Chapter 6
“Acquaintance”
Napangiwi ako sa pagtawag ni sa akin gamit ang first name ko. Bakit nga pala siya nandito? Inimbita ba siya ni Kuya? Dahil hindi ko pa talaga siya nakita kahit kailan na kasama si Kuya.
“Oh, have I met you? Somewhere?” I ask him right after I stood up from the bench. I hoped that my tone wasn’t offensive to him.
“Unfortunately, we haven’t.” tanging sagot nito na para bang nadismaya siya sa tinanong ko.
“Oh. I’m sorry for my tone. It’s just the way I talk.” I apologize knowing that maybe he’s bothered with that. Sadyang parang galit talaga ako kung magsalita, kung hindi mo ‘ko kakilala ay aakalain mo talaga na bastos ako.
“I know.” Imbis na matuwa sa sinabi niya ay parang kinilabutan na tuloy ako. Why would he know such details of me? Ganyan nalang ba talaga siguro ako kasikat para mapagchismisan kung paano ako magsalita?
He’s kind’a weird but handsome. Hindi ko alam pero parang nasusuka na ako sa mga pinagsasabi ko.
Hindi na ako sumagot at nakita na paparating na si Yaya Thelma.
“Heto, hija oh.” Sabi niya habang inaabot sa akin ang isang susi.
“Thank you po, Yaya Thelma.” Ngumisi lamang siya sa akin at nagpatuloy sa ginagawa niya kanina.
Thank you rin po at si-nave niyo ako sa lalaking ito!
Oo nga’t gwapo siya, pero weird siya e! Hindi ko na siya bet!
Ibinaling ko naman ang tingin ko sa lalaking ito.
“It’s nice meeting you, Louis Kendrick.” When his name came out of my mouth, I remembered something. Baka siya ‘yung tinutukoy ni Veolly. Ang tanga-tanga ko naman! Ba’t ngayon ko lang ‘to napansin?!
Before he could talk back, I asked him.
“By any chance, are you a Santiago?” I asked him.
A smile crept on his thin lips before answering me. “Yes, I am a Santiago.”
Aminado ako na nagulat ako sa isinagot niya. Even if I couldn’t see my face right now, I knew that the word ‘shocked’ is written all-over it. I didn’t even worry about it. It’s just like I let my face do the talking.
“And yes, I’m also the one who wants to talk to you.” Panimula niya.
“Clearly, I’m not on duty.” I stated, still bothered by his gaze.
He sighed as he kept his eyes locked on mine. Doon ko napansin ang pagkakatulad niya sa kanyang Lolo. Pareho silang matipuno. Not to mention, that they share the same aristocratic face.
“Tomorrow, then.” He suggested.
Well, I couldn’t disagree with that, so I agreed.
“Okay.” I said flatly and walk pass him.
I did not bother to look back. I walked straight to my room.
***
I must have seen him somewhere. Masyado kasi siyang pamilyar sa akin.
Nang makarating na ako sa pintuan ng silid ko ay agad ko itong binuksan gamit ang susing nakuha ko mula kay Yaya Thelma. When I stepped inside, nothing changed at all. Lahat ng mga gamit ko ay narito parin.
Feeling ko nga hindi ito ginalaw ni Mommy o ‘di kaya ng mga kasambahay rito sa tuwing sila’y maglilinis. Because the last time I went here, was on summer and it was a few months ago.
Tuluyan kong isinara ang pintuan at agad na dumungaw sa bintana. Tinabig ko ng konti ang puti at manipis na kurtina upang masilayan ang napakagandang hardin ni Mommy. Naroon pa rin si Louis, tila ba’y abala siya sa pakikipag-usap kay Yaya Thelma habang naka-upo sa bench. Hindi lang pala sa malapitan gwapo ang isang ‘to pati na rin pala sa malayo.
Dinig ko ang tawanan nilang dalawa. Bakit parang ang close nila ni Yaya? Madalas na ba siya rito kung magpunta?
Isinandal ko ang aking likuran sa frame ng bintana at pinag-krus ang dalawang braso ko habang pinagmamasdan sila sa ibaba.
Muntik na akong mawalan ng kaluluwa ng may bigla na lamang na kumapit sa magkabilang balikat ko.
Napasigaw ako sa kaba.
“AAAAAH!”
Nang makita ko na kung sino ito ay bigla na lamang akong nanlambot.
“Jake!” agad ko siyang niyakap ng mahigpit. His presence means a lot to me. I missed him so much!
“Your boyfriend misses you too, Ferry.” He said as he hugged me back. His familiar scent invaded my nose. This familiar warmth that I’m feeling right now, I’ve been longing for this.
He was supposed to be in USA, staying with his parents. They migrated two years ago, he’d go there for a week or so but this time he stayed there for two months. Kaya ganito nalang talaga ako kasaya ngayon. I was not used that he’s far from me for a long period of time. And the most heart melting part is, he didn’t tell me that he’s gonna be back! This was his surprise to me all along!
Halos mangiyak-ngiyak ko siyang hinarap. Pero tumulo na talaga ang luha ko ng magtapat ang mga mata namin.
“Love, don’t cry. I’m here.” He called me by our endearment and started to wipe my tears off with his thumb. Hindi ko parin binibitawan ang pagkaka-kapit ko sa bewang niya.
Love. That endearment. I even remembered the time when we decided to use it, it’s also the day when we got together. That was three years ago, up until now, our relationship gets stronger every day.
“I just missed you so much. I thought, hindi ka pa uuwi. What about your parents? Is Tito in good condition right now?” I asked him.
His Dad has been ill and bed-ridden for a long time. And that was the main reason why they migrated.
“He’s been well, he could even stand now but with guidance of course.”
I can’t help but to be amazed and happy!
“That’s good news, Love!”
“Yes, it is.” Then he kissed my forehead.
“I missed you.” He repeated.
“And I miss you more.” I replied then he claimed my lips. We kissed for a while not until someone spoke then our bodies parted.
“Fern.”
Pareho kaming gulat ni Jake at agad na inilapat ang tingin namin sa kung sino man ang nagsalita.
Si Louis pala. Nakatayo lang siya roon. With that menacing stare fired up on me, my body tensed.
Bukas na naman pala ang pinto!
He clearly ruined that moment. I felt like I was just a teen that has been caught by his older brother kissing her boyfriend and I’m embarrassed. Nakaka-inis na nakakahiya!
Nagulat na lamang ako ng nagbago ang ekspresyon sa mga mukha nila at binati ang isat-isa.
“Dude! You’re back!” Louis greeted my boyfriend.
Wait. What?! Magkakilala sila?!
“LK! Yea, man. What’s up?” then they offered themselves a warm handshake.
“Magkakilala pala kayo?” naguguluan kong tanong habang pinag-papalit ang tingin ko sa kanilang dalawa.
“Yes.” Jake answered with a smile.
“Oh! Have you met my girlfriend? This is her, by the way. This is my girlfriend, Ferry.” He introduced me as if it was needed. We met already.
“Ah yes. I have.” Sagot niya na parang nadidismaya pa nga. Why does he have to be always disappointed, huh?
“That’s nice to hear. What brings you here? Like in here, in her bedroom?” my boyfriend asked him with his usual tone.
“I was just bothered about her scream.” Inilapat niya ang tingin sa akin at ibinalik rin naman niya ito kay Jake. “Tita also called Ferry to the rooftop, and I guess that includes you too.”
“Alright, then.”
Inakbayan agad ako ni Jake at naglakad na kami papalabas ng kwuarto ko.
I think they both share the same height but when it comes to their build my Jake is much muscular than Louis. My boyfriend works-out a lot and he’s a vegan. Well, I also think that Louis works-out too, but I don’t think that he is that ‘serious’ when it comes to that. While on the looks, they are both handsome like for real. Their faces were just so majestic that I really think that they came out from a webtoon or manga. Pero in conclusion, mas gwapo pa rin sa paningin ko ang boyfriend kong si Jake, alangan naman ‘di ba?
We walked ahead of him. When I turned my head on the left, I saw him walking with his eyes pinned on the ground murmuring a cuss and followed by heavy sighs.