T-Shirt Girl (COMPLETED)

TSG 17 - Vindicated

"So turn up the corners of your lips. Part them and feel my finger tips. Trace the moment, fall forever." --Vindicated, Dashboard Confessional

---

It's almost 10PM when she heard the doorbell ring. She wasn't expecting anyone. She didn't order any pizza. Hindi na lang niya iyon pinansin. Baka may pumindot lang. Minsan kasi, may mga bata o isip-bata na napapadaan sa bahay nila at nakikita ang doorbell na yun. Kapag wala silang magawa sa buhay, pipindutin nila iyon nang pipindutin hanggang sa lumabas siya at magsisigaw.

There was a few minute lapse before it rang again. Frowning, she took a peep behind the curtained window. Nanlaki ang mata niya nang makitang nakatayo si Toby sa labas ng gate. She hurried outside.

"Bakit nandito ka? Gabing-gabi na a?"

"Ang lungkot mo kasi kanina nung sinabi kong hindi ako pupunta."

"Ha? Hindi kaya. Imagination mo lang yun," pagtanggi niya. Akala niya ay hindi nito naramdamang may dinamdam niya ang pagtanggi nitong pumunta kanina. It had been two hours since they talked on the phone. Still, kahit medyo late, naappreciate naman niya ang effort nito.

He smiled and pinched her chin. "Sus. Kunwari ka pa."

Pinalis niya ang kamay nito. Napakunot ang noo niya nang matamaan ng paningin niya ang hawak nitong bag.

"Ano 'yan? Bakit may bag kang dala?"

"Gabing-gabi na kasi. Dito na lang ako manggagaling bukas para sa trabaho ko."

"Ha?!"

"Don't worry. Sa couch ako matutulog."

Remembering that little incident when he got a little sick made her blush. Something could have happened that night. But it didn't, she reminded herself. It's not meant to happen.

And who knows how they'll end up if something did happen.

"Fine. Halika sa loob."

--

"It's almost two months, Jae."

"Oo nga e. Ang bilis ng panahon."

Isang linggo na lang at magda-dalawang buwan na sila simula noong humingi ito ng extension sa kanya. Sa araw ng pagdating ng mommy niya galing sa states, saktong ikalawang buwan. Plano sana niyang i-celebrate iyon.

She was surprised that he remembered.

"How was I, Jae?" Hinawakan nito ang kamay niya.

"You've been good, Toby."

"Sinabi ko naman sa 'yo, di ba? Hindi ka na iiyak."

"May isang buwan pa. We'll see." Tinitigan niya ang mga kamay nila. It's such a nice feeling to have someone's hand wrapped up with hers. It's so reassuring. And yet, at the back of her mind, she can't let go of this thought. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Do you like me?"

"Yes," sagot nito na may kasama pang tango.

"How much? I mean, from the scale of one to ten, ten being the highest, nasaan na ako?"

Nagdadalawang-isip itong sumagot so she assumed na mababa pa rin ang lagay niya. But she has to know. Para alam din niya kung kailan ba siya titigil. Baka kailangan na pala niyang tumigil.

She didn't want to. Masyado pa syang masaya para matapos ang lahat. Kahit parang tamang matapos din ng biglaan ang lahat, ayaw pa niya.

"Eight."