Encounter (Onze Series #1)

I swear I'm not thinking about him.

Nope. Not at all.

Pero bakit parang rinig na rinig ko pa rin sa utak ko yung linya niyang 'I don't hope to see you again.' Ang kapal talaga ng mukha! Akala mo naman siya si Henry Cavill! Ugh. Nakakainis.

"Girl, bakit ganyan 'yung mukha mo?"

I stab my pancakes a little too aggressively, making Claire raise an eyebrow at me as she plops down on the seat beside me. "Sino na naman ang tinitinidor mo r'yan?" she asks, casually stuffing a forkful of syrup-drenched pancakes into her mouth.

We're having brunch with Khylie and Warren, and I'm trying very hard to enjoy my afternoon without imagining myself throwing pancakes at a certain someone's face. It's supposed to be a chill day for me, no, for us, walang inom, walang party, and just overpriced pancakes dito sa Taft.

"Wala," I mutter, stabbing at my food.

Her eyes narrow, then widen in realization. "Oh my god. Iniisip mo siya, 'no?"

I choke on my drink. "Ano? Hindi ah!"

She gasps dramatically. "Valerie, wag kang mahulog sa isang lalaking walang puso! Magpakita ka ng respeto sa sarili mo, please!"

Humarap saamin si Lorraine. Warren on the other hand, ever the clueless one, raises an eyebrow. "Sino na naman 'to?"

I wave a hand dismissively. "Some rude guy from last night."

"Rude and gwapo," Claire adds, wiggling her eyebrows.

I glare at her. "Shut up."

"Last night? Bakit hindi mo agad kinwento 'yan!" Pagtatampo ni Warren. Actually, hindi ko nalang din talaga sinabi sa kanila 'yon at sa'min nalang ni Claire ang nangyare total na-witness niya naman, 'saka, nakakahiya kaya!

Never pa akong na-reject 'no!

"Hindi na para ipahiya pa ang sarili ko, ano?" I say sarcastically.

Khylie, who had been quietly sipping her matcha, smirks. "So... anong ginawa niya?"

I huff. "Wala naman masyado, just—ugh! Ewan. Ang yabang!  Feeling masyado. Saka parang allergic sa babae. Imagine rejecting me!"

They burst out laughing.

"Okay, now I have to meet this guy," Warren says, shaking his head. "Saan ba 'to nag-aaral?"

I pause, realizing I have no idea. Hindi ko naman tinanong. Ni hindi niya nga sinagot ang tanong ko kung anong pangalan niya eh!

"Ewan," I admit, shrugging. "Basta hindi ko na siya makikita ulit, so whatever."

Claire snorts. "Girl, sa tadhana mong 'yan? Sigurado ka?"

I roll my eyes. "Yes, okay? Yes."

Later that night, nag-stay kami sa condo ni Khylie for dinner since may mga padala ang parents niya galing ibang bansa.

It's really just a chill evening at uuwi rin kami agad. Si Warren ang maghahatid saamin ni Claire pauwi pero dumaan muna kami saglit sa park ng condominium na 'to para mag-take ng pictures kahit madilim na. Maganda kasi ang lighting ng mga light poles!

It was perfect.

And then, out of nowhere—chaos.

Kukunin ko na sana ang bag na nilagay ko sa tabi nung isang equipment dito sa playground nang biglang may makabunggo saaking mini scooter. Ang batang nagpapatakbo nito ay tumigil para mag sorry saakin at tulungan ako. Pero hindi na iyon ang concern ko ngayon!