Look Who I Bumped Into Novels & Stories

Maraming bisita mula sa ibang kumpanya at mga business partners ang dumalo rin. “Iwelcome natin si Mr. Benny Humprey.” Umakyat si Uncle Benny sa entablado para magbigay ng kanyang talumpati. Napansin kong nakatingin sa akin si Derrick mula sa malayo. Mukhang nakikilala na niya ako ngayon. Ang kanyang mukha ay namutla, at ang homewrecker sa tabi niya ay mukhang nag-aalala din.

Sumagot siya agad, ibinigay lahat ng details at sinabing sa Monday ang first day ko pero kailangan kong pumunta sa Saturday meeting. Excited ako — sobrang excited. Pumunta ako sa food court para mag-burger. Hindi pa ako nakakaupo ng may boses ng isang pamilyar na batang lalaki akong narinig mula sa hindi kalayuan. “Tita Pretty!” Paglingon ko— si Zac, kasama ang tatlong kaibigan niya. “Hi!” Niyakap ko siya. Nakakatuwa talaga ’tong batang ’to.

As my friend and I were walking, she bumped into a tall man. My friend immediately shouted. "Hey!" my friend called out to the person who bumped into her. My friend's collision stopped both of us, and we stared at each other afterwards. I looked at my friend when she shouted. I just took a deep breath while my friend was screaming. I don't know, when the person who bumped into my friend looked at us, it felt like the world around us stopped moving.

He paused for a moment, remained staring at me. I avoided his gaze and cleared the lump in my throat. Hindi ba dapat nasasaktan ako ngayon dahil nasa harap ko na naman ang dalawang nanloko sa akin? Why am I distracted by a mere man that I haven’t even known for too long yet? “We met in a convenience store.” Pinigilan kong matawa sa sinabi ni Viscenzo. Sa dami ng lugar, sa convenience store pa? Does he even know what kind of place that is?

I hope not. But i guess fate won't let me rest just yet. Bago ako umuwi sa bahay, pumunta muna ako sa dati kong tambayan. Ang park na malapit sa subdivision namin, and i saw someone unexpected at my usual place. She was crying helplessly, and as our eyes met she looked like she was waiting for comfort to come to her. "Wow, haven't seen you in a while." Sabi ko sa kanya. She wiped her own tears. "...Ruben." i heard her whisper my name.

I lied, gusto ko lang talaga siya makita. "Hindi ka naman mukhang pasyente kasi hindi ka naman naka patient gown. Hindi ka rin naman mukhang doktor kasi wala ka rin namang doctor's gown." Then, I remembered my meeting with Addison. I chuckled, "I'm just a bystander. Don't mind me. Pumunta lang ako rito para kumustahin at bisitahin ka." "How do you know me? Hindi naman kita kilala." Kita ko ang pagtataka sa kanyang mukha.Nakapamulsa ako at lumakad sa may bintana at doon tumayo.

"Pumunta kasi siya sa mall kanina para maghanap ng masusuot para ngayon. I think he will be like a guest or something? I don't know. Basta ang sabi niya, people are shouting and running after him. Aminado naman akong gwapo talaga kasi ang kapatid nitong babe ko kaya hindi na nakakapagtaka kung marami ang naghahabol sa kanya. As I was saying, he run because he don't want to be chased by so many people but surprisingly, something happened. He was bumped into someone and an accidental kissed happened." *HUK* "Hey, are you okay?" A bit of worried plastered in ate Bella's face. "Y-yeah!" I answered shortly. As I reminisce what kuya Carl just told us a while ago, my eyes became widen as realizatio

Napamulat ako ng tingin ng may kumatok sa bintana ng kotse ko. Napakunot-noo ako nang makita ko kung sino ang kumakatok. Si Lance. Anong ginagawa niya dito? Ngumiti siya sa'kin na tila nakikita ako sa loob. Ibinaba ko ang bintana ng kotse ko. "Hi." Lalong tumamis ang ngiti nito. "What a coincidence? I just met someone here and I happen to see you." Sunod niyang saad.

Na-warning-an na kami nung una. I'm running so fast all the way to the admin's office when I bumped into someone's chest. Agad ako napasapo sa noo ko at nag angat ng tingin sa nabunggo ko. Muntikan pa ako matumba dahil sa tigas ng dibdib niya, para akong nabunggo sa pader. "I'm so—" I paused when I realized who he is. Damen.

She turned her back and left me. I continued following her while calling her name until she took one of her flip-flops and threw it to me. Nasalo ko naman bago tumama sa mukha ko. Pagtingin ko sa kaniya ay wala na siya. She escaped. I looked at her flip-flop with Dragon brand name on its strap. I am still holding it when someone bumps into me. A guy. He smiled apologetically at me and said sorry. I just nodded until he turned his back, and I saw the tattoo on his nape.