The Story of Us

01: Complicated

01: Complicated (edited)

"What's the green light taking so long?!" pagsigaw ng lalaki mula sa kanyang kotse, paulit-ulit na pumipitada sa sasakyang nasa harapan niya.

Gods, ang ingay!

"Can you drive a little faster, huh?" muling pagsigaw ng lalaki.

All of us in the shed were in silence, watching the traffic get heavy, loud, and apparently now, annoying. Ugh! When will this rain even stop?! Mas lalo tuloy bumagal ang daloy ng trapiko! At lagot ako kay Tita! I'm so late for dinner! Three freaking hours late!

I stared at the raindrops pouring harder. Maya-maya pa'y biglang humina ito. Tsk, bakit kasi ako pumayag kay Ate Ocean na mag-overtime sa resto? Buti na lang talaga at walking distance lang yung condominium nina Kuya Enzo, okay lang kahit gabihin ako.

The only problem now is that I'm here stuck in the waiting shed because of the heavy rain.

I looked out of the shed again. I can't let myself stay here until the sun rises. Tutal ay nabasa na rin naman ako sa pagtakbo sa ulan, mas mabuti pang takbuhin ko na rin ang daan patungong condo. Hindi na rin naman ganoon kalakas ang ulan.

Nang makarating ako sa lobby, nagtinginan sa 'kin ang mga tao. Who wouldn't look at me when I'm soaking wet? Screw the rain. I immediately ran to the elevator before it closes. I pushed the 16th button and waited until I got to the floor.

I faced the door of Tita Faith's unit and pressed the doorbell twice. Tinamad na akong buksan ang pinto kahit may duplicate key ako. I'm sure Kuya Enzo will open it or worse, Tita.

"Alli," Kuya Enzo muttered while he opened the door. I waved my hand a little and never bothered to speak.

"How's your gi—" Kuya was about to ask when Tita Faith interrupted him.

"Allison, you're three hours late. Where have you been at this late-night hour?" my aunt questioned.

I smiled apologetically. Supposedly, I should be here by 9:00 but Ate Ocean, the owner's daughter of the restaurant and the sister of my bestfriend Gail, insisted that I should stay to play for the customers.

"I'm sorry, Tita. Customers were piling up in the resto and the manager didn't let me go home," I apologized while I walked inside the unit and put my bag down on the couch. "Plus, inabot pa po ako ng ulan."

Tumango lang si Tita sa sagot ko at saka sinabi, "Dumaan kanina si Jess dito, hinahanap ka. Nag-iwan lang ng gamit sa kwarto mo."

"Ah, ganun po ba?" sagot ko. "Sayang, 'di ko naabutan si Dad. Ano pong sabi?" Nagtungo na ako sa may kitchen counter at umupo roon para kumain.

"Kinamusta ka lang," sabi naman ni Tita.

"Iti-treat ka sana ng dinner eh. Kami na lang yung nilibre," natatawang sabi ni Kuya Enzo.

"Dapat tinawagan mo ako, Kuya." Nakakapanghinayang kasi eh. Galante si Dad 'pag kumakain kami sa labas.

"You're not responding to any of my calls," straight-faced Kuya Enzo said.

I checked my phone, fishing it out of my pocket. 5 missed calls. "Sorry, naka-silent nga pala yung phone ko. Hindi ko na rin natignan kanina dahil busy sa pagtugtog," I explained.

Pumasok na si Tita Faith sa kwarto niya at iniwan na akong kasama si Kuya Enzo. Nagpatuloy na lang ako sa pagkain habang binuksan ni Kuya ang telebisyon na puro commercials pa lang ang ipinalalabas.

"Kamusta ang gig?" he asked while he went to the kitchen.

"Okay lang. Nakakangawit din. Ilang oras akong nagpi-piano dun at kumanta, tapos hindi pa ako pinaalis ni Ate Ocean," sabi ko naman.