Chapter 5

Come

“Okay na ba ‘yang in-order mo? Pwede ka pang magdagdag. Don't worry, it's all on me,” sabi ni Primo nang mapansing kaunti lang ang pagkaing inorder ni Heather.

“Nah. It's okay. ‘Di naman ako masyadong malakas kumain,” she answered as I looked around.

They’re in a karinderya right now. Medyo magulo at matao but it's cool. Umaalingasaw ang bango ng iba't ibang pagkaing niluluto. Hindi first time ni Heather kumain dito pero napakatagal na rin mula nang huling siyang nakapunta.

“Kaya pala ganiyan ang katawan mo.”

Heather glanced at him. “Bakit? Ano'ng meron sa katawan ko?”

“You're too...skinny,” he said while looking at her from head to toe.

Both of her brows raised. “In my vocabulary, it's called sexy.”

“Pwede ka pa rin namang maging sexy kahit ‘di ka payat. Depende ‘yan sa tumitingin. Ate!” Nagsalubong ang kilay ni Heather nang tawagin ni Primo ang babaeng nagse-serve ng ulam. “Padagdagan po ‘yung order namin ng isang sisig tsaka dalawang extra rice. Tapos, may halo-halo kayo? Good. Gawin mo ng dalawa.”

Tumaas ang dalawang kilay ni Heather nang marinig ang sinabi nito. “Ang dami mo namang dinagdag,” kumento niya.

Ngumisi siya. “Para sayo lahat ‘yon. Ubusin mo ha.” He winked. Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Heather. He just chuckled.

Hindi alam ni Heather kung bakit basta na lang siyang pumayag sa alok ni Primo. There’s something about his eyes that made her can’t say no. They’re beguiling, especially when he’s smiling. And for a stranger who she just met for two times, Heather can feel a sense of security and comfortability towards the man.

“Pang-ilang trabaho mo na itong sa Limelight?” he asked habang inilalapag ang mga pahabol nilang pagkain. Just looking at the rice, Heather felt so full already. 'Di yata magkakasya ang lahat ng iyon sa tiyan niya.

“Actually, it's my first job.” Sagot niya habang pinakatititigan ang mga pagkain.

“Oh.” He looked stunned. “Fresh grad?”

“No. I graduated two years ago.” She smiled.

“Ba't ngayon ka lang nag-apply?” kuryosong tanong ni Primo. Iniisip niya na mukhang mayaman si Heather at napaka-weird na nag-apply ito bilang sekretarya.

“I got busy with some…things.” Such as following Aidan around nang hindi nahahalata ng lahat. “Tsaka, mahirap maghanap ng trabaho sa kursong tinapos ko lalo na kapag 'di experienced.”

“Bakit, ano ba'ng kursong tinapos mo? Business Administration?” That’s what rich people take in college.

“Tourism,” sagot ni Heather.

“Tourism? Tapos nag-apply ka as—wait. Naguguluhan ako.” Halata sa mukha ni Primo ang pagkagulo and Heather finds it cute. Mahina siyang natawa.

“Ni-recommend ako ng Ate ko kaya ako na-invite for interview. Pero 'yun lang 'yung ginawa ni Ate. Ako na ang sumagot sa lahat ng tanong at mga requirements. Tsaka, alam ko naman sa sarili ko na kaya kong gawin ang trabaho ng isang secretary,” paliwanag niya. She don't want him to think na nakapasok siya dahil lang sa recommended siya.

“Okay, okay. No need to defend yourself. Kanina pa tapos ang interview mo,” natatawa niyang wika.

“Right.” Her smile got wider. Hindi mapigilan ni Primo ang mamangha sa ganda ng ngiti ng dalaga. Napakamahinhin nito maging ang simpleng pagngiti.“Ikaw? Ilang taon ka ng nagtatrabaho sa Limelight?”

“After I graduated. Nag-apply agad ako at sinuwerte na natanggap. Anyway, bago natin ituloy ang ating getting to know conversation, do you have a boyfriend? Baka kasi bigla na lang ako bumulagta dito, mabuti na't handa.” Primo said it in a joking tone but he was actually plain curious. For sure, mayro’n ‘yan. Sa ganda niya? Isip ni Primo.

“Yes, I have and no, hindi ka bubulagta. Mabait naman ang boyfriend ko.”

“I'm sure he won't be very kind to guys nearing you.” I won’t be nice if I was him, he thought.

“'Di naman siya seloso. Baka nga matuwa pa 'yon kapag nakita niya tayong nag-uusap eh. He wants me to make some friends kasi. What about you? Any girlfriend?” balik kong tanong sa kaniya.

“None. I never had any since, three or four years ago? 'Di ko na matandaan,” sagot niya. Uminom muna siya ng tubig bago nagsalita ulit. “Though, for your boyfriend to say that, wala ka ba masyadong kaibigan?”

“I don't have any. I did have some before, but we lost contact. We parted ways tapos ayon, nagkalimutan na,” ani ko saka nagsimulang kumain. 

“But I'm sure, kahit papano, there are some who stayed, right?” Primo’s eyes are saying that he doesn't believe that she doesn't have any friends. Somehow, Heather feel nice. 

“No.” Umiling siya. “In my case, none. Maybe because I'm an illegitimate child?” 

“You are?” Nagulat ang lalaki, as expected. “Well, hindi pa rin 'yon sapat na dahilan para layuan ka nila.” Napahinto si Heather sa pagkain dahil sa sinabi niya. That's the second time she heard that from someone. The first one is from Aidan

“Para sa 'yo, hindi. Sa kanila, oo. Apparently, people tend to choose who they want to be friends with. It's in our nature. Lalo nga lang lumala sa panahon ngayon to the point that they become judgmental. Pati family at financial status mo, tinitingnan nila. And if it doesn't fit their taste, discarded ka na. Oddly, that's how the world works.” Heather suddenly outburst her emotions. 

“True.” Tumango-tango si Primo. “Though, hindi naman lahat ganoon. May iba pa rin namang hindi bumabase sa status. People who don't choose their friends. Like me.”

Tumaas ang kilay ni Heather. “Like you?”

He nodded. “Yep.” Ngumiti siya saka nagpatuloy sa pagkain. “Nasa'n nga pala ang boyfriend mo? Natanggap ka sa trabaho, hindi ba't dapat nandito siya?” It’s not that he doesn’t want Heather’s company. He actually enjoys it. He’s just curious.

Nawala ang ngiti sa labi ni Heather dahilan para mag-alala si Primo sa kaniya. “He's busy with work.”

“You're his girlfriend. He should find time for you, right?” Salubong ang kilay niya habang sinasabi iyon. Hindi pa nakikita ni Primo ang lalaki pero hindi na maganda ang impresyon niya rito. How could he let his own girlfriend be all alone and not support her? Kung hindi pa sila nagkita ni Heather, eh ‘di mag-isa lang itong kakain.

“He's very...dedicated to his work.”

“And that's okay with you?” Primo is dedicated to his work too. But for sure, he would still give time to his beloved and support her. Unlike that guy…anong klaseng boyfriend siya? Hindi niya ba nakikitang napakaganda ng girlfriend niya tapos mahinhin at mabait pa? Tapos pababayaan niya lang? Kung siya ang boyfriend nito, he would’ve tied her to him already.

“Naiintindihan ko naman.” Mahinhing boses iyon ni Heather na pumukaw sa kaniya. Primo shook his head. He glared at her na para bang pinangangaralan niya ito.

“It doesn't matter kung naiintindihan mo o hindi. Ang tanong ko ay kung ayos lang ba sa ‘yo," aniya habang nakatingin ng diretso sa mga mata ng dalaga. Hindi nagsalita si Heather pero nag-iwas siya ng tingin. Dahil doon, nakuha niya ni Primo ang sagot niya. He sighed. “Wala kang ibang kaibigan maliban sa boyfriend mo?” 

“Wala.”

“Can I be your friend then?" Heather froze at his question. Iyon ang unang beses na may nagtanong sa kaniya no'n. She was not expecting it. She was caught off-guard that she stared at Primo for a couple of seconds, examining his face. Looking for that emotion that indicates that he was only joking. But none.

“A-Are you sure?” paninigurado ni Heather.

Kunot-noong tumango si Primo. “Oo naman. I'm not doing this para magkaroon ka ng kaibigan kahit papano. I'm doing this because I think you are a nice person.”

“You do?” That put a smile on Heather’s lips. “Kahit anak ako sa labas, kakaibiganin mo pa rin ako?”

“What's the matter with that?” He looked at her incredulously. “That doesn't change a thing. You're you. Ikaw si Heather na mabait, maganda, at matalino.”

“I'm not matalino,” tanggi niya.

“Yes, you are,” giit nito. “Sa mga pinagsasasabi mo kanina, alam ko na agad na matalino ka. So...friends?” Nilahad ni Primo ang kamay niya.

Nakangiti iyong tinanggap ni Heather. She was feeling excited because she made a friend. “Friends.” Pareho silang natawa ng mahina at tinapos ang pagkain.

They kept on chatting while eating. Maraming natutunan si Heather mula sa kaniya. Una, he's a Business Ad graduate sa UP. Pangalawa, he's an only child. He grew up in an average family. His Dad, a policeman and his Mom, a teacher. Sobrang payak ng pamumuhay nila, unlike theirs. 

Kung papipiliin si Heather, ang buhay na kinalakihan ni Primo ang pipiliin niya. Tahimik, simple, at higit sa lahat, masaya. Sila, mayaman nga pero hindi naman ganoon kasaya. O baka siya lang? Driana looks happy with her life. So does her Mom and Dad. Every time she thinks of them, para silang litrato ng perpektong pamilya sa paningin ni Heather. She’s the only one different. Just like how she don't belong in Aidan's world, she don't fit in her family's perfect picture.

How lucky can I get? Note the sarcasm, please.

“Just like before, hindi kita maihahatid kasi may sasakyan ka, tama?” he asked jokingly.

Humalakhak si Heather and Primo was suddenly breathless at the sight in front of him. “Tama.”

“Well, I'll see you on Friday, then?” Nagpamulsa siya at umaktong hindi siya natulala sa kagandahan nito.

Heather nodded vigorously. “Yes—oh, wait!” Binuksan ni Heather ang bag at kinuha ang ticket pass sa talk show event nina Aidan at Cali. Ipinadala iyon sa kaniya ni Miss Keila, ang manager nina Aidan, noong isang araw. “Here.”

“Ano 'to?” tanong ni Primo habang binabasa ang nakasulat sa ticket. 

“It's a ticket para sa isang live talkshow event on TV. I was wondering, if you could come with me?” nahihiya niyang saad. Since Primo said that they’re friend and she agreed, naisip niyang pupwede niya itong isama sa talk show.

“Ang boyfriend mo?” Primo was confused as to why she invited him when she’s got someone special. Wala naman sa hitsura ni Heather ang two-timer.

“He can't come,” pagsisinungaling ng dalaga. Papaano naman niya ako masasamahan eh siya 'yung guest sa interview?

Thinking that Heather will be alone in that show, he nodded. “Oh okay. Sure, I'll come.” Ngumiti siya ng malapad.

“Great.” Heather grinned again and as usual, Primo stared at her for a long second.