4. Is that a compliment?

Allison set her phone on silent mode and threw it carelessly on the empty chair beside her. Kanina pa kasi iyon nagriring. Number lang ang nag-aapear kaya hindi niya sinasagot. She doesn't talk to strangers and if it was important, magpapadala ito ng mensahe. Saka niya lang sasagutin ang tawag kapag alam na niya kung sino ang caller at kung ano ang pakay nito.

Binuksan niya ang Taxation book niya at isinabay sa pagkain ang pagre-review. May long test siya sa sunod na subject. Kailangan niyang magmulti-task. With a spoon in her right hand feeding her mouth, calculator naman ang hawak ng kaliwang kamay niya at nagco-compute sa mga examples sa libro.

3:10 p.m. on the clock and she got so engrossed with whatever she was doing. Hindi niya napansin nang umupo sa harapan niya ang pissed off na si Ethan.

"Bakit 'di mo sinasagot ang tawag ko?" He demanded at totoong nagulat si Allison na hindi na pala siya nag-iisa sa sulok na iyon sa canteen.

Nag-angat siya ng paningin at sinalubong ang galit na mga mata nito. Halos nga magdikit ang mga kilay ni Ethan.

"Anong tawag?" blangkong tanong niya.

"I called you, twenty times," nagawi ang tingin nito sa cellphone niya na bahagyang natatakpan ng mga iba pa niyang libro sa tabi niya.

"Oh, was that you?" aniya nang maalala nga ang makulit na caller na ayaw magpakilala. "How did you get my number? Didn't your source inform you that I don't answer calls from unfamiliar numbers? You could have sent me a message, you know?" inumpisahan na niyang ayusin ang mga gamit niya.

"You're annoying," he said, unmoving and with lips still pressed into thin line. Pinapakita talaga nitong galit ito sa ginawa niyang pag-ignora sa tawag nito. 

"You didn't confirm."

"You gave me a time but you didn't tell me where!"

"It's not my problem that you didn't ask. Besides, it's no brainer to guess that I'm probably in the canteen," kinuha niya ang bag at tumayo.

"Really, Allison? You're leaving now?" frustrated na tanong nito.

"You're late. It's three-fifteen. I have a class in five minutes."

"Alam mo ba na hindi pa ako nagla-lunch?" pasumbat na sabi nito habang sinasabayan ang mabilis niyang lakad.

"It's not my problem."

"At sumakit ang ulo ko sa kakatawag sa'yo!"

"So, what? Are you trying to make me feel guilty?" binilisan niya pa lalo ang paglalakad. Pinagtitinginan kasi sila ng mga ibang estudyante. Ewan niya kung anong iniisip ng mga ito. Pero 'di na niya pag-aaksayahan ng panahon iyon.

"What time is your last class?" parang balewala dito ang mabilis na lakad niya. Paano eh isang hakbang lang ata nito ang dalawa niya?

"Why?"

"You have to make it up to me."

"Sorry, I don't have time to spare."

"Whatever, busy girl. I'll wait for you," humarang ito sa pintuan ng classroom niya bago pa siya makapasok.

"Ethan, let me pass," seryosong pahayag niya.

'This guy doesn't know how to quit.'

"Not until you promise me you'll make it up to me tonight," determinadong tugon nito.

"Alright," she sighed once again. "Meet me in the canteen by six pm."

"I'm not taking that chance," mabagal itong ngumiti. "I'll wait outside your classroom."

"Fine!" bahala nga ito.

-----

Ethan waited patiently outside Ally's classroom. Wala na siyang klase kaya p'wede niya itong sundan kahit magpalipat-lipat ito ng building mula pa kaninang alas tres y media ng hapon. 

Naiinis siya dahil pinapasunod-sunod siya nito. Not that Ally was even aware that she was driving his thoughts into nuts. Even Ethan couldn't believe that she totally got him with her shy split-second eye contact with him.

Sino ba si Allison Garcia before last Monday?

And crap. He couldn't believe what he found out. Four years into college and he didn't even know she existed until the other day. Siguro dahil hindi naman talaga siya tumitingin. Nasanay siya na siya ang nilalapitan. At kung sana nag-spare siya ng ilang minuto para kilalanin ang mga kaklase niya, dapat nakilala niya si Allison four years earlier because she actually attended more than twenty classes with him, minors included.

Isa pa, hindi ang klase nito ang mapapansin niya kung sakali. What? He's a guy. It's natural to notice girls who are hot and sexy. Those who literally paraded themselves in front of him. 

Allison was neither of those. Not that he could tell. She might have a surprise behind her unusual fashion sense. Just like the surprise of those lovely pair of eyes behind her big black-rimmed eyeglasses.

Knowing her name was a challenge. But getting her number was another. He found out na napaka-private nitong tao. Walang social media accounts at dalawa lang ang kaibigan nito. Sina Kattie at Michael na muntik na niyang hindi mapilit na ibigay ang numero ni Ally. Apparently, wala pang tumatanggi kay Ethan Montenegro. Pero hindi niya rin masasabi na nadalian siya. His powers and that of Leio and Zion were almost not enough to persuade the two who were almost impossibly loyal to Allison.

Later on, binigay rin nila ang kailangan niya on one condition. That he won't make Allison cry. Well, why would he in the first place? It's not like he would want to get romantically involved with Ally.

'Then what do you want Ethan?'

Tumayo siya nang makitang papalabas na si Allison. A smile curved his lips nang makitang nagulat itong makita siya.

She didn't expect him to wait, did she? Well, mabibigo ito kung inaasahan nitong madali siyang mag-give up.

"Hey," nilapitan niya ito.

"Why are you still here?" hindi ito makapaniwala.

"You promised to make it up to me," he reminded, amused kung paano mamilog ang mga mata nito. Ethan really hoped she would get rid of her eyeglasses. It's totally hiding her beautiful set of eyes.

"Did I?" tumingin ito sa suot nitong wristwatch nang may pag-aalala. "Do you have a car? What am I saying, of course you have a car! Uhmn, you see, I told you I don't have much time. So, maybe you can do me favor?"

"What favor?" kunot noong tanong niya, bahagyang naaaliw na nahihiya ito.

"I have a job at seven. Napaextend 'yong huling klase ko so that means, malelate ako kung kakain pa tayo."

"You're not serious, are you?" What? Magtatrabaho pa ito? What about their dinner?

"Ah know what? Never mind," she began walking away real fast.

"Hey, Ally. Wait!"

"I'm going to be late," nagmamadali talaga ito.

"Ihahatid na kita," he offered. Thinking about it, maybe that was also the favor she wanted to ask from him.

"Totoo?" nagliwanag ang mukha ng dalaga at hindi niya alam kung bakit nasiyahan siyang natuwa ito.

"Of course."

He walked with her to his gorgeous convertible. Hindi nagsalita si Ally pero nakita niya ang pagkamangha nito. And again, he felt a tingling sensation inside him at the sight of an amazed Allison.

"Seriously, you're still going to work?" tanong niya sa dalaga nang nagmamaneho na siya.

"Yup. Sorry."

"No, it's okay," umiling siya. "So what's your work?"

"Service crew. Sa fast food. Twenty-four hours open. Pero hanggang eleven pm lang ang shift ko," honest namang tugon ng dalaga.

"Bakit kailangan mong gawin 'to?" 

There goes the strange feeling in his chest once again, was it pity?

"Ethan," she said his name and he almost wanted her to say his name again and again. Parang sa simpleng pagbigkas nito ng pangalan niya ay nanuot iyon sa kaloob-looban niya. "Dahil-" for a while he thought he saw sadness in her eyes pero mabilis nitong natakpan iyon ng masiglang ngiti. "Kasi naniniwala ako na may mga ibang bagay pa akong p'wedeng gawin kaysa magpahinga."

"But you're neglecting your health," his concern was genuine.

"Of course not. I couldn't even remember the last time I got sick," balewala nitong tugon.

"Well, you sure are one of a kind, Ally."

"Is that a compliment?" pabirong tanong ni Ally and Ethan was glad na hindi na nito nire-resist ang presensya niya.

He shrugged.

"I'll probably have fifteen minutes before my shift," she added nang mapansin nitong hindi masyadong traffic. "P'wede pa tayong kumain. My treat. Pero doon na sa fastfood. Kung okay lang sa'yo," mabilis na sabi nito na parang hiyang-hiyang alukin siya ng gano'n.

"Sure," sabi na lang niya, pinipigilan ang sariling mapangiti. Why, she's so cute when she's uncomfortable. Bumabagay rito ang pagiging pink ng mga pisngi nito.

"Thank you."

He smiled.

'Get a grip, Ethan!'

Truth be told, hindi pa siya nakakakain sa fastfood. Nakikita niya lang ang mga pagkain doon sa mga billboards. But there's a first time for everything. Might as well try it with Allison.

 

-----

"Nandito na po ako," anunsyo ni Allison pagkapasok niya ng bahay nila kahit siguradong wala namang makakarinig sa kanya. It was already twelve o'clock in the midnight sabi ng wall clock na nakasabit sa dingding nila.

Ang apartment na inuupahan nila ay parang isang silid lang. Pagkapasok ng pintuan ay makikita na ang kabuuan maliban sa maliit na comfort room sa gilid.

She didn't bother turning on the lights at baka magising pa ang ina at kapatid na magkayakap na natutulog sa isang sulok ng bahay na nilagyan lang ng manipis na foldable mattress. Her heart ached at the sight of them.

Her forty-five-year-old mother, Amelia suffered a stroke last year. Sa kasalukuyan ay hindi masyadong makagalaw ang kanang bahagi ng katawan ng kanyang ina. She needed to undergo a therapy pero hindi pa niya kayang tustusan iyon sa ngayon. Ayaw kasi nitong pumayag na tumigil siya sa pag-aaral. Mahigpit nitong ibinilin na 'wag na 'wag niyang susubukang tumigil. Kaunting panahon na lang daw kasi at mas makakatulong siya kapag nakapagtapos muna siya ng pag-aaral.

She had a point. Pero si Kyla, ang nine-year-old niyang kapatid ang pansamantalang tumigil para may umasiste sa kanilang ina. Masakit iyon sa kanya dahil matalinong bata ang kapatid niya. But Kyla was understanding enough and even encouraged her na huwag muna itong isipin.

''Pag nakatapos ka na at may maganda ng trabaho, saka ako mag-aaral ate.'

Kaya naman gagawin niya ang lahat para maka-graduate habang isinasabay ang pagtatrabaho para sa kanilang mag-iina.

Nagbihis siya at pum'westo ng higa sa tabi ng mga ito.

"Goodnight, ate," narinig niyang sabi ni Kyla na humarap sa gawi niya at yumakap.

"Goodnight, Ky," she whispered.

-----

"'Morning Allison!"

Lulan ng sariling high class na bisekleta nito si Ethan nang out of nowhere ay bigla itong sumabay kay Allison.

"Ethan?" Hindi siya makapaniwalang bahagyang sinipat ng tingin ang suot na relo. Four-thirty pa lamang ng umaga at kakaumpisa pa lang niya sa trabaho. "Anong ginagawa mo rito?"

"Naisip ko lang mag-exercise," he winked at her at bahagyang nagpatiuna.

"Never pa kita nakita rito nang ganito kaaga. In fact hindi ko alam na dito ka pala nakatira."

"As I said, naisip ko lang magbike ngayon," bumalik ito sa tabi niya at sumabay.

"I see."

"Know what, I might do this every morning from now on," nauna na ito ulit.

Tinanaw niya ang binata. Lumingon ito at kinawayan siya. She found herself smiling kahit hindi pa rin siya makapaniwala na si Ethan Montenegro na napakayaman at popular ay nakikipagkaibigan sa kanya.

Bakit nga ba?

Tapos may biglang bumangong hinala sa loob niya. She pressed her lips in a thin line at nag-iba ng direksyon.

Ethan, like those in the movies, may have been using her to win a bet.

Pakiramdam niya may pumiga sa puso niya sa isiping iyon.