To Love Again [TSCM series 2]

To Love Again - cHappy twenty-nine

To Love Again – cHappy twenty-nine

 

LAUREN's pov

The dinner went just fine. In fact, hindi ko nga expected na nandun sina Tita Van. I guess they just missed me. Same here.

So, nung linggo pinayagan ako na umuwi muna. Nagkachikahan lang kami ni Vernice tungkol sa kung anu-ano. Bonding with Lola Theresa na wala namang ginawa kundi usisain 'yung alaga ko. She kept asking how is my relationship with him. Umiiling-iling lang ako. Hindi rin nakatulong 'tong si Nikko na puro irap lang ginawa sakin. 'Di pa rin maka-get over na inaalagaan ko si Arwill.

Kung ako nga tatanungin, he's actually doing good. He doesn't need much of me nursing him everytime. I mean, he can put his shirt on without shouting for help, for Pete's sake! Partida, may bali sa ribs at nadislocate ang braso nun eh. I was wondering kung may kaso ba na nabalian siya ng buto dati kaya alam na alam niya ang gagawin kahit wala ko. Sila Tita Van lang naman ang nag-iinsist na alagaan ko siya.

The elevator dinged open and I got off but not before I saw someone in front of Arwill's door step. They're talking and I absolutely knew the girl.

It's Diandra. From here, I can see them casually exchanging words, smiles meron pa ngang hinampas ni Diandra ang braso ni Arwill. And she was like, "That's firm muscle you got there. *giggles*"

God! She's flirting! My theory was right. Si Arwill nga ang nakita niyang naka-suit noong magkausap kami. And now she's slowly taking her moves by this... this... THIS! Heck! Baka nga hindi lang sila iisang beses nagkita eh. Habang wala ako, nilalandi niya na si Arwill.

I sighed. Diandra is Diandra. Nasa dugo niya ang makipagflirt dahil sa bansa nila, natural ang ganung klaseng pakikitungo. Pero pagdito mo siya nilugar, babansagan ka kaagad ng 'malandi', 'makati', 'maharot', etc. Wait, did I just called my friend 'malandi'? Groan! This is so not me!

Ipinikit ko ang mga mata ko at nag-isip. I need to calm. I need to stop putting unpleasant words to my friend. We're good. Hindi nga lang ako sumasama kapag nagpa-party siya but I know we've been good friends eversince.

Napagpasyahan kong bumaba na muna at maghintay ng 20 minutes sa lobby bago umakyat ulit. May mini café naman dito kaya doon na muna ko magpapalipas ng oras.

Nag-order ako ng brewed coffee at umupo sa gitnang part. Hindi ko maintindihan 'yung logic kung bakit uupo ka sa gilid. Madali lang siguro akong mabore habang pinagmamasdan ang mga tao na naglalakad kaya hindi ako umuupo doon. I sighed as I get comfortable in my sit.

As I was sipping my coffee I noticed someone familiar. Wearing a v-neck coumoflage shirt and black rolled-cuff twill shorts. Nang mag-zero ang tingin niya sa gawi ko he immediately broke into a wild grin and run into me. Ngumiti ako at tumayo para salubungin siya. He hugged me so tight na kulang na lang hindi ako makahinga.

"Ma!"

I chuckled. "Yes, nak? Wow, how did you find me? Wala ka bang klase?" Humiwalay siya sakin at umupo sa bakanteng upuan sa harap ko. The grin never leaving his face.

"I asked Kuya Nikko." He shrugged. "Kamusta, Mama? Miss na miss na po kita."

"Aww~" I ruffled his hair. "You're so biiiiiig! Muntik na naman kitang hindi makilala. Eto, maayos naman."

Inayos niya 'yung buhok niya. Boy, he grew as a handsome man. He's no longer the boy I used to teased. He's not shy anymore and can talk to people comfortably. His posture is so relax. Every girl in this coffee shop turned their heads when they saw him. What do you call that? Ah, yeah. Charisma.