Once in a Lifetime (Valdemora Series #5)

Chapter 4

"Okay fine. Pero tulungan mo akong sorpresahin siya. It's our monthsary days from now so, in order for it to be successful, I'll be needing your help. And, no excuses," I said with finality. Napahigit naman siya ng hininga nang hindi inaasahang marinig iyon mula sa akin.

"Wow. Tagal niyo na, ah? Monthsary nga ng friendship natin, hindi mo nace-celebrate kasama ako. Iba talaga kapag boyfriend, malayo sa agwat ko," napapailing niyang reklamo.

I rolled my eyes. Basta ang natatandaan ko lang, noong prom kami masyadong naging close. Hindi ko na tanda ang exact date kasi matagal na rin naman.

"Sorry. Matagal na iyon, eh."

"Sus. Baka naman kinalimutan mo na? Grabe ka, ha."

"Tsk. Hindi naman sa ganoon. Tampo ka agad?"

He shrugged his shoulder and then ate the last bite of his food.

"Sige na, tulungan na kita sa plano mo. Basta may talent fee, ah? Walang libre sa panahon ngayon kaya makisabay ka," I agreed to his deal. Wala namang ibang gagawi ito sa  pera kundi ang idagdag sa kanyang bangko.

Still, as expected, Alonzo didn't fetched as we ended our last class for the day.

Pansamantalang si Jacob ang nagsama sa akin palabas hanggang sa maihatid niya ako sa parking lot. But Alonzo texted me that he couldn't make it today.

May klase pa raw sila at ayaw naman niya basta-bastang umalis doon. I informed him that I am with Jacob now. Hindi ko na sinabi sa kanya na nagpaplano kami para sa monthsary.

I hope that he is not busy on that day. Ayoko naman kasing masayang ang mga napagplanuhan.

We drove to the nearest flower shop. Siya ang nag-suggest sa akin niyon para mas maganda raw ang set-up.

I have a place in mind to rent for the entire day. Balak ko rin naman kasing ipagmukhang maganda ang kahihinatnan kaya sa flower shop niya ako dinala.

As we went in, I followed. Dire-diretso siyang naglakad habang ako ay nakatingin na roon sa mga bulaklak na pwedeng mapagpilian.

He went straightly to the available staff there and did his help. He dragged me beside him to carefully listen to their talks.

"I want you miss to give us some..." he gave me his puzzled look, "what flowers do you want?" napaigtad ako doon.

I held my bag and then looked at the red roses.

"Red roses will do," I said as his eyes went back to the lady.

"And please add some sunflowers. Bawal mawala 'yan miss. You can also add some any kinds of flowers that are suitable for monthsary," inakbayan niya ako habang nakatingin sa amin iyong babae. Marahan ko siyang siniko pero hindi man lang ito nagreklamo.

The lady cleared her throat and then nodded to my friend's suggestions.

"Bayad na," he whispered to me. Kumuha ako ng pera saka ibinigay iyon sa babae.

We stayed there just by looking at the flowers. Nagtagal lang ng kaunti dahil sa mukhang naaliw iyong kaibigan ko sa pakikipag-usap doon sa babae.

"Kalimutan mo na yatang makaalis doon? Type mo ba iyon?" tanong ko sa kanya nang makalabas na kami.

He laughed and then shook his head.

"Hindi naman. Loyal ako sa isang babae kung magkagusto," he said.

"Ugh. Panay kang sabi ng ganyan pero wala ka namang ipinapakilala sa akin."

"Tss. Why would I do that? Required ba ako?" napahinto ako. He halted too and looked at me with his confused look.

I gasped as I reached him and gave him a slight punch in the stomach. Napadaing siya doon.

Why he's required to introduce the girl he loves to me? Ha! Wala bang utak itong si Jacob? Hindi ko alam kung alam niya ba ang posisyon ko sa buhay niya.

"Of course, you're required! I'm your best friend, idiot!" Singhal ko sa kanya.

Nagpatuloy ako sa lakad. He followed me too while still laughing.

"Talaga ba? Paano kung hindi ganon ang turing ko sa'yo?" my forehead creased. Mas lalo akong naguluhan sa kanyang naging tanong.

"Anong tingin mo sa akin kung ganon? Hindi mo kaibigan?" what does he think of me? His schoolmate? Mukhang nakalimutan na niya yatang kaibigan niya ako.

He wouldn't give up his time with some of his friends if I am not his friend. Ano ako? Si Phoebe lang?

"Silly, no. Forget about that. Let me drive your car for you," he opened the door for me and I went in my car.

I didn't asked him some questions after that. There is still some time left for us. Sa loob ng kotse ay hindi ko na ito kinulit sa ibig niyang sabihin sa sinabi sa akin.

As much as I want to call Alonzo now, there's part of me that tells me I should not.

Ewan ko ba. Gusto ko nga sanang bisitahin sa bahay nila kaso baka wala naman akong maabutan doon. Isa pa, baka hindi rin ako magkakaroon ng mahaba-habang oras na makausap siya.

"You hungry? Bili kitang pagkain," he suggested in the middle of the ride. Umiling ako saka pinakatitigan na lang ang mga dinaraanan.

"Can I ask you a favor again?" I softly asked. Napatingin ito sa akin.

Sa buhay ko, kalahati yata niyon ay parte siya. He witnessed how Alonzo became my boyfriend. He also witnessed some of my failures and successes in life when we're still in high school. Naging saksi rin siya kung paano ko nagagawang maging komportable sa paligid hangga't kasama siya.

They say that a woman like me can't be friends with someone especially with guys. Na hindi raw magandang tignan na may kasama akong lalaki palagi. But that was all different.

The possibility that they are saying is totally different from what I've felt with Jacob. Kahit kailan, hindi ko naranasang makatikim ng kapahamakan sa kanya. He is my protector, the pill that I am willing to take just to ease my sadness, and above all, the older brother that I am wishing.

Sa totoo lang ay mas gusto kong hindi ito mawala sa buhay ko. Na sana, hanggang pagtanda naming dalawa, magkaibigan pa rin kami.

I want to watch him having his own family and living his own life. Gusto kong balang araw, ako rin ang makatulong sa kanya.

"Sure. What is it?"

"Hmm. Pwede mo akong samahan sa monthsary namin ni Alonzo?"

"What? You'll make me as your chaperone? Ang cheap naman niyan yata, Phoebe?"

Napailing ako sa hindi niya pagkakaintindi sa sinabi ko.

"No, it's not like that. Ibig kong sabihin, you'll be there to be with me while waiting for Alonzo. Alam mo naman, kailangan ko ng mga banat mo para maibsan ang kaba ko," pagpapaliwanag ko sa kanya.

Without thinking anything, he nodded. Napangiti ako dahil doon at hindi sinasadyang mapayakap sa kanya.

"Grabe! Ang swerte ko sa'yo, Jake! You're the best! Asahan ko 'yan, ah?"

He smiled.

"Oo naman, para sa'yo... para kay Phoebe ko."