Escaping Strings

Chapter 21: Give

My phone rings and of course, I answer without hesitating.

“Babe!” I cried.

“Whoa, what happened? Why are you crying? Where are you?” he asked, worried.

“Huhu, I really want to go home, but the heck! Traffic sa EDSA!”

Really, Martina?

“Babe naman, hindi ka na nasanay. Please, stop crying. Where are you exactly? Pupuntahan kita.”

“'Wag na, okay na ako,” I said vigorously as I wipe the tears out of my face.

Yeah, okay na 'ko. Nakakainis siya! Bakit ang cool niya masyado? Siya kaya itong ma-stuck sa traffic! Eh?

“What?” He seems confused now. Ikaw naman kasi, Martina. Ang dami-rami mong arte! Ayaw ko na siyang makita eh, bakit ba?

“Just tell me where you are, please. I want to see you.”

“Magkita na lang tayo sa McDo, malapit sa condo. Hurry!” I ordered.

Akala ko ba ay ayaw mo na siyang makita? Kasasabi mo lang, hindi ba? I didn't say that.

“Alright, alright. Bababa na ako, here I go.” At nagmadali naman ang loko.

Natawa na lang ako sa inasta niya. Hindi ko siya nakikikita pero nai-imagine ko ang hitsura niya. Ewan ko ba, simpleng galaw lang niya ay apektado na ako. I giggled at the thought.

Ang cute lang kasi... natutuwa ako.

“Matt!” Agad akong tumakbo palapit sa kaniya nang makalabas ako ng kotse. “Aww, I missed you!” I hug him tight as he also do.

Pinagtitinginan kami ng mga tao pero okay lang, hindi naman nila kami kilala at hindi ko rin naman sila kilala. Walang pakialamanan dito.

“I miss you more.” He looks at me directly and tries to kiss my lips but I stop him.

“Don't!” I placed my finger on his lips.

The eff, I remember.

“Why?” he asked.

Napasimangot na lang ako.

“It's disgusting.”

“What? Why? Bagong ligo naman ako ah? Why am I disgusting?” he asked after smelling and checking every inch of him from head to toe.

“Not you, it's my lips. Darn it,” I hissed, wiping my lips using the edge of my long-sleeved polo.

“What about your lips?”

“Tss, let's go.”

Hinila ko siya papasok ng fastfood chain at naupo.

“What do you want to eat?”

“Kentucky Fried Chicken,” I swiftly answered that made him frown.

“Babe, wala tayo sa KFC,” natatawang may pagtatakang sabi niya.

“Huh? Eh, 'di kahit ano, basta chicken. And fries. And spaghetti.”

“Spaghetti? Alam mo, babe, pasalamat ka at mayroon na nga talagang spaghetti ang McDonald's ngayon, kung hindi.... Jesus, iisipin ko na talagang—”

“Ano?” I look at him asking.

“Wala, order lang ako.” Natatawa siyang umalis para sa pag-order ng malalamon ko.

Jusko, ngayon ko lang naalala, hindi pa nga pala ako nagtatanghalian. Tsk, tsk, tsk.

“Here.” Nilapag niya 'yung tray sa harap ko saka naupo at inayos ito.

“O, bakit ka nakatingin? Miss mo 'ko, 'no? Sobra? Wanna rain me hugs and kisses so bad?” he smirks.

“Yeah, and really, it is bad. Tss!” I hissed and rolled my eyes.

Makakain na nga lang. Daming alam.

“'Wag mo naman diyan ibuhos ang pagkapikon mo sa akin, babe,” he laughs. “Sorry na.”

I glare at him, “Gutom ako, Matt. Shut up, kung ayaw mong kainin kita.”

“Well, maybe, mas kailangan kong mag-ingay.”

Naku, nako! Kung hindi lang talaga ako nasasayangan sa pagkain ay naibato ko na talaga 'to sa kaniya. Kainis, masyado talaga siyang maharot.

We got into my condo and he immediately hugs me as soon as the door was closed.

“I miss you, babe.”

“Don't kiss me!” pigil ko bago umalis mula sa pagkakayakap niya. “I'll just wash up — toothbrush.”

Paglabas ko ng bathroom ay komportable siyang nakahiga sa kama. Feel at home, k'ya?

“Really, what happened?” he asked as soon as he saw me.

“Ih, kasi!” Umupo ako sa tabi niya na siya namang lapit niya para yakapin ako mula sa likod.

“Si Vince.”

Napahinto siya bigla. Sumandal siya sa headboard ng kama at tumingin sa akin.

“Did he...?” Yes! He did!

Lumapit ako sa kaniya at saka siya hinalikan. Passionate. Gentle. Hot.

“Oh, I miss you!” I sat on him and put my arms around his neck, hugging him tightly.

He runs his hand on my back and caresses my skin before owning my lips. Dang, this kiss... is the kiss that I am longing for the rest of my day! Every single day. It made me and it will keep on making me, completing me. Can somebody please tell me that this man is none other than mine? Why are you smiling inside your head, Martina? Oo na, sa'yo na siya. Sa'yong-sa'yo na siya kaya puwede ba? Shut up ka na. Tss, inggit ka na naman?

“I love you,” he said.

“I love you too.”