DV Series: decoding the boys (under revision) ??

63 - pride

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Dahil maaga kong natapos ang joint activity, maaga din akong nakalabas ng klase. I met Angelo at UP Town where he waited for me. Kumakain siya ng ice cream sa labas when I found him.

His face lit up like the sun when he noticed my approach. "Yo."

"Napabisita ka?" bati ko.

"Ah, I'm supposed to meet your brother but he won't be out until much later. So I figured, why not meet the sister instead?" He flashed his lopsided grin.

"You could've texted the others though. Dismissal na ni Mathe, kanina pa, if I'm not mistaken."

"Why ba?" He tilted his head and furrowed his forehead. "Tss. You're the one I wanted to see so don't ruin it," sabi niya sabay tawa.

We made our way to the space where he parked his car. In no time, we were hitting the road. I made sure to text Racel about where I was going and who I was with just to avoid complications since we already decided to be more honest with each other.

Half past five, we arrived in PLM. Iniwan ko na lang muna sa sasakyan si Angelo habang inasikaso ko ang mga dapat kong asikasuhin sa loob. It didn't take much time. Siguro mga forty minutes lang din akong nag-stay sa loob. The school premises were inarguably much smaller than Intersci but there was an intimate and sophisticated sense in the campus and all the students there seemed like they were all smart and hardworking. And they are since I was told they're all scholars too. Wow.

Nung lumabas ako, Angelo was outside his Lambo, casually leaning against the hood. Several girls were making small conversations with him, which the kumag naman obviously enjoyed. His grey eyes were twinkling ever so mischievously, more so when he spotted me making way toward him.

Seeing me, the girls took a step back and whispered to themselves. Angelo bid them goodbye and they reluctantly excused themselves.

"Tagal mo naman," he said.

"Nag-enjoy ka naman," nakangisi kong sinabi habang sinusulyapan ang iba pang mga babae na nakatingin sa kanya.

"Well. Can't really do anything about the face. So ano, let's go?"

Tumawa ako. I was about to say yes when a thought struck me. I glanced to the right where the food cart was standing.

"Dude, have you ever tried that one?"

"Alin?"

"There. Fish balls?"

Angelo laughed. "Oo naman, Jamie V. Mom tried to cook that for us before."

"No, no. I mean, yung nandito talaga sa streets?"

He tilted his face, confusion and curiosity taking over his child-like features. "Not yet. Why?"

A Cheshire grin curled in my mouth. "Tara," sabi ko sabay hatak sa kanya.

In truth, kaya lang naman ako naka-experience nang kumain nito dahil lagi nga kami sa Roxas Boulevard dinadala ni Dad dati. Tsaka, mahilig kasi sa ganito si Lhyle kaya sa tuwing may nadaraanan kami, binibilhan niya din ako. Naging favorite street food ko tuloy ito.

I ordered ten fish balls, five on each stick. Angelo watched in fascination as I dipped them down the sweet sauce.

"Is that masarap talaga?" he whispered beside me.

I nodded, humming my response, before I popped one into my mouth.

"It's not dangerous? Hindi siya madumi?"

"'Di naman. Kuya's been here for a long time na. Nakita ko rin siya before nung nagpunta kami ni Hiromi dito. So far wala pa naman nagkakasakit dahil dito. 'Di ba 'no, Kuya?" I said to the middle-aged guy behind the cart.