The Guy With the Scandal

     Pinunasan ko ang pawis na nagbabadyang tumulo mula sa aking noo at ipinagpatuloy ang paglalakad.

     It was 4:00PM pero ang init pa rin ng araw ang bumubungad sa akin. Dapat nagdala ako ng payong eh.

     I was on my merry way sa Ayala Feliz dahil niyaya ako ng mga kaklase ko na gumala at mag-review doon. As if namang makakapag-review kami.

     Hihiga lang naman kami sa pekeng grass sa roof garden eh. 

     With a bounce in my step, dumaan muna akong Kowloon House para bumili ng milktea.

     Kowloon House was this small but cute dumplings store sa paanan ng footbridge.  They serve dumplings, siopao, siomai, and other chinese delicacies. And within the store, may boba milktea. Known for their one liter milkteas, madalas kami ng tito ko dito.

     As I pushed the glass door open, the soft chime of the bell indicating a customer was heard through the mini store. 

    "Good Afternoon, Welcome to Kowloon House! What can I do for you?"

     "Isang large brown sugar milktea with cream cheese." I wasn't looking at the guy behind the counter when I said my order. Kabisado ko naman na kasi ang menu. So I just fished for a one hundred peso bill.

     "Hindi ba taga Saint Mary ka?" Napatingin ako kaagad sa lalaking nagsalita, "Nakikita kita sa SH Building eh. Grade 11 ka na, right?"

     As I nodded, I was sure na napatitig ako sa kanya.

     Joshua Villegas.

     "Yeah, taga Saint Mary ka din diba? Kaibigan mo sila Bino at Reena." 

     Tinapunan ako ni Kuya Joshua ng isang matamis at cute na ngiti. Self, hindi ba nakapag-move on ka na dyan kay scandal? "Kaya pala familiar ka. Kaibigan ka pala nina Bino at Reena."

     "Ah oo, matagal na." Napansin siguro niya na hindi pa niya nasisimulan ang order ko kaya kumuha na siya ng plastic na baso at isinulat ang, "BS w/ CC". 

     Umupo ako sa stool na nasa gilid ng counter kung saan ginagawa ang milktea. "Name?" He gave another cute smile. Awit naman dito. "Sorry kung hindi ko alam pangalan mo ah." 

     Okay lang, malandi ka naman eh. "Don't worry about it, hindi naman ako famous tulad niyo nina Reena. She's the famous one." Sa circle of friends kasi namin, isa ako sa mga hindi masyado kilala ng campus. Sure, sa building namin kilala ako, pero sa scale ng tao na nakakakilala dito kay Joshua? It will never compare.

     Oo, Student Council Ambassador siya. But there will always be a different reason kung bakit siya famous. At kung bakit ko pinigilan ang paghanga ko sa kanya. 

     "Pero mas cute ka." 

      I blinked, "Ha?"

     Matipid na ngumiti si Kuya Joshua na parang kinikilig.

     Pota.

     "Wala," umiling siya at itinaas ang marker at baso na kanyang hawak, "Hindi mo pa binibigay ang pangalan mo."

     "Milan," mabilis kong sabi, "Milan."

     "Milan," he dreamily said, "Not to be cheesy, but that's a beautiful name." Kinindatan niya ako at tumalikod para ipagpatuloy ang paggawa sa milktea ko.

     What the fuck was that?

     Na-weirduhan ako sa inasal ni Kuya Joshua.  Kahit naman kasi naging crush ko siya, I've never gotten in my head that he'll flirt with me. Medyo nakakakilabot.

     Cute siya, I admit.

     I quickly sent a message to Silena.

"Sis, code red. Nandito ako sa Kowloon House at nagtatrabaho si Villegas dito and I THINK HE'S FLIRTING WITH ME!"

     Mabilis naman akong nireplyan ni Silena. Panigurado nasa class toh at tsumetyempo lang para i-chat ako.

"Ha? As in JOSHUA VILLEGAS? Ingat ka, mahilig sa ano yan."

"SILENA!"

"TOTOO NAMAN ABA!  KWENTO KA MAMAYA ANDITO NA PROF NAMIN SA BIOLOGY #HOTPAPA"

     Silena Villegas is one of my closest friends. Nasasabihan ng crush, at kabaliwan ko rin paminsan. She's currently attending as a grade eleven student sa UST. Kahit malayo kami sa isa't isa, I tend to keep her up with my non-existant love life.

     Hindi sila magkaano-ano ni Kuya Joshua. They just have the same last name. Weird nung una, but marami naman kasing Villegas sa mundo.

     As I lowered my phone, pinagmasdan ko si Kuya Joshua na nagmemeasure ng powder, pouring its contents to the mixer.

     Maputi, matangkad, curly black hair, may salamin, and not to mention matalino na, talented pa.

     He was really a girl's dream.

     Too bad he had to take those dick pics.

     Before I knew it, natapos na pala ang milktea ko, "One large brown sugar milktea with cream cheese for Milan."

     Kinindatan niya ako as he slid the drink towards me.

     I stared at him weirdly and handed him a one hundred peso bill, "Thank you."

     He tipped his invisible hat. Cute. "Pleasure is mine. See you sa campus, Milan."

     Matipid akong ngumiti at bumaba na ng stool.

     I was about to open the doors para magpatuloy papuntang Feliz when I remembered Apollo's words.

     "Invite mo kaya mga crush at naging crush mo sa debut mo? You've had a total of eighteen crushes, Deli! Para maiba, diba?"

     Unti-unti akong lumingon kay Kuya Joshua. He looked at me, silently asking if I was okay.

     "Pwedeng makahingi ng favor?"

     "Anything."

     I searched his face. Gagawin ko ba talaga toh? Should I really invite all of the guys na naging crush ko? Hindi naman nila alam na gusto ko sila eh.

     I could do this to take it off my chest?

     Years of not having the courage to tell them.

     Years of getting friendzoned.

     Years of not being enough.

     "Crush kita dati. Pwede ka bang pumunta sa eighteenth birthday ko?"

      I swear, naibagsak niya yung kutsara na hawak niya.