Stonehearts 9: Sapphire

Twelve

"So, bakit ka nga ba napadaan?" I repeated.

"I need to go buy a present for your sister-in-law. 'Diba birthday dinner niya mamaya? I don't know what to get. Luc said we should bring a cake, but we cannot find a vegetarian baker that will do a rush order. Nawala kasi sa isip ko to do gift shopping in advance."

I nodded my head, "Just get her kitchen supplies, she'll love it. Mahilig 'yon magluto."

"Anything related to kitchen? Or something specific? Like baking?"

Umiling ako saka inubos ang slice ng pagkain na nasa harap ko bago ako sumagot, "No, nothing in particular. Anything kitchen related she'll love it."

After that, Aubrey steered the conversation to their upcoming trip to France. She has a sister who lives there and has been visiting the country thrice a year for seven years already, but this is her first time bringing Lucy with her, so she's quite nervous about it. Kailan lang din kasi siya naging open with her sister about her sexuality, and I'm super duper happy that Ate Riya accepted her with no drama. 

"Oh siya, aalis na ako at mamimili pa ako. Sabi ko kasi kay Luc sa may mall na niya ako sunduin, baka magalit siya kapag nauna pa siya sa'kin doon." She said while standing up.

As usual, she fixed the mess we made when we ate. Stuffing the left over pizza at my fridge before coming to me and offering me her tight hug.

"See you tonight! Promise magbe-behave kami ni Luc." She kid.

I chuckled. "Lucy is always on her best behavior. Ikaw lang naman ang bad influence sa aming dalawa."

She rolled her eyes, "Says the woman who sent naked pictures to an unknown number."

"Hoy! Ikaw ang nagsabi na gawin ko 'yon!"

"Dapat kasi 'di ka nakikinig sa lasing."

Pabiro ko siyang binatukan bago ko siya inakap muli. "Tse! Kung 'di ka lang masayang kaibigan matagal na kitang tinakwil."

She laughed before she gave a pat in the back and left. Once she was gone, I was again surrounded by the agonizing silence that was my companion earlier. Nawala na nga sa isip si Reid, pero heto't nagbabalik.

I dropped myself on my chair rather heavily before dragging my phone on my face. A lot of messages and missed calls but none of which from the guy I hate but oh so needed. Like my body is on fire for him. 

Is this one of his tactics?

To make me want him more?

To have this desperate need for him?

Is he also thinking of me like I'm stuck wondering about him?

Do I have the same hankering feeling for him? Or am I just another warm body for him?

"Ahhhh! Bwisit ka talaga Almodovar!" Tili ko sabay untog sa sarili ko sa mesa ko. Hindi na ako makatrabaho. Ilang minuto pa ako sa posisyon ko bago ko napag-desisyunan na bahala na si batman.

Kung nasan man siya, siguro umiiling na siya dahil siya nanaman ang bahala sa lahat. Inabot ko muli ang cellphone ko saka ako nagsimulang mag-type.

"My sister-in-law is celebrating her birthday tonight. It's not a big party, not over 20 guests siguro. You can go if you're not too busy." Then I added our house address before I pressed send.

Tinitigan kong magsabi na delivered ang mensahe bago ko ibinaba ang cellphone ko sa mesa. I don't fucking know if tama ba ginawa ko, or masyado ba akong papansin o kung ano man.