Going the Distance (Book #1 of Distance series)

12: The Sign

Maya-maya pa ay naramdaman kong nag-vibrate ang phone ko sa purse ko sa bulsa. Feeling thrilled, I take my phone out because I know that it is him. My intuition tells me that it's Andy messages causing those notifications.  My dopamine level increases as my phone confirms the notification of a Skype message from Andy.

Andy: Driving now. Otw to Cambridgeshire.

Sophie: You take care.

Andy: Have fun in there! But not with other men, huh? :P

Sophie: No :D

Andy: Kidding... :P

Sophie: Focus on driving please...

Andy: Yes, ma'am! ;)

Sigh...

Kakaibang kasayahan talaga ang dulot sa akin ng pakikipagusap kay Andy. Ganito rin kaya ang nararamdaman niya para sa akin? Napapakilig ko kaya siya? Dahil napapakilig niya ako nang husto sa mga pag-uusap namin mapa-chat, voice, o video call man. Maging sa ginagawa niyang pagtawag sa akin sa Skype bilang alarm clock ko sa paggising sa umaga hanggang bilang huling kausap ko bago ako matulog sa gabi.

I often think about how long are we gonna be like this. I know there will come a day soon that he'll get tired of this kind of set-up.  Soon he'll get a real girlfriend.  A real relationship.  A relationship with physical contact. I'm not talking about sex or sexual intimacy. Any person who is in a normal boyfriend-girlfriend relationship would want to hold his or her partner's hand. And an online relationship,  what we're probably having now, doesn't have any physical affection, which for me, is one of the key factors in relationship satisfaction.  Suddenly I am terrified.

"Hey," halos magulat ako sa tawag ni Tristan.

Ini-lock screen ko ang aking phone at hinarap siya. "Yes?"

"Umorder ako ng fish and chips. Here, let's share," offer niya.  Hindi ko napansing may in-order pala siya.

"No, thanks," I reply, not minding him, and instead watch the people groove their bodies in the dance floor.

He insists.  "Try it. Sobrang sarap niyan, lalo na iyong dressing."

Did I just feel my stomach grumble?  Thanks to the loud music, Tristan didn't hear it.  Bumigay na rin naman ako kasi mahilig ako mag-try out ng iba't ibang pagkain at pag-aralan sa pamamagitan ng kanilang lasa kung paano sila gawin. Although marunong naman akong gumawa ng fish and chips, sinubukan ko ring tikman ito upang malaman ko kung isasarap pa ang paraan ng preparasyong alam ko.  I must also admit, I haven't taken dinner.

Tristan's right.  It's tasty!  It have a very crunchy breading but tender in the inside.  Ang sarap din ng dressing.

"You were too busy on your phone," sabi niya in between his mouthfuls. "I'm just wondering..." Hindi niya itinuloy ang sasabihin, bagkus ay nag-shot muna siya sa iniinom niya beer. "Are you seeing someone now?"

Medyo napalunok ako sa tanong niya. Pag-iinteresan pa ba niyang malaman kung may boyfriend o dini-date ako ngayon? Nako-konsyensya ba siya sa ginawa niyang pag-iwan sa akin, at gusto niyang malaman kung may boyfriend ako ngayon at nakamove-on na, para mabawasan ang guilt niya?  "Yes," walang pag-aalinlangan kong sagot.

"I see. Nice." sabi niyang patango-tango pa. "Do I know him?"

"Definitely not," I answer abruptly.

"Try me. Not anyone from our class and other common acquaintances?"

Ang kulit, nasabi ko na lang sa sarili.  Glancing from my phone to his face, his body has come forward again, his chinky eyes open wider, eager to listen to what I'm going to say next.  "He's not anyone from around here. He's not from here.  Not anywhere near us."  I ache of the thought.  That reality is something I'm not proud to share with and talk about, let alone think about it.