PAP36
"Hindi ka makakauwi?"
"Yes... I'm sorry. I even promised you to be home early."
Tumingin ako sa malayo at inayos ang ilang buhok ko papunta sa likod ng tenga ko. "Ayos lang. Alam ko namang busy ka..."
"I don't wanna make that as an excuse."
"That is an excuse."
"Free."
"I mean, it's valid. Okay nga lang! Kumain ka na?"
"I will, after this call. Ikaw?"
Tumingin ako sa mga pagkaing nasa harap ko ngayon. Hindi pa ako nakakakain dahil supposed to be ay hihintayin ko siya. Ni hindi ko pa nga naayos itong mga niluto ko sa dining table ay tumawag na siya at sinabing hindi uuwi. Buti na lang! Kung hindi sayang ang effort kong mag-ayos!
"Kumain na," I said with a smile even if he can't see me. I don't even know why I lied.
"That's good. I hope I was able to join you."
"Bakit ba kung magsalita ka parang last na kain ko na ha?" pabiro kong tanong sa kanya. "You can still join me tomorrow! Uuwi ka ba?"
The line silenced for a couple of seconds. With that, I know the answer.
Sa buong buwan na 'to, halos mas matagal pa ata na wala siya sa bahay kaysa nandito siya. I always try my best to understand and not take it against him. Today, I have something to tell him. But he can't go home. It's disappointing... pero wala naman akong magagawa na ngayon.
I requested him to go home early today. Kahit ngayon lang. I even cooked a lot! Plano ko kasi sanang busugin muna siya bago ako magsalita. Well... I kinda expected that he'll be upset. But I guess, I don't need to think about that because he won't be home today.
The news about our training is starting again. Nakalipas kasi ang dalawang buwan na wala akong narinig tungkol don. It was postponed because there was a bulk of work in the company for the past months. It required us to work more, kaya rin bahagyang naiba ang focus—even the higher ups.
Naging ayos din kami ni Cell sa gitna ng mga panahon na 'yon. We didn't really talk about it like what's planned before. Basta noong umuwi ako galing seminar at siya galing Manila ay ayos na kami ulit. Now, it's the time again to bring it up.
Miss Vera, in particular, is already asking us for our confirmation. Sapat na saakin para mag-isip ulit. Nakapagdesisyon na ako noon pero nabuwag iyon noong pumasok si Cell sa usapan. Now, I made up my mind. I am very sure of this. That's why I gave my yes to Ma'am Vera.
I'll go.
"Free, I'm talking to you. Can you please stop whatever you're doing and face me?" kalmadong tanong ni Cell saakin pero halata ko na sa boses niya ang iritasyon. He can't hide it now that it's showing.
"Cell," tawag ko sa kanya katulad ng pagtawag niya saakin bago ako nagbuntong-hininga. I turned to him, the way he wants me to. "Kakadating mo pa lang. Eto ba talaga ang isasalubong mo?" I asked sarcastically.
I can't believe it! Ilang minuto pa lang siyang nakakatapak ulit dito! He didn't even ask how I am! Tinanong niya lang kung anong ginagawa ko! Tapos ayan na, nagsusunod-sunod na! It's just really a bad timing that he found me here, fixing some of my documents! Wala tuloy akong naging choice kung hindi sumagot sa kanya ng diretso noong tinanong niya rin kung para saan.
"The same can be said to you, isn't it?" he answered me with the same sarcasm. I hated it. Mas lalo lang akong nainis dahil doon kahit na parehas lang naman kami ng tonong ginagamit.
