As we walked, I looked around. I’m not lying but I’ve been here last year since my schedule was packed. It’s nice to see that the town has improved a lot.
Well, other than the few unsafe spots…of course crimes are still happening but it's not that prevalent compared to the past.
I spotted a street food stall selling chicken intestines, chicken feet, takoyaki, fried banana, egg waffles, and balut which is a duck egg. There was also some refreshing juice like coconut, pandan, mango, and avocado.
I gulped, suddenly craving all of the food.
“You want to eat there? Let’s go.” Ajax grabbed my hand as he guided me there.
It was a bit packed as there was a lot of buying and I managed to squeeze in.
It’s thanks to my height that I was able to insert myself into the crowd.
“Miss? Can I buy some chicken feet and…” my voice seemed to drown out and the seller seemed not to hear me against the chatter when I heard a voice behind.
“Excuse me! I’ll buy everything on this.”
Everyone turned behind, including me and I watched with mouth agape as Ajax took a step and was ready to open his wallet.
The seller furrowed her eyebrows at Ajax, confused. She then huffed, “Excuse me? Are you pranking me, sir?”
Ajax looked confused but he showed his black card and asked, “Do you accept credit?”
I gasped, instantly grabbing his credit and returning it to him. “Let’s just go this is embarrassing.” I facepalmed as I faced the seller, “I apologize, we’ll just go now.”
Ajax looked at my hand, “But what about your craving? I’m willing to buy the whole stall for you-“
I smiled through gritted teeth“It’s not that…” I leaned in and whispered, “We should stay low, this might risk getting our identity-“
I wasn’t able to finish as I heard one of the buyers there squinting his eyes at me, trying to remember if he was right, “Hey..is that…Ellaina and..“
I winked at the boy, not wanting for him to finish what he is saying when he suddenly paused, took a huge gulp, and suddenly fainted.
The whole crowd instantly got to his rescue and I grabbed Ajax’s hand, taking this commotion as a chance to leave.
“They seem to have picked up. Let’s go.”
I dragged Ajax into the nearer town where we could ride the public transport here we call jeep.
“Don’t do that again.” I scolded him.
“Do what?”
“Buying the stall as a whole! And flashing your black card to the public! That was dangerous!” I said.
He rubbed the back of his neck innocently, “Oh, was it that bad? I apologize. It’s just that it was my first time.”
I blinked, “How come it's your first time when even your brother, comes here as he owns.”
“Unlike him who has business here, I was busy doing my movies back in Spain.”
I see..so he was caged in his country.
It was afternoon but the sun was still hot and the air is humid it was packed as we waited for the jeep.
I felt Ajax’s hand wiping my forehead with a clean white handkerchief.
He stared at me and smiled, “Oh, sorry, I wanted to wipe your sweat away.”
I could hear a girl sqeualing deom behind us as shewhisper to her friend, “Awe,tingnan mo yung ginawa ng poging lalaki sa girlfriend nya! Sana all!” She said in tagalog which doesn’t help as Ajax couldn’t understand it.
Translation: (“Awe, look at the handsome guy and what he did to his girlfriend! hope all!)
“Tsk, magbre-break rin yan!” Replied her friend.
Translation: Tsk, that couple is just going to break up soon!
I decided to look back and check them. They were judging me and I wanted to fight back but remembered my image in public so I held still.
“Are you alright? What did they say?”
“Nothing. You don’t have to know it.”
The jeep arrived and we hopped in with the others. It was tight, packed, and too hot and I glanced behind me at Ajax who was just looking neutral.
The jeep arrived and we hopped in with the others. It was tight, packed, and too hot and I glanced behind me at Ajax who was just looking neutral.
I waited for him to complain about why I am making him do this but no, he just silently sat there like an obedient kid, looking at me with so much excitement still.
He was also clearly sweating, but it didn’t affect him.
His shirt was packed with sweat. He paused, “Can we stop by at a shop?”
He pointed at the souvenir shop nearby and I nodded. Once we entered, he instantly chose two white shirts that says “I love the Philippines.”
Instantly, he pulled off his polo shirt right there, his abs and muscles were showing clearly, and some of the buyers who were inside paused and watched him.
Damn Ajax and his beautiful body.
I paused, covering his body. He must not be aware of his effect on people! even old women near us were too stunned to speak and too invested in his body, and suddenly, something inside me feels it weird….
Feels like…I don’t want them to see him like that…
I looked at the people watching him undress and huffed, Shh, what are you doing?” I whispered to Ajax.
He looked at me, “I’m trying it on to see if this fits me.” He then put the new shirt on, much to the people’s disappointment.
“They were watching you,” I cleared my throat, “Just want to remind you.”
He blinked innocently, “Oh? Can't blame them. I would do the same two if some handsome man with a beautiful body showed his abs.” He smirked proudly, smirking at me.
I scoffed at his comment. So he was doing it purposely. As expected.
I just rolled my eyes,
He then handed me the other shirt, “I’ll be buying one for you. Wear it too.”
I paused, “Why?”
“So we could be matching shirts. Couple shirt.” He suggested.
The seller of the store noticed what he said so she smiled at me, “Yes ma'am! Please wear it, you would look cute together with sir!”