Stonehearts 4: Diamond

Six

           

"So how's my baby's first day of being an adult?" Tanong sa akin ni Bryce, keeping his eyes on the road on our way home.

"It was awesome, if we subtract my boss' crude and jerry-rigged attitude. He keeps on squalling his orders rather than asking them politely." He nodded his head, taking a turn on the right. "Bryce where are we going? Hindi ito ang daan pauwi." I commented.

"Baskin Robbins to celebrate your first day at work." Nakangiting sagot niya. I expected him to give me a lecture about quitting my job because of what I said but he didn't. I guess he really wanted this for me too. I'm so lucky to have him.

I excitedly hope out of his car when he parked outside the ice cream parlour. Natawa pa nga siya habang pinapanood akong mamili ng flavour na gusto ko. "Huy Bryce, ikaw magbabayad ha. Sa first paycheck na lang kita ililibre." Tawag ko sa kanya pero hindi inaalis ang mata ko sa makukulay sorbetes sa harap ko.

He swung his arm on my shoulder giving me a gentle tug then he planted a soft kiss on my temple. "Kailan ka nga ba nagbayad kapag kumakain tayo sa labas?" He kiddingly asked.

I giggled before hitting him playfully on the chest. He was right, he never let me pay a penny whenever we go out. He said I would clearly bruise his ego if I insist on paying. "Pero papayag kang magpalibre sa unang sahod ko ha? Promise mo yan sa akin."

He landed another kiss on my temple, "Yes po. I will, pero hindi na ice cream. Baka karnehin ako nila Tita Judy kapag nalaman nila na pinupurga kita ng matatamis."

Cookies n' cream lang din ang in-order ko kahit sobrang dami kong gusto. Ayaw kasi ni Mama na nagkakaroon ako ng sugar rush. It gets my weak heart pumping rapidly more than it can. It elicits irregular rhythms which contribute to my asthma, since it gets hard keeping my lungs air-satisfied.

Nagulat na lang ako ng punasan ni Bryce 'yung dungis ng ice cream sa gilid ng bibig ko. He put his thumb inside his mouth to clean the ice cream stain. "Nakatulala ka, may masakit ba sa iyo? Pagod ka ba sa trabaho? Gusto mo na bang umuwi?" He loaded me with too much questions when all I was thinking was getting another bite of the sweet stuff.

I laughed, his brows creasing with confusion. "Judger ka talaga! Iniisip ko lang naman kung papayagan mo pa akong mag-order ulit; nabitin kasi ako." I said sheepishly.

He smiled with relief, shaking his head after. "As much as I wanted to give you everything you want, but it's a no baby."

"Damn and here I thought you'd be crazy enough to let me."

"I am crazy about you but not to extent of tolerating your guilty pleasures. Halika na, you need to go home. You have to drink your meds at 8:30."

He offered his hand to me so I took it, smiling as I trail behind him. He settled me inside his Rover, putting my seatbelt on before he ran towards the driver's seat.

Nakakatawang isipin kung paano kami naging mag-bestfriend ni Bryce. Ang totoo niyan nagsimula ang lahat nung nabunggo niya ako ng bisikleta niya noong six years old ako. He was eight then. I bruised my knees with my fall making me cry so hard. Lampa kasi talaga ako. Tapos dahil sa sobrang iyak ko nahirapan akong huminga kaya inatake ako ng asthma ko. I can still remember the terrified look on his face while he was shouting for help. From then on, he promised to be my protector, to always look after me.

Hindi ko napansin pero nagpakawala ako ng malalim na hininga dahil sa mga scenarios na naisip ko. I'm just so thankful I have him as my bestfriend. Bryce looked at me worriedly, parking the car suddenly. "May problema ba? Nahihirapan ka bang huminga?"

Napailing ako bago ko siya nginitian. "Hindi. May naisip lang akong mga bagay." He held his chest, obviously relieved of what I said. He set the gear again on motion before he barked another question. "Like what?"

"Ayokong sabihin, nakakahiya." Pagkukubli ko. Mamaya kasi tuksuin niya nanaman ako na nagkaka-crush na ako sa kanya. Gwapo nga pero alam naman niyang extremely platonic kaming dalawa.

"Sa akin ka ba talaga mahihiya?" Natatawang tanong niya.

"Basta. Wala nga."

"Kapag hindi mo sinabi, hindi ako magpapalibre sa iyo." He tried. I frowned at him making him chuckle. "Even though you get extra cute whenever you give me that frown, I'm not backing down Minerva Diamond until you tell me what was that deep sigh is about."

I rolled my eyes at him, my mind juggling an excuse. "Naisip ko kasi na coincidence na Bona ang pangalan ng girlfriend ng boss kong si Boy Sungit. You know, batang may laban kaya siguro kaya niya ang ugali ni Ferris."

I was hoping he would laugh at my lame joke. Dahil kahit sobrang korni, tumatawa pa rin siya; pero ngayon biglang sumeryoso ang mukha niya. I saw him gripping the steering wheel tight too. "You think about your boss too much." He muttered quietly.

I was about to contradict his claim but we already arrived infront of our mini-carinderia. Mabilis siyang bumaba para ipagbukas ako ng pinto. Bumaba din ako, I opened my mouth to say something but he quickly kissed me on the forehead. "Alis na ako, bye." Then off he went.

Napansin siguro ni Mama 'yun na kaninang busy magpunas ng mesa. "Oh, nag-away ba kayong dalawa at hindi man lang ako kinamusta ng batang iyon?" She said after I kissed her on the cheek.

"Hindi ko alam Ma. Nag-joke lang naman ako, sobrang korni siguro kaya nabwisit sa akin."

Napasimangot ako dahil wala paring text sa akin ang pangit na 'yun hanggang nung gabi. Natapos na kaming kumain, nakapag-shower na ako, naikwento ko na lahat ng kademonyohan ng boss ko kila Papa pero matibay talaga itong si Bryce Laurel Aragoncillo.

"Edi 'wag mo! Kahit hindi mo ako sunduin bukas!" Sigaw ko sa cellphone ko habang nakatitig sa pangalan niya sa contacts. Akala mo naman naririnig niya ako. Napailing na lang ako at buntong hininga bago ko binagsak ang sarili ko sa kama. May mga tantrums kasi talaga si Bryce na hindi ko maintindihan. May mga ganito siyang ugali na lagi naming pinagaawayan.

I turned my bed side lamp off and put on my sleeping mask, ready to sleep and forget how ugly this night was. I was already finding my comfortable position when my cellphone vibrated. My subconscious pumped her hands up in triumph, thinking it was Bryce. But when I opened it, it was someone else. Someone I didn't expect to text me at 9 pm.

From: 09**********

Thanks for the short notice cup of my energy drink. And yes, I'll be expecting you to report tomorrow at the office. Good night, Minerva.

Ferris P.