Haywired

Chapter 10

Dad and Kuya Rave wears polo shirt and slacks. Corporate attire, kumbaga! Mom would always wear her casual dresses. Napaka-impormal ko sigurong tingnan sa shirt at pants.

I have three polo shirts, a denim dress and lots of t-shirts.

Fuck! I only have one sandal and a lot of sneakers.

My phone buzzed. Halos mapatalon ako sa sobrang gulat.

Jairus calling...

Agad ko 'yung sinagot. Kanina ko pa hinihintay ang tawag niya para mabalitaan siya. I told him through text but I want to know his reaction.

"Congrats, Ruth," bati niya.

"Thanks to you, Jai," sabi ko.

"Should we celebrate?" Aniya. Natawa ako. Sabi ko nga, makapasa lang ako, lilibrehin ko siya.

"Sure. Kailan mo gusto?" Tanong ko.

"No. Kailan mo gusto? I can adjust with that."

"But, I can't tell when you're free. Paano kung hectic ka?"

He chuckled lightly. Even his laugh sounds gentle. "I'm the boss of my company. I can free myself from work."

Pa-fall din ang isang 'to, no?

My best friends would search for their free time to get to be with me. But, he would trade off his work just to celebrate with me.

"Okay. Tomorrow night. Would that be good?" I asked.

"Sure."

The call ended. Napatingin ulit ako sa cabinet. Maybe I could wear the denim dress!

Tumunog ulit ang phone ko. Nataranta ako dahil hindi ko na alam kung nasaan ko nailagay ang phone ko. Kinapa ko pa sa kama, sinusundan ang kung saan nanggagaling ang tunog, only to find it under the matress.

Bakit doon ko isinilid?

When I saw the name, there would always be an abrupt reaction occuring in my body. Minsan ay parang nahuhulog ang puso ko mula sa mataas na gusali. Minsan parang nag 100 meter sprint ako sa bilis ng pintig. Minsan hindi ko namamalayan na hindi na pala ako humihinga dahil sa sobrang kaba.

Minsan hindi ko na alam kung epekto lang ito nang pagkakagusto ko sa kanya o sadyang maagang sintomas na 'to ng altapresyon.

I tap the button to answer his call.

"Lucas?"

"Ruth..."

His cold yet soothing voice is like music to my ears. Lalong-lalo na na binanggit niya ang pangalan ko.

"Congrats."

"T-thanks!"

Ano ka ba Ruth? Kahit gusto mo siya, hindi ka naman nagiging ganito dati ah? Dahil ba minsan na lang kayo nagkaroon ng interaksyon kaya medyo awkward?

"Shall we celebrate tomorrow night?" Tanong niya.

Shit! Mas lalong naghurumentado ang puso. Pakiramdam ko'y nais nitong kumawala mula sa dibdib ko at kumaripas ng takbo. Nais nitong kumaripas ng takbo dahil guilty ito.

Is it really rightful to get close to Jai when Lucas doesn't really approve of it?

Ruth, you're well aware of how Lucas feel for Jai! Hayaan mo na lang sila. Baka nasa isip ni Luke ay ikaw ang balakid sa kanilang dalawa ni Jai.

Napasapol ako ng noo. Wild imagination, Ruth!

"Ruth, are you still there?"

Napasinghap ako. "Hmm? Yah. Of course! Yes!"

"So... about tomorrow night?"

Napakagat-labi ako. Kanina pa ako paikot-ikot dahil sa kabalisaan. "Kasi... Luke, kasama ko si Jai bukas ng gabi..."

"Jairus?" I heard him hiss. Mariin kong ipinikit ang akin mga mata. Sabi ko na nga bang magseselos eh!

"Jairus is not a good influence. Believe me!" Nagsimula naman siyang mangaral.

"He is a good influence." Kailangan kong depensahan si Jai dahil nakita ko kung gaano siya kabait.

"Nalasing ka dahil sa kanya!" Lucas spat as if that is the strongest evidence he has. "You don't know how many flings he has. You don't know how many girls he has bed. I bet it's one of his move to lure you to satisfy his satisfaction."

"I passed because he patiently tutored me!" I told me. I can't take it anymore. Hindi ako maniniwala hangga't hindi ko mapapatunayan. I can't judge people without seeing it firsthand!

He paused before speaking again. "Tutored? Why didn't you told me?"

"You never asked," I muttered like a kid.

We may be kilometers apart by I can sense his deep vexation. Narinig ko ang mabigat niyang hininga sa kabilang linya.

"I can tutor you, too, you know..."

It was barely audible but I think that's what I've heard.

"I don't think I can find another time for us to be together, Ruth." Bumalik ang pagkalamig-lamig na tono ng kanyang pananalita.

"But, I'll be with Jai."

Nauna si Jai na magset ng date. I can't just ditch the poor guy after everything he did for me.

"You want us to be together, right? Now that I'm asking you for your time, you'll refuse," he said.

Ramdam ko at nanunuot hanggang sa buto ko ang iritasyon niya.

Tama naman kasi siya eh. Na-guilty ako tuloy.

He will do everything for me to stay away from Jai. Malamang! Mechanism na siguro niyang maging territorial sa taong gusto niya.

I mean... his brother is territorial when it comes to Kaye. Marahil ganoon din siya!

Isa pa. Guilt washed over me when he mentioned that. Ako ang nagrereklamo na lumalayo na kami sa isa't isa. Now that they're trying to get in touch and reach out to me, ako naman ang tumatanggi.

"We'll have dinner tomorrow night with Jairus. Is that okay?" That's the better thing to do. "Of course, I have to tell Kaye about this."

"Fine."

The call ended abrubtly. Napabuntong-hininga ako.

Bakit agaran ang pagsagot niya ng 'Fine'?

Dahil ba alam niyang wala na akong natitirang choice? O dahil alam niyang magkikita sila ni Jai?

I literally slapped myself.

You're having wild imaginations, Ruth!

Wild imaginations that's not impossible to happen.

🏙

So far, how is it?

Hope you enjoy reading!