“I just saw a bus pass by with the combined names of him and me. It’s a sign. Something’s going to happen, I’m telling you.”
“Baka naman imagination mo lang yun triggered by the recent teasing from our cousins.”
“Ano ako gaga?”
This was the dialogue between my sister and I the day before I indeed saw him at a mall.
My sister and I bought coffee from the grocery at a near by mall and because my legs were sore from jogging earlier that day I opted to take the walkator instead of the few steps of stairs even if it would just serve a few moments of relief because of its short length. Then from the corner of my eye I saw him sitting with his younger sister on steps of the stairs located at the very side of the walkator. I shouted his name and when he looked at me, I yelled “Merry Christmas!” Even if it was already two days until New Year.
He aknowledged by looking at me. My thoughts were running fast. Because he didn’t seem to be enthusiastic to see me, I thought for a second to leave it like that. A momentay bumping into each other which would eventually leave us both into multiple what ifs. But then again I think it's just me. I then went for it - I turned around and went to him. He was eating green mango with bagoong with his two year old sister. I said, kamusta and tried to get the attention of his sister who did not return my hi's and was acting very guarded but still cute. He told me that it takes time for her little sister to get comfortable with strangers. He told me that the rest of his family were doing grocery and they were taking too long that's why they're there resting. He asked me what I was doing there too and after answering him I babbled about how I beat this lady by a few seconds to the last two packets of a granulated brand of coffee my Lola asked me to buy and when the lady asked if she could have the other one, I apologized and declined. He said that I should have given it to her. I told him I would be reprimanded but actually I was just feeling stingy.
After a few more babbling mostly on my part, I didn't want it to be awkward for the both of us so I said I had to go. I bid his little sister and him goodbye and went my way.
It's a little bit funny that encounter with him. I didn't feel like I wanted to rekindle something with him. I didn't feel any regret that there was nothing more between us. It was funny because as usual he was being very timid. I guess that's just the way he really is and I don't mind. He was still the very first person who got me all giddy inside.
We saw each other once more that same day. My sister and I were about to exit the mall when we saw him alone walking towards our direction. When we were near enough to hear each other I said, "You're following us." and he just smiled.
