Buying Love (Published Under UMPRINTABLES!)

Forty Two

Hindi na siya kinikibo ni Hana hanggang sa makauwi sila ng condo. At talagang nagpatiuna pa itong lumabas ng elevator para pumasok sa unit nila. He followed her.

"Na-offend ba kita?" he asked.

"Itanong ba ang obvious," he heard her murmur just loud enough for him to hear.

He grabbed her by the arm and spun her around to face him.

"C'mon, Hana, it's our "monthsary", right? We shouldn't be fighting right now," aniya.

"Akala ko ba'y hindi ka naniniwala sa monthsaries?" anito. She was still mad, no doubte about ut. It's written all over her face.

"Yeah, I don't. But, we shouldn't be fighting still, monthsary or not. I gave you what you want, right? I am courting you."

"So, utang na loob ko pa? Ganoon?"

"No, no, of course not. I didn't mean it to sound that way. I am just not comfortable with the traditional courtship," pag-amin niya.

Tinaasan lang siya nito ng kilay.

"I am sorry if I have offended you, okay? I didn't mean it."

"Minsan talaga, Ram, 'di ko ma-gets kung manhid ka lang ba talaga o nagtatanga-tangahan lang."

"Hey, that's a foul," aniya.

"Hindi tayo nagba-basketball kaya 'wag mo akong ma-foul-foul. Ang lagay, eh, pwede mong sabihin kahit anong gusto mo pero ako hindi? Hindi rin ba nag-i-exist sa bukabolaryo mo ang salitang "fair"? Aba'y ang unfair naman yata niyang patakaran mo."

"Enough, Hana. Enough. You're just making things worse. I already said sorry, right?"

"Pwes, kainin mo 'yang sori mo. 'Di ko kailangan 'yan." She turned her back on him and marched her way to the kitchen. He followed her.

Kumuha ito ng malamig na tubig sa ref ngunit inagaw niya ito mula sa kamay nito at saka inilapag sa dining table. 

"C'mon, Hana. Let's talk about this, okay? Okay na naman tayo, 'di ba? We hadn't fought since I punched your friend's brother in the face. So why start now? Just because I forgot about this so-called monthsary and because I couldn't get this panliligaw you want done right? That's just not fair."

"Hindi na tayo nag-aaway dahil pinagbibigyan kita. Kahit na umuuwi ka ng disoras ng gabi para makipagkita sa mga friends mo, hindi kita sinisita. Kahit na bumabalik pa din yang pagiging suplado mo at walang pakialam sa mundo at sa akin kung minsan, iniintindi kita. 'Yan ang rason kung bakit hindi tayo nag-aaway," anito.

"Hey, I didn't know that going out with my friends matter that much. Ikaw din naman, ah. I am giving you the freedom to go out with your friends whenever you want."

"Pero never akong inabot ng disoras ng gabi sa labas."