BARAKUDA: A LOVE UNTOLD (CHAPTER II)

“I think you owe me a date.”

“Pardon?”

“Sayang iyong dinuguan, natapon lang sa shirt ko. Bibigay ko pa naman sa iyo iyon kasi diba iyon iyong order mo yata sa karinderya? Sorry pala kanina ha? Peace na tayo. Anyway, I’m Red, 28 and you definitely owe me a date.”

CHAPTER II

HUWHATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT?????!!! Imagine, iyong maangas, singitero pero may appeal na lalash ay mag-aask sa akin ng date????!!! Weh, di nga! Hala! Baka budol-budol gang ito! Or worse, baka serial killer!  Hindi ko isusuko ang bataan, magkamatayan na!

“Excuse me? Siguro nakamakeup ka? Ankapal.”  

“What are you talking about?”

Abat, nagenglish pa! Slow gets naman! Sayang ang mukha, tapon utak.

“ Nasa EDSA ba tayo?” tanong ko.

“Huh? You’re crazy!” sabi niya. Grabe,to the highest level na iyong brain cells niya ah!

“Don’t English me. I’m not an Englishman,” I replied.

“Is it a yes or a yes?” he asked, smirking.

“Or,” I answered back.

“You’re impossible! Who are you?”

“Why?”

“You know mine so it’s just proper to know yours,” he winked and that kagat labi again. Ansarap sigurong paduguin iyong labi niya gamit ang metal mouth ko este metal hands ko pala. Feeling talaga to ah! Nakakaturn-off! Bibigay ko nga ba real name ko?  What do I have to lose?

Ako nga pala si Atalanta but my friends call me “Ata”.  Nakuha ito ng mother earth at pudrakels ko sa Greek goddess na may name ding Atalanta. She is the Goddess of independence, competitiveness and physical skills. She is a warrior and a huntress. She is adventurous, even-tempered and self-assured. Kaya nga siguro ganito name ko kasi self-propelling na ako mula pagkabata.  Kapag kaya ko pa, hindi ako humihingi ng tulong sa iba. Grade 1 pa lang, naglalakad na ako papuntang school at pauwi sa bahay nang mag-isa. Suki ako sa Quiz bee , math contests, science quiz and other academic ventures. Pati nga dancing, piano, painting and beauty contests sinalihan ko kasi likas talaga sa aking magexplore ng ibat ibang bagay. And mind you, lagi akong nananalo sa mga contests.  Madali kasi akong bore and I have a short attention span kaya I make sure I do a variety of things to keep me alive and moving . Kaya siguro iyong mga nagdaang relationship ko hindi nagwork kasi boring sila. O ako nga ba ang may mali? Masyado ba akong high standard? Hindi nga ba ako marunong makontento?

“Hey miss, are you okay?”

Ah? Concerned ba ang mokong na to. ?

“FYI, I’m not okay because you keep pestering me. Would you mind to back off?” I blustered.

“No, I’m not going unless you tell me your name,” he demanded.

“ Fine! It’s Ata!”

“Nice to meet you Ata,” he timidly smiled and offered his right hand.

I raised my eyebrow.

“I’ll be going,” he declared and walked away.

So, that was our first encounter. Red and his mood swings and bossiness among others.  All I ever thought that would be the end of that unusual meeting but universe has just a way of joking us.

“Doc Ata, pinapatawag ka ni Doc,” Minerva, our nurse informed me. I am working in a private psychiatric clinic as a psychologist. Actually, it’s a partnership between Metis and I. Metis is my senior in college and we have met ways during a training-seminar on hypnotism. Since then we started going out as friends and to cut the story short, instead of being employees, we have built our own clinic. At the age of 28, I became a full-fledged psychologist and an entrepreneur. Hindi nga lang halata na doctor ako. Haha! Kamukha ko kasi si Sarah Lahbati, sabi nila. 

I went straight to his office and knocked.

“Come in,”

“Hello Doc,” I greeted.

“Hi Ata. When will you drop the formalities?” he smiled.

I laughed.

He is wearing a light blue long sleeves topped with navy blue coat. He even changed his hairstyle and shaved his beard and mustache. He looks pretty cool today. Now I know why our staff calls him Busan these days. He really resembles Gong Yoo, the protagonist of the Korean Zombie movie, Train to Busan.

 “Sit down, please. Coffee , tea or juice? ”

“Frappe. Haha. You called for me?”

“Yep. There’s this party and … Let me just be straightforward. Would you like to accompany me?” He looks pretty nervous.

“Where and when?’

“This afternoon. It’s actually a beach wedding. My bestfriend is getting his hands tied,” he laughed.

“This afternoon? You should have asked me yesterday.”

“I was about to call you last night but I guess, it would be better if I tell you in person. I know you Ata. You’re always up to any adventure.”

“But who will stay here?”

“I got all those covered. Minerva will take over,”

“But.”

“Come on Ata! We have to enjoy once in a while…please?”  He held my hand unexpectedly and we both sat there dumbfounded. I pulled my hand.

“Sorry. You will come right?”  He looks kinda …. hurt? Maybe, I’m mistaken. I shook that thought off.

Silence.

“I don’t have a dress.”

“Open that box. “ He confidently pointed at the large rectangular box on the other chair.

“I promise Ata, you will have the best day of your life.”

*end of Chapter II