Three weeks na since nagsimulang manligaw ulit si Ivo. It was like college all over again. Hatid-sundo niya ako. Nagde-date din kami madalas. Weirdly, magkasundo sila ni Gelo kaya kasama ko sya every time na nagba-bonding kami.
One time, the three of us went to Luneta Park. Napagkamalan kaming pamilya.
Right now, I'm here at restaurant in MOA with Ivo.
"Hindi ko alam kung paano nakakaya ni Theo na maging magkaibigan lang kayo. I mean, if I were him, I'd lose my mind," Ivo mentioned.
"Alam mo 'yon, nasa harap mo na pero hindi mo pa rin makuha. It's very frustrating," dagdag niya pa.
"Just shut up, Ivo. Theo and I are friends. Saka maybe it's his own way to move on," sabi ko.
As I've mentioned before, I sort of know how Theo feels. And it's not like I'm leading him on. Alam niyang hindi ko kayang suklian yung nararamdaman niya, and he respects that.
"Naisip ko lang naman. And I guess, even if he wanted to stay away from you, hindi niya pa rin magawa because of Gelo. That kid really loves you."
"And I love him, too," I smiled.
"Do you still wanna get married at 25?"
I nodded. When I graduated, I thought it's not possible anymore but that doesn't mean that I don't want it.
"Then, sagutin mo na ako so I can marry you right away," he joked.
"Wow. Paano kaya kung bastedin na lang kita?" tinaasan ko sya ng kilay.
"Grabe ka naman. You're hurting me," he acted like he's so hurt. He even faked his tears.
"Ang pangit mo!"
"We both know na cute ako sa paningin mo," pagyayabang niya.
Kailan pa naging mahangin si Ivo? Ito ba ang epekto ng states sa kanya?
"Kumain ka na nga lang diyan."
"Okay, ma'am."
We both resumed eating until we're full. After eating, we decided to go to the bay para maglakad-lakad.
We walked while holding hands. Ivo was smiling widely like he just hit a million jackpot in some gameshow.
"Picture tayo," yaya niya.
"Sige."
Nakisuyo kami sa isang college student na picturan kami sa may bay pati na rin do'n sa may heart. Natatawa nga ako kasi pulang-pula si ate nung lapitan sya ni Ivo. Tapos napasimangot sya nung nakita ako. Akala niya siguro interested si Ivo sa kanya.
She kept on looking at Ivo while she took our photos. I caught her a lot of times. Nung isang beses na nahuli nya akong nakatingin sa kanya, nag-iwas sya ng tingin at umirap. Nako po, obvious masyadong may crush sya kay Ivo!
"Ivo, crush ka niya," bulong ko.
"So?"
"Picturan ko kayo!" sabi ko.
"Why?" he's very confused now.
"Ate, ikaw naman dito. Give me your phone. I'll take your pictures as a thank you," sabi ko.
Agad namang binigay sa'kin ni ate ang phone niya. Sabi na nga ba!
Nakasimangot si Ivo sa una nilang picture. Ang layo niya rin!
"Ivo! Please, smile," I requested.
"But–"
"Okay, don't smile. Then, basted ka na!"
"Anastasia!"
Inirapan ko lang siya. Si ate naman pulang-pula na. Nalilito na rin siguro sya sa'min.
Sorry, ate. Malakas lang talaga tama ko ngayon.
Ivo faked a smile in the next pictures. Ang cute nila!
"Thank you po," sabi ni ate.
"Thank you rin! Pasensya na kay Ivo ha," I replied.
"Okay lang po. Ang swerte mo nga po sa kanya. Ang gwapo tapos mukhang gentleman man," she dreamily said.
I just laughed. She's right. Ivo's very gentleman. Bonus na lang yung looks niya. Even without looking at his face, I'd surely fall for him. He's just my type of guy.
"Mauna na po ako," paalam ni ate.
"Okay, ingat ka!"
I dragged Ivo to ride the MOA Eye. It's been a while since I've been here.
As usual, he willingly paid for our tickets. Mukhang mas tuwang-tuwa pa siya kaysa sa'kin nang makasakay kami.
We stayed quiet. I don't know but it's just comfortable. It's not like the awkward silence like we had the first time we met after breaking up. It's actually peaceful.
Nang nasa pinakataas na kami, Ivo broke the silence.
"I love you, Anastasia."
I smiled at him. I love him, too. Very much.
🦄
As they say, time passes by quickly when you're happy. Gano'n nga yata talaga. One month and two weeks na ako sa trabaho. It was pretty good actually. Except for two co-workers who don't really like me.
Wala naman akong ginawa sa kanilang dalawa pero simula pa lang, laging ang sama ng tingin nila sa'kin. One time, sinadya nila akong patirin sa canteen. Parang mga bata.
At first, I don't really understand why they're like that, but as time passes, na-gets ko rin. One of them likes Ivo very much.
"Hello, Theo?"
"A, favor. Pwedeng sa'yo muna si Gelo tonight? My dad was rushed in the hospital and I need to go there. Papunta na kami dyan," he told me.
"Okay, sure. Just wait for me in the lobby," I said and he hanged up.
I went to the lobby. Time na rin naman para umuwi.
"Ano bang nakita ni Prim sa babaeng 'to? Cheater naman! Nagpapaligaw kay Prim tapos may ibang katawagan. Yuck," sabi ni Leila, isa sa dalawang katrabaho kong napaka-bitchesa.
"Do'n ka na lang sa Theo mo! May anak naman na kayo! Bakit mo pa ginugulo si Prim?" si Kara naman, yung may gusto kay Ivo.
Hindi ko na lang sila pinansin. Lalagpasan ko na sana sila pero agad akong hinigit ni Leila.
"Bitch!" Kara almost slapped me but Theo was able to stop her.
"Oh ayan na ang prince charming mo! Magsama kayo!" she shouted and stormed out of the building with her friend.
"You okay?"
"Yeah. Sanay na 'ko sa kanila," I answered.
"It has been like that ever since. Kahit nasasaktan ka na, you're still nice," he commented.
"Wala namang magandang mangyayari kung papatol ako diba?"
"At least defend yourself, A," he sighed.
I just smiled.
"Anyway, where's Gelo? Akala ko ba sa'kin muna sya ngayon."
"He's outside. Nakikipag-usap sa guard. Ang daldal ng batang 'yon," sabi nya.
"Hindi nagmana sa'yo," sabi ko.
Natawa naman sya.
"Sige, A. I better get going. Puntahan mo na lang si Gelo," paalam nya.
"Okay. Ingat ka. Send my regards to Tito," I bid him goodbye.
Sabay na kaming lumabas. Dumiretso na si Theo sa sasakyan nya. Pinuntahan ko naman si Gelo na nasa bodyguard post.
"Mommy!"
"Hello, baby," I kissed his cheek.
"Nandyan ka na pala, Ivo," I said when I saw Ivo talking to the guard.
"Yeah. I saw Gelo kaya hindi agad ako pumasok," he said.
"Tara na?"
"Okay."
"Gelo, say bye to kuya," Ivo instructed the little boy.
"Bye po!" paalam nya kay kuyang guard.
"Una na po kami, kuya," sabi ko naman.
"Ingat po kayo, ma'am! Naku, ang cute ng anak nyo! Tapos pati asawa nyo ang bait pa. Bagay na bagay po kayo," komento ni kuya.
I smiled at him. He thinks that we're a family and I don't know why my heart somersaulted with that idea.