From: +63915089****
Can you not be a jerk for one last time? Please?
One last time. Tangina. He was half-heartedly wishing that she didn't mean that. Doesn't she have any idea that she's part of the reason why he extended his stay?
To: +63915089****
Fine. I'll name the place and set the time.
--
Bumuntong-hininga si Ahn. Alam niyang sadya yung replies ni Ken. Kahit naman hindi siya magpakilala, malalaman pa rin nito kung sino sya. People who have connections tend to do that, they tend to just know, no explanations necessary.
Ahn who? She wanted to laugh at this one. If Ken wants to forget, pretending won't help. She already tried that. It didn't work for her. Para kang tangang pinaniniwala ang sarili mo sa isang bagay na alam mong hindi mo kayang gawin. Like the thought that you could fly with happy thoughts. They tend to only sink your heart to the depths of depression.
When he finally agreed, she let out a sigh of relief. She knew it would be hard. Never namang naging madali ang closure, lalo na kung hindi pa ready na mag-let go ng tao. She's not ready yet, but she needs to. Masasaktan lang siya kung patuloy siyang aasa.
Saka gusto niyang humingi ng tawad kay Ken and if he forgives her, then it would lift three years worth of burden off of her shoulders.
He texted her the place and time. It's one hour later. She didn't expect it to be this soon. Akala niya ay kinabukasan pa o sa weekend. May pasok pa siya bukas. Saka mag-aalas-nwebe na rin.
To: Ken
Hindi ba pwedeng bukas na lang, after ng OJT ko? I can be there by 6.
From: Ken
No. The sooner, the better.
She sighed. Dagli siyang bumangon para mag-ayos. Nagpalit lang siya ng damit. She ran downstairs at madaliang nagpaalam. Hindi na niya sinagot ang ama nang tanungin nito kung saan siya pupunta. She knew he will just stop her. And she needed to do this. She needs to put a stop to the bleeding or else, she won't heal.
--
Ahn was thirty minutes early. She scanned the place and sat on a table at one corner. It was pretty packed inside the diner. Hindi niya alam kung bakit doon ni Ken napiling makipag-usap. Magkarinigan pa kaya sila sa dami ng tao?
Nilapitan siya ng isang waitress at saka inabutan ng menu. Hindi niya alam kung gaano katagal bago makarating si Ken kaya napilitan siyang bumili ng kakainin, kahit snack lang. Nakakahiya naman kasi sa ibang kakaing walang makuhang table kung hindi sya oorder.
She ordered a plate of pasta and iced tea. It took a while bago iyon dumating. The pasta looked very greasy but she still gave it a try. Sayang naman ang 120 pesos. Pero nagsisi siya agad, sa unang subo pa lang.
Ang hirap talaga kapag susubok ka ng isang bagay na hindi mo alam kung makakabuti ba sa 'yo o hindi. Most of the time, madi-disappoint ka.
Nangangalahati pa lang siya nang dumating si Ken.
"Did you like it?" he asked as he sit across the table.
"Okay lang naman," sagot niya, out of politeness na rin siguro. After all, it was still an effort to make spaghetti.
IJLA 5 - Heated Argument
Magsimula sa umpisa
