Gal
"Hindi po naging-"
I was ready to tell her the truth pero biglang naputol ang sasabihin ko. Sumingit si Ike.
"What's for dessert, Ma?"
My words hang in the air. Bumaling ako sa kanya habang narinig ko naman ang sagot ng Mama niya.
"Ay, oo nga pala! Muntik ko nang makalimutan! Teka at kukunin ko."
His mom stood up and left while I looked at Ike with a disbelieving look. He just shrugged coolly before initiating a different topic with his dad.
Wow. So he just purposely didn't step in kanina just to see me have a hard time with Tita's question?
I had the urge to punch him in the face pero sa halip ay huminga na lang ako ng malalim. Nakakainis.
Tita Jazz came back shortly, carrying a platter of her homemade rainbow cake. Nang makabalik siya ay tila nakalimutan na niya ang tungkol sa tanong. Nakahinga naman ako ng maluwag. Lalo na dahil hindi na ulit kami nahotseat ni Ike at ang mga sumunod naming pag-uusap ay tungkol na lang sa career and future plans. Mas madaling sagutin.
"Kuya, let's watch Moana after this!" Yanna exclaimed halfway through our desert. Agad siyang sinaway ni Tita.
"Yanna, baby, you watch it with kuya next time na lang. Not tonight," she said, giving me an apologetic smile when in truth, she didn't have to. Ayos lang naman sa'kin. 'Yon ay kung ako ang iniisip niya.
"Ja, it's just a movie. I'm sure Galeley's fine with it," ani Tito Eric. Halatang sa kanilang mag-asawa, si Tito ang maluwag sa disiplina. Ngumiti ako at tumango.
His wife heaved a defeated sigh before nodding.
"Alright," tumingin siya sa'kin. "Favorite movie niya kasi, Gal. Hindi ko na mabilang kung ilang ulit niya na'ng napanood!"
I laughed while Yanna giggled in excitement.
"Yes, po! I'm Moana of Motunui and kuya is Maui!"
Mas lalo lang akong natuwa. I turn my head to Ike and sees him do the same. He's stopping a grin.
"You're Maui?" natatawa kong tanong. He sat up straight and gave me a smolder, just like what Dwayne Johnson always does. All of us laughed out loud. Parang ewan ang mukha niya. Confident na confident pa ang gago! Akala niya naman si Maui talaga siya.
The dinner ended a couple of minutes after. Ike, Tito Eric, and Yanna went to the living room while I volunteered to help Tita clean up. Tutulong na lang din sana ako sa paghuhugas ng pinggan but she said she'll deal with them later. Kaya naman matapos maligpit ang mga 'yon ay sumunod na kami sa living room.
The movie is already playing when we got here. Kandong ni Ike si Yanna habang ang cam-corder ay nasa tabi niya lang. Nagtaka ako kung bakit silang dalawa lang ang nasa couch. Sabi naman ni Tita, malamang ay pumunta raw si Tito sa study room para atupagin ang iilang paperworks.
"Gal, do you also want to watch the movie? Kung ayos lang sa'yo, may ipapakita ako saglit."
My brows furrowed in confusion while Ike looked at us. Parang alam na niya kung anong binabalak ng ina. Umiling-iling siya.
"Ma, h'wag."
Mas lalo lang nagsalubong ang kilay ko. Napuno ako ng kuryusidad. Tumawa naman si Tita.
"Oh, come on! Gal will love this!"
She held my arm and guided me to sit on an ottoman at the other side of the living room.
"Dito ka muna. May kukunin lang ako."
She sounds excited. I looked at Ike, puzzled, while he hopelessly sighed. Tila ba pakiramdam niya ay wala na siyang magagawa para pigilan ang mama niya.
"Here it is!"
I put my attention to the walking Tita Jazz, looking so giddy. She's holding what appears to be... a book. Pero nang tuluyang makalapit ay ro'n ko napagtanto na photo album pala 'yon. My eyes widened in surprise. 'Di naglaon ay napatawa ako. I looked at Ike again, this time, grinning. He rolled his eyes and watched the movie instead.
Kaya pala.
Tita sat beside me and flipped through the first page. Unang-una kong nakita ang baby picture ni Ike na nakahubad at nakahiga lang sa kama. Agad akong napatawa. Yung junjun niya kitang-kita kasi nakatihaya siya!
I heard Ike groan from the couch. Nang tiningnan siya ay nakita kong nakasandal na sa headrest ang ulo niya. He was looking up the ceiling, frustrated and embarrassed. Alam ko dahil masyadong halata ang pamumula ng mga tenga niya.
"I was about to change his clothes that time. Fresh from ligo pa sya d'yan, ha?"
"Ang cute!"
"Shut up!" ani Ike, inis na inis na nakabaling sa gawi namin. I laughed more, unable to hold it in.
"Next page po, Tita," sabi ko, sinasadyang nilalakasan ang boses para mas inisin siya. Tita Jazz obliged. This time, it's a picture of Ike's first birthday. Ang taba-taba niya na rito kaya mas lalong naging cute, 'di gaya ro'n sa first page na mukhang newborn siya.
"Iyak siya nang iyak d'yan dahil gusto niya palagi lang nakasindi 'yung kandila sa cake. E, 'di ba kailangang hipan 'yon? Kaya ang ginawa namin, pagkatapos mahipan, sinindihan namin ulit!"
My laughter filled the room once again. I heard Yanna complain when Ike groaned for the second time around.
"Kuya, can you keep still? I can't watch Moana properly!" she whined. Hindi naman nakinig ang kuya niya. Sa halip ay tumingin lang 'to sa'min.
"Tss, tama na kasi 'yan, Ma!" saway niya sa ina na siyang tumawa lang. And then his eyes landed on me while still wearing the same annoyed expression. "Babe, 'lika na nga rito! 'Nood na lang tayo ng movie."
Natigilan ako saglit. I tried to figure out if Ike was only joking but his face gave nothing away. Parang... wala lang. Inis pa rin siya. At parang... natural na lang na lumabas ang salitang 'yon sa bibig niya. He doesn't even seem to notice.
I cleared my throat, trying to shake the thought off my mind.
You're overthinking this, Gal.
"Pagkatapos nito. Promise," sabi ko sa malumanay na boses. At hindi ko alam kung bakit naging gano'n! I just... feel so soft right now. My heart feels so warm. And the way his expression softened made it more so.
He sighed.
"Fine. Makakaganti rin ako sa'yo," biro niya. Siguro ang ibig niyang sabihin ay darating din ang araw na siya naman ang titingin sa mga baby pictures ko. I rolled my eyes at him and continued browsing the album with his mom.
Nang matapos namin lahat, saka lang ako umupo sa tabi ni Ike. Nangangalahati na sila sa movie. Si Tita naman ay nagpaalam na papanhik na muna sa kwarto. Hindi na rin bumalik pa si Tito Eric kaya kami na lang tatlo ang naiwan. Maybe Tito really have lots of stuff to do.
The movie ended by 10:30. Antok na si Yanna kaya nag-kiss na siya sa pisngi ni Ike at nagpaalam na matutulog na siya. Nag-kiss din siya sa'kin kaya muli akong natuwa. Sana makita ko siya ulit, 'no? Kahit hindi na bilang 'girlfriend' ni Ike.
Ike also led me to his parents to say goodbye. Doon ko napagtanto na uuwi na nga kami. Tita told me to visit next time. Magb-bake daw kami ng cookies. I agreed. But in the back of my mind, gusto kong sabihin na oo, bibisita nga ulit ako, pero as a friend na lang. Baka nga next time, kasama ko na ang buong barkada.
"Daan muna tayo ng drive thru bago mo 'ko ihatid pauwi, ah? Katamad na lumabas bukas," bilin ko nang palabas na kami ng subdivision. It's already dark. Hindi rin naka-on ang ilaw rito sa loob ng kotse. Only the streetlights illuminated Ike's confused expression.
"Sinong may sabing uuwi na tayo?"
My forehead creased.
"Bakit? Sa'n pa ba tayo pupunta?"
Nadagdagan lang ang pagkakalito ko nang iliko niya ang sasakyan sa kaliwa imbes na sa kanan, na mismong daan namin pauwi.
"Sa hilltop," he answered like it's the most obvious thing in the world. Unti-unting nawala ang pagkakasalubong ng kilay ko. My mouth formed a small 'o'.
Tama. On the way nga pala mula sa kanila 'yung hilltop! The road we're taking now leads to one of the highest points of the city.
Napangiti ako.
"Hala, talaga? Ang tagal ko na'ng hindi nakakapunta ro'n!"
Well, the first few years, I purposely didn't go there dahil nga madalas kaming pumunta ni Ike do'n noon. Like we had our first kiss there, and all. Bitter ako, gano'n. Pero nang nagtagal, talagang hindi na 'ko nakapunta dahil either wala akong time o talagang nawala na siya sa isipan ko. Lalo na dahil masyado akong busy during college.
"You should thank me now, then."
I scoffed.
"Whatever."
Imbes na patulan ang kayabangan niya ay pinili ko na lang na paandarin ang radio. It's on a random FM station. Tamang-tama pa na ini-introduce na ng DJ ang next song. I waited to hear it, still touching the 'next' button dahil kung hindi maganda ay maghahanap na lang ako ng iba. But fortunately, the DJ played one of my jams. Dive by Ed Sheeran.
"I haven't heard this in a long time!" I excitedly said, umaayos ng upo. Ike chuckled.
"Ako rin."
I cleared my throat, jokingly preparing to sing the first few lines. Inilapit ko pa ang nakakuyom na palad sa bibig ko na tila ba may microphone ako na hawak-hawak.
"Maybe I came on too strong,
Maybe I waited too long,"
Kahit hindi naman kagandahan ang boses ko at naririnig ko ang kaunting pagtawa ni Ike ay hindi pa rin ako nahiya. I'm not a good singer. But I'm not tone-deaf, either.
"Maybe I played my cards wrong,
Oh, just a little bit wrong," I sang the following line while facing Ike. "Baby, I, apologize for it,"
Inilahad ko sa kanya ang 'mic', inaaya siyang kumanta rin. Gaya ko, hindi rin siya sintunado. 'Yung sakto lang.
He played along.
"I could fall,
Or I could fly,
Here in your aeroplane,"
I giggled. Ang tagal ko na siyang hindi narinig kumanta! God, I missed his voice. Pansin kong mas lumalim 'yon ngayon.
Sinabayan ko siya sa sumunod na lyrics.
"And I could live,
I could die,
Hanging on the words you say!"
Umayos ulit ako ng upo at sa oras na 'to, nakapikit na 'ko, tila ba ramdam na ramdam ang kanta. Ang mga boses namin ni Ike ay palakas nang palakas. Buti na lang secluded 'tong lugar papunta sa hilltop.
"And I've been known,
To give my all,
And jumping in,
Harder than ten thousand rocks on the lake!"
We joined the pause and looked at each other, preparing for the chorus. We both took in a large amount of air. Akala mo naman mapapantayan ang kagandahan ng boses ni Ed.
"So don't call me babyyyy~ tenen!" I mimicked the sound of the electric guitar. Umarte pa akong parang nakahawak talaga ng gitara. Ike laughed out loud, his eyes focusing on the road.
"What the hell!" hiyaw niya, probably thinking I look so stupid.
We finished the chorus that way. Sa second verse ay hinayaan ko na lang muna si Ike na kumanta. I want to hear him more, anyway.
"You're a mystery," he leaned his face forward while looking at me, as if I'm the one he's talking to. Matapos ay ibinalik na niya ang tingin sa daan. "I have travelled the world, and there's no other girl like you, no one~ What's your history?"
"What's your history!" I seconded, ginagaya 'yung second voice sa part na 'yon. Natawa siya.
"Do you have a tendency to lead some people on?
'Cause I heard you do,"
I sang with him again.
"I could fall, Or I could fly,
Here in your aeroplane,
And I could live, I could die,
Hanging on the words you say!"
Our voices filled the car. Talagang nagsisikap kami para maabot ang notes kahit parehong hirap na hirap na. Leche naman. Bakit kasi ang taas ng boses ni Ed?
"And I've been known,
To give my all,
And lie awake, everyday,
Don't know how much I can take!
So don't call me babyyy~"
I mimicked the electric guitar again and Ike gave off a hard laugh kaya napatigil siya habang ako naman ay desididong magpatuloy.
"Unless you mean ittt~" my voice broke dahil medyo natawa na 'ko sa huli kaya hinampas ko siya sa braso dahil tawa siya nang tawa. Nahahawa ako. "Tumigil ka!"
Hindi tuloy ako agad nakasabay sa next line! I only heard Ed Sheeran's voice from the radio at nang sasabay na 'ko ulit ay bigla namang hininaan ni Ike ang volume. 'Yung sobrang hina na as in halos wala na 'kong marinig.
I'm forced to look at him and I can see he's still laughing a little while throwing me a glance.
"Ba't mo-"
"Baby," nakangiti niyang sabi. Ibinalik niya agad ang tingin sa daan. Madilim pero naaninag ko pa rin kung paano niya kinagat ang pang-ibabang labi habang may maliit na ngiting naglalaro ro'n.
"Ano?" nalilito kong tanong. Ba't pabigla-bigla na lang siya-
'Unless you mean it'.
The lyrics echoed through my brain and he finally made sense. My cheeks turned scarlett red. Mabuti na lang at mabilis akong nakabawi!
"Tsk," I started, acting unaffected. Thank God it's dark! He can't see I'm blushing! "Ang dami mong pakulo."
My voice even sounded flat. I reached for the radio and turned the volume up. I'm suddenly feeling a little uneasy. Naco-conscious ako. Halos hindi ko na ma-appreciate ang kanta. Samantala, tumawa lang si Ike at umiling-iling.
"Ang manhid mo."
"Anong sabi mo?" I asked with a hint of attitude kasi bubulong-bulong siya. Parang ewan.
He breathed in.
"Sabi ko malapit na tayo."
Matagal akong tumahimik. Ngumuso pa ako at tiningnan siya habang nagtataka. He must've felt my gaze because he then looked at me. Tumawa siya ulit bago inabot ang kamay ko. I let him hold my hand.
"Gal, 'yon nga 'yung sinabi ko," he insisted, napapansing pinag-iisipan ko pa rin ang tungkol do'n. My lips protruded more.
'Yon ba talaga?
I stared at him for a moment and sighed.
Hindi naman ako manhid, ah?