B o n i c a
"Hon, wake up. Your cousin Key is waiting downstairs."
Nagising ako dahil sa isang tinig at katok sa labas ng aking pintuan. It was France.
Papikit pikit na humikab ako habang bumabangon.
I took a glance at the wall clock. Hmm... Am I reading it right? It's still 7:25 am.
Actually, pagkatapos ng usapin namin ni Marshall kagabi ay hinanap ko agad si France upang umuwi. Wala naman akong espesyal na ganap pa doon kaya malaya akong nakauwi agad rito sa bahay lalong lalo na't sinabi kong pagod na ako dahil sa byahe.
"Hey hon! You're still idling I guess? Pwedeng pumasok?"
"Hmm? Sure." Walang pag aalinlangan kong sagot.
Pumasok si France nang naka pambahay na. Cool! It's still early in the morning and he's already done taking a bath.
"Woah pafresh!" Pangangantyaw ko.
He smirked at me and dived at my bed. Nakadapa siya ngayon sa kama ko.
"Fresh indeed. Want to smell me closer hon?" Aniya at inilapit ang katawan sa akin upang maamoy daw ang bango niya.
Natatawang umiiwas naman ako ngunit ikinulong niya ang aking baywang sa kanyang mga bisig.
Agad ko namang tinampal ang kanyang mga braso ngunit tanging tawa lang ang nagagawa niya.
He pulled me and hugged me from the back as he playfully forced me to smell him making me chuckle. Panay ang likot ko ngunit malakas rin ang pagkakadiin niya sa akin sa kanyang sarili kaya ang paglikot ko ay nagmistulang pakikipaglaro sa kanya kaya natatawa na rin lamang ako.
"Pasensya na pero walang lugar ang pakikipaglandian umagang umaga lalong lalo na't naghihintay ang pagkain sa baba." Marshall said as he opened the door widely and peeked at France's hand on my waist.
Awtomatikong naibaba ko ang aking tingin at umalis sa pagkakayapos ni France. Hindi niya pala naisara ang pintuan.
Oh well, mabuti rin at ito ang naabutan niya. Might let him think that he would be having a hard time to earn me again.
Actually he's simple to look at today. Hindi masyadong intimidating at seryoso. Just wearing a plain shirt and cargo shorts matched with his usual handsome face na kahit kailan ay hinding hindi mawawala.
"Susunod nalang kami. Thanks for the notice." Sagot ko sa kanya at saka nagtungo sa harap ng salamin para sana mag check kung ano ang itsura ko.
On our reflection, I saw France folding my blanket and piled it. Natanaw ko rin kung paano titigan ni Marshall ang ginawa niya. Walang pasubaling napangiti ako.
Well, got a bit of technique to empress me Marshall?
Ngunit agad ring nabura ang ngiti sa aking labi ng magtama ang aming mga mata sa salamin. I just rolled my eyes at him. Pagkatapos ay sabay na kaming tatlong bumaba.
"Good morning my dear Boni! Nga pala, naabutan namin kanina sina auntie and uncle. Papunta daw sila sa office ng maaga. Urgent lang daw." Masiglang bati ni Key at humalik sa pisngi ko.
I raised my left eyebrow and look at Arthus who also shows a great mood.
Hmm... The power of honeymoon I guess?
"Masaya ka yata Key?" Kahit obvious ay tanong ko sa kanya.
Nagkatinginan sila ni Art at agad rin naman siyang namula at yumuko.
Oh! Fishy!
Shy much cousin? You don't have to. It's normal for a newly wed to do that.
"Nevermind Key. Tara, let's have breakfast and talk about something that brought you here."
As we dine, tahimik lamang ako samantalang talak ng talak si Key at dinadaldal si France. I just let them be and continued eating my breakfast.
Suddenly, France excuses himself for an unexpected call so I took the opportunity to snatch Keylanie's attention and asked her about her motive of coming here this early.
"So, anong sadya mo Key para bulabugin ang napakaganda kong tulog?" I asked her in a strict yet playful way making sure that it doesn't sound offensive.
Uminom muna siya sa kanyang kape at ibinaling ang buong atensyon sa akin.
Hindi pa rin talaga mawala ang ngiti sa kanyang labi.
"It's because, we newly wedded couple plan to go to Palawan and spend our honeymoon there." Masayang balita niya.
My forehead crinkled. Honeymoon right? So nagpunta talaga siya rito ng ganito kaaga para ibalita lang sa akin na aalis sila? The heck!
"You mean to say, you just ruined my beauty sleep just to burst out that honeymoon news of yours? Oh come on!" Pagrereklamo ko.
Namataan ko naman ang pag hilig ni Marshall sa upuan at tumingin sa akin. Even Arthus' attention was also diverted to me. Saka hindi pa rin nakakabalik si France mula sa isang phonecall.
"Ganito kasi yan, binalita ko kasi isasama ka namin. Might as well enjoy right? Bago ka naman matali." Suhestiyon ni Key.
Akmang sasagot pa sana ako ng biglang bumalik si France na may malungkot na ekspresyon.
"Hey, what happened?" Hindi maiwasang tanong ko.
"Please excuse me. I gotta pack my bags. I had a very important matter to deal with back at home." Aniya saka paunti unting pumihit pabalik sa taas kung saan siya natulog kagabi.
"So as I was saying, isasama ka namin Bon." Pagsisimula ulit ni Key.
"Ano namang gagawin ko doon? I'll get bored. France's not gonna be there-"
"But I will be. I'll make sure that you'll enjoy every moment that you'll spend there." Putol ni Marshall sa sana'y sasabihin ko.
"That's nonsense! It's better if you would waste your time in your company and not with what your blabbering about now." Sagot ko naman.
Kailangan ko munang malaman ang problema ni France ngayon. What might be that situation wherein he has to go back as soon as possible?
Kaya naman ay uminom muna akong tubig at tumayo na.
"Oh? Saan ka na pupunta ngayon? We're not done yet Bon." Pagtatanong ni Key.
"I'll go check on France muna."
"Let him be. Hindi na siya bata para icheck mo from time to time." Sabi naman ni Marshall dahilan upang mapalingon ako sa kanya.
Napakarami mo yatang opinyon ngayon boy? Namihasa ka ba kasi hindi ko nag rereact sa mga statements mo?
"What an opinion you got there huh? Syempre, I'm concerned with his being kaya naman kailangan ko siyang icheck. Ganyan naman dapat talaga sa taong pinahahalagahan mo diba?" Pagsagot ko sa kanya.
He placed his fist under his jaw and then blew a breath. His eyes were now darted on me.
"Kaya pala hindi mo ako magawang icheck man lang. Hindi pala ako mahalaga sayo."
Of course not! You prick! If you only knew how you clouded my fucking mind with your words and reverse action last night.
Yun nga lang, kahit magkasakitan ngayon ng salita dito, hinding hindi ako magpapadala sa nararamdaman ko sayo.
Learn Vandross.
"Kailan ko nga ba sinabing mahalaga ka sakin? Do you perhaps mean what I said a year ago? Well, hindi ka yata naka alis sa bangungot na yun. People change, and who knows, feelings also." Sagot ko.
"Hindi talaga. Well then, I guess I should be the one to check on you from time to time. Baka kasi, isang araw, magising ka na lang na hulog na hulog sa akin. Who knows, right?"
Say what?
Natamaan yata ako sa sinabi niya.
Maybe Vandross, Let's see about that.
Sabagay, tama siya. Well, wala namang masama kung magkakaganun in the future diba? The important thing as of now is to not waver and let him learn.
I just rolled my eyes in front of him and head towards the stairs. Kakausapin ko muna si France.
On my way upstairs, I heard Keylanie.
"No Kj's allowed cous. Sasama ka sa ayaw at sa gusto mo. Okay?" Aniya.
"Fucking No Key!" I shouted and ran towards the room occupied by France.
No to that fucking trip. I rather stay here alone or manage the company with Papa.
Ayoko! Tapos ang usapan.