“Yes, who’s this?” I said as I close my eyes and hold into the bedsheet so tight, I tried so hard to be calm.
Narinig kong tumawa ito.
“Arvin, from last night” sagot nito.
“Oh… yeah, I remembered…” I actually don’t know what to do or even say. Should I be casual? Or should I pull the amnesia drama? Act cold, like it wasn’t a big deal? Oh! How can I even do that? I mean, right now, last night was as clear as the sky outside!
“Jane?” Sabi nito?
“Uh-mm, ehem* yes? Yes, what is it?” Nauutal kong tanong.
“Haha, I was asking if we can meet this afternoon?” He asked.
“Oh.. uhmm..” and once again, my heartbeat is racing. Wtf?! Sinipat ko ang orasan sa bed side ko. It’s already 11:50am.
“Uhh.. ye-yeah sure” I answered
He told me the time and location then hung up the phone. I take a deep breath, woah! woah! What just happened?! I mean.. wha-?! I still have many questions but I’m gonna throw up first. Damn you tequila!
I’m on my way right now, mag mi-meet kami sa cafe. I’m riding the bus and I’m wearing a floral summer dress and a white doll shoes. I look at the people walking in the streets – minding their own business. Weekdays so medyo maraming tao sa labas, plus uwian na ng mga studyante. Natigil ang pag si-senti ko ng mag ring ang phone ko.
“Hello?” tanong ko.
“Jane, I’m on my way now hmm mga 3 minutes nasa cafe na ako” pahayag ni Arvin
“Papunta na rin ako pero baka ma una ka lang sa akin ng konti” sabi ko
“Okay, I’ll wait” sabi nito.
This guy is so weird. Why would he waste his time meeting me? And more importantly, why am I wasting my time? Bakit nga ba? Well.. the truth is, I thought after having a lot of drinks last night I’ll be able to handle my problems but honestly I have no freaking idea what to do. Ugh! Great, now sumasakit na naman ulo ko. Di ko alam kung hang over pa ba to or dahil to kay Jay and Sarah? #HulingSayaw
Nakarating ako sa cafe in 7 minutes, pagpasok ko pa lang ay tanaw ko na agad si Arvin. Damn! He is really hot! Huminga ako ng malalim at umiling. Umayos ka Jane! Tumingin ako sa kaniya at naglakad patungo rito. Nakatingin ito sa labas and he looks… sad? Napansin niya yatang papalit ako kaya tumayo at ngumiti sa ako.
“Hey” bati nito
“Hi” sabi ko sabay bow ng mahina. Char, japanese ka gurl?
“Have a sit” aniya niya.
Tumango lang ako ulit. He ring the bell in our table at maya-maya pa ay dumating ang isang waitress. After namin sinabi ang order namin ay umalis na rin ito. Yumuko ako while tapping my fingers on the table.
“You okay?” tanong nito
Napatingin ako sa kaniya agad. Gosh Jane, would you relax?
“Uh. Ye-yess yes. I’m o-okay” sabi ko while giving him an awkward smile.
“Oh. I see, I was worried baka masugatan mo na yang labi mo” pahayag nito.
Kumunot ang aking noo, I was confuse. Why would he say that? I mean, bakit ang labi ko ang napansin niya? Does he want to kiss me or something?
“You were biting your lips. So…” pagka-klaro nito. Nahalata niya yata na praning pala yung nasa harap niya. I look away.
“Ah. Sorry, kinda a habit when I feel awkward or nervous.” Sabi ko
“Why, are you nervous? Do I make you uncomfortable?” Tanong nito. Tumingin ako sa kaniya at medyo sumeryoso ang mukha nito.
“Nervous? Medyo. It just… you know, I just don’t know what this meeting all about” sabi ko.
“Oh, sorry. Uhm. Well, the thing is I have a proposal to you” sabi nito
“What kind of proposal?” Curious kong tanong.
“This is awkward tho” paalala nito
“More awkward than this?” tanong ko at pareho kaming natawa.
“After we met last night, I kinda went overboard this morning” pahayag nito.
“Okayyy” sabi ko.. still curious.
“Before I left at your house last night, I saw the bills in your refrigerator and saw your full name. I asked some people to dig in a little bit about you” pag-aamin nito.
“What the—?!” Di ko pa man natapos yung sasabihin ko ay nagsalita ulit ito.
“I know it’s crazy but please Jane don’t freak out. I am not a bad guy, I don’t mean any harm towards you.” He explain
I am speechless. What the hell is he talking about? Is he serious? But why? Tumingin ako sa kaniya, he looks guilty. I look away. What should I do?
“Sorry, okay. I am so sorry.” sabi nito
“But why?” Tanong ko
“I told you I have a proposal… Jane, will you be my pretend girlfriend?” Tanong nito
“Are you fucking serious right now?” Shock kong tanong sa kaniya
“Me, girlfriend? What?! Are you out of your mind?” Hysterical kong tanong
“Okay, okay Jane. Relax.. please” he was trying to reach my hand but I dodge him.
Nahinto ang moment naming dalawa ng dumating ang waitress dala ang order namin.
“I know this is crazy and you have any right to be mad at me. I am so sorry Jane” sabi nito
Tumingin ako rito, he is still in his serious look, damn it di nga yata nagbibiro to. Kinuha ko yung iced coffee ko at ininom ito. Napahinto ako, damn it ang lamig!
“Jane…” sabi nito.
“Ugh! I- I have to go” sabi ko, tumayo ako agad at nagmamadaling lumabas sa cafe na iyon.
“Jane wait!” Sabi nito ngunit di na ako lumingon. My heart is beating so fast, di ako sure kung sa kape ba to or dahil sa pagmamadali ko or dahil sa—
“Jane..” habol hininga nitong sabi habang nakahawak sa balikat ko. Lumingon ako sa kaniya.
“Let’s talk please” sabi nito. Di ako kumibo, tiningnan ko lang siya.
“I’m hungry” sambit ko.
Napakunot noo ito.
“what?” Confuse niyang tanong
“Nagugutom ako, let’s eat” sabi ko
“Oh-okayy. U-hmm there’s a restaurant nea-”
“No, uhm there’s a night market near here. 5 mins walk” sabi ko
“Okay” sabi nito
Habang naglalakad patungo sa night market ay walang ni isa sa amin ang nagsalita. I am still trying to understand kung ano yung nangyari sa cafe kanina. Naisip niya din sigurong mas mabuti ng di na muna kami mag usap, as for now.
Nakarating kami at pumwesto agad sa isa sa mga barbecue tents. Nag order ako ng food ko at tumingin ako sa kaniya, he look so confuse. Di ko na siya tinanong kung ano gusto niya, sinabi ko na lang sa tindera na same kami ng order. A few minutes later dumating na yung food namin. He still look confuse, hinayaan ko na lang siya at nag simula ng kumain.
“Uhmm.. where can I get the spoon and fork?” He innocently ask
Muntik na akong mabulunan sa aking narinig.
“You’re kidding right?” Seryoso kong tanong. But base sa reaction niya, he is not. I sigh.
“Nakabalot yung kanin sa plastic di ba? Hawakan mo yung plastic then pull this and tada, lafangan na” sabi ko habang dine-demo sa kanya paano kainin yung kanin. He did what I said. Para lang batang maliit na first time nakatikim ng imported na chocolate.
After namin kumain at nagbayad ay naglakad-lakad ulit kami dala-dala ang buko juice na binili namin. Nakakita ako ng semintadong bench at umupo kami doon.
“I… I am not mad but I am so confuse” panimula ko.
“I kno-” magsasalita na sana ito
“Shh! I’m still talking” bara ko dito
“Okay sorry” sabi niya
“I am trying to understand, whatever is this but I just can’t. Why me? What’s with the background check? Why do I have to pretend to be your girlfriend?” Sunod-sunod kong tanong. Tahimik lang ito habang nakatingin sa akin. I roll my eyes.
“You can speak now” sabi ko
“Oh.. well, first I am so sorry. The background check is just an assurance. I have no intention of blackmailing you or what, for the record there is nothing wrong about the information I have about you. I choose you because, well… I was also having a tough day last night. When you told me about your problems, dun ko naisip yung proposal” pag-eexplain nito
“Look, I am not taking advantage of you. But if you’ll agree to this, I’m gonna pay you” pagpapatuloy nito
“Wait, what?” Naguguluhan kong tanong
“Who do you think I am? A stripper?” Tanong ko ulit. Nakakahurt ka na kuya ah!
“No no! God no! Before pa man sa background check, I knew that you are a good person at tama nga ang hinala ko” sabi nito. I look at him and gosh! Parang maiiyak na siya kaka-explain sa side niya.
“Okay, mag explain ka lang pero walang iyakan” mataray kong sabi
Inayos niya ang sarili niya.
“How can I be so sure that you are not a bad guy? For all I kno…