"Saglit lang,"sigaw ko mula sa aking kwarto.

It's still early in the morning, when someone disturbed my deep slumber.

"Sino kaya itong letseng istorbo ng tulog," angil ko. "Are they not aware that it's Saturday?!"

I was still on my pajamas when I opened the door.

"What do yo-"

Naputol ang aking tanong ng makita ko si Imo sa aking harapan. He looks like he just got out from the shower. Pasimple kong siyang inamoy at grabe te! Ang bango niya.

"Bon jour Alia! Ready ka na ba?" bungad nito sa akin.

Ready?

Nanlaki ang aking mata ng may naalala. Shit! I forgot that we will go around Paris today.

Nakakahiya ka Alia! Bakit ka ba kasi late na natulog kagabi.

"He-he," I nervously laugh at him. "Can you wait for 30 minutes?"

"Sure! Sure! It's fine. Hindi naman ako nagmamadali. Take your time" tugon niya sa akin.

I invited him to go inside and also offered him some drinks but he declined.

"Okay lang ako,"

Before I left him in the living room, I opened my television to keep him busy.

Halos magkadapa-dapa ako papunta sa bathroom. I fastly took a bath and chose an outfit that will make me comfortable throughout our tour. I decided to wear a cream coloured sweater, tucked in a black denim pants. Sinuot ko din ang aking boots at sunglasses.

Wala na akong oras para maglagay ng make-up kaya nagpadesisyonan ko na lang na magpulbos at maglagay ng lip balm.

One last look at the mirror, then tada! Ready na kong magcat walk sa labas. Lalabas na sana ako sa aking kwarto ng maalala ko na magpabango. Nakakahiya naman sa kasama ko na kahit siguro pawisan ay mabango pa din.

I walked out from my room, and I saw Imo stood up when he saw me approaching.

"Let's go!" anyaya ko sa kanya.

He nodded and guided me towards the door. Magkatabi kaming naglalakad sa Almond Street, ng bigla kaming napatigil dahil sa isang tunog.

He laughed when he saw me hiding my face from embarrassment.

"Tara kain na tayo ng breakfast. We need a lot of energy today"

I can see a teasing smile flashed on his face. I frowned at him and walked a little ahead.

I heard him stifling his laugh that cause him to earn a smack from me.

"Ano ba!" simangot kong sambit sa kanya.

"What? I'm not doing anything wrong" he innocently said.

Umirap na lang ako sa kawalan.

Ilang sandali pa ang lumipas ng bigla niyang hawakan ang aking siko. Due to my reflexes, bigla kong nahampas ng dala kong bag ang taong humawak sa akin.

"Ouch,"

Nakita ko ang nakangiwing mukha ni Imo sa akin habang hawak hawak ang kanyang namumulang panga.

"Oh my god! I'm sorry Imo. Hindi ko sinasadya"

I tried to reach where I hit him but stopped, when he avoided my hands.

I bit my lips and looked at him with teary eyes.

Hindi ko naman kasi sinasadya eh! Akala ko kung sinong tao ang hahawak sa akin.

Nakita na ata na nagbabadya nang tumulo ang aking mga luha kaya bigla siyang nataranta.

"No, no. I understand"

He was waving his hand like a lunatic. I can't help but to laugh at his reaction. His eyes soften when he saw me crying my eyes out. Ilang sandali pa ay tumawa na din siya.

We look like a bunch of weirdoes at the side of the street.

"I was about to guide you in Delicieux" he explained. "Lumampas na kasi tayo."

He pointed his finger at a café that we already passed by. Don pala kami magdada- este magbrebreakfast.

I gave him a thumbs up and went towards the café. We found a seat for two outside the café and made an order. I let Imo buy my food since he is much more familiar with the foods. Habang kami ay naghinhintay sa aming pagkain, we decided to know more about each other.

"So Alia, why did you decide to travel here in Paris?"

I hesitated at first.

"Ahm, well. I was really supposed to have a vacation here in April but something happened."

I saw confusion on his eyes and encouraged me to continue talking.

"I caught my boyfriend cheating with my secretary," Iniwas ko ang aking tingin saka kanya. Hindi dahil nahihiya ako sa nangyari sa akin pero natatakot akong makita ang maari niyang maisip sa kin.

Baka akalain niya na ang dali ko pa lang maloko.

"What as asshole,"

I gaped at what he said.

Ang hot niya magmura. More please.

"Why did he do such thing?" asik niya. "You're gorgeous, intelligent and funny. If I were him, I will choose to locked you in my arms forever"

Nakakunot ang kanyang noo habang pinagmamasdan ako.

"Its okay, not like I was shock. I was kinda expecting it naman. Alam ko naman na may pagkukulang ako. Medyo nagging busy kasi ako sa aking work," paliwanag ko.

"But still, you don't deserve to be cheated." Balik niya sa akin. "If I we-"

Napatigil siya sa kanyang sinabi at pinili na lang na manahimik.

"If I we- what?" tanong ko sa kanya.

I was suddenly curious about what he was supposed to say.

"Wala yon! Huwag mo nang pansinin,"he released a nervous laugh. Kukulitin ko pa sana siya ng bigla siyang may tinuro sa aking likod.

"The food is here!"

I pouted my lips.

Pshh bakit lagi na lang may istorbo tuwing magtatanong ako?

Hu hu hu hu

Matapos mailapag ang aming pagkain ay hindi ko napigilang maglaway. I can smell the delicious aroma of the food.

I heard a camera shutter. Mula sa pagkain ay nakita ko si Imo na hawak hawak ang kanyang cellphone na nakatapat sa aking mukha.

"Wahhhhhhhh. Burahin mo iyan," pakiusap ko dito.

But Imo being a bully just stuck his tongue at me.

I glared at him and just focused on my food. I ignored him throughout the meal. While we are going out the café, he suddenly held my hand and intertwined our fingers.

I can feel my face heat up and looked at his face. His eyes is roaming around the surrounding like his not doing anything suspicious.

Hinayaan ko na lang siya na hawakan ang aking kamay. Gusto ko din naman eh.

Sabi nga nila "Seize the moment"

Hindi ko na kelangan magpabebe dahil gusto ko din naman. Pakapalan na lang ng mukha, atsaka siya naman ang humawak sa aking kamay. Kaya bakit ako mahihiya. Siya ang humawak siya din ang bumitaw.

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unedited