Love Me in Brooklyn

Chapter 15 - Patience

"Maybe you should discuss it with Manager Lee. Dapat may designated hours lang ang pagiging assistant mo."

"Keri lang naman, Ron. Ang mahalaga, napapansin na ako ng hubby ko hehe."

He frowned and gave me a disappointed look. "Mas mahalaga pa ba siya kaysa sa pagaaral at kalusugan mo? And what about your personal life?"

"He is the center of my personal life." I smirked.

"Sab, I've been trying to hangout with you since last week but you're always busy. Kaya nga ngayon lang kita nalibre at dito pa sa loob ng campus. We can't even go out."

"Nagtatampo ka ba dahil dito lang tayo kumakain ngayon? Oks lang 'yan, ang sarap kaya ng food---Huy, lumalamig na 'yang ulam mo. Ubusin mo na 'yan."

He exhaled loudly but I smiled at him. Nilakihan ko ang ngiti ko kaya unti-onting nawala ang kunot ng noo niya.

"Look at them. I knew it was Ron who cried at the library."

"It's too obvious. I mean, they're always together during lunchtime."

"It's so dumb for people to assume it's Russell. He has a perfect life unlike Ron, who's always second best."

"How can that girl allow the rumors to spread like wildfire?"

"Sab should have denied the allegations that it was Russell."

"What do you expect from a famewhore?"

Natigil ako sa pagkain nang marinig ko ang usapan ng ilang mga babae malapit sa table namin. I frowned and was about to stand up when Ron cleared his throat. Napatingin ako sa kanya.

"Wag mo na pansinin."

"Pero pinagbibintangan ka nila!" galit na sagot ko sabay irap doon sa mga babae.

"Who cares?" pagtawa niya. "We both know the truth. That's what's important."

I raised an eyebrow. "So you're not worried about what they're saying?"

"As long as it won't hurt anyone, it's fine. Kahit naman i-deny mo, tingin mo maniniwala sila? You'll only waste your time. People like them will only believe what they want to believe. Besides, a man can cry too. Hindi naman kasalanan maging mahina minsan."

I admire how cool he is about this. Hindi big deal sa kanya kahit isipin ng mga tao na siya ang tinutukoy ko sa tweet ko. Unlike Russell who instantly grew mad at me for what I did.

"Oh, pinagbalat kita ng hipon." He placed it on my plate and smiled at me.

Grabe, ang bait naman niya. Parang hindi na siya si RJ ko. Parang nawala na ang mga sungay niya. My childhood friend and this guy in front of me are completely both different persons. Siguro nga ganun talaga kapag tumatanda, nagbabago.

"Thanks." I grinned.

"Sab, baka naman pwede mong pakiusapan si Russell na payagan kang umuwi ng maaga, or better, mag-day off ka muna kaya today? Let's study together. I'll even tutor you for free. I know a good place near the campus."

I stopped eating to glance at him. Kita ko sa mata niya ang eagerness upang turuan ako.

"Palagi na lang si Russ ang kasama mo. Paano naman si RJ mo?" dagdag niya pa.

Hindi ko nagawang umimik dahil hindi ko alam ang dapat kong maramdaman sa tanong niya. Good thing my phone suddenly rang. Agad kong kinuha iyon at sinagot ang tawag nang hindi tinitingnan kung sino ang caller.