"You know what? You're really familiar to me, parang nakita na kita noon. Diba Harl, familiar siya?"

Hindi ko alam kung bakit ba ako nasa sitwasyong 'to ngayon. It even became more awkward than what I've expected dahil sa bunganga ni Valerie. Hindi ba pwedeng manahimik nalang siya?

"Ewan." Sagot ko nalang saka umiwas ng tingin.

Hell yeah, kung hindi nga naman siya engot edi hindi niya nakalimutan kung paano naging familiar sa kanya 'yong lalaki, nakasunod din pala kasi siya sa akin noong nanuntok ako at nakita niya naman 'yong nangyari. Hindi ko alam kung nakakatuwa ba na nakalimutan niya.

Valerie's phone suddenly vibrated kaya nailipat doon 'yong atensyon niya. Buti nalang! Ayaw ko ng dumaldal siya, masyado ng nakakahiya.

"Where's my ID, Mister?" I tried hard to act and talk normal.

"Here." May kinuha siya sa bulsa at inilahad sa akin.

"Thank you." Mabilis ko 'yong kinuha dahil baka mahalata niyang nanginginig 'yong kamay ko.

"So your name is Harley Johann Cervantes?" He asked while smirking. Okay, Harl. Nagtatanong lang naman, walang masama doon, tsaka baka smirking face lang talaga siya lagi.

"Yes."

He looked at me for seconds after that saka inilagay sa bandang bibig ang kamay niya at umaktong tila nag-iisip.

Now, I don't know what he's up to.

"You know what? Just like what your friend said earlier, I find you familiar, too." I kind of expected that already pero medyo nagulat pa rin ako. Now, what would he do? Ipapahiya niya ba ako?

"Very familiar, actually." He smirked again while looking directly into my eyes.

H-He's...

"I wonder why. Nagkita na ba tayo noon, Miss?"

Now, I'm sure! He's making fun of me!

"Uh," I suddenly don't know what to say, this is even harder than recitations and reporting.

"I'm really curious, Miss. Ikaw, baka naaalala mo." I automatically stepped back when he leaned closer.

"What are you trying to say?" I asked using my low voice, good thing nasa malayo pa si Valerie.

"Oh, you sound mad. Are you going to punch me now?" He smirked again before raising his left brow.

Goodness! Kung wala lang akong atraso sa kanya ay baka higit pa suntok ang ginawa ko.

"Can you uh," I stepped back again dahil medyo malapit na talaga siya. "Step back, you're too close."

"I thought you're going to say 'shut up'." He chuckled after that. "That's more like you." What? Gaano ba niya ako kakilala para masabi niya 'yon? Judger!

"I see. You surely hold grudges." And I know I need to apologize pero umiinit nanaman ulo ko.

"Hindi naman. Hmm, bakit? May nagawa ka ba sa akin noon?" He's really making of fun of me, although he has the right to do it ay naiinis pa rin ako!

Kung gusto niya akong gantihan edi sana gumanti nalang siya agad.

"Just punch me, para patas na tayo." Lumapit ako sa kanya at naghintay na papatulan niya 'yong sinabi ko.

I'm not scared because I know I deserve it.

"Uh no, Miss. That was so gay." What?

"Gay pa. Bilis, suntukin mo na ako! Para okay na, tapos na!" I looked at him with determination in my eyes.

"It doesn't matter if I'm a girl. Just hit me!"

He shook his head after that and I was surprised when he leaned to my ears.

"Punching isn't my thing, Miss. Wanna know my thing?" Agad akong lumayo pagkatapos no'n.

There was something in his tone that I don't like. Parang may ibang meaning? I'm not sure though.

"Kung ayaw mo, edi huwag. Aalis na kami, salamat sa pagpulot ng ID ko."

"Bye for now then." Aniya pero hindi na ako nag-abalang lumingon pa.

Tumalikod na ako pagkatapos noon. Gulat namang napatingin sa akin si Valerie na katatapos lang yatang makipag-usap sa jowa niya.

"Asan na si kuyang pogi?" I rolled my eyes. Pogi 'yon? Seriously? Saan banda?

"Umalis na." I plainly answered without giving off any emotion.

"Hala ka, inaway mo?" Agad naman niyang sinundan ng tingin 'yong pwesto niya kanina.

"Hala bad ka Harl, inaway mo ng—". I saw her stepped into something.

"Ano 'yan?" I asked her. Agad naman niya 'yong pinulot.

"Wallet? Hala kanino 'to?" Itinaas naman niya 'yon at tumingin sa paligid.

"Baka balikan din ng may-ari mamaya." I said. "Maybe we should just wait for a bit?" I suggested.

Nanlaki naman 'yong mata ko nang makita kong kinalkal na niya 'yong loob.

"This wallet is no joke. Look, may cards tapos eight thousand, tapos oh my!" Nagulat naman ako no'ng may nahugot siyang isang ID.

Napafacepalm naman ako dahil sa nakita ko.

Siya nanaman?

Justin Azrea Esguerra

Kotang-kota na ako ngayong araw ah.

"Call Jaz or chat him, whatever, basta bahala ka na. Baka hindi 'yon makauwi." Natataranta niyang sabi. And again, I was left with no other choice.

To: Jaz Esguerra

Wallet mo nahulog, napulot ni Valerie, kunin mo raw sa kanya

Napabuntong-hininga nalang ako. Kaylan ba matatapos 'to?

Matagal siyang magreply this time. I don't know why. May klase siguro or what? I thought his class was just until 6pm. O malay ko ba, pakialam ko?

"Harl, pwede bang ikaw nalang 'yong maghintay sa kanya dito? I need to meet Thomas near Dapitan kasi eh, iaabot ko sa kanya 'yong notebook na ipinadala niya sa akin, kailangan niya kasi bukas ng umaga." Her face is serious this time, that's why I was left with no choice again.

Bakit ba lagi akong walang choice?

Just this time, argh. Just for me to finally make up for what I did in the past. Pumasok ako sa Jollibee at umupo dahil nakakapagod namang tumayo sa labas.

I sat near the window and waited until he replied.

Jaz Esguerra:

Shit! thanks for picking it up, will be there in five minutes, katatapos lang ng last class ko, really sorry for the late rep

Sa wakas naman, medyo nagugutom na rin ako kaso ayoko munang gumastos pa. May pagkain naman sa condo eh.

To: Jaz Esguerra

Jollibee, 2nd floor

Just like what he said, he arrived in five minutes. Medyo halata pang nagmadali siya dahil medyo hinihingal.

Dapat lang nuh, kanina pa kaya ako naghihintay.

"Here. We just opened that to search for ID, nothing more." Tumayo na ako agad at pinulot gamit ko.

I'm about to go when he suddenly grabbed my arm.

"Teka, sandali lang." Nagulat naman ako sa biglang paghawak niya kaya lumayo ako.

"Why?"

"Thank you, and if it's okay with you, can we eat dinner?" Agad naman akong umiling.

There's no way I would eat dinner with him!

"You're welcome, patas na tayo ngayon dahil pinaghintay mo ako. And, I'm still full so I'm going to decline your offer. But anyway, have a nice me—."

And as if hell hated me so much.

It betrayed me! My stomach betrayed me! Tangina, kahihiyan nanaman.

"Full pala ha." He chuckled.

"Come on, Harley. You're hungry. Just sit there and tell me what you like to eat. It's my treat." Nakangisi niyang sabi. Bakit ba lagi nalang akong napapahiya sa taong 'to.

"Anything." I said with an unbothered expression just to save face. Tangina kasi!

"Anything then." He winked before walking away.

What a jerk!

I just hope it's the last time I would encounter someone like him!