My Quarter-life Crisis Boyfriend (UNEDITED VERSION/PUBLISHED)

Chapter VII

SO FAR, so good, para kay Lola, iyon ang pinakatamang description sa relasyon nila ni Rurik. Sabado ng gabi at nakatambay siya sa apartment nito dahil nasa gimikan sina Liz at Pete at hindi niya feel sumama, nag-barbeque na lang sila Rurik sa apartment at nagkuwentuhan.

Hindi nila kailangan ng manood ng movie o concert o mag-dinner sa kung saan. They just have to be together and talk, na para bang walang taon na namagitan sa kanila.

Siyempre, nabanggit niya din dito ang tungkol sa pinagdadaanang quarter-life crisis.

Parang napaisip ito. "Marami naman yata ang nakaramdam ng ganyan. Comptetive halos lahat ng industries, minsan kahit may achievements na tayo parang kulang pa din. We always end up comparing ourselves with the next person."

Naalala niya ang biglaang pag-search ng mga kinahinatnan ng kakilala via Facebook. It just made her feel worse. "Nakaka-depress pa din."

"Bakit?"

"Dahil at twenty-five, parang walang direksyon ang buhay ko. Alam ko kung anong gusto ko pero parang ang hirap kunin. Ayoko nang maging pambansang yaya." Magkatabi na sila noon sa two-seater couch ni Rurik kaya inilahad niya ang palad sa ibabaw ng kanan niyang hita, it was an invitation for him to hold her hand. Mas masarap mag-share kapag may ka-holding hands.

Siguro destiny talaga sila nito dahil parang nabasa nito ang laman ng isip niya. Agad na pinagsilop nito ang mga palad nila. It looked nice, like their hands were made to hold each other. "Just hang on, Lola. Malay mo dumating din ang break na inaabangan mo."

Malay mo hindi, gusto niyang sabihin pero hindi niya na itinuloy. Ayaw niyang magpaka-negative sa isang gabi na solo niya si Rurik. May pakiramdam siya na hindi siya nito maiintindihan ng husto dahil isang terminology lang para dito ang quarter-life crisis, while for her it's a phase. It's real, pinagdadaanan niya iyon ngayon. May purpose daw lahat ng tao, gusto niya lang gawin ang sa kanya.

Humilig siya sa balikat ni Rurik "Basta may warning ka na, ha?"

He kissed the top of her head. "Warning saan?"

"Na may sayad ang girlfriend mo."

Natawa ito. "You mean mas may sayad pa kaysa noong malasing kayo ni Liz?" Bahagya niyang hinampas ang dibdib nito. "Seryoso ako. "

"Me too." He stroked her hair. "Akala mo ba lulubayan kita dahil nababaliw-baliw ka minsan?" Umayos ito ng upo at tinitigan ang mukha niya. He had beautiful eyes. "Kahit umakyat ka pa sa billboard. " He kissed her forehead. "At ma-broadcast ang kabaliwan mo on national tv." He kissed the tip of her nose. "Kahit dalhin ka pa sa mental institution at suotan ng straight jacket habang kini-claim no na hindi mo ako nasaksak at nabitawan mo lang ang kutsilyo," She was expecting him to kiss her lips but he kissed her chin instead. It was sweet toture to wait for his lips to claim hers. "You can't scare me away, Lola."

When his lips finally landed on hers, she realized that more torture came from wanting Rurik, all of him and not just his kisses. She kissed him hungrily, needing him, running her hands on his chest, feeling him.

MAS dumami ang trabaho ni Rurik haabang papalapit na pag-implement ng reorganization. The merger is happening and so are the changes. This meant more work. Kaya gustuhin man niyang umuwi ng maaga para makapag-dinner man lang kasama si Lola ay hindi puwede.

In fact, ilang araw na siyang maagang umaalis sa apartment pero late nakakauwi.

Noon biglang may kumatok at pagkasabi niya ng 'come in' ay sumungaw ang ulo ni Axel. "Sasama ka ba? Iinom kami sa pub."

He shook his head. "Next time na lang."

Tumango ito ay sumara ang pinto. Matapos ang unang inuman session nila ay naging close na ito sa kanya. Siguro ay dahil wala nang naging problema kay Callie. He ended what they had, whatever it was, in a phone call. A week later, he saw Callie in the lobby waiting for Axel. No hard feelings, another proof that he was not that into her or vice versa

Okay na sila ni Lola, okay din sina Callie at Axel kaya nga hindi siya sigurado kung bakit parang gustong uminom palagi ng huli. Although there this one time when Axel mentioned something about not being happy with his job. Pero baka dala lang iyon ng kalasingan. Axel was the site director, there was no reason to be unhappy. It's a job that pays well.

Hindi niya masyadong maintindihan ang mga taong hindi masaya sa trabaho. Katulad ni Axel, kung totoo mang hindi ito masaya, o ni Lola. Hindi din siya naniniwala sa calling o sa kahit anong trabahong hinahanap-hanap ng ibang tao dahil bata pa lang daw ang mga ito ay iyon na ang ambisyon.

In first grade, he wanted to be an astronaut just like half the boys in the class. A year later, he changed his mind and decided that he wanted to be a pilot instead. Ginusto din niyang maging engineer, architect, superhero, billionaire, Formula One racer at NBA superstar. Pero sa college ay kumuha siya ng kursong Business Administration dahil praktikal iyon. The point being, when kids grow up they changed their minds.

It's called reality. As adults, they get jobs and they stick with it. Pakiramdam niya ay restless lang si Lola kaya hindi ito kontento sa ginagawa. O baka nabi-burn out. She'll get by because it's just a state of mind. Magigising na lang ito isang araw na gusto na ulit ang ginagawa.

Meanwhile, he has a job to do, lots of it. Pero bago iyon ay iti-text niya muna si Lola at sasabihan na hindi siya makakauwi ng maaga. Nag-reply naman ito agad, a sad emoticon.

He glanced at the file he was about to read and then glanced back at the emoticon. What the heck, puwede niya namang basahin ang file na iyon sa apartment bago matulog. Mas importante ang sender ng sad emoticon. He didn't want to add to whatever crisis she was having, all he wanted is to give her more reason to smile.

***********##########**********

Link ng FB account ko (add me please, usap tayo minsan)

https://www.facebook.com/yna.paulina.kwentista

Link ng FB Page ko (please like tas mangulit ka po don whenever)

https://www.facebook.com/YnaPaulinaPHR

Links ng Precious Online Store (where you can buy copies of PHR books/ebooks etc)

https://www.preciousshop.com.ph/home/

https://preciouspagesebookstore.com.ph/

Link ng Precious Hearts Pocketbook Page (please like, para laging updated sa latest books and events tas chika galore with fellow readers)

https://www.facebook.com/Precious-Pages-229654370425644/

Link ng Booklat Page (please like din, para laging updated sa everything)

https://www.facebook.com/BooklatOfficialPage/