Kiss Me When You're Sober (FREENBECKY)

XXV

"We always tell them that we're still in the courting stage right? What's wrong with that?" tumango tango lang siya then she looked at me,

"Yeah nothing. Let's finish our food, I'll be late." she said but she's not looking at me.

"Hatid kita?" umiling siya.

"No need, I'll go with one of my colleagues. Sabay na kami papuntang venue nung conference." cold niyang sagot sa akin.

Okay?

-

2:39 PM

Tumakbo ako papuntang pinto ng marinig ko yung sunod sunod na doorbell. Parang ewan talaga. Pag bukas ko ng pinto biglang pumasok yung tatlo, wala man lang hi hello?

"Sa susunod Ry pakibilisan buksan yung pinto ha," malditang sabi ni Marcus sabay diretso sa sala para ilapag yung mga pagkain.

May conference si Ren at mamaya pang gabi yung uwi niya kaya dito muna ako sa unit ko at inaya ko sila Marcus, Lily, at Jenna.

"Kapal ng muka talaga." irap ni Lily kay Marcus tapos yumakap siya sa akin.

Si Jenna tumakbo agad sa CR.

Yung dalawa talaga walang hiya eh.

-

"Sis di mo gets? Gusto mo sabunutan muna kita?" ang sabi ni Marcus. Nagulat ako kasi tumango si Jenna at Lily.

Nakwento ko yung nangyari kanina nung kumakain kami ng breakfast, na bigla nalang naging cold si Ren after telling her that there's nothing wrong with telling other people that we're still in the courting stage.

Ang tahimik niya rin kasi nung nasa kotse kami papunta doon sa meet-up place nila nung colleague niya. Tapos hindi rin siya nag tetext to update me kung nakarating na ba siya.

"Nakakatakot kasi Ry." sabi ni Lily at tumango naman si Jenna at Marcus.

"What do you mean?"

"I know you're happy and comfortable with your set up Ry but..." tumingin si Lily kay Jenna.

"Nakakatakot on ate Ren's side kasi wala siyang assurance. Hindi alam ni ate Ren yung gagawin niya if someone tries to hit on you... kasi hindi niya masabi na girlfriend ka niya." seryosong sabi ni Jenna.

"Pero ikaw Riley, for example may humarot kay ate Ren and you felt threatened, since ikaw may power to put the label, pwede mo sagutin siya agad agad para mabakuran mo siya..." dirediretsong sabi ni Marcus.

"Eh si ate Ren? Kapag nasa ganong sitwasyon siya hindi niya pwedeng sabihin na 'sagutin mo na ako Riley kasi kailangan kitang bakuran'... gets mo?" 

Tumango ako.

"Ate Ren may get tired and fall out of love Ry," seryosong sabi ni Jenna.

Damn.

I never thought about the things that they said. Ang tanga lang. I became too comfortable with our set-up and I forgot that in this courting stage, Ren is waiting.

-

5:30 PM

Mag isa nalang ako ngayon sa unit ko at napapaisip ako sa sinabi nilang tatlo.

Tinatawagan ko si Ren pero hindi niya sinasagot. Yung mga chat ko seen lang. I'm not used to this kasi kahit papaano nag rereply siya kahit sobrang busy niya. Nasaktan ko siguro talaga siya without even realizing.

Nung tatawagan ko ulit si Ren biglang nag send ng voice message si Jenna. I opened it and pressed play.

"Pero Ren, people don't change in an instant and you know that. You courting her for more than a month is something that I never imagined. Knowing you who-"

This is ate Martha, Jenna's sister. She wasn't able to finish her sentence because it seems that Jenna stopped her.

"You really like her that much Ren?" it's Ate Nita's voice.

"Honestly, I.. I don't like her that much Nita."

"Ate akala ko b-"

"I'm sorry Jenna."

My heart sank.

I'm shaking.

I can feel a lump building up in my throat and a pang in my chest.

Ang bigat sa pakiramdam.

I can hear how sincere Ren was when she said those words. Tangina. Ano yung lahat ng 'to? Was it all an act?

I suddenly remember when Jenna said that Ren may get tired and fall out of love. She knew something was going on.

Tinawagan ko si Jenna to ask what the hell is this but she's not picking up, pati si Ren hindi sumasagot! The only thing that I can think of is puntahan si Ren kung saan man siya nandoon.

I did not bother changing my clothes and dashed to the parking lot. Jenna sent me another voice message just as I was about to start the engine,

"Honestly, I.. I don't like her that much Nita."

"Ate akala ko b-"

"I'm sorry Jenna."

It's the same voice messa-

"I don't like her because I love her... so much. I'm willing to wait until she's ready."

Martha: "buaaackkk"

Nita: "Eeeww Ren!"

Jenna: "Magsi uwi na nga kayo!"

Tangina.

I took a deep breath because I was sobbing so hard that I didn't realize I wasn't breathing properly. I've never heard her voice or tone be so sincere and genuine as that.

I felt relieved but at the same time mad at myself. I take things for granted.

Nag message ulit si Jenna.

Jenna:
Sorry putol yung vm hehehe
I hope it's enough to scare you

Fuck you Jenna but thank you for doing that.