Escaping Strings

Chapter 28: Interruption

“Lovelife?” I heard Martina asks Jacob exactly as I went out of the room.

“Well, here, nagbabalik ang malanding feelings ko sa isang taong napaka-complicated.”

“Sino ba kasi 'yan taong 'yan? Lalaki ba 'yan?” Natigilan siya saglit, “Oh, my gosh! Don't tell me, babae siya kaya hindi mo masabi-sabi sa amin kung sino?!”

Tiningnan ni Jacob si Martina na tila ba'y aliw na aliw siya bago tuluyang tumawa nang malakas.

“Sa Batangas ko na lang sasabihin.” Tumayo na ito at naghanda nang umalis.

“Daya mo talagang bakla ka! Sige na, alis na. Bwisit ka.”

Tumawa lang ito nang itulak siya ni Martina. Bakit ba hindi nila ako napapansin dito? Ganiyan ba talaga sila kapag magkasama?

“Ingat ka, bye!” She kisses his cheek.

“Bye, Tin!” sabi naman nito habang nakangisi.

“Argh! Don't call me that! Martina, call me Martina.”

“Hahahahaha!” he laughed.

Si Jacob na rin mismo ang nagsara ng pinto nang akmang babatuhin siya ni Martina ng tsinelas. Natawa na lang din ako sa kanila at mukhang napansin naman ako ng babe ko.

“Tawa-tawa ka?!” Inirapan ako nito saka pumunta sa kuwarto.

Nadamay pa ako. I just followed her inside the bedroom. Inaayos niya bedsheet nang pumasok ako. I hug her from behind as I burried my face on her neck.

“Babe, I'm hungry.” I kiss her neck.

She faced me, “Hindi mo naman sinabi, I must have had prepared your dinner. Halika na.”

Hinila niya ako papuntang kitchen. I sit on the chair and watch her serve everything for a meal. Good thing I pushed myself to her in the first place, and finally, I have her.

“Huy! Anong nginingiti-ngiti mo riyan?” she snapped. “Mukha ba akong clown? Hala! Pumapangit na ba 'ko? No….”

Napaatras na lang siya at mukhang anumang sandali ay maiiyak na kaya agad akong tumayo para lapitan siya.

“Babe, you are beautiful,” I said as I placed a hand on her waist and caress her cheek using the other.

“Eh? Bakit ka tumatawa? Tinatawanan mo ako eh!” parang bata niyang pagmamaktol.

“Babe, I am just happy.” I kiss the tip of her nose and smile, “So much happy that you're the person I'll see as I go home each and every night.”

She smiled. Pinunasan niya ang mga luhang dumaloy mula sa mga mata niya saka ako niyakap nang mahigpit.

“And I can't wait to make it official,” I whispered on her ear.

Humiwalay siya sa akin saka ako pinaupo, “Kain ka na.”

She sit beside me.

“How about you?” I asked and she simply shook her head.

I didn't bother to be disturbed by the way she acted when I said a thing about making it official. No matter what, she'll be mine officially. I know, she will.

“I'm done, tagal ng boyfriend ko eh.”

“Oh, your boyfriend is sorry, babe. May tinapos lang siya kaya hindi niya na namalayan ang oras.”

“Whatever. Eat up.”

“Whoa, Kaldereta!” I reacted as I saw what she cooked and I rapidly get some to my plate.

She just watched me eat. Sometimes, I will hear her chuckles or see her shook her head. I get myself busy towards the food she prepared and as soon as I finished, she laughed. I had just burped out loud in front of her.

“Excuse me.”

“How was it?” nakangiting tanong niya.

“Can't you tell?” I asked back and she just rolled her eyes.

I laugh saying with a wink, “It's the most delicious meal I have ever tasted.”

“Daming alam.”

Napailing na lang siya saka tumayo nang malinis ang pinagkainan ko. Ako naman ang nagmasid sa kaniya habang naghuhugas siya ng pinggan nang maalala ko si Jacob.

“Uhm, babe, wala ka bang napapansin?”

“Huh? Saan?” Nilingon niya ako sandali.

“Kay Jacob…. Ewan ko pero ilang araw ko na siyang napapansin.”

“What do you mean?”

“Hindi ko alam kung ako ba o sadyang nagiging mainitin ang ulo niya pagdating sa akin. Hindi ko masabi eh, pero kasi… hindi naman siya ganoon dati. You know, he used to be the craziest gay and a lovingly cousin of mine.”

Nilingon niya ulit ako at tinapos ang ginagawa niya saka sumandal sa sink counter.

“Ano pang napapansin mo?”

“As what I've said, he changed. He's pissed when he sees me or his attitude, it was like… it's filled with sarcasm whenever we talk. Hindi na rin siya 'yung malambing at palabirong Jacob na nakasama ko mula pa noon. Para bang bumalik 'yung Jacob na....” Hindi ko tinapos ang sasabihin ko. “Argh! I don't know.”

Martina sigh to what I've mention. It was like she wanted to say something but stopped herself from saying it.

“Neither do I know, babe. I'm still figuring it out. Hayaan mo muna siya, susubukan ko siyang kausapin bukas. Maybe, he just in need of a friend.”

“Alright,” I heaved.

“Anyway, babe, what's Jacob talking about earlier?” I asked.

“About what?”

“Aalis ba kayo? Sama ako,” sabi ko nang parang nagmamakaawa. “Sama ako, huh?”

She laugh after hearing my plea as seeing my lips pouted. Tss, alam naman niyang ayaw kong nawawala siya sa tabi ko eh. Nilapitan niya ako saka hinila bago ipinulupot ang mga kamay sa braso ko.

“Kasama ka naman talaga, hindi ko lang agad nasabi sa'yo kasi kanina ko lang naisip ang kalokohang iyon,” she smilingly said.

“Really? Saan tayo pupunta?” I asked while letting her pull me inside the bedroom.

“Sa heaven…,” she whispers before pushing me on the bed.