I looked up at him and flashed him a small smile. “Sorry… I was trying to hear what you are listening to, just being curious about me… as always, nothing to fear.” I waved off like it’s no big deal.
I minded my own business and continued on drawing, not bothering to destroy the mood.
From the corner of my eye, I see him removing one of his earphones on the right, wiping it, and placing it on my ear.
I was surprised by the gesture and felt something electrified as his hands accidentally brushed against my ears. I glanced at him, my small smile now turning into a wide grin.
“Something about you now
That I can’t quite figure out
Everything she does is beautiful
Everything she does is right
Cause there’s you and me and all of the people with nothing to do
Nothing to lose
And there’s you and me and all of the people
And I don’t know why
I can’t keep my eyes off of you and me.”
I didn’t dare move from my place as I leaned to the window, staring at the sky into emptiness as the song came and dug emotions deep in my heart I never knew I had.
It was a gentle song, a romantic one, but I don’t know why my heart flutters and just feels at ease with the deep husky voice of the male singer. The song ended and another one came. Just like the previous one, it was also a slow and gentle song.
“The best thing about tonight’s that we’re not fighting.”
I chuckled at the lyrics of the song. Fighting? I glanced at Eion, he was mouthing some words and bobbed his head to the slow rhythm. This moment was serene, especially for both of us as I didn’t do anything other than irritating and annoy the hell out of him for the past few hours.
“It couldn’t be that we have been this way before
I know you don’t think that I am trying
I know you’re wearing thin down to the core
But hold your breath
Because tonight will be the night that I will fall for you
Over again
Don’t make me change my mind
Or I won’t live to see another day
I swear it’s true
Because a girl like you is impossible to find
You’re impossible to find.”
The song continued, and through the chorus, I realized I had known this song. As the song ended, I removed the earphone and returned to Eion. I grinned, moving my eyebrows playfully, “Who is she?”
“Who?” He frowned.
“The two songs were all about a girl right?” I explained. “It’s like you really relate to the singer. Who’s this girl in your mind… mind on telling me?” I asked, smirking. I frowned as he looked away, “C’mon! don’t be shy! Introduce that girl to the squad also!”
He didn’t reply. I sighed, continuing on teasing him.
“You know, this is normal, I’m your friend, you can say everything to me. I’ll even sympathize with you. You know Eion, in life, life is hard-” I started giving him a lecture but he didn’t let me finish it.
He shook his head, his voice turning in a low voice, “-It’s the girl I know I can’t have.” He stared at me while he said that.
I gulped. Awkward…
Silence soon followed between us as I tried to make a retort, but nothing came. Well, that was awkward…
What to do… what to do… I started this!
I cleared my throat, “I thought you don’t listen to this kind of song?” I raised my eyebrows playfully and added a teasing smile that came out so awkward.
As I had remembered, he likes Owl City, The 1975, and other rock songs, not like this slow and chills one.
“Liking is different from trying something.” He answered. “I’m just trying something different and besides, people change. Even their feelings do.”
Feelings? I frowned at that. Whoa, did he eat something that made him like that? Giving me food, lending me his earphones, wow, just wow.
Just in time, a flight attendant came to give us our lunch, just what I was waiting for. The tension between us quickly subsided.
As soon as the food arrived, I didn’t waste a moment and immediately dug in. Gosh, I’m hungry again! I didn’t eat heavy food, not until now that it’s a quarter to two in the afternoon already.
“Oo, oho, means yes.”
I turned my head to look at Eion beside me, giving him a confused look. He watched as I applied my hand sanitizer, our lunch just finished not too long ago.
“Opo/oho is just the polite words to say when speaking to someone older. Hindi means no.” He continued.
I snapped close my hand sanitizer and raised my eyebrows at him. “What are you doing?” It was a question but it came out as a statement as my brain sent warning signals. Don’t tell me he’s doing the impossible again?
He looked at me like I was the weird one here. He leaned in close to me. “Do you want to learn some words or not?”
I backed away from my seat slightly until my back rubbed the windows behind me. He scoffed at my reaction and shook his head in disappointment. “Psh, tanga.” He mumbled the last word.
Hm? What did he say? “What?” I didn’t understand it, but I know it’s something bad.
He sighed and crossed his arms, “Nevermind.” He looked away at me as though dismissing me.
I grinned at this, suddenly interested as realization dawned on me. He was teaching me some Filipino words!
“Wait, then what about a good morning?”
“Magandang Umaga.” He answered.
Nodding, I furrowed my eyebrows, thinking for another one, “Afternoon?”
“Magandang hapon.”
“Thank you?” I asked.
“Salamat.” He replied.
We continued on and on. I jotted down everything he said to me into my small notebook, where a few pages of my so-called ‘masterpiece’ (what Eion strongly disbelieved) was left unfinished. I turned to another page.
Biting my bottom lip, I looked up in wonder, “But how do I have to introduce myself?”
“Then it’s Ako po si Snow Waterstrings.” He answered. I mumbled thanks.
“You add po in your sentence especially when speaking to the elders but you can say it to whoever you talk to to be polite.” He added.
I swallowed, wetting my dry lips. “Ako… po? si Snow Waterstrings….?”
He snorted. “Say it more proudly, it sounds like you’re not sure if you are Snow Waterstrings.”
I nodded, “Got it.”
“Then you say… para akong tanga.”
I repeated it.
His expression changed, looking like he was forcing something not to show.
He then said, “Maganda ako.” I repeated it again cluelessly. (I’m beautiful)
This time, the thing that he was preventing him from showing was his chuckle. He looked so amused as though he’s enjoying himself.
“What?” I raised my eyebrows.
He just shrugged. I narrowed my eyes into slits and looked at him accusingly, “It’s not the proper one… is it? That was something different?
He shook his head, still chuckling to himself. “You’ll be fine.”
“Okay?” Should I feel better?
Curious, I asked. “What was the meaning of it?”
His amusement died out and was replaced with mischief, “That’s for you to find out.” He added a wink for extra effect.