"Ang sungit naman ng baby ko. Hindi mo ba ako na-miss?"
Pinilit kong sumimangot kahit nangingiti na ako. There goes that soul soothing effect again. "Hindi."
"Aray. Ang sakit naman. Miss na miss pa naman kita."
"Ganoon talaga. Nasaan ka na?" I asked taking my travelling bag with me. I glanced at the wall clock and I saw that it's almost 11 PM. Nakabalik na siguro 'to ng Manila kasi sabi ko kanina sa kanya tawagan ako para alam ko kung kailan ako pupunta sa condo niya. Ayaw ko naman kasing mag-isa doon.
"Dito sa labas ng dorm mo. Hindi ko na kinaya ang pagka-miss ko sa iyo, Baby, kaya sinusundo na kita."
I smiled as I went out of my room. "Ah ganoon ba?" I answered as I locked the door.
"Oo, eh," he answered as I run down the stairs. Hindi naman ako excited.
"Ah okay," I said as I went out of our gate. I saw him smiling broadly at me and I thought my frantic heart just went into serenity.
I smiled at myself. Things are alright. Definitely alright.
"Hi there pretty lady," he greeted with a huge smile putting his phone onto his pocket and I rolled my eyes at him though what I really wanted to do was throw myself at him for a tight hug. From that nerve-racking confrontation I had, I just wanted to melt in his arms. He then laughed as he took my bag, putting his other arm around my shoulder.
"Bakit ngayon ka lang?" I asked habang naglalakad kami. Oo na, kanina pa kasi talaga ako nabibwisit dahil wala siya.
"Pasensya na po. Nahirapan akong lusutan 'yung client namin."
"Hmmm."
"Bakit ang bigat nitong bag mo? Whole weekend lang naman tayo sa Bolinao, Baby."
"Nagrereklamo ka?"
"Ah, hindi, hindi. Sabi ko nga okay lang na mabigat 'tong bag mo, eh."
I gave in to my suppressed laughter as I put my arms in his waist. Kinurot ko siya sa tagiliran. "I love you," I whispered in his ear and he giggled like a teenage boy which made me smile extensively.
***
"Do you have ice cr─" I was not able to finish my question because as soon as he closed his unit's door, he pulled me to him, his lips covering my mouth in an instant. I smiled and was about to kiss him back when he suddenly stopped at tinitigan ako, kunot na kunot 'yung noo niya. "Uhhh, why?"
"Uminom ka ba? Lasang whisky ka."
"Uhmm, ata?" I answered naively. Hindi naman kasi talaga intentional 'yung pag-inom ko, napilitan lang ako tsaka isang glass lang 'yun. So hindi ako uminom, napainom lang ako. There's a difference.
"Anong ata? Hindi ka sure kung uminom ka?"
"Well, technically I ─"
"Sinong kasama mo?" he asked cutting me off. He's still wearing the frown. Ayaw niya kasi akong umiinom kapag hindi niya alam kung sino ang kasama ko. Well, 'yung best friends ko lang naman ang "allowed" na kasama ko sa pag-inom.
I looked at him and sighed heavily. For two seconds, I thought of just giving him an alibi pero naisip kong walang magandang idudulot ang dishonesty so push na sa info na ito. Para naman ma-inform din siya sa ganap. "Glynice," I answered and he froze for a while as I saw recognition on his face.
"You know her?"
I nodded. "She introduced herself to me."
"W-why? And why were you... Why were you with her?" he asked in full confusion. I shrugged and moved to sit on the sofa. Ayaw kong ma-stress lalo kasi quota na ako kanina pa.
