Love, The Second Time Around

Chapter 6: She Will

Chapter 6: She Will

ANG UNANG NAPAGKASUNDUANG gawin nina Monic at Marky?

            Mag-sine. And they did. Not just once, actually. Dalawang beses silang nag-sine, watching two different movies, and both were Marky’s treats—inclusive pa ng popcorns and drinks.

            Monic felt—oh, ano nga bang naramdaman niya sa ginawang panlilibre ni Marky? She actually couldn’t tell. She didn’t know what exactly she felt.

            Yes, masaya siya. Satisfied. And she felt very special. Pero nagi-guilty rin siya.

            Well, gusto naman talaga niyang magpalibre rito. Seryoso siya nang sabihin niya iyon kay Marky. But, she didn’t mean na dapat i-libre siya nito nang ganun ka-sobra.

            Double movie treat was okay. Snacks treat during the movie was still--but just a little bit--okay. Pero ang ilibre rin siya nito ng late lunch after nilang mag-sine? For her, it was already too much. Buti ba sana kung nasa isang date sila eh. But heck, it was nothing like that.

            We will never, ever, get to go out on a date again. Not after what happened to us before. Monic bitterly reminded that to herself habang kumakain sila sa isang restaurant kung saan natatanaw ang dagat.

            “Uy, open na ‘yung rides sa labas oh.” Bati ni Marky habang nakatingin sa mga rides na nasa may seaside. “Tara, Nix, try natin ‘yun. My treat.”

            Muntik na siyang nabilaukan sa iniinom niyang iced tea. “What? No. Tama na sa panlilibre, Marky. Sige ka, maubusan ka diyan ng panggastos kay Alannah.”

            Natawa ito. “Imposible ‘yan. Magkahiwalay kaya ang pera ko na nakalaan para sa anak ko at ang pera kong nakalaan lang para sa sarili ko.”

            That, impressed her. She did not expect that Marky would become this mature after lang nitong magkaanak. Monic really found it very impressive—and nakakapanghinayang.

            Napakagat-labi siya nang makaramdam na naman siya ng panghihinayang. She hated the fact that she was repeatedly feeling that way ever since Marky showed up to her again.

            “Hindi ako mauubusan ng pera, Nix, so don’t worry.” Nakangiting tumayo na si Marky matapos nitong maubos ang iniinom na iced tea. “And c’mon. I know how much you want to try those rides.”

            Monic half frowned and half smiled at him. Paano niya nalaman ‘yon? She wondered. But then she realized na kanina pa pala niya pabalik-balik na tinititigan ‘yung mga rides sa labas. So maybe, Marky just noticed it. Kilalang-kilala pa naman siya nito, to the extent na kaya nitong malaman kung gusto niya ba o hindi ang isang bagay sa paraan lang ng pagtitig niya roon.

            Halos matawa na lang si Monic sa realization niya. She then stood up, at sumama kay Marky pababa at papunta sa mga rides na nasa labas.

                                                            ***

LAHAT NG RIDES doon ay halos pambata lang. They were not extreme para sa kanilang nasa late 20’s na ang edad. But Monic would not deny the fact na nag-enjoy siya sa lahat ng rides na sinubukan nila. Kung hindi siya napapatili sa kaba ay natatawa naman siya sa kakulitan ni Marky. The guy was making dorky faces that sometimes, she thought of staying away from him and act like she didn’t know him at all.