Chapter 12: Kaibigan Ka Lang Naman Namin
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"SORRY for what happen last Saturday. I'm a big mess, Calvy." Miguel apologizes once I enter his car.
"It's okay. I understand. Birthday naman ni Josh."
"Pero nasukahan kita. And I'm out of my mind so I wasn't able to assist you." May kinuha sya sa likod ng kotse nya. It was a paperbag. "Damit mo yan. Pina-laundry ko. Sorry talaga. Nahihiya tuloy ako sayo."
"Ikaw pa nahiya sa akin."
"If you don't mind, can I ask you to eat with me right now?"
"Right now?" I asked
"Yeah. As in right now."
"Where?"
"Right here."
"Right here?" I asked again.
"You're just turning my answers into questions. Oo. Ngayon na. May dala akong pagkain sa likod."
"But you're driving."
"I can stop if you want. I just want to eat with you." I look at him and he's smiling.
"Hindi. Mag-drive ka na muna. The food can wait."
"If you won't mind again, can we eat in my unit?"
Napatingin ako sa kanya.
"Tayo lang ba dun?"
"Uh-hmm." He nods.
"O-okay lang naman. Sige."
Nag-drive lang sya kaso nung nasa papalapit na kami sa AM Tower, biglang umulan. Nagka-traffic pa tuloy.
"Mukhang gagabihin ka na. Wag na kaya tayong tumuloy baka mapagalitan ka. Idederetso na kita pauwi."
"Ako bahala."
I dialled my brother's number and he immediately answer.
"Yes, lil'sis?"
"Inabutan ako ng ulan, Kuya. Nandito ako sa bahay ng kaibigan ko. Uuwi din ako mamaya kapag huminto na. Papahatid ako sa kanya."
"Who's that friend of yours?" He asked.
Hindi agad ko nakasagot. Should I tell him the truth? That I'm with Miguel?
"Who are you with, Calvarie?" He repeats.
"I'm with... I'm with Miguel, Kuya..." tumingin ako kay Miguel and he's looking at me, too.
Naghintay ako sa sagot ni Kuya pero hindi sya nagsalita.
"Kuya?"
"You said you're with a friend."
"Oo nga."
"Are you with him... alone?"
"O-oo."
"I have trust in you, Calvie. And I have trust in that guy you are with because he's a Christian. Please don't break my trust. Mag-iingat kayo."
"Thank you, Kuya. I'll always remember what you said. I love you."
"I love you, too. Bye."
Then I hang up.
"Pumayag?" Miguel asked.
"Oo."
"It's really nice to have Kuya Rave in your life, isn't it?"
"Oo. Kung wala si Kuya, paniguradong patay na ako kay Mama. He's like my Papa but he's more kind; near to be a saint that Papa. He spoils me though he's reproving me always. That's the best in him. I know someday when he already had a family with him, his kids will grow as kind person as their Dad is."
"We're here... but It's still raining. I don't have my umbrella with me." Miguel said.
"Ah? Ade maligo na. Nandito naman yung damit ko. Yung pina-laundry mo."
"Baka magkasakit ka. Ako na lang muna. Aakyat muna ako sa taas then I'll be back."
"Ayoko. Baka mamaya ma-hold up ako dito."
"This is a safe place-"
Hindi ko na sya pinatapos. I opened the car's door and run. Naririnig ko sya'ng tinatawag ako, ako naman tawa lang nang tawa. Ang saya nya'ng pag-tripan.
"Calvy! Sumilong ka nga!"
Mas lalo akong gumitna sa ulan. I smiled on him pero si Miguel mukhang galit na galit na sa akin.
"Calvarie! Stop playing in the rain!"
Katulad ko basa na rin sya. Naglakad sya papunta sa akin at may itinalukbong sa ulo kong jacket. Inakbayan nya ako papunta sa main entrance ng lobby.
"You're so stubborn. Wag mo nang uilitin yun."
I just laugh. When I'm looking on his face kita ko pa ring galit sya.
"Sorry na. Ayoko kasi talagang maiwan sa kotse mong mag-isa."
"Pwede mo naman akong pilitin sa maayos na paraan." He said and he sneezes.
Natawa ako nang malakas. "Mukhang ikaw ang magkakasakit. Tara na sa unit mo para makapagpalit ka."
SUMAKAY kami sa elevator at pinagtitnginan kami ng mga nakasabay namin dun. Who wouldn't? Tumutulo pa yung damit namin sa basa ng ulan.
Nang makapasok kami sa unit nya, doon ko lang naalala yung pakay namin kung bakit kami nagpunta dito.
"We forgot our food in your car. Sayang yun baka masira lang." I said.
"Yeah. And we also forgot your shirt. Ano ang ibibihis mo ngayon?"
Natulala ako bigla. Magrereact pa sana ako dahil nga nakalimutan ko yung damit ko sa kotse nya kaso sinimulan na nya'ng i-unbottoned yung botones ng uniform nya sa trabaho.
"Miguel!" Agad akong tumalikod.
"Sorry! Nandito ka nga pala."
Ibinalik nya yung natanggal nya'ng botones at pumasok sa kwarto.
"Tara dito..."
Nanlaki ang mata ko.
"A-ano?!"
"Tara dito. Ito damit ko, isuot mo muna. Bababa ako. Kukunin ko yung damit mo tsaka yung pagkain."
"Ah. Sige!"
Pumasok ako sa kwarto nya. It was his same bedroom katulad nung Saturday.
"Sa CR ka na. Bababa lang ako sandali. Wag ka nang magreklamo. This is for you. Sandali lang ako."
"Okay... bilisan mo."
Pumasok agad ako sa CR nya pagkatapos. Hinubad ko yung uniform kong basa pati yung sapatos ko. I wear his shirt and his boxer shorts. Hindi naman basa yung undies ko kaya hindi ako nahirapan. Paglabas ko, wala na si Miguel. Nakababa na siguro.
Naghanap ako ng suklay kasi yung suklay ko nasa bag. Nakalimutan ko rin sa kotse ni Miguel.
Nakakita ako sa drawer ng side table nya kaya nagsukalay na ako habang nakaharap sa salamin. His shirt is big. Mga medium siguro ang size. Pero yung boxers nya okay lang. Parang QQ shorts lang para sa akin.
I'm in the middle of combing my hair when the doorbell rings.
Baka si Miguel na yun. Nagmadali akong lumabas ng kwarto nya at agad dumiretso sa pintuan.
I opened it and to my surprise it wasn't Miguel.
It was Josh.
My eyes widened. And daming pumasok sa isip ko. Isa na dun yung kung ano ang pwede nya'ng isipin.
He might think about that 'thing' happened to us. I'm wearing Miguel's lose shirt and his boxer shorts.
"Where's Miguel. Why you're here?" He asked in a very serious tone. His mood transformed. He looks very intimidating just like how I feel when I first saw him in GCC.
"Ah. Ano. Bumaba lang. May nakalimutan sya sa kotse nya. Pasok ka."
Binuksan ko nang mas malaki yung pintuan. Pumasok naman si Josh.
"Upo ka muna. Baka pabalik na yun."
Dumiretso ako sa kitchen para ikuha sya nang pwedeng kainin. This isn't my house pero syempre ako ang naiwan dito kaya dapat mag-take charge ako. Nakakahiya naman kung hindi ko man lang sya papagmiryendahin.
"You didn't answer my follow up question. Bakit ka nandito? And why are you wearing Miguel's clothes. Don't tell me-"
"Sinundo nya ako sa school. He asked me to eat with him. Dito sa unit nya. Inabutan kami ng ulan, wala kaming payong kaya nabasa kami pareho. Pinahiram nya lang ako ng damit."
"Alam ba 'to sa inyo? That you're with someone in a condo unit, alone?"
"Nagpaalam ako kay Kuya."
He didn't replied instead...
"Kayo na ba?" He asked. Napapikit ako. Hindi ba sya na-aawkward sa mga sinasabi nya sa akin? He's the one who brought this topic up.
"Hindi pa... but he's courting me since last month." I answered.
"Yeah. Hindi pa..." he sarcastically said. "Pa..." he repeated.
"Josh..." I called his name for him to stop.
"I told you everything, Calvy. I don't want you to get hurt..."
Inilapag ko yung sandwich at juice sa center table ng living room kung saan naka-upo si Josh.
"I know but that can't stop me."
"Masasaktan ka lang, Calvy!"
"Wala naman akong paki, Josh."
"Ganyan mo ba sya kagusto?! Na kahit feelings mo, isinisugal mo?"
"What if I say yes?"
"Bata ka pa, Calvy!"
"But I'm old enough to handle a relationship."
"But Miguel is another case. You know the consequences. Baka hindi lang kayo mag-work. You deserve a better guy that will not risk your feelings."
"Why do you even care, anyway?! Kaibigan ka lang naman namin!" I yelled.
His expression changes.
"Sorry..." I calm myself and apologize.
"Pakisabi na lang kay Miguel na dumaan ako." He said.
Tumayo na sya at umalis. Now I left here sitting alone. Guilty to death.
(#)