Chapter Seven | You Make Me

“Uh, Irene.” Tahimik na tawag sa akin ni Seulgi pagkapasok namin sa loob ng kotse niya. She’s looking straight. “I’m really sorry about this. I really thought we would have the place on our own. If I had known Wendy would be there…” She cutely trailed off, now looking at the steering wheel instead. She seems to be unsure of what to say next.

Nagpa-iwan pa yung dalawa sa taas dahil mag-aayos pa raw sila ng kalat. I believe they need the alone-time to celebrate to themselves lalo na at nagpunta kami sa engagement nila unannounced. I feel a bit sorry dahil hindi naman ako personally close sa kanilang dalawa, pero napaka-welcoming nila. To say na na-out of place ako, would be a lie.

“I actually had fun. It’s so long since I’ve reconnected with people I know from before I migrated.” I said as I buckled my seatbelt. I gave Seulgi an encouraging smile.

“You did?” She asked me with as her face lit up at bumaling siya ng tingin papunta sa akin. Sinandal niya yung ulo niya sa manibela. She has these charms I cannot pinpoint pero kinikilig ako dahil napaka-cute niyang tignan sa anggulo na iyon.

“Oo nga.” I had to break our gaze. Konti na lang, Seulgi. At baka hindi ako makapag-pigil sa iyo.

She finally turned the engine on. Nakita kong inayos niya pa yung pagkakatapat ng aircon sa akin.

“Irene,” marahan niyang tawag sa aking pangalan. “If I asked you to date me when we were in college, would you have said yes?”

I looked at her, her eyes look like they’re pleading. Hindi ko alam pero yung mga mata talaga ni Seulgi yung pinakapaborito kong physical feature niya. They are very expressive.

“I would have.” I answered her question straightforward. I see her nod her head a couple of times, mukhang nag-iisip siya kung anong sunod niyang sasabihin.

“And if I asked you now, would you date me?” Hindi pa rin nawawala yung agam-agam sa kanyang mga mata. Para siyang kinakabahan na hindi mo malaman.

“Depends.” I answered casually. “If you’re asking or just asking. Hypothetical yung ‘if’ mo doon.” I continued to pry, mukhang caught off guard siya sa sinabi ko. “Let me fix it for you then. Are you asking me to date you, Seulgi?”

“Ang taas naman ng bars ng grammar mo, Irene. Ganyan ba talaga kapag galing New York Times?” I see her nervously laugh.

Natawa na lang din ako sa sinabi niya.

“Yes, Irene. I’ve liked you since we were in college.” She finally smiled loosely. Napakamot pa siya sa batok niya.

“Okay.” I spoke too soon. Hindi ko na kinakayang itago ang ngiti sa aking mga labi.

“Okay, as in you’re agreeing to date me? Or okay as in a deadpanned expression to shrug me off?” One moment she’s certain another she’s overthinking. God, how do I deal with her cuteness?

“Yeah, let’s date and then we can see what we could become from here.” I think I said my piece in clarity. I need to be the more mature person here since she hasn’t got a clue on how dating and relationships work, sabi nga ni Wendy kanina. Pero if I need to explain a bit more, I wouldn’t mind. I would be patient for you, Seulgi. I would.

“Fair enough.” Napatigil na naman siya. “Saan nga pala kita ihahatid?” She asked me. Pwede ba, Seulgi? Don’t look at me like that kasi baka jowain na kita ngayon.

“I live at Sapphire Block.” I think I like Seulgi better now. After all these years, it’s like fate brought us together.

“That’s not far from here.” Nagsimula na siyang magdrive. She lowered her window when we were passing by the gate. “Thank you po, manong!”

We drove to my place as we were talking more about simple mundane things. She said she just started jogging nung nagkasalubong kami kahapon. I asked her about her knee, sabi niya naman it’s healing nicely. Malayo daw sa buto. She asked me about what I do, nakwento ko sa kanya that we’re shifting into content creating, venturing into vlogging or podcasting. Nagulat pa nga ako when s