They bought a condo unit for me and even went overboard in buying appliances and furniture. Binigay rin sa akin ng mom ko 'yong luma niyang kotse para may magamit daw ako to go to school. Aside from that, I also have an agreement with my dad na padadalhan niya pa rin ako ng allowance until maka-graduate ako at makahanap na ng trabaho. Even my credit cards are to remain active in case I have an emergency.
I have everything I need with me and I have no words to describe how happy I am at this moment. There's a little guilt at the back of my mind for not letting my parents know about Justin, pero nasasapawan lahat 'yon ng excitement ko for the days, weeks, and months to come na makakasama ko siya sa sarili na naming lugar.
I called him as soon as my dad left, and less than an hour later, he was already knocking outside my condo. Our condo.
When I let him in, his expression was unreadable.
"May problema ba?" I asked him, worried that something bad happened to him on the way here.
It was clear in his expression that, unlike me, he wasn't even the tiniest bit happy. He was carrying a backpack and had two more suitcases behind him. He stepped inside the condo and looked around, but he doesn't look amused at all.
"Ano bang problema?" I asked him again.
He sat down on the sofa, with his bag still on his back. "Aubrey, sobra naman 'to," mahina niyang bulong. He looked serious and it was starting to scare me.
"What do you mean?" I asked, not really sure what he was implying. Okay naman siya kanina sa phone, so I don't know what his problem is.
"Ito. Lahat ng 'to." He ran his fingers through his hair stressfully. "Two-bedroom condo, kumpleto na rin ng mga gamit. Nakita kong may kotse ka pa sa parking sa baba," he said.
Oh, so he saw the car. Hindi ko nga pala nasabi sa kaniya 'yon.
"Saan ka nag-park?" I asked him.
"Sa katabing slot, kasi wala namang naka-park pagdaan ko," he answered. "Pero Aubrey, hindi naman problema kung saan ako magpa-park. Ang akin lang, parang ako na 'yong bubuhayin mo, eh. Ako 'yong lalaki pero ako 'yong walang ambag dito, naiintindihan mo ba 'yon?" he asked. He didn't sound mad, but he looked torn.
I understood him in an instant.
Justin always had a bit of an issue about my family having more money than his. Hindi sila mahirap. He even has his own car pa nga. But somehow, he has this bad habit of comparing his family to mine and everyone else in Patterson.
On our trip to La Union, I volunteered to split the bill but he refused. Hindi ko alam kung pride ba ang tawag do'n or ego, pero gano'n siya, and I have grown to accept that about him.
"Two-bedroom, Aubrey. Dalawa lang naman tayo. Gusto mo bang tag-isa pa tayo ng kuwarto?" he asked again.
I shook my head. "No, babe. Studio lang ang sinabi ko kay Papa. Pero ito raw kasi ang ready na for occupancy kaya ito ang kinuha niya because I wanted to move out ASAP," I explained.
Totoo naman 'yon. Studio lang naman talaga ang hiningi ko sa dad ko because I know how expensive condos are. Besides, dalawa lang naman kami ni Justin. Kaya nagulat rin ako when my dad and I first got here.
When I checked the spare room, they had it set up as an office/study. They brought some of my stuff from back home, like my PC and my printer, but there was also a small sofa bed on the corner.
"Nakakababa kasi ng pagkalalaki, Aubrey. Kaya ko namang kumuha ng condo, may pang-down na 'ko. Tapos huhulugan ko na lang 'yong balance," paliwanag niya. "Ayaw na sa akin ng mga magulang mo. Tingin mo, kapag nalaman nilang pinatira mo 'ko sa condo mo, matutuwa sila?" Justin asked, devastated.
I didn't know what to say. Ang alam ko lang ay napaka-selfish kong girlfriend. Sobrang saya at excited ko, samantalang hindi ko naisip ang mararamdaman ng boyfriend ko.
I sat beside him on the sofa. "I'm sorry," bulong ko sa kaniya. "Hindi ko naisip na ganiyan mararamdaman mo. I was just so excited to finally live with you. To sleep with you next to me and wake up to your face every day. Iyon lang talaga naisip ko. Sorry kung na-offend kita, that was not my intention. Pero huwag mong isipin na mababa ka. Nagsisikap ka to have a better life, 'yon ang importante," I said. "Kayo ng mom mo, bilib ako sa inyo because you never let your circumstances stop you. Kaya sana alisin mo muna 'yan sa isip mo. Darating ang araw na makakapundar din tayo ng sariling atin, and I'm going to be with you every step of the way," I said, holding his hand tightly and putting my chin on his shoulder to kiss his cheek.
Napabuntonghininga siya. I sat sideways to put both my legs on top of his thighs. I then placed both arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. "Sorry na. Huwag ka nang magalit." Paglalambing ko.
I saw his lips move as he finally smiled.
Hayyy. That smile. Nakikita ko pa lang siya, bumibilis na ang tibok ng puso ko.
"Hindi naman ako 'yong galit," he said, looking at me.
"H-Ha? Eh, sino?" I asked, confused. He just smiled wickedly as I felt him harden underneath my legs. "Hahahaha! Talaga lang, ah! Wala pa tayong ten minutes na nandito!" I laughed as he lay me on the sofa and hungrily kissed my lips.
After we made love, I handed him a roll of tissue from the center table so that he can wipe himself clean while I wiped some of his cum from my legs and put my clothes back on.
"Aubrey . . ." he called out to me. He just came from the bathroom after washing himself. He was already dressed but his hair was still wet.
"Yes?" I asked.
"Are you . . . safe?" he asked, his face suddenly worried.
I started taking the pill after Justin and I first made out. I realized that we can't just keep on kissing and groping each other with our clothes on. We were bound to have sex sometime, and today was the day.
I knew Justin wanted to wait before we do it. I'm not really sure what his reason was. I don't know if he wanted to wait for marriage or for our first anniversary, I have no idea. But he always kept on telling me na may tamang oras para ro'n.
"Yes, I'm safe." I nodded at him.
He walked towards me and embraced me, his face on my neck. "Mahal kita," he whispered, his voice soft and steady. "Mahal na mahal kita," he repeated, hugging me even tighter.
And at that moment, wrapped in the arms of the man I love, I almost felt like crying when I realized that I would give up everything for him.
Everything.
18: Housewarming
Start from the beginning
