Before Rosa

[BR 28]

Nasa salon kami.

"Magpapagupit ka ba?" tahimik na tanong ni Sia sa 'kin habang inililibot ang kaniyang tingin sa lugar.

"Hindi. Magpapa-mani/pedi tayo."

"Mani/pedi...?"

Hindi na natuloy ni Sia ang pagtatanong dahil kinausap na 'ko ng receptionist. I told them what I want, tapos inaya niya kami sa mga reclining chair sa gilid. Sia and I took one each. Sinabihan kami ng receptionist na maghintay muna saglit dahil tatawagin niya ang mga staff na mag-aasikaso sa amin.

Nang umalis ito, tinanong ako ni Sia, "Ito ang idea mo ng date?" Hindi makapaniwala ang expression ng mukha niya.

"What? What's wrong with it?" I asked with an amused smile on my face. Hindi naman mukhang galit si Sia. More like, confused. "Ayaw mo ba?"

"No," she said, brows furrowed. "Hindi ko lang in-expect..." Then, she blinked. "No. Actually, wala akong in-expect. So..."

Natawa ako. Sia is so cute when she's confused. Gusto ko siyang kunan ng picture tapos gagawin kong keychain.

"Today's date is themed self care," sabi ko. "Kaya relax ka lang, Mami. I got 'cha."

Sia nodded and exhaled, leaning back on the reclining chair. Hindi siya nakatingin sa 'kin pero kita ko kung paanong mawala ang worry lines sa mukha niya, kung paano mag-ease ang tension sa mga balikat niya.

"Hey, See," tawag ko sa kaniya.

Lumingon siya sa 'kin, her brows raised in question. "Hmm?"

"Everything will be okay."

Kumunot ang noo niya. "Ano?"

"I said, everything will be okay. Huwag ka munang mag-isip ngayon, please? I want you to relax today. Pwede ba 'yun?"

Sia hesitated.

I don't know if she realized but in the past few months, she's been through a lot. She broke up with Monic, beating herself up for losing feelings prior to that. Then, we learned that she's pregnant, which sprouted a lot of new problems: her concern over her reputation sa university, her family's thoughts about it, and her own enthusiasm about bearing and raising child. Now, she's pressured to get married.

I sighed.

I love you, I wanted to tell her. But instead, I said, "I'm here for you." It's not exactly what I wanted to say but it's also true. I'm gonna be here for her, through thick or thin, kasal man o hindi. I wanted to reassure her, that even when all else fail, I'll be here.

A small smile appeared on her lips. Tumango siya at sinabing, "I know. Thank you."

○●○

"Bagay ba?" tanong ni Sia sa 'kin habang pinapakita ang kaniyang mga kukong bagong manicure. She put them beside her face and smiled widely.

I bit back a grin. "Gusto mo, kunan kita ng litrato?"

Sia's eyes shone with excitement. Tumango siya't binigay sa 'kin ang kaniyang phone.

"Dito nalang," insist ko sabay taas ng aking phone. "I'll ask Kevin to edit it na rin para may pang profile picture ka."

Sia laughed heartily. "Sinasabi mo bang kailangan ko nang magpalit ng profile pic?" she mused, one brow raised higher than the other, the corners of her lips tugged in a smile.

I took that opportunity to snap a photo. And my phone gave it away with a soft click.

Napakurap si Sia. "Hindi pa nga ako nagpopose," protesta niya.