“HI...” masiglang bati kay Jenny ng isang guwapong binata na kabababa lang mula sa isang itim na Ducati Multistrada Superbike. Hinawi ang mga hibla ng buhok na nalaglag sa bandang mata habang hawak ang itim na helmet sa isang kamay.
Tipid siyang ngumiti at ibinalik ang atensyon sa notebook na naglalaman ng algebra assignment na hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin niya nahahanapan ng solusyon. She didn’t have time for small talk right now.
Katahimikan.
“You look like you have a very big problem,” puna nang makitang hindi siya umiimik.
He was right. She did have a very big problem. Paano ba naman kasi ay ayaw na ayaw niyang nakakakita ng mga nakaliliyong numero. Anything that concerned numbers had always been her weakness.
Wala siyang nagawa kung hindi ang tumango. “Advanced Algebra,” aniya na hindi naiwasang langkapan ang boses ng kaunting desperasyon.
“If I could solve that in three minutes, would you go on a date with me?” Itinuro nito ang notebook na hawak niya at kinindatan siya.
Kumunot ang noo niya sa kasiguraduhan sa boses nito. The guy in a dark green aviator jacket sounded like he had everything, including the whole nine yards of algebra, in the palm of his hands. Mukha rin namang hindi ito nagyayabang.
“Let me see that,” sabi nito, sabay kuha ng ballpen at papel na nakalatag sa harapan niya. He gave her an amused smile after seeing nothing but girlish doodles on her scented pink notebook.
Pumunit ito ng isang pahina mula room. “Give me a few minutes,” he said, suddenly looking as if he had a world of his own. Umupo ito sa tabi niya at nagsimulang magsulat sa blangkong papel.
Lubha siyang nagtaka sa inasal nito. “Excuse me—” pukaw niya rito. Para naman itong naghahanap ng solusyon sa problema ng mundo kung makaasta.
“Shhh...!” anito na hindi inaalis ang tingin sa ginagawa. His pen flawlessly glided on the piece of paper, na tila ba siguradong-sigurado ito sa ginagawa. She had no choice but to wait for him to finish what he was doing.
The seconds ticked away in the middle of the granite table under the tall acacia tree. May kung anong bahagi ng puso niya ang nagpasalamat na doon niya napagpasyahang magpalipas ng dalawang oras na break ngayong absent ang bestfriend niyang si Elaine.
Ilang sandali pa ay ngumiti na ito at nilagyan ng linyang parisukat ang sagot. He solved the problem in two minutes flat. Tiningnan niya ang answer key sa likuran ng libro at mukha ngang tama ang sagot nito.
A mischievous grin broke on his face, making his boyish good looks more prominent. “You can have my head on a plate if that answer is wrong,”
Alanganin siyang ngumiti. “T-thank you…”
“You’re welcome,” anito sabay nanunuksong tumingin sa kanya. Itinukod nito ang siko sa lamesa. “So are you free Friday night?”
Tipid siyang ngumiti at ibinalik ang atensyon sa notebook na naglalaman ng algebra assignment na hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin niya nahahanapan ng solusyon. She didn’t have time for small talk right now.
Katahimikan.
“You look like you have a very big problem,” puna nang makitang hindi siya umiimik.
He was right. She did have a very big problem. Paano ba naman kasi ay ayaw na ayaw niyang nakakakita ng mga nakaliliyong numero. Anything that concerned numbers had always been her weakness.
Wala siyang nagawa kung hindi ang tumango. “Advanced Algebra,” aniya na hindi naiwasang langkapan ang boses ng kaunting desperasyon.
“If I could solve that in three minutes, would you go on a date with me?” Itinuro nito ang notebook na hawak niya at kinindatan siya.
Kumunot ang noo niya sa kasiguraduhan sa boses nito. The guy in a dark green aviator jacket sounded like he had everything, including the whole nine yards of algebra, in the palm of his hands. Mukha rin namang hindi ito nagyayabang.
“Let me see that,” sabi nito, sabay kuha ng ballpen at papel na nakalatag sa harapan niya. He gave her an amused smile after seeing nothing but girlish doodles on her scented pink notebook.
Pumunit ito ng isang pahina mula room. “Give me a few minutes,” he said, suddenly looking as if he had a world of his own. Umupo ito sa tabi niya at nagsimulang magsulat sa blangkong papel.
Lubha siyang nagtaka sa inasal nito. “Excuse me—” pukaw niya rito. Para naman itong naghahanap ng solusyon sa problema ng mundo kung makaasta.
“Shhh...!” anito na hindi inaalis ang tingin sa ginagawa. His pen flawlessly glided on the piece of paper, na tila ba siguradong-sigurado ito sa ginagawa. She had no choice but to wait for him to finish what he was doing.
The seconds ticked away in the middle of the granite table under the tall acacia tree. May kung anong bahagi ng puso niya ang nagpasalamat na doon niya napagpasyahang magpalipas ng dalawang oras na break ngayong absent ang bestfriend niyang si Elaine.
Ilang sandali pa ay ngumiti na ito at nilagyan ng linyang parisukat ang sagot. He solved the problem in two minutes flat. Tiningnan niya ang answer key sa likuran ng libro at mukha ngang tama ang sagot nito.
A mischievous grin broke on his face, making his boyish good looks more prominent. “You can have my head on a plate if that answer is wrong,”
Alanganin siyang ngumiti. “T-thank you…”
“You’re welcome,” anito sabay nanunuksong tumingin sa kanya. Itinukod nito ang siko sa lamesa. “So are you free Friday night?”