IKAW LANG ANG MAMAHALIN (ASHRALD)

Chapter 26

Gerald dialled Jalal's number. "Bro, I need your help. Di ba you know someone from Cebu Pacific?"

"Oo bro."

"Get me to the earliest available flight to Singapore."

"Sarah, ano pa iluluto natin?" tanong ni Ate Nhila. They are seating in Starbucks, somewhere in Orchard road.

"Ate, huwag na kaya tayo maghanda, labas na lang siguro tayo?"

"Ano ka ba, si tita nga maghahanda eh kahit wala ka doon, tapos ikaw na nandito hindi maghahanda?"

"Kahit konti lang. Salubong sa birthday mo. Tayo tayo lang naman." Ate Nhila saw the sadness in Sarah's face.

"Hmmm, siguro imbitahin natin siya? Ano? Bigay mo sakin number niya papupuntahin ko dito sa Singapore, sumaya ka lang sa birthday mo?"

"Ate naman eh. Baka lalo pang masira birthday ko nyan!"

"Naku, ikaw talaga taas ng pride mo eh. Mahigit isang linggo mo ng tinitikis yung asawa mo, ayaw mo pa rin ba kausapin?" Sarah remained silent. 

 "Alam mo kahit hindi ko pa nameemeet yang Gerald mo, mahal ko na siya. Yung mga kinuwento mo, naramdaman ko na sobra ka niyang mahal. Malamang halos mabaliw na yon ngayon. Hindi ka ba naaawa sa kanya?"

"Ate, sinaktan niya ko, baka nakakalimutan mo na."

"Malay mo naman he was telling the truth? Na talagang walang nangyari?"

Sarah just shrugged. Ate Nhila sighed.

"Tara na nga. Mageemote ka na naman diyan. Lakad na tayo dun!"

July the 24th. 8:48 pm, Singapore local time. "Bakit kasi delayed ang flight!" Gerald hurriedly went to the customer service at Changi Airport to book a hotel.

"Can you please find me a decent hotel close to this address?"

"For how many nights sir?" The staff asked.

"For two nights."

"Sir, I only have availability for Grand Mercure hotel. It's a four star hotel."

"Could you please book me, here's my credit card."

"Sir is it your first time in Singapore?"

"Yeah."

"Would you like to see the city? We are offering package deals for our city tour."

"No thanks. Im on a business trip." He immediately answered.

Gerald checked-in first at the hotel. He dropped his bags, freshened up and immediately went down to the lobby.

"Take me to this address urgently, please." He showed the paper to the taxi driver.

Eve of Sarah's birthday. May ilang bisita na dumating sa condo nina ate Nhila.

"Sarah, luto mo ba lahat ito?" Dennis asked, the gay best friend of ate Nhila.

"Hindi naman lahat, si tito nagluto nung iba diyan. Bakit masarap ba?"

"Porket tinanong ko sino nagluto masarap na?" Biro ni Dennis. Nagtawanan sila.

"Oh, huwag kayo mag agawan sa micropono ha, hindi pa kumakanta yung singer natin! Talbog kayong lahat sa pinsan ko!" Tumingin si ate Nhila kay Sarah.

"Naku, huwag kayo maniwala ke Ate!" Umiiling na sagot ni Sarah.

Gerald was standing outside the front door of the condo. His heart was pounding the hardest. Huminga siya ng malalim and then pressed the doorbell. May naririnig siyang nagvivideoke sa loob.