Best for Us (GU #3)

forty-six

Tumango siya. "Okay," sabi niya ngunit tila ang dami pang laman ng tingin niya sa akin. Ngunit sa huli'y tanging sinabi niya ay, "Ingat."

I just let it go. Pwede pa naman kaming makapag-usap mamaya. "I will," sagot ko bago bumaling kay Tito Ricardo. "Una na po akong umalis, Tito."

Lumapit sa akin si Tito Ricardo at mahinang tinapik ang likod ko. "Salamat ulit, hijo. Mag-iingat ka."

*

I reached the parking lot. And I was about to enter my car if not for the conversation of the two students on the next block.

"Grabe! Napakaprofessional ni Olivia, ano?"

"Sinabi mo pa, di rin kaya birong mag-act and sing for two hours straight tapos gagawin niya ulit all over again," sagot nung isa.

So, it was Olivia who will take Vanessa's place. Reasonable since siya 'yung counterpart ng girlfriend ko sa role sa play. At that, papasok na dapat talaga ako pero may mga sumunod pa akong narinig na nakapagpatigil sa akin.

"Ano ba kasing nangyari dun kay Vanessa? Bigla na lang nawala."

Napatingin ako sa pwesto nila't napansing mayroon silang mga hawak na supplies. Mukhang gagamitin doon sa play. At base sa mga malalaking IDs kung saan nakasulat ang mga pangalan nila at nakaprint ang 'STAFF' sa itaas, bahagi sila ng play.

"I don't know," sagot nung mas maliit. "Sabi, ilang beses daw nag-CR kanina. Tapos nawala na. Yung si Serena yung nakakaalam eh, siya yung kasama kanina. Pero parang si Prof. Davila lang 'ata ang kinausap."

The other girl scoffed. "Baka naman di kinaya ng nerves. Diba first freshmen pa lang 'yun? Saka balita ko nagka-stage fright din daw yun nung audition eh. Marami nga nagtataka kung bakit siya yung napiling mag-Juliet eh marami namang mas magaling."

At that point, I could not take it anymore. I cleared my throat loudly, getting their attention.

"Isn't the play already starting?" tanong ko. I was aware there's already a hint of annoyance in my voice. I just couldn't hide it. I couldn't take them talking about Vanessa like that. Gayong wala naman talaga silang alam kung ano talagang nangyari sa kanya. "Shouldn't you guys be in there since you're so called staffs?"

I emphasized the last word making their eyes bulged in surprise. At sinamantala ko ang pananahimik nila. "Maybe, you should already go inside and do your job as staffs instead of talking about things you know nothing of."

Doon na ako pumasok sa loob ng sasakyan at agad na pinaandar ang kotse palabas ng university.

Dad and Tita Juliet was on a date kaya hindi na ako natuloy pang bumisita sa bahay while Ate Teriz brought her kids to Garrett.

So, I ended up going to Golden Lives  instead, binista si Nanay Belen at ang ibang matatanda doon. Doon na rin ako nagdinner hanggang sa alas otso na nang bumalik ako ng Montereal Place.

It was past nine when I arrived at the condominium. Sa elevator pa lang ay nagcheck muli ako ng mensahe galing kay Vanessa pero wala pa rin. And I thought she might be resting now.

I thought of sending her a message but stopped myself. Bukas na lang. Kung natuloy man siyang iconfine sa ospital ay pupunta na lang ako roon. But if she's staying at her parents' place, mukhang alanganin nang dumalaw doon.

The elevator dinged, halting my train of thoughts. Lumabas na ako at dumiretso sa unit. 

I unlocked the door, pushed it open and I was greeted by a surprising thing I had in a while.

"Oops," I felt some air was caught in my lungs as I tried to support Vanessa with my arms.

She hugged me tighter. "I thought hindi ka uuwi ngayong gabi."

I chuckled as I leaned away a bit and then I amusedly looked at her. Surprised pa rin ako na narito siya ngayon kaya't nagtanong ako. "What happened? Akala ko you're still in the hospital or kasama mo pa rin parents mo."

"I'm okay na," sagot niya, hindi pa rin humihiwalay sa akin. Binaba niya ang parehong kamay sa bewang ko at nanatiling nakakapit doon. And I was not complaining. In fact, I loved her hands there. Sana nga magtagal pa doon. She pouted and I almost leaned in to kiss that away from her lips. "Mommy's like that lang talaga. Segurista. But after ma-assure na okay na talaga yung lagay ko, kumalma na rin siya."

She smiled then.

"Okay ka na ba talaga?" paninigurado ko saka hinawakan siya sa magkabilang pisngi.

Vanessa laughed a bit before nodding. "Parang si Mommy ka rin," aniya. "Oo nga. Though nagreseta din ng gamot yung doctor dun sa hospital in case na sumakit ulit yung tyan ko. Pero parehas lang din dun sa binigay sa clinic kaya hindi na kami ulit bumili."

I nodded. I felt relieved that she's really okay. But I was still curious though so I inquired about it, "Buti hindi nagpilit parents mo na isama ka pabalik sa bahay niyo."

"Anong hindi?" sagot niya. "They almost brought me home. Nagsabi lang ako na may kailangan akong tapusin na report."

I raised my brows at her mockingly. "Did you just lie to your parents?"

"Hindi ah!" she said defensively. "Meron talaga kaming report na hindi ko na nagawa dahil sa practice sa play."

Natawa ako at hindi na dinugtungan pa ang pang-aasar sa kanya. Kahit pa cute tingnan si Vanessa kapag naiinis, ayaw ko namang sagarin ang pasensya niya sa akin.

Inabot ko ang ilong niya't marahan na pinisil iyon. "Alright, meron na. Isa pa pala, paano ka nakapasok dito sa unit ko?"

She smiled sheepishly. Inalis niya na rin ang kamay sa nakayakap sa bewang ko at binigyan kaming dalawa ng kaunting distansya. And how I instantly missed her body close to me.

"You left your duplicate doon sa kwarto. So while I was waiting dun sa kabila kanina, I thought bakit hindi na lang kaya kita isurprise dito."

And I was indeed surprised.

"Akala ko nga di ka uuwi eh. Akala ko doon ka sa bahay ng Dad mo mag-overnight."

"Dad and Tita Juliet was not home kaya hindi na rin ako natuloy," sagot ko. "Doon ako sa Golden Lives pumunta. Doon na rin ako nagdinner. Speaking of dinner, kumain ka na pala?"

Agad siyang tumango. "Nag-dine out kami after sa hospital."

Napatango rin ako saka sinilip 'yung orasan sa dingding at naalalang halos mag-aalas diyes na ng gabi. Kailangan ng magpahinga ni Vanessa.

I reached for her hand. "Tara, hatid na kita doon sa kabila. You must be tired. Para makapag-rest ka na rin."

Vanessa didn't move. Instead, she was just looking at me intently. Parang may gustong sabihin.

And I waited for it. Kaso, lumipas ang ilang segundo at nanatili siyang ganoon, tila nag-aalangan pa rin.

So, I gave her a push. "May sasabihin ka ba?"

She looked like she's still hesitant. Pero nang huli'y pumirmi na rin siya. At naroon lang ako, naghihintay pa rin ng sasabihin niya.

Then at last, she opened her lips. "Can I ask for a favor?"

That question sounded familiar. At nung huling tinanong niya 'yan sa akin, it left me speechless.

Nonetheless, I still nodded. "Sure, ano 'yun?"

There was a pause from her. Three beats, I counted. Before she finally asked, "Can I sleep here with you tonight?"