All at Once (Absinthe Series 6)

Kabanata 14

Kabanata 14

All at Once

"Sigurado ka bang mamaya ka pa uuwi?" tanong ko kay Rogan nang mailapag ko ang bowl ng chips sa coffee table. I sat at the large sofa beside him. Umusog naman siya upang bigyan ako ng espasyo.

"It's still raining cats and dogs outside," aniya.

I shrugged. Tinanaw ko ang nakasaradong bintana sa gilid. Pati ang mga kurtina ay nagkatagpo na dahil isinarado ko kanina. It was a bit windy outside. Hindi ko akalaing magiging masama ang panahon ngayong gabi dahil maganda naman ang sikat ng araw kanina.

"Bakit? Gusto mo na ba akong umuwi?" dugtong niya pa. Nailipat ko ang tingin sa kaniya. Kumunot ang aking noo.

"Hindi naman. I'm just worried that you might spend the night here. Wala kang maganda mahihigaan dito sa condo ko."

It's true. My condo unit is small. Dalawa nga ang kwarto pero ang isa ay ginawa kong storage ng iilang gamit. My room is a bit spacious but I can't let him inside. Hindi magandang tingnan na magkasama kami sa iisang kwarto kahit pa magkaibigan kami.

"I can settle in this couch. It's big enough for me," pinagpagan niya pa ang armrest. Napanguso ako bago humarap sa tv. A movie was already playing.

"What if it won't stop raining so hard?  Dito mo ba ako patutulugin?" tanong pa rin ni Rogan. Nilingon ko siya ulit at seryoso nga siyang nagtatanong.

"Makakauwi ka. Wala namang forecast na babagyo at babaha sa daan."

"Still. I am raising possibilities here, Phaedra."

"Bahala ka. Are you comfortable sleeping here though?" I asked pertaining to the sofa. Sinundan niya ang kahabaan ng sofa at huminto ang tingin sa akin.

"I can survive the night here. I rather spend the night in your couch than my car. This is quite comfortable."

"Pero kapag tumila, aalis ka ha?" paninigurado ko.

"Okay," he breathed. Ngumiti naman ako at kinuha ang bowl ng chips. I placed it in between us as I stared back at the television. Huminga naman nang malalim si Rogan bago umusog papalapit sa akin.

One thing that I like about this friendship with Rogan is the comfort that it brings me. Noong mga nakaraang linggo lang ay ilang ako sa kaniya. I was also hesitant with this friendship thing because I don't want to be featured unexpectedly in a nationwide newspaper.

I know Rogan's reputation as a businessman. Kaya ayaw ko rin namang maikabit ang pangalan ko sa kaniya.

But I decided to be open about this friendship and the progress was good. Rogan didn't bring any harm to me. Lalo na at mukhang malinis naman ang intensyon niyang makipagkaibigan sa akin.

This is just pure friendship and I like it very much. Ngayon lang ako nagkaroon ng kaibigang lalaki. A man whom I could trust and whom I could be open to.

"I like her." I suddenly blurted out as I smiled at the female protagonist of the movie. Naramdaman ko ang paglingon ni Rogan sa akin.

"She is feisty for an employee," rinig kong aniya.

"Well, you're right but what the other workers are doing to her is unfair. Especially the organization. She just fought for what is right. Hindi naman kasi tamang may discrimination din kahit sa working area. Lalo na at babae siya. She's walking a few meters just to find a bathroom suited for her. Wala sa building nila ang rest room na para sa lahat ng mga babae. They only have rest rooms for white girls and it's unfair for her. Pagkatapos, ang dami rin nilang blacks sa building nila. I'm glad she survived not until this..." tukoy ko sa scene kung saan inilabas niya na ang hinanakit tungkol sa diskriminasyon sa kanilang lahi.