The third party (R-18)

Chapter 10

"Hi" bati ko ng sagutin ni Pio matapos ang pangalawang ring ng tawag ko sa kanya.

"Babe, did you arrive safely?" pag aalalang tanong niya.

"Yes. Just got home. I'm preparing my dinner. Ikaw? Kumain ka na ba?"

"Yes. We dine here at a local resto that serves local foods. Medyo napadami nga ang kain ko. So my abs disappeared. " pagbibiro niya. Pero may abs naman talaga siya kahit papano.

Napatawa ako sa sinabi niya. Pero alam ko sa sarili ko na the other side of my brain is nowhere to be found and couldn't focus on Pio.

"That's fine. I love you anyway." sagot ko sa kanya.

"Aww. That's so sweet of you. Kaya mahal na mahal kita eh. So how's Andrew? Ok na ba siya?" nandun pa din ung care niya sa tao kahit alam niyang pinopormahan pa din ako ni Andrew.

Imagine how selfless this man can be? And here I am keeping some secrets from him because I'm too ashamed of myself.

"He's coping up I think. Medyo nag si-sink in na din sa kanya yung pagkawala ng dad niya. I just met his mom and I think he's being strong for his mom na lang din. Actually dun ko lang siya nakita bilang isang man." pagkwekwento ko sa kanya.

Umupo ako sa sofa at tumabi naman sakin si Pia para magpa pet.

"That's good to hear. Masakit mawalan ng loved ones. Especially pag yung taong yun ang sinasandalan mo."

"Babe..." tawag ko sa kanya. Medyo nag aalangan pa ko kung sasabihin ko pa ba ung incident na naganap kanina or hindi na. Baka kasi pag alalahanin ko pa siya.

"O? Is there any problem? You sounds different. Tell me." sabi niya.

"Uhm... Well I think Pia's missing your touch. Di niya kasi nagustuhan yung paghimas ko nilayasan ako." awkward na tawa pa ang lumabas sa bibig ko.

"Babe, tell me. Ano yun?" pagseseryoso ng boses niya. Kahit ganitong magkausap kami ay alam niya kung may kakaiba sakin.

"Uhm.. kasi kanina. I met one of my past. Well not literally my past. Kasi di naman kami nagka relasyon. Pero alam mo na.... so nakita niya ko there...."

"Then?" ramdam ko sa boses ni Pio na alam niyang hindi maganda ang ikwekwento ko sa kanya. Pero he's still composed as ever.

"Then... he tried to push me into talking to him... " medyo pina light ko yung pangyayari. Ayoko ng sabihin kay Pio na na-harrassed ako. For sure mag aalala siya at di siya maka focus sa work niya.

"Did he hurt you?" pag aalalang tanong niya.

"No...no..he's just being pushy. But no worries. Andrew's there, he covered for you." another white lies Vianna! Minsan lang naman ako magsabi ng white lies sa kanya. For the sake of his focus na din. Ayokong kuhanin yung time ng trabaho niya para mag alala pa para sakin.

"Are you sure? Vianna. Please. Tell me." may pleading tone yung boses niya. Nag start na siyang mag alala.

"Don't worry. I'm fine. I'm not hurt or anything. I just want to be open about everything." saad ko habang tinitingnan ang namumula pang bakas sa may pulso ko dahil sa higpit ng hawak ng hayop na lalaking yun.

"*relief sigh*Thank you. Babe I love you. Please always be safe. I'm sorry I cannot always be around." napaka sincere talagang tao ni Pio.

How can this guy become my man?

"I love you too. Pahinga ka na. I'm sure you'll gonna be busy tom. I'll be at school tomorrow. We're gonna have our thesis meeting. Please be careful ok?"

Natapos ang pag uusap namin sa pagsabi ng Goodnight sa isa't isa.

Napasandal na lang ako sa sofa at napabuntong hininga. Di ko inaasahan na mangyayari ang araw na ito.

I forgot about her. I sure does...

Nope. Never ko siya nakalimutan. Year passed, that Sunday feeling is still fresh as new.

Para akong nakakita ng multo from my past and never did I expect na magkikita pa kami. Tho I have slight hope na makita siya for the sake of my peace of mind na lang din siguro.

Talaga ba?

I'm confused.

Do I have to tell Pio about her? If I told him, will he still look at me the same? Will he accept it? Or be disgusted by me.

I don't know if it's the fear of losing Pio or the fear of being ashamed.

Alin man dun. I just hope we don't crossed the same path again.

Or I do hope?

************

"Babe. Wake up! I miss you. I'll call you later. Please be safe. Eat breakfast. Lock your door. Leave Pia some food. Be careful while you drive. I love you...all of you. Can't wait to be home soon."

Morning text from Pio is my breakfast. It makes my whole day positive I think.

And to think na he's busy at work but still manage to give me some time. I think that what really love does. Never ko pa kasi naranasan yung ganito. Out of all my past relationships. Serious or not, never ko na feel na deserved kong maging top priority.

Well, I am somehow always on top of them 'coz they like it (dirty mind on). But kidding aside, Pio's the only one who made me feel that I fcking deserved all the beautiful things in this world.

Nag type ako ng ire-reply sa kanya habang nasa parking area pa lang ako. Sunday today. Kahapon I went to our thesis meeting. Wala naman masyado ganap kundi nag research lang. Wala din si Andrew. I think ngayon ililibing yung tatay niya.

Mag la-light grocery lang ako. Sa Wednesday nandito na si Pio so need ko na din mag stock ng food para pag nagdecide siya mag stay for a couple of days may food kami.

10am na. Medyo late na din ako nagising. Recently kasi late na din ako nakakatulog. I can't stop my mind from thinking. Kahit ayoko mag isip pinipilit gumana ng utak ko. So ang result I woke up late kaya mag brunch na lang din ako later after grocery.

I waited a couple of minutes kung magrereply si Pio pero it seems na working pa siya at hindi pa nababasa nag reply ko kaya nagdecide na kong mag drive papunta sa mall.

I parked my car sa basement. Sobrang init kasi today. I got out of my car and walked towards the mall entrance.

I opened my bag for the checking ng saktong mag ring ang phone ko.

Unknown number is calling.

Hesistant pa ko to answer unknown numbers kasi I have several bad experiences. Hindi ko naman mapipigilan na magkaron ng stalker. But I have few, they are harmless naman. Hanggang pangungulit lang. Siguro yun na din yung dahilan bakit wala akong social media accounts. And never kong tinangkang gumawa.

Nung pinakita lang sakin ni Andrew yung page for me sa Facebook. Na bother ako ng sobra. So Pio and I decided not to be active on social media. We love privacy and more peaceful pa.

Kaya looking at this unknown number...

Call dropped.

I don't have time answering phone calls that I don't know. Fewer people is fine with me. Atleast I know all of their numbers.

Nag try pa ng isa yung unknown number. Pero di ko pa din sinagot.

I waiting for the elevator when I got a text message from the unknown number.

The elevator doors open pero di ko nagawang makasakay.

Napako kasi ako sa kinatatayuan ko. Parang feeling ko sa pagbasa ko ng message na to, pinapasok ko ang nakaraang pilit kong kinakalimutan.

"Hey. It's me Sophia! Are you free today? Can we have lunch?"