Love and Other Drugstories

Part 6

"Maine, pwede ko na bang umpisahan ang panliligaw to comply with RA 1024? Please?"

Two things came to mind.

First, his RA 1024 is a winner. Kinilig ako dun.

Second, did Richard just say that he wanted to court me? That he's interested? That he volunteered to buy stuff for his friends just to see me?

Teka, baka naman nananaginip lang ako?

But his hands clasped to mine felt so real. I know I should be pulling my hand already because "hello, dalagang Pilipina", but I don't want to because "hello, my harot, my rules".

And our hands held together looked so perfect. It's like a drug seamlessly bound to its target receptor to initiate a therapeutic response.

And holy moly look how long those fingers are! Just imagine those phalanges moving inside my...uhm...soul?

Huy. Tama na muna ang pag-Southeast Asian tour ng diwa, Maine. Balik ka muna sa kalupaan, mali ang nadala mong passport. Nicomaine Dei Faulkerson dapat nakalagay.

"Maine?"

Pero shit, ang haba talaga eh. Kung ipangulangot ko to, tagos hanggang utak ko eh. At ang laki ng kamay nya. Kasya isang kilong bigas sa palad nya. Homaygahd ang laki talaga!

"Ano ang malaki?"

"Ha?! Ahhh... yung ano... ahhh... atraso. Oo, ang laki ng atraso ko sa yo. Kasi nasungitan kita. Because of that stupid pregnancy kit. Sorry."

"Hey, nothing to worry. In fact... kinikilig nga ako eh. Selos ka ba, kasi akala mo may girlfriend ako?"

I gave him an angry scowl. But yeah, I got jealous.

"Saka kinilig din ako kasi dinala mo ko dito para bigyan ng advice kasi akala mo may...uhm...STD ako. Ibig sabihin, concerned ka."

"Hoy, wag kang feeling dyan. It's my duty as pharmacist."

"Eh pwede ko na din bang umpisahan ang duty ko bilang manliligaw mo?"

I dipped my head, hooked the strayed hairs behind my ear then blushed.

"Inaano ka ba? Saka kakayanin mo ba? Baka puro ka lang declaration, pero kulang sa execution."

"Basta para sa yo kaya kong magduty 24/7. Bakit di mo ko subukan para malaman mo kung gaano ako kagaling sa...ehem... execution."

He flexed his biceps. I think I just got myself wet. Mga ten drops. Oops, ayun may humabol pa isang drop. At isa pa.

"Kahit na ang checklist of requirements ko kasinghaba ng list sa pag-apply ng license to operate sa FDA? At kasingtagal ng processing for product registration which is 6 to 12 months, or more? With post-marketing surveillance pa?"

"Kahit gaano pa yan katagal, I'm willing to wait. Be it two months or two years or two decades, it really doesn't matter. It's only you that matters. Ikaw lang, sapat na. And I will never get tired of you. Because I know in the end, it will be worth it. You're worth it, Maine."

"Pero Richard, ilang weeks pa lang tayo magkakilala. It's barely a month."

"Pero matagal ka nang kilala ng puso ko, Maine."

Somebody please give me 200 mg of Amiodarone Hydrochloride. Stat. Di na makatarungan ang pagtibok ng puso ko. Dahil sa kilig.

"I understand your doubt. Believe me, ako din di ko maipaliwanag ang nararamdaman ko. Just allow me to show it to you. And to prove to you that I am really serious, I want to make this right. I will talk to your parents. Pupuntahan ko sila sa Bulacan para personal na makapagpaalam na ligawan ka. At syempre magpapaalam din ako kay Ms. Kai."