Invisible Strings

04

SHARINE

I woke up to a call from my officemate Mica. Somehow, nagsisi ako na pinadaan ko pa dito sa condo 'yung mga gamit ko kagabi. Kung hinayaan ko na lang sa office, I'll probably have atleast a peaceful morning after that disastrous night.

"What? Five in the morning palang, antok na antok pa ko, Mica." I told her with my eyes still close.

"Hindi ka nagbasa ng chats ko kagabi? Girl, jowa mo pala si Dominic?" Pasigaw na sabi ni Mica sa kabilang linya.

I purposely ignored all of my messages at hindi rin ako nag social media dahil alam ko nang ganito ang mangyayari. I asked myself over and over why did I have to get myself involved kay Dominic? Bakit may pa-Wonder Woman effect ako at sinubukan ko s'yang i-save sa kahihiyan? Bakit hindi ako nag-isip na ganito ang mangyayari? Na kakalat ang chismis and my name will be dragged along with Dominic's name.

"Mica," I calmly called her name. "Can we talk about this later sa office? Kasi masakit pa 'yung ulo ko talaga. Mamaya promise, kwentuhan kita, okay? Bye!" Hindi ko na s'ya hinintay makasagot dahil hindi kami matatapos.

Mica is the only officemate I can consider as my friend. Atleast for now. Bago pa lang naman kami pareho at hindi nalalayo ang edad naming dalawa kaya madali kaming nagkasundo. Sobrang fun ng personality ni Mica na minsan hindi na 'ko maka keep up sa energy n'ya. Tulad ngayon, who in her right mind would call someone at five in the morning para lang sa chismis? Si Mica lang yata.

Sinubukan ko'ng matulog ulit pero tuluyan nang nawala ang antok ko. Images of news headlines, tweets, Facebook posts, and my family's messages kept on popping in my head now. Hindi na 'ko mapakali.

I got up, naupo ako sa kama at kinuha ang phone ko. I rolled my eyes when I saw all of my notifications. Hindi ko alam kung saan uumpisahan, from friends asking about my relationship with Dominic to my dad's "I guess we need to talk?" message. What I got my self into? Really, Sharine?

I choose not to reply yet with anyone. Siguro, I'll just post something like "guys, issa praaaank!" and continue to go on with my peaceful life. Bahala na. But I'll surely come clean at lilinawin na hindi ko naman talaga boyfriend si Dominic.

I had my usual coffee and bread for breakfast before I took a shower. I choose to wear something casual for today since I don't have field work, sa office lang naman ako. I'm on my ripped jeans, gray pullover, and mules.

Nagulat ako when I arrived at the lobby of my condo building and saw Dominic in the waiting area, still wearing his clothes from last night. Halatang wala s'yang tulog dahil medyo namimigat na ang mga mata n'ya. Kinawayan n'ya 'ko kaya naglakad ako papunta sakanya.

"You stayed here the whole night?" I asked him.

"Ah, not really. I stayed at the coffee shop near here."

"Bakit hindi ka umuwi? What are you doing here anyway?"

"Are you busy? I think we need to talk," Dominic's hands were inside the pocket of his jeans.

I look around to check if there's anyone looking at us. Good thing maaga pa at parang walang pake ang mga tao sa paligid namin. Tinanguan lang din ako ni Kuya Alvin, 'yung security sa lobby.

"Let's talk inside my unit." Kung dito kami maguusap, baka may kumalat na namamg chismis tungkol sa'ming dalawa.

Naglakad na 'ko pabalik sa elevator, nasa likod ko si Dominic na para bang nag aalangan pa.

"Do you think it's okay for me na pumunta sa unit mo? I mean, you're a girl. And well, I'm-"

"Wala ka namang balak saki'ng masama 'di ba? Kasi kung meron, gusto ko lang malaman mo na nasa harap ka ng cctv ngayon at nakita ka ng tropa ko'ng guard sa lobby. Alam nila na ikaw ang hahanapin kung may mangyari sa'kin na masama."

Dominic chuckled. "Wala akong balak na masama, Sharine. What I'm saying is, babae ka at lalaki ako. Baka hindi ka kumportable."

Bumukas ang ang elevator at pumasok kaming dalawa.

"Well, I think by now alam mo nang alam ko kung ano ka talaga, Dominic."

He did not say anything but he stared at my reflection in the elevator mirror.

Nang bumukas ang elevator ay nauna akong naglakad papunta sa unit ko.

"Pasok ka, maliit lang dito ha."

Dominic went inside my unit and look around. "You have a cozy place."

"Thanks," naupo ako sa sofa. "Upo ka, what do you want to talk about."

Dominic look straight into my eyes. "I need your help."

"What kind of help, Dominic?"

"I need you to be my girlfriend, Sharine."

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