That Platonic Landi

03

“Yvonne, I heard that Ysabella’s husband was into politics huh?”



Tita Lalaine said to Mom who was smiling from ear to ear. Today was the scheduled catching-up of my Mother’s friends...daw. For all I know, puro yabangan lang naman ang mga pinagsasabi nila. I don’t know why they are friends? Mga grupo ng plastic. I rolled my eyes since all they can say was their shits and fucks about their extravagant life.



“Oh? Talaga?” Tita Merlyn asked looking curious. “Is it true Yvonne?”



My mother sip on her tea cup before answering the question.



“Yeah.” My mom said. “The Sandrino’s are a political family after all, kaya hindi na ‘ako magtataka kung papasok ang asawa ni Ysabella sa politika.”



“Oo nga naman.” Tita Ammie interrupted, one of my mother’s friend. “The Sandrino are a very powerful family. Mabuti na lang at napapayag mo si Ysabella na magpakasal.”



“It’s not a big deal. My husband has been a good friend to them and I know that hindi naman sila tatanggi sa offer ng asawa ko since they are both in their aged to get married.”



“Isa pa, makakatulong ‘yun for the publication of your law firm.” Tita Lalaine said.



My mother smiled at that. I scoffed looking at them. They were all sitting elegantly while sipping at their teacup filled with tea. Lukot na lukot ang dyaryo na hawak-hawak ko habang nakikinig sa mga pinagsasabi nila. How dare them! Kaya nilang ipamigay ang sarili nilang anak just to gain power and names for themselves!



Maybe the world is really dirty. If you have the power, you can manipulate anything…or even anyone.



“Ikaw, Nikko? Wala ka bang plano na magpakasal?” Tita Ammie asked me.



Itinigil ko ang pagbabasa para tingnan siya. I sighed before drinking some juice. I know that they want to know my answer to that question.



“I don’t think about that.” I said to her.



“Bakit naman Nikko?” Tita Mylene asked. “Makakabuti ‘yun sa pamilya niyo pareho kung magpapakasal kayo.”



“It’s good for both of our family…” I said to her while nodding my head. “But not for me.”



They were all taken back from my answer.



Totoo naman! Makakabuti sa pamilya ko dahil gusto nila pero… paano ako? Para sa kanila, madali lang ang magpakasal because they think that in the process, we will fall in love with each other. How pathetic! Paano kami magmamahalan kung sa una pa lang wala namang pag-ibig.



I don’t believe in marriage for convenience. Yes, we can benefit from it but…it’s for our family and not us. Parang isa kang laruan kung papasok ka sa ganoong sitwasyon na wala namang kasiguraduhan. 



“Amigas! Don’t worry about Nikko, he can handle himself.” My mother said. “Isa pa, malapit na siyang mag med-school kaya magiging busy na siya.”



Mabuti na lang at tumigil na sila at baka kung ano pa ang naisagot ko sa kanila. I stood up from my sit and they all looked at me.



“Excuse me, I have an errand to do.” I told them. “Enjoy.” I flashed a fake smile at them.



Diretso akong lumabas sa bahay dala-dala ang gamit ko papunta sa mall. Nakaka-diri ang mga ugali nila.



Pumara ako ng taxi para pumunta sa mall since wala namang pasok dahil weekend at may bibilhin ‘rin ako. Kung pwede lang talagang umalis sa bahay na ‘yun at hindi na bumalik, matagal ko nang ginawa.



Nang makarating ako sa Ayala Mall ay diretso National Bookstore ako para bumili ng kailangan ko. I carried a cart since marami-rami ang kailangan kong bilhin. I started at the paper section and I filled my cart of the paper I needed to survive in nursing course.



Naglilibot ako hanggang sa marating ko ang favorite section ko sa National Bookstore…pens. Kumuha ako ng paborito ko at ibang highlighters since I needed that for readings.



“Hi!”



I held my chest because of the sudden shock I felt. I bit my lowerlip as I tried to calm myself. Nakakabingi ang bati na ‘yun! Sobrang hype talaga!



“Sorry, nagulat ka.” He said while putting his hand on his pockets.



I looked at him sharply and he just smiled.



“Are you a stalker?” tanong ko sa kanya ng makabawi sa gulat.



Tumaas ang kilay niya at ngumisi sa akin ng nakakaloko. I swear, ang sarap sapakin ng mukha niya kapag nakangiti siya.



“Hindi naman.” Simple niyang sagot. “Kung hindi mo natatanong, marunong ‘rin akong mag-shopping.”



“Hindi na ‘ko magtatanong.” Sarkastiko kong sagot.



Tumalikod na ako sa kanya para kumuha ng bond paper na nakalimutan ko. I can hear his footsteps behind me so I assumed na his following me.



“Bakit ka pala nandito?” Tanong niya.



“Isn’t it obvious?” I asked him. Tumawa lang siya at narinig ko pa ang bulong niya na hindi ko maintindihan.



Obvious naman kasi kung ano ang ginagawa ko di ba? Bulag ba siya?



“May kasama ka?” Tanong niya ulit.



Hindi ko siya sinagot at huminto para kumuha ng bond paper. He was just looking at me at wala na akong pakealam kung ano pa ang iniisip niya.



“Ikaw? May kasama ka?” I asked him and he smirked at me.



“Getting curious?” he asked while smirking at me.



I looked at him with my bored face. Ang kapal ng mukha nito. Inilagay niya ang kamay niya sa likod niya habang nakatingin sa’kin.



“No.” I replied. “Wala kong pakealam sa’yo. Kung wala ka mang kasama that’s ok. Kung meron man, wag ka dito at nakaka-istorbo ka.” Diretso kung sabi.



Tumalikod ako sa kanya para magbayad sa may counter. Narinig  ko ang tawa niya.



“Sungit naman Nikko.” Sabi niya.     



Nang makarting ako sa may counter ay nasa tabi ko pa’rin siya at walang balak na umalis. I looked at him sharply and he just smirked at me na parang hindi siya nakaka-istorbo.



“Why are you here?” I asked him.



“Sinasamahan ka.”



I rolled my eyes at him and sighed.



Nakaka-irita talaga ‘to! Ganito ba talaga kapag nakatakas sa mental hospital? Wala ba siyang ibang magawa? Kahit ano man lang? 



“I mean…bakit ka nandito sa mall?”



“Ahhh…May binili lang.” sabay pakita niya ng paperbag na brand ng isang pabango.



I looked at him with curious eyes and then back at the paperbag. Bakit pabango?



“Bumili ng pabango para hindi na masabihan na mabaho at nakaka-irita.” Sabi niya na may ngisi.



I scoffed at him at nilagay na ang lahat ng pinamili sa may counter. I was shocked when he helped me with that. I looked at him and he just smiled at me.



“Yahhh!”



We both at the girl who was fuming mad in front of us. She was looking at the man beside me and I was taken back when she raised a brow at me.



“The girlfriend is here.” I whispered.



Umirap ako para tingnan ang mga pinamili ko sa counter. I can hear their argument just behind me. Mga walang modo! Humarap ako para tingna kung bakit sila nag-aaway. The girl was clearly pissed off. Sino ba naman kasi ang hindi magagalit kung basta ka na lang iiwanan?



“Please stop.” I told them.



And then they stopped. Josh looked so sorry while on the other hand, the girl was looking at me with curious eyes.



“Sorry, sorry…” Josh said. “By the way…Jennie, si Nikko.” Josh uttered. “Nikko, this is Jennie, my sister.”



My lips parted after hearing that. I composed myself while looking at them.



Kapatid pala niya? Hindi naman kasi halata.



“Are you my brother’s new toy?” Jennie asked me.



“No.” I immediately replied. “I’m not your brother’s new boy toy. Don’t worry.” Then I flashed a fake smile.



She smiled at me looking amused.



“I like you.” She said.