"Lady, you should think twice dating him. He's too tight—"
"Scott! Fuck off now. Go."
Nabalot sila ng tawanan. Pinakilala naman sila sa akin ng maayos ni Stephen. I just knew that they are college buddies and that they met Walters at their go-to restaurant. Walters is the sous chef that time. Now, Walters is cooking his own pantry.
I had my ways with men and this is the first time it's wholesome. I mostly meet men who are intimidated at me. I mean, in social gatherings with Reina and Papa. It's almost as if I'm untouchable because Papa will deflect everyone who tries to hit on me and Reina was straight-up savage on her deals for me.
I met most of my men through dating sites and hell, they are sexual meet-ups. Minsan pag nakikita ko ang hitsura nila ay hindi nako tumutuloy, minsan naman ay sa kalagitnaan ng date namin ay sasabihin kong magbabanyo lang ako at hindi na ako babalik.
Also, after what happen to Trina, I stopped my dating sites and started focusing on my studies. Narealize ko noon na ang mga hindi lahat ng lalaki ay pwede kong makontrol. Hindi lahat ay mapapaikot ko sa kamay ko. Hindi lahat ay madadaan ko sa ganda at pakikipagflirt. I realized men aren't always driven by their feelings to the good side. Hindi porket nagugustuhan ka niya ay puro magagandang bagay na ang gagawin niya.
I used to believe that men will do good things para makuha nila ang gusto nila but men are humans too. They have their own thinking as much as women do. Nakalimutan kong hindi sila laging sasamba sayo.. tsaka ko nalang narealize na mali ang sinuksok na "men should always put women on a pedestal" ni Reina sa utak ko.
Coz the truth is.. no one should put you in the pedestal except yourself. You should earn that pedestal yourself. You should build where you stand.
"Atlast, the devil calls" pinakita ni Halls ang telepono niya at nakasulat doon ang isang caller ID. It's Ethan Walters.
"Ah, did you know that Walters is a Filipino-born?" Si Dave habang sinasagot ni Halls ang telepono niya.
"What? Really? I thought he's French." Si Stephen habang hawak ang kamay ko. We gathered up at the couch and started eating chips. I have been silently listening to them. Nagsasalita lang kung kelan tinatanong.
"Apparently, he's not. He just studied there for an exchange—"
Why do I feel like that Walters is familiar..
Lahat kami ay napatingin sakaniya ng bigla siyang tumayo. Stephen and Dave were attentive. Halatang kahit kausap ni Halls si Walters ay naiintindihan na nilang agad na may problema.
"What? Where? Dude, you don't have to come here.. we'll go to you... fuck Man.. yeah.. stay there and we'll see you.. I hope Annie's okay... text me the hospital.. fucking forget the roasted chicken.. go to your old woman now... okay... oh fuck off."
Halls took a deep breath before speaking. We patiently waited for him to speak. Bahagya akong natawa nang marealize na hindi ganito ang CHIAYI. We don't run out of things to say, we rarely finish a topic na hindi kami nalilihis sa usapan.
"Three things. One, Annie was rushed in the hospital."
"What/Where" sabay nilang sabi.
"So we're going there now Dave. Fucking move your leave or whatever. We need to help Annie." Tumango naman ang doctor.
"Two, the fucking roasted chicken is coming via carrier—"
"What? Who cares about the chicken now?" Napatayo si Stephen kaya tumayo na rin ako.
"He does. You know that cook-"
"Damn, how can we eat that with.. fuck, let's go, Qofte. You don't mind right?"
Tumango ako sakaniya. Wala naman kaso sa akin na pumunta ng hospital. We'll I don't like being associated with doctors and such but if I really had to, wala naman kaso sa akin.
"Nah uh, three, he wants you to continue your date. Man, we know that she's leaving tomorrow. Ethan knows. I sent him her picture."
"What?" Lito kong tanong. Picture?
"What are you talking about? We're all going." He insisted.
Hinawakan ni Dave ang balikat ni Stephen. "Man, Ethan wouldn't like it if you waste your food and your date."
"Damn, wasn't Ethan excited meeting Architect?" Bulong ni Dave. Nagkibit-balikat lang si Halls. Wala pang limang minutong paalamanan ay umalis na sila.
Dumating naman ang manok at kinain namin iyon ng mabigat sa loob. Hindi na rin kami nakapagconcentrate sa movie dahil sa pag-alala. Naging ayos lang kami nang magtext si Halls na ayos na raw ang Mama ni Walters.
I appreciate his friends. Kahit na ngayon palang kami nagkakilalang lahat ay ang gaan na ng loob ko sakanila.
"Babe, I'm really sorry. Let me make it up to you.. uhm, let's get out of here.." anyaya niya.
"Where to?"
"Would you like to count the stars with me?" Tanong niya, diretso sa mata dahilan para magningning ang sa akin. Nag-enjoy naman ako sa cuddle slash movie date namin dito sa kanilang hang-out place but damn, he's offering me the sky.
"Yes." He then kissed me gently before pulling me out of the rooftop. My goodness, saan kami nito?
Sanji's Swan
"I came to the shore with an urge to explore
The lands of the great unknownThe rhythm inside as I opened my eyesTo see the world unfold"-Borderlines, Hollow Coves
ČTEŠ
Invisible Strings
BeletrieZiyah Isabelle Illagan, a child hidden to everyone's knowing from her famous parents have grown to have "taste aversion" to doctors then she meets the 'brain doctor', as she may call it.
