Distance Is Just A Number [Taglish]

Chapter 3

Note:  I changed the name of Andreia's friend Lois to Ellie. Si Lois yung running for valedictorian na friend niya. The character is actually after another Filipino Ambassador, @Fallenbabybubu and she chose for the character to be named Ellie. This chapter is also dedicated to her because I love Lana's List so much. 

Zeofied. <3

CHAPTER 3

"Hey..." I heard his smooth voice over the phone.

I exhaled and tried my best to not let him notice na umiiyak ako. "Hello."

"What's up?"

I wiped my tears and tried to smile para tunog cheerful sa phone. "Nothing much. You?"

"Been through hell and back," he replied.

"Poor baby." I laughed.

Then, his tone changed to something serious. "Drei, I'm sorry I wasn't able to call for the past three weeks. I've been really busy."

Halata naman sa boses niya yung pagod.

Reeve is being trained by his dad to take over their family business. He had a ton of responsibility on his shoulders. I know he promised that he'd call every day. But that was a boy's promise. He was no longer a boy but a man with responsibilities.

Naiintindihan ko naman na hindi pwedeng lagi kaming magkausap. Kahit ako man, busy din. Plus, there's the added fact na nagseselos si Mike sa kanya. There's also the eight-hour time difference between London and Manila to consider.

Pero...

Wow, three weeks na pala since we last talked? Ni hindi ko man lang napansin. But he did. And he even counted the days.

Pero kahit hindi ko alam gaano na katagal kaming hindi nag-usap, I knew one thing: he didn't greet me during my birthday. Tampo mode sana kaso he called when I was feeling so down and I just wanted to hear him talk about anything.

Sobrang ganda kasi ng boses niya.

Kahit ano pang topic niya, magsalita lang siya, masaya na ko. British accent eh. Nakakatunaw pakinggan. He also sings for me sometimes. May quality yung boses niya but he always sings off-key.

Sayang.

"What kept you busy?"

"Mom, Dad, and I went sailing off the coast of the Aegean Sea. No signal. Plus, it wasn't actually a vacation. Dad and I had to work a lot. I'm so sorry, Drei. But did you like my gifts?"

Gifts? Napakunot ang noo ko. Eh wala naming dumating!

"What gifts?"

"If Franz fucked up again, I'm going to wring his neck," he groaned.

Well, mukhang ganun na nga ang nangyari since wala talaga akong natanggap.

Franz is his cousin. He lived here in the Philippines but always went back to London every month. May vineyard and family nila Reeve sa may Scotland at sila ang exporter ng isa sa mga pinakamahal na wines sa buong mundo. Franz is sort of the liaison officer between their UK office and the office here in the Philippines.

When Christmas or my birthday was near, Reeve made it a point to give him my gifts and he would be the one to deliver it sa bahay. Mas mabilis daw kesa sa mga courier at hindi pa bubuksan at papakialaman ung package.

Franz was usually late pero not this late. Patapos na yung January eh.

"I'll call Franz later. Anyway, I hope it arrives soon and I hope you like my presents," he said in a cheerful tone. Parang bigla na lang nawala yung pagod sa boses niya. At dahil nakausap ko na siya, medyo gumaan na din yung loob ko.