Chapter Six | Surprise

Some things just never change. I suppose, Irene never got over hiding her expressions like when we were in college. We started as friends to almost lovers to strangers. And here we are again, waiting to break this long-winding cycle. Sana naman roldt.

“Do you want to get out of here?” I suddenly held her hand, just like what she did to me when we first met. Ganito pala yung feeling nito, nakakakaba. Did she feel the same kaya siya natigilan dati? There is this feeling in my stomach that I cannot pinpoint what.

“Ha?” Napasinghap siya. Is it because I held her hand? Or is it because of the spontaneity of what I asked? Her eyes are equally questioning just like her tone.

“I asked if you ever wanted to run away.” I wanted to appear like I was asking the obvious dahil para lang naman kaming mga bida sa scene ng isang teleseryeng hindi papayagan ng MTRCB sa telebisyon.

And when I see her nod a couple of times, I did not hesitate. Alam ko na hindi na dapat pa akong magpatumpik-tumpik pa at marahan kong hinila ang kamay niya papunta sa exit ng gallery. I couldn’t care any less about the exhibit at kung sino man yung artist na ipinunta namin doon. What matters is that I get another chance to shoot my shot tonight.

“Irene?” There’s this man that we ran into while navigating our way to where I parked. I know he was the one who just parked beside my car. Dikit na dikit nga sa linya ang pagkaka-align niya dito, yung tipong pag binuksan ko yung pinto ng driver’s seat, I’ll have to be wary kung tatama ba yung pinto ko.

“Hey,” I hear Irene say in a small voice. Hindi siya makatingin sa kausap niya. I noticed she looked to the ground instead. I looked at him, he looks really familiar.

To break this awkward silence, I decided to do something. “Seulgi, pare.” I offered my other hand, the one that isn’t holding Irene’s hand.

His eyes are still fixated on Irene before he finally took my hand to shake it. “Jinyoung, I’m Irene’s ex.” Hindi ko rin alam, pero pwede namang i-omit yung part na ex siya ni Irene diba? And then it hit me, this is Elias, the same guy I used to see with Irene from my balcony.

“We’ll get going then,” I said with a knowing smile. I squeezed Irene’s hand a bit and then led her to my car. Pinagbuksan ko siya ng pinto before I went in my seat. Tama nga ako, dikit na dikit nga yung kotse ng kupal sa akin. Nang palabas na ako ng parking spot ko, nakita ko na nakatayo pa rin yung ex ni Irene kung saan naming siya iniwan. Was he watching us the whole time?

“Matutunaw ako sa tingin mo, Irene.” Medyo nakalayo na kami from where we came from. Tumawa pa ako nang makita kong iiwas niya yung tingin niya sa akin. “Don’t worry, I won’t pry about it.” I said in clarity. I’m sensing she has this urge para magkwento sa akin. But that could wait.

“Saan ba tayo pupunta?” She asks me as she rummaged aimlessly from the inside of her bag. She looks cute when she’s caught off guard. Para siyang elephant in the room with nowhere to hide.

“I honestly don’t know,” I admit to her. Seulgi Gabriel only does this once in a blue moon. “I just want to be with you alone. I mean, if that makes sense to you.” I didn’t want to sound creepy. Hell, does it? Hindi ko na rin alam.

“I never knew you were this impulsive.” Nakita ko na lumingon siya sa akin. Mukhang nakakita siya ng opening for her counter-attack. Not that it matters greatly, but this, at this moment is something I’ve been waiting for a long time. I think she got her resolve na i-let go na lang yung topic ng ex niya.

“Is it a good thing or a bad thing?” Tanong ko sa kanya habang nag-babacking sa parking lot. The last thing I want to do is cr