New Kind of Romantic

"Uhm, busy kasi ako ngayon," I said in a low and dry tone.

Umiwas ako ng tingin at nag-ayos ng mga bulaklak sa display rack. Inayos ko na rin ang buhok ko sa likod ng tainga ko, since I was such an organizer myself.

Game! Ready na akong magpapilit.

"Oh. Oh, okay," he said nervously, and rather frantically. Bahagya siyang tumungo at nakita kong maliit siyang ngumiti kay Auntie. "Balik na lang po ako sa ibang araw, Auntie."

Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. Nagpanic ang kamay ko at kung ano-ano nang ginawa nito sa mga bulaklak sa shelf!

Grabe, hindi ko man lang naramdamang i-pursue! Hayaan mong Archer ka, luluhuran mo rin ako balang araw. At sa pagluhod mo, sisiguraduhin kong ang kamay mo ay may hawak ng singsing. Akala mo, ha!

I swiftly twirled with my hands behind my back. I squeaked, "Done na pala ako! Tara?"

Napabuntonghininga si Auntie, "Hay naku, Snooki."

Tinanggal ko ang tali ng apron ko. Naglugay na rin ako ng buhok, handa nang maglakad sa aisle. Aisle ng NYC sidewalk! 'Tsaka na iyong sa isa.

Tila nagulat pa si Archer sa akin, pero tumango rin naman siya at nagpaalam kay Auntie. "It's just a quick lunch, Auntie. Ibabalik ko po kaagad si Snooki."

Itinago ko ang mukha ko para makagat ang labi ko.

"Naku! Kahit huwag mo nang ibalik."

Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko at gulat akong lumingon kay Auntie. Grabe kasi? Ang supportive!

"Grabe ka po, Auntie!" kunwari kong tutol.

Nahagip ng mata ko na nagpigil ng ngiti si Archer. He just cleared his throat and looked away to leave no evidence.

He was so gentle to my eyes. I could feel him touching my heart as light as a feather. If he ever desired to disrupt my world, I'd never see myself protest, because I knew he was only capable of according me with a beautiful chaos.

Parang ganyan. Basta gusto ko na siyang ipakilala sa mga magulang ko! Sana soon. Excited na ako.

Isang tango ang binigay niya sa akin bago siya umuna palabas ng shop. Nang likod na niya ang kaharap ko ay 'tsaka ako tahimik na nangisay. I just heard Auntie groan, and then I was gone to the busy street of the city.

The honking of the taxis was what welcomed me outside. I looked up to peek at some parts of the sky. No one could ever feel like a giant in here, for in the city lived nearly all establishments that aimed to reach the sky.

Inayos ko ang black leather jacket ko at humabol sa tabi ni Archer.

"Saan tayo?" I asked him casually. I jammed both of my hands inside my jeans pockets. Pa-cool lang dapat.

"Is there anything you want to try in the city?"

Yaaas, pero baka magulat ka sa kung anong isasagot ko.

"Uy ano ka ba, libre ko 'to," I chortled demurely. "Ikaw kaya ang pumili. Kahit saan!"

Bumaba ang mata niya sa akin, tila nagtataka. "It's fine, Snooki. I'll pay for now."

I beamed, hindi ko na napigilan. "For now? So, may next time pa tayo?"

Napahawak siya sa batok at saka umiwas. Kumislap ang mamahalin niyang relo sa pulso nang masinagan ng araw. Habang hindi nakatingin sa akin ay tumango naman siya.

Hnggg~

Tonette, nasaan ka? Nanghihina ako, 'di na ako makalakad!

"Do you like burgers?" I asked in the most casual I could, again, para kunwari ay normal pa ang puso ko. "I like burgers."

"Alright," my shy boy replied. "We'll have burger."

As both of us walked in silence, the noise of the city took over. I had nothing important on my mind now that I started to notice the weather, too. The humidity was mild, but I could feel the weather was really starting to get hot. It was a good thing Manila prepared me to bear this—no, actually twenty-nine degrees celsius was already nothing to my skin.

"Can you walk two kilometers?" he asked. I gave him a confused look, pero iyong cute pa rin. "Or do you want to take a cab?"

"If we'll walk, won't that take long?" I prompted. "I mean, you're only out of work for lunch, 'di ba?"

"It's alright. I always catch up at night," he said. "Walk?"

Pumayag na lang ako. Mukhang gusto niya talagang maglakad para makasama ako nang mas matagal. Wala, e. Sino ba naman si yours truly moi para pigilan siya, 'di ba?

On 6th Ave, the road was wider compared to our vicinity. In here were a lot of modernized buildings established by the world of commerce, trade, and hustling. We walked in between these grandeur as the glass-built architectures gleamed cerulean against the sunlight.

It was either business or shopping to me when I travel here in New York. I was only seeing the way it really was during these days.

Kung may kailangang puntahan na lugar noon ay lagi akong nakasasakyan dahil may oras na kailangang habulin para sa mga susunod na business appointments. Ngayon, nilalakad o bina-bike ko na lang ang lugar kung kaya. It's therapeutic, actually.

Nakatigil kami sa gilid ng daan at naghihintay tumigil ang mga sasakyan para makatawid.

"Saan ka nagtatrabaho, Archer?" I asked to start a small talk.

"Wall Street."

"Woah, really? Who are you there, a stockbroker like Leonardo aka Jordan Belfort?" I kidded, bobbing my brows.

Archer. My own version of Wolf Of Wall Street, rAwR.

The light for the pedestrian signal turned neon green. Nauna siyang lumakad at sumunod ako sa gilid niya. One thing I learned about him just now was that he walked incredibly fast. Like, really fast! Kahit ramdam ko na binabagalan na niya ang lakad niya, I always found myself scurrying just to catch up to him. It must be a New Yorker or a commuter thing.

Hawak na kaya ako sa braso niya? Hmm.

"I work in a hotel," he answered, looking back at me because I really couldn't keep up with his pace.

"Omg! Same!" I squealed. "Well, back in Manila," I muttered to myself.

If this isn't destiny, then I don't know what is!

"What are you there?"

He pursed his lips and subtly nodded. "I work as a hotel general manager."

Nanghina ang talukap ng mata ko at napangiti ako. I sighed dreamily. "Same."

Actually, I wasn't really sure what he does, but here I'll claim we're still the same. I mean, psh! Destiny, duh!

We reached an intersection where I could see the familiar Flatiron Building. We walked the path of Broadway and continued just straight ahead. During my bus tour, we went the other way, on the opposite side of The Fuller Building that we're taking now.

Hindi ko naramdaman na malayo na ang nalakad namin dahil tawid lang kami nang tawid sa kabilang parte ng daan. I couldn't remember how many stoplights we've waited for to turn green. And also, no one really counts the things they see anywhere for nothing.

Like what I had seen from anywhere before, marami pa ring ongoing constructions. Ang iba ay umabot na sa sidewalk at talagang nakaharang doon ang mga scaffoldings, kaya kinailangan talaga naming lumakad sa kalsada. And knowing NYC, it was heavily congested with people and vehicles all year-round, so anyone could vividly imagine the challenge in going to places. And actually, I was already getting used to a life like this.

"Archer, malayo pa ba?" I asked. "Saan ba tayo pupunta?"

"We're a corner away from Gramercy Tavern. Can you make it?" he sincerely asked, his brows were slightly raised.

Ngumuso ako at tumango. Masyado naman niya akong bine-baby!

"'Wag kang mag-alala sa 'kin. Big girl na kaya ako," I reminded him. "Grabe ka."

Tumango lang din siya. Pero noong umiwas siya ng tingin ay nahuli ko na bahagyang umangat ang gilid ng labi niya sa patagong ngiti.

Crush niya talaga ako, Tonette!

Tonette, hindi ko na keye.

Pinauna ko siya sa paglalakad, purposely, this time. Kailangan ko kasing kiligin, kailangan ko itong ilabas kasi kung hindi, 'di ko na alam kung saan ako pupulutin!

Archer's back was at me. Nasa magkabilang pisngi ko ang palad ko at pigil na pigil na tumili. Ang saya talagang magka-crush, my heart was so full of butterflies and glitters!

Ilang minuto mula nang makaliko kami sa isang street ay natanaw ko na ang sinasabi niyang lugar.

The architecture of the restaurant was intricate, in contrast to the modern buildings I had seen a while ago. The stone wall here was of rustic cream and had dramatic design patterns like that we see in churches. Not to leave out the columns on the exterior wall that were positioned in equal distances.

Above the black entrance door was a dome awning that has the words Gramercy Tavern on it. For a normal person like me, a dome awning was like a fancy umbrella to shade people going in and out of the restaurant, or not. Regardless, it looked classy.

"Uy, Archer." I gently tugged his arm. "This seems like a fancy place. Okay na ako sa street food."

"Oh," he reacted shyly. "Sorry. I thought you wanted to eat burger."

Napangiti ako at tuluyan nang natawa. "Really? This was your idea of burgers? Grabe ka, Sir Archer!"

Namula ang tainga niya at nilihis ang tingin. I saw his Adam's apple jerked when he gulped and cleared his throat.

"Pero I'm fine here!" agad kong bawi. "We can eat here now. Next time, sa chill place na tayo."

The man of few words just nodded.

"Tara na," I called him when he didn't move.

I grabbed him by his arm so we could enter the restaurant. Pagkaupo ay iniwan ko na sa kanya ang pag-order ng pagkain.

I wasn't sure if I was still normal, because while I was watching him I could hear absolutely nothing. Parang naka-slow motion ang mundo ko habang pinapanood kong gumalaw ang labi niyang seryoso nagsasalita. Mapungay ang mata niyang nagpapabalik-balik sa binabasang menu at sa waiter na kinakausap, pero alam kong mas mapungay ang akin dahil hinihilo ako ng labi ng lalaking nasa harapan ko.

I think I know now what I want for dessert. Kekeke!

"Snooki..."

"Huh?" parang ewan kong sagot. "Yes—wait, what?"

He pursed his lips, para na naman magtago ng ngiti. Tuwing ginagawa niya iyan, akala naman niya naitatago niya iyon nang tuluyan. Dahil sa halip ay sa mata naman niya iyon lumilitaw.

"I'm sorry for taking you here without asking first."

I waved my hands dismissively as quickly as a flash. "No, it's okay. Tama na sa sorry, Arch! Grabe ka naman."

Dumating ang waiter para lagyan ng tubig ang mga baso namin.

"And I like you. I don't think I'll ever mind anything you do," I mumbled, but I hoped he heard it properly.

Hindi ko alam kung naintindihan niya ang sinabi ko. Imbes kasi na sumagot siya ay agaran siyang uminom ng tubig. Hindi pa man nakakaalis iyong waiter ay ubos na ang kanya. Tipid na ngumiti iyong server at muling pinuno ang baso niya ng tubig.

Pinaglalaruan ko sa ibabaw ng hita ang mga daliri ko. I was a bit anxious to confess that I liked someone like that. It's just that, I really wanted him to know. And all inhibitions down, to me, it didn't sound wrong in any way.

I just told a guy that I liked him, and so what? Right? It was my own feelings and I decided to say it proud and loud.

Well, not really loud. But just enough so he could potentially hear it.

"Snooki, I just have to take this call," sabi niya. Itinaas niya ang nakailaw niyang phone para ipakita na may tumatawag.

"Sure, sure!"

Mabilis siyang lumabas ng restaurant. Pumwesto siya sa parte ng sidewalk na kita ko mula rito sa loob. Hinanap niya ang tingin ko at binigyan ako ng tango habang may sinasabi sa kausap.

Pa-cool naman akong tumango pabalik. Nilabas ko rin ang phone ko kasi syempre hindi naman ako magpapatalo!

Pero ang totoo ay magse-selfie lang ako. Tinalikuran ko si Archer para makasama siya sa picture. I captured a photo with him looking stressed out. Nakatagilid siya sa photo at nakakunot ang noo.

Kagat-labi ko iyong s-in-end sa group chat naming magpi-pinsan at nag-type ng message.

To Life da Partey Kids:
Your girl, pinagpala, is Finally. On. A. Date!!!

Pagka-send ko roon ay kay Mom ko naman sunod na pinadala ang photo. In-edit ko muna iyon para ikulong sa heart na drawing si Archer.

To Elora Henilza:
Mom, meet your future son-in-law!!! Hart hart gwapo yan, I swear! Showdown sila ni Dad.

Hindi pa ako nakaka-reply sa sunod-sunod nilang chat ay napansin kong nawala na si Archer sa labas. Tinago ko na ang phone ko nang makita kong pabalik na pala siya.

Tipid siyang ngumiti pagkaupo niya sa harap ko. "Sorry, it's work."

"Okay lang, uy. Kailangan ka na ba?"

"Yeah, but forget about it. It's not urgent, anyway," he assured me. Kilergs.

I smiled at him, yet he didn't smile back. He pursed his lips and averted his gaze away. Grabe, hiyang hiya sa 'kin? Crush na crush talaga ako nito!

"Sorry, I'm..." He looked down and laughed at himself. "Hindi ako pala-usap. I may be boring you out—"

"No!" I intervened. "No, no, no! I swear, hindi." I grinned.

Now, he finally gave me one fleeting smile! Mapungay pa rin ang mata niya, at tuwing kumukurap siya ay nahuhulog talaga ang tingin ko sa labi niya.

"Ako na lang ang magkukwento. Madaldal ako, so balanced tayo."

Wala sa sarili niyang binasa ang labi niya at kinagat iyon para pigilang ngumiti. His smile was utterly expensive, huh? I wondered what was his currency, so that I could have him smiling until my giddy heart grew impossibly sated.

"Magkukwento na ako, ha?" I confirmed. Tumango lang siya at itinagilid nang bahagya ang ulo habang naghihintay.

"Wait, by the way, I am Snooki Henilza, from Manila, and twenty-something."

I offered him my hand for a shake. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay nang mag-alangan siyang kunin iyon. He blinked twice before losing to me. Pagkatanggap niya ay nagpakilala rin naman siya.

"I am Archer Marsden, from New York, and also twenty-something," sabi niya habang nangingiti-ngiti. But it wasn't an Archer move if he wasn't trying to cover it. And here, he still definitely did.

Kung siya ay laging nagtatago, ay lagi ko namang ipakikita ang ngiti ko!

"Great!" I grinned. "Okay, so simulan natin sa childhood ko. Cute ako noong bata, as in. Pero, I think, hanggang ngayon din naman..."

And the camera of our life panned away from the restaurant, away from the city, away from the world and up in the clouds, as I continued to blabber in front of my kasalukuyang kinarurupukan, at mamahalin sa malapit na hinaharap.

Shocks, itong puso ko!