The Man in Strings

IX. Chaos

"Ikaw! Sinasabi ko na nga ba at bad influence ka!" Dinuduro-duro nya ako at nanlilisik ang mga mata. Typical Valeen. Sure, she's gotten prettier at lalo syang pumuti but... she's still Valeen the I knew from college. Bakit ba hindi ako na-inform na biglaang reunion pala ang magaganap? "Anong ginagawa mo rito?! Bakit hindi ka pa umaalis?! Ano, walang ibang bahay na available?!"

"Why would I leave?" I raised an eyebrow. "I paid for six months in advance, tapos papaalisin mo lang ako? I live here, Valeen."

"Six months six months ka pa dyan!" She didn't even calm down. "Mayaman ka, 'di ba?! Bakit kailangan may kahati ka pa sa bahay?! Hoy Faulkerson, tigil-tigilan mo ako. Kaya mong bumili ng sarili mong bahay tapos gagawin mo pang excuse 'yung binayad mo?!"

"We're not as rich as you think, Valeen -"

"Sinong niloko mo?!" Saan ba hinuhugot nitong babaeng 'to ang pagka-amazona nito? I can't believe she's friends with Maine. Bigla syang lumapit kay Maine. "Meng, okay ka lang ba? Ano bang kabaliwan ang pinapagawa sa 'yo nitong lalaking 'to? We'd look for another house, okay? Matagal akong nandito, tutulungan kita -"

"What?!" I said in disbelief. "Why are you making her leave?"

Valeen wrapped her arms around Maine protectively. "Bakit?! Informed ka ba kung ilang balde ang niluha nitong batang 'to para sa'yo?!" That hurt. I saw Maine tugging the ends of Valeen's blouse, but she wouldn't budge. "Valeen naman..."

"Muntik na 'kong umuwi bigla! Tapos ngayon?! Biglang okay lang?! Bahay-bahayan?!"

"Valeen..." Maine called out to her. "Okay na kami."

"Yeah," I supplied. "We're okay now."

Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin nya sa aming dalawa. "Tigilan nyo akong dalawa - 'wag nyo 'kong maokay-okay! Hangga't nandito ako walang magiging okay sa pamamahay na 'to!"

And that began our three-day suffering in the hands of Valeen.

The first day was tolerable, but as Valeen went to sleep early, I grabbed Maine and pulled her towards the kitchen. "What was that?!"

"Sorry," she bit her lip. "Parang lahat yata ng nakapaligid sa akin, ayaw sa'yo..."

"Seems like it."

"But Valeen's really nice, alam mo naman 'yun 'di ba? Medyo hindi lang talaga sya okay at parang nabibigla lang sya sa atin kasi nga... na-witness nya kung paano ako malungkot dati at lagi kaming magkausap sa email... pero ipakita mo lang du'n na seryoso ka na talaga, magiging okay na 'yon..."

I sighed in frustration, then surrendered. "So I have to get their approval, too? Valeen and Jake's?"

"Hindi naman sa ganu'n," she replied. "Hindi naman sila 'yung nililigawan mo, eh. Just be yourself and keep on doing what you're doing. Maging normal lang tayo. After all, the decision's still in my hands, not theirs."

That made me smile. Para kasing mas mahirap pa silang i-please kesa kay Maine. "Okay, Maine. I love you -"

"Ssh," she placed her forefinger on my lips. "Wag mo ngang sabihin 'yan madalas."

"Bakit?"

"I feel so obliged to say it back," she frowned. "Because I feel the same."

"And that's a bad thing?"

"Hindi - ewan ko," she pouted. "Para kasing walang pinagkaiba kapag tayo na kung ganito at ganito lang lagi. Baka magsawa ka kasi walang pinagkaiba... walang thrill..."

"It's okay, Maine. You don't have to say it back because I already know that you do. Just... let me. I owe you three years of love so just... let me pay." I smiled at her, at ginulo-gulo ko 'yung buhok nya. "I know and understand how you feel."

"Pero baka kasi unfair sa'yo na ikaw lang 'yung nagi-I love you..."

Kailan ba sya titigil sa pagiging adorable talaga? Because I can't seriously take it anymore. "I'd endure, Maine." I assured her. "Pero kung feel mo talagang sabihin pabalik e 'di... go. Who am I to stop you, anyway?"

She playfully punched my chest. "Abusado. I feel attacked..."

I grinned. "Your words, not mine."

"Tsaka pala don't come into my room muna habang nandyan pa si Valeen, ha? Bawas muna interaction..."

"Bakit?" It's my turn to frown. "Do we have to abide by her rules now?"

"Hindi naman, pero intindihin mo naman 'yung tao, Rj. Tatlong araw lang naman sya magi-stay dito before her agency picks her up." Nalaman ko na hindi talaga umuwi si Valeen. She just went here for work, and maximum na 'yung isang buwan nyang stay. "Please?"

What can I do? I lose every argument whenever Maine says please with those eyes. "Okay, okay. I'd try."

"Rj..."

"Okay. I won't."

"Thank you!" She giggled. "Dahil dyan, meron kang kiss."

She stood on her toes and kissed me goodnight on the cheeks, like she used to, and I could say I can die happily now. If obeying her meant having sweet kisses from her, then I think I could be her slave forever.