Semi's, baby!

Just one date

Natigilan si Rico sa sinabi ko. I laughed all the more when Rico's eyes grew wide in wonder. Parang ngayon lang na-process ng utak niya yung sinabi ko. O nag-sink in sa kanya kung bakit ganoon si Tanya. Ngumisi lang ako sa kanya. Bago ako pumunta sa kusina ay nakita ko pa siyang parang tangang nakahawak lang sa bibig niya. Napahiyaw ito at napatayo. "Yes! Kamuka ko si baby!"

Ginulo ni Rico yung scrabbles. "Why did you do that!" Galit na sigaw ni Tanya. Sinipa nito bigla si Rico. Napaatras bigla si Rico. "Tanya naman." Ungol niya. Nakita kong medyo nasaktan siya. Napapailing ako. Nakakatakot talagang maglihi tong si Tanya. Nananakit e. Mabilis din akong lumayo doon. Inis na tumayo si Tanya. Nabigla kami nung biglang nag-pop yung butones ng short shorts ni Tanya.

Tumaas yung kilay ni Rico. "Tila tumataba ka ata Tanya."

Tanya's hanging blouse was getting too tight on her. Lalo na sa breast part niya. Inirapan ito ni Tanya at aalis na lang nung hinila ito ni Rico. Sa sobrang pagkabigla ni Tanya ay napaupo siya sa lap ni Rico. Galit na nilapirot niya yung bibig nito. Naiiyak na sumimangot si Tanya. But she snuggled her head to the nook of Rico's neck. I saw her arms went around his neck. And it overwhelmed me. Feeling ko ako yung maiiyak.

Kinuha ni Rico yung scrabble letters at may nilagay sa scrabble board.

Oh.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. Rico smiled tenderly at me while I was watching them. Watching the scene unfold in my very eyes. Itinaas niya yung baba ni Tanya at pinakita kung ano yung nilagay niya sa scrabble—I love you.

Tanya's eyes grew wide. At nakita ko yung pagpipilit niyang huwag umiyak. Humigpit yung yakap ni Rico dito. She was sobbing in his shoulders. Pinahid ni Rico yung mga luha nito. "I didn't put those words there to make you cry, baby."

Napahikbi si Tanya. She slowly smiled and bit her lower lip. Bumulong ito kay Rico. "I-I'm not getting fat. I'm—" Yun lang yung narinig kong bulong niya. The next words were muffled by her soft cries. And Rico smiled at me across the room.

At hindi ko napansin na umiiyak na din pala ako. I guess they deserved to be happy.

One week later...

Joed reached for my hand across the table. In reflex, napaatras yung kamay ko. I saw the hurt registered on his face. I sighed heavily. Hindi ko pa rin talaga alam kung paano sasabihin sa kanya yung totoo. "Hindi ba dapat nagko-concentrate ka na sa game mo?"

Joed reached for my hand again and laced our fingers together. "I love you."

And my whole being went haywire. Yung buong sistema ko biglang nag-scan at sinasabing may potential threat. And that threat was invading my whole system—The Joed Virus. Napalunok lang ako. Ayokong makita yung disappointment sa mga mata niya every time he couldn't get the same reply from me. Umalis na si Chelsea last week pa.

I guess they already had a closure. I guess getting back together was exactly the closure they needed. Every day Joed never ceased to make me feel loved. He never ceased to make an ordinary day extra-ordinary. At lalo akong nagi-guilty. He even kept bugging me about the non-existent baby.

He even researched for the best OB doctors. At wala akong nasabi.

"Do you have vitamins? Baka napapabayaan mo yung health mo dahil sa pag-aaral mo? Wag ka ng magpuyat, okay?" Tapos tumingin ito sa relo nito. "Wala kang pasok ng Saturday all day. I'll do your research. Or ipapa-research ko na lang kay Joe. Sa Friday hanggang 3pm ka lang naman so take a nap. Two-hour break ka sa Tuesday kaya—"