Terry
Napangiti ako nang makita ko yung hinanda kong dinner for Samantha.
I just recently found out that her stomach can't tolerate spicy food. Pero kahit spicy yung ihanda ko sa kanya ay kinakain nya pa din dahil bihira lang daw ako magluto.
Well, totoo naman. Kasi mga 6pm na ako nakakauwi sa unit. Samantalang si Samantha naman ay shifting ang pasok sa hospital. May times pa na straight 72 hours ito doon kaya minsan ay doon na lang ako dumidiretso para makita ko naman din sya kahit paano.
I excitedly dialled her number. Sabi nya kahapon ay uuwi sya ngayon ng maaga. Kaya naman ipinagluto ko sya ng paborito nya. She loves eating anchovies and chicken. Kaya iyon yung hinanda ko ngayon. Napakababaw talaga ng babaeng iyon.
"Yas,Baby?" She answered her phone na para bang antok na antok na.
"Hey, Sam. Ano oras ka uuwi?" excited na tanong ko sa kanya.
"Not until 8pm maybe. Hopefully walang dumating for ER. Gosh! I feel so sticky. Hindi ako makaligo. Got so many ER patients today."
Napangiti naman ako. Ang sexy kasi pakinggan pag nagrereklamo sya.
"Ngayon na. I cooked anchovies and chicken. Favorite mo yun di ba?"
Narinig ko yung mabini nitong pagtawa.
Sheesh! Kinikilig ba ko? We've known each other for years, halos araw araw naman syang natatawa pero parang bago pa din lahat. It's like we're just challenging every day to be better than what we had yesterday.
"Magpapaschedule ka ba?"
I smiled widely. "Di ba nakapagpa fully-booked na ko sayo sa buong 3 days off mo?"
Shems! Talagang kinikilig ako sa pagtawa nya.
"Fine. What's that for this time? Don't tell me you'll take control?"
On my mind naiisip ko na ngiting ngiti sya habang sinasabi iyon.
"May sinabi sakin si Van na magandang laro e. Itatry natin."
I heard Samantha choke on the other line. What's wrong?
"What is it this time? Goodness, Terry. Stop listening to Van. She's corrupting your mind."
"What's corrupt? Parang sinabi nya lang naman na maganda yung body shots e."
"You're not drinking."
"I can drink upto four shot glass of brandy. Seven bottles pag beer. Three shot glass pag whiskey. Five gla—"
"And when did you learn those numbers?"
Napangiwi naman ako. Dapat ba hindi ko sinabi? Sina Railey kasi at Grant minsan kumakatok dito sa unit para ayain ako sa unit ni Railey.
May times na nalasing ako kaya hinatid pa nila ako dito pauwi ng condo. Kaya naman nung sumunod na araw ay inalam nila yung max count ng alak na kaya kong itake na hindi ako nalalasing. That's helpful daw lalo pa sa linya ng trabaho ko. Minsan kasi pag may gathering, it's expected that you'll drink with clients. Though lagi ko naman kasama si Ate Corinne at Vanilla to look after me. Ginawa na yata nila akong baby nila e.
"Terry?"
Oh, Fudge! Lagot ka Terry. Iba pa naman pag nagalit si Samantha. The last time, you weren't able to go to work for three days.
"Sinabihan ako nila Railey na dapat alam ko daw yung max count ng alcoholic drinks ko."
"And?"
"Kasi need daw sa trabaho ko?"
"And?"
"Uhm, anong oras ka nga ulit uuwi?"
"Don't change the topic, Terry." Halatang naiinis na ito. Ang bilis talaga ng mood shift nito. Singbilis gumana ng utak.
"Wait, yung I love you Samantha?"
"Don't use that trick again."
Napangiti ako. I think it's working again. Hah! Weak!
"Go home, Sam. I want to kiss you."
I heard her breathing hitched. I guess magliligpit na ito.
"I'll be home at 8pm."
"Even if I told you na nakaligo na ko? I'll tuck myself in bed by 7:30pm. Pag wala ka pa, sa guest room ka na matulog."
"What!?"
Bahagya ko pang nailayo yung telepono sa tenga ko sa sobrang lakas ng boses ni Samantha. I think I got her on edge.
"You'll be sorry Terry, swear!" Pagbabanta pa nito. "I'll make sure to leave marks on you para ilang araw ka ulit hindi makapasok."
"Oh, Isn't that exciting?"
"Which one? The one when you can't walk or the one when you can't go to work for three days because of the hickeys?"
"Gagi, hindi yun Samantha. I'm excited dun sa mag-iinject ka na naman ng muscle relaxant because your body can't keep up with my stamina." Pabirong sabi ko sa kanya.
I heard her mumble something na hindi ko maintindihan. Is she cussing? Surely, I'm enjoying this side of her.
"We'll see." Kalmadong sabi nito.
Wait, don't tell me nakakondisyon sya ngayon?
"Hey, walang dayaan a. Mamaya nag-iinject ka na din nang kung ano-anong gamot dyan."
I heard her chuckle. "Of course not, why would I? Just the image of you is enough to put me in the mood."
Gosh! Matagal pa ba yung 8pm?
"Sam, uwi ka na. Dali na!"
"8pm pa, baby. I'll be home soon. Got to hang up now. Mag rarounds pa ko."
"Okay, I love you."
"I love you too."
Pagkasabi niyon ay narinig ko na din yung end call. Napangiti naman ako.
I'm not regretting tying the knots with Samantha. She's really a perfect wife.
Napatayo naman ako nang tumunog yung buzz ng bell ng unit. May tao yata.
Is that Sam? Ang bilis naman.
Nagmamadaling binuksan ko yung pinto nang hindi na sumisilip sa peephole.
"Hey, Ang ag—"
Napatigil ako sa pagsasalita.
"Hi, Terry."
"A-Ate Corinne."
Kumaway si Ate Corinne habang akay akay nito si Van. Katulong nito si Aria sa pag alalay kay Van. Kasunod nang mga ito si Grant na bahagya pang dumudugo yung braso.
"Anong nangyari dyan?" Niluwagan ko yung pinto para makapasok sila.
"Nandyan na si Sammie?" Tanong ni Aria habang ipinapasok nila si Van. Nilapag nila ito sa sofa.
"Wala pa. By 8pm pa daw sya makakauwi."
"Alam mo kung saan nakalagay yung med kit ni Sam?"
Tumango naman ako. Of course I know where Sam is keeping her things. Itinuro nya din sakin na kung saan ko kinuha ay doon ko din ibabalik para pag kailangan na nito ay hindi ito mahihirapan hanapin.
Kinuha ko iyon at inabot dito. Kumuha din ako ng malinis na towel.
"What happened?" Nakikiusyoso na din ako dahil naririnig ko pa yung mahinang pag iyak ni Van.
Is she drunk?
"Where's Sam? I need Sam!" Halos paos na si Van nung sinabi nito iyon. She raised up her head. She's definitely crying. Her arms have bruises too.
Nakita ko naman na nag iwas ng tingin si Aria at Grant. They were both clenching their fists.
Nilapitan ko si Van at pinahid yung luha nya. "Pauwi na yun. Stop crying Van."
Nagulat ako nang hatakin nya ko at umiyak ng umiyak sa balikat ko. Halos nakaupo na nga ako sa lap nito. Pero hindi na lang din ako lumayo dahil naaawa naman ako sa kanya.
I just did what Sam did to her when she cried before. I gently caress her hair. That seems to work kasi halos ilang sandali lang ay parang gumagaan na yung kapit nito. Mukhang nakatulog na din.
Nang tuluyan itong makatulog ay binuhat na ito ni Grant sa guestroom. Si Aria naman ay pinalitan ito ng damit ni Samantha na kinuha ko sa drawer nya. Halos magkasize lang kasi ang mga ito. 5'9 ang height ni Van e. Alangan naman damit ko ipahiram ko di ba?
"Anong nangyari?"
"Carmilla dumped her." Sagot ni Ate Corinne. Pero halatang masama din yung loob nito.
"Weh? Si Ms. Carmi? Di ba inlab na inlab yun dyan kay Van?"
Halos mapasigaw ako ng suntukin ng malakas ni Grant yung closet ni Samantha. Nasira nga yata iyon sa lakas ng impact.
"Damn that woman!" Akmang aalis ito pero mabilis itong nahawakan sa braso ni Ate Corinne at Aria.
"What!? Hahayaan na lang natin si Van na nasasaktan ng ganyan?"
"So what will you do?" Gigil din na sigaw dito ni Aria. "You'll kill her? C'mon, Grant. Sammie once saved you. Pwede ba kahit minsan lang pahalagahan mo naman yang sarili mo."
Tila naman kumalma ito sa sinabi ni Aria. Ayun ba yung time na sinundo ito pauwi ni Samantha? Ibig sabihin masyadong nakakatakot si Grant? That only Sam and Aria can stop her just like the way Van told me before.
Sabay sabay kaming lumabas ng guestroom. Buti na lang hindi nagising si Van.
"Hey, Baby! I'm home!" we were greeted by a happy face of Samantha at the front door. Pero tuluyang nawala yung ngiti nito nang makita sila Aria.
"What are you guys doing here? Get out! May schedule kami ngayon ni Terry."
Namula naman ako sa pagkastraightforward ni Samantha.
"Van is sleeping in the room." Kalmadong sabi ni Grant. "Do you have alcoholic drinks?"
"What's wrong?" Ibinaba ni Sam yung mga gamit nito sa sofa. Pagkatapos ay pumunta sa may kitchen para kumuha ng alak.
Napasunod naman kami dito.
"Baby, Nagluto ka di ba? Is that enough for all of us?"
Inilapag nito sa mesa yung dalawang bote ng alak.
"Hmm. Siguro kasya naman. Madami naman yung niluto ko. Kasi alam ko magugutom ka after natin mag—" Nahiya naman ako nang maalalang hindi lang pala kami ni Sam yung nasa unit.
Lumapit sakin si Sam at hinalikan ako ng mabilis. She whispers, I'm really sorry for the interruption Terry.
Umiling naman ako. Sam's friends are my friends too. Lalo na si Van.
"Let's eat first bago kayo uminom." Sabi pa ni Sam na naghuhugas ng kamay. Kami naman ni Ate Corinne ay naghain na ng mga plato.
Si Aria at Grant naman ay parang hindi kami naririnig dahil binuksan na ng mga ito yung alak at nagkanya kanyang baso.
"That Carmi is a professional hooker." Walang prenong sabi ni Aria.
"Wait? Carmi?" Umupo sa upuan si Samantha. Sa tabi ni Aria. Si Grant ay nakasandal lang sa countertop. While Ate Corinne is seated sa tabi ni Aria.
Gaya ko, nilalagyan din nito ng food sa plate si Aria habang ako naman ay kay Sam.
"Yep. Grant once saw her in a party. She's screwing Vanilla."
"Are you sure? She seemed sincere to me."
"Van has been providing everything for that wench and her family. So how could she just screwed Van like that?" Gigil din na sabi pa ni Aria.
Natigilan naman ako. Ganoon ba kalala yung pagiging uto-uto ni Vanilla? Sya na talaga yung bumubuhay kay Carmi at sa pamilya nito?
I know Van has all the means. Sa sobrang yaman nito baka nga barya lamg dito yung nagastos nito. Pero hindi ba pag mahal ka nung tao, she'll tell you not to include money in the relationship? Oo, Sam is providing for me too. Pero hindi naman yung kagaya ng ginagawa ni Van.
"How'd you guys know?"
Itinuro ni Aria si Grant.
"I once saw her in a party. She's making out with Jacob Deans. I wouldn't know that it was her. Kasi sobrang layo ng itsura nya when we are usually meeting her and when I saw her that night. I was just drawn when I heard them talk about how stupid Vanilla is. They didn't even use another name. Goodness! There is only one Vanilla in the Elite Family. "
"Di ba ex ni Van si Jacob?" my wife confirmed na tinanguan ni Grant.
I gently caress Sam's leg when I saw her clenched her fist too.
"So there, I snoop at them. Jacob is telling him that she's lucky because he wasn't able to take Van in bed. And they started to make fun of Van because Carmi was her first."
"Fucks! I should have known from then that Van's not the one leaving hickeys and bruises to Carmi." Sam cussed.
Goodness, sobrang tagal na nun. That was two years ago pa.
"Tell me something I am not thinking yet."
Grant shrugged. "Like what? That Van has already spent eighty million in the past two years for keeping that slut?"
There! Sabay na kami ni Sam na napatayo sa pagkakaupo.
"Leigh would surely haunt that Carmi. I pity her." sabi ko pa.
"I'll tell Leigh." Segunda sakin ni Sam.
Amuse na tiningnan kami ni Aria at Ate Corinne.
"You two looks good together." Komento pa ni Ate Corinne.
"Of course." Masungit na sabi ni Samantha.
But the way the two were exchanging stares halatang may something.
Is it because Ate Corinne is Sam's coffee? Ni hindi ko pa nga alam kung anong ibig sabihin ng coffee kay Sam.
"Am I still your coffee, Sam?" Tanong ni Ate Corinne kay Samantha.
Warm yung ngiti na binigay ni Sam kay Ate Corinne.
"Of course, You'll always be my coffee."
Magwa-walk out na sana ako kung hindi ko pa narinig yung sinabi ni Samantha.
"Thank you Corinne for bringing Terry in my life. I'll be forever indebted to you. I don't think I'll ever be this happy if I am not married with her."
Ate Corinne matched the same warm gaze.
"Thank you din Sammie. For bringing back Aria to me. Without you, I'll never be this happy too. Maybe we're both meant to meet on that lifetime para mahanap natin yung mga taong nakatakda talaga satin no?"
Naramdaman ko yung pagyakap sakin ni Samantha.
"This dwarf is a nuthead. But still she's worth fighting for."
Deym, Sam! Masyado kang pakilig.
"Same to this, runner." Itinuro ni Ate Corinne is Aria na cool na cool lang.
Finally I could get a good night sleep knowing what that damned coffee meant.
There's so many forms and ways on how we chase our happiness. But it doesn't matter kung ano man yung paraan kung paano natin hinahabol.
As long as you're not giving up, it will also get tired in running. Eventually it will stop. And you can catch up with it. Just don't give up.
Samantha will always be my home and my source of happiness.
-FIN-