Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow (Love #1 | Completed, 2020)

Chapter 32 - Getting back (November 24, 2019)

"Huwag na ako." Tumanggi siya pero tumawag pa rin si Perci ng waiter.

"Isang cheesy fries. Isang Philly Cheese Dog." He motions towards Lee. "Masarap 'yon ate, 'yun sa'yo. Tapos isa pa 'nung inorder ko kanina. Buffalo Wing Dog. At dalawang Bayani Brew."

Nang dumating ang mga order, halos hindi makakain si Lee out of anxiousness. Panay ang tingin niya sa paligid.

"You think I'll betray you? Wala dito si kuya Odi. Kaya kumain ka na diyan. May conference whatever shiz na naman sila. Linggong-linggo." Ani Perseus habang nakangiti.

"Salamat..."

"Ba't ka nagpapasalamat? Ako nga nag-invite. Kaya salamat kasi pumayag ka..."

After that, they ate silently. Inaantay lang ni Lee na sabihin ni Perci ang mga gusto nitong sabihin, pero naubos na nilang dalawa ang kinakain, hindi pa rin ito nagsasalita. He was just happily consuming everything like this is just a normal meal between the two of them.

Lalong kinakabahan si Lee sa mga ganito. It felt like calm before the storm.

Nagbayad na si Perci lahat-lahat but he was still being mum. Like they were not addressing the elephant in the room that something is actually up between them. That in years of absence and complicated relationship wasn't stringed on them.

"Ate Lee, bilis. Magsasara na 'yung ice cream parlor diyan sa tapat. Habulin natin." Halos hilahin siya ni Perci paalis ng Pink's at tumawid sa kabilang establisyemento.

Pumasok sila sa Farmacy Ice Cream and Soda Fountain. Hindi na siya ulit tinanong ni Perci kung anong gusto niya at ito na mismo ang namili mula sa napakaraming ice cream sa menu.

In true Perci fashion, he scoops 2 order mint chocolate choco chip for himself, and chose the Pick Me Up Sundae for Lee.

Tinignan ni Lee ang menu and found out that his choice was made up of hazelnut, vanilla, coffee ice cream, toffee nut, espresso, whipped cream, and a chocolate coin. All Lee's favorites. She smiled. All the while, even though she has been eating mint chocolate ice cream with Perci, he knew of the things she liked, equally.

Dahil pasara na ang shop, they asked for their ice creams for to-go at naglakad na lang sa labas.

"Alam mo, kainin mo na 'yan. Tapos, tigilan mo na rin 'yan." He motions towards her hand on her thighs. Hindi niya na naman namamalayan na kinukurot ang sariling hita. She was still too anxious.

"Kaya hindi maniniwala si kuya na hindi ka apektado eh. Obvious kasi."

Even Perci knew of this mannerisms.

Bumuntonghininga si Lee as she started to eat her sundae.

Naglakad sila sa kahabaan ng BGC.

It was already midnight pero marami pa ring tao.

Doon na rin nagsimulang magsalita si Perci.

"Actually, I didn't take you here to apologize in behalf of Monique." He is already in his last bite of his cone. "Okay fine. Sorry na din ulit. Baliw pala 'yung babaeng 'yun. Pero meron pang isa."

"What?"

"Ubusin mo muna 'yang ice cream mo. Kasi baka itapon mo sa mukha ko." Tumawa si Perci.

Lee felt more nervous. Kung ganoon kalala, she could only think of something.

"You told your brother?" She's ready to leave.

"Hindi! 'Di ba sabi ko sayo, I will never betray you."

"Eh ano nga?" Umupo sila sa isang bench at inilapag na lang ni Lee ang sundae niya sa tabi.

Perci held Lee's hands.

"I'm sorry..."

"For?" She's confused. If anything, hindi ba dapat siya ang maraming utang na sorry?

"I'm sorry that I became a burden to your relationship with kuya Odi..."

"You're not!" She was always dismissive of anything related to her past relationship with Odyssey but she is quick to deny this. Because he wasn't. To her, he never did became a burden.

"It's just a guess, ate. And I know that you don't want to explain things now— because of — yes, kuya would be the first to know, right? Pero I know, ate Lee, I figured that something happened to you that lead you to be unable to come with kuya to Singapore."

Lee remained silent. Because the nail was hit directly on the head.

"Tapos, hinayaan mo si kuya Eli na sabihan si kuya tungkol sa stipend... sa college fund ko, para umalis pa rin siya, dahil alam mo na kung hindi niya maalala 'yun, hindi siya aalis, tapos hahanapin ka niya, kahit saang sulok pa ng Pilipinas 'yan... tama ba?"

"I-i... I didn't mean to—"

"I don't want you to explain... Wala ka naman kasalanan sa'kin. Ako 'yung may kasalanan sa inyo..."

"Wala kang kasalanan!" It was all too painful for Lee. The memories. Perci's unspoken feelings. Everything.

"If only I was as self-sufficient as kuya Odi back then, hindi ko naman siya kakailanganin para tustusan ako ng college eh. And maybe if I was, hindi siya aalis. He will have other choices than leave without you. Because back then, dahil sa'kin, as much as kuya didn't want to go, it was choice between my future, and his. And he chose mine, didn't he?"

Umiling si Lee.

"Huwag mong isipin 'yun." She gripped his hands. All the reservations earlier broke down. "Maraming nangyari. Hindi mo kasalanan. Wala kang kasalanan. These things... were just bound to happen."

"I'm so sorry." Perci's eyes turned glassy.

Itinayo ni Lee si Perci at niyakap.

He's much taller than 8 years ago, at halos hindi na siya maabot. Perci needed to scoot down for her to hug him properly.

It was all out. Everything that he had been thinking all these years. He just looked so laid-back, but he knew all the things he owes Lee.

Pero hindi nila alam na nandiyan na ang kanina pa sumusunod kay Perci.

It was Monique. Her eyes on fire.

And with him are three other guys who looked like they were ready to take revenge for her.

"Siya ba, Nik?"

Tumango si Monique habang itinuturo ang si Perci at Lee.

"Sila..."

Like wolves, sumugod ang tatlong lalaki kay Perseus na parang handang pumatay.

He promised his brother not to be involved in a fight, and he had been successful for years. But he is with Lee. And he would fight with everyone who would try to hurt the very woman who have saved his life over and over.

"Perce! No!"

As the attackers approach, Perci pulled Lee in his arms to take all the hits for himself.

*later*