"Maupos lang po kayo diyan,"
Halos dalawang oras na akong naghihintay dito sa waiting area. Hindi ko mawari kung bakit inis na inis ako sa babaeng ito. She's been watching me for hours, it's not like I'm gonna force myself in. Hindi na talaga ako magtataka kung bakit ang init ng ulo ni Minari sakanya. May attitude eh.
I opened my phone and checked my Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and even email, pampalipas oras. I followed Minari in all of my accounts. Maybe it's a wrong timing that i came here, when I don't have any appointments.
"Ganito nga pala kapag mayaman ka, an appointment is a must," I whispered myself.
"Hi, are you waiting for someone in particular?" a woman in white dress asked me.
I looked at her, she was so familiar. When our gaze met, both of ours eyes widened. She was the woman I met in the LRT.
"Hi!" masayang bati niya.
I smiled. "Hello, it's nice to see you here,"
"Sinong hinihintay mo?" she asked me, napakaganda niya.
I pouted. "Engineer Vustamante, I'll surprise him sana. Kaso ayaw naman ako papasukin dahil wala akong appointment," I explained.
She chuckled. "Nako, he's always busy. He doesn't entertain visitors if walang appointments,"
II slowly nodded. "Ah, I'll just wait, I guess." I looked at her uniform. "Do you happen to work here?" I asked, curiously.
Masamang mag-trabaho ang buntis. Base sa tiyan niya, I think she's in 5 months. Delikado nang mag-trabaho pa.
Tumango siya. "Yeah, kinda. I need money to support my pregnancy," malungkot niyang sambit ngunit ngumiti rin kalaunan.
Nalungkot naman ako. It's hard to raise a child, especially when you're alone. Kaya sobrang idolo ko si Mama, napalaki niya akong mag-isa.
"Where's the father, I mean, nevermind that's very rude to ask. Don't answer nalang," I told her but changed my mind immediately, I'm being an intruder.
She chuckled. "It's fine, hindi ko na kino-contact yun, walang kwenta naman. If he doesn't want my child, it's fine. I'll raise her alone,"
I gasped. "Oh, it's a girl, then,"
Ngumiti siya, her dimples in her left cheek revealed. Ngayon ko lamang napansin ito. "Hindi pa sure, pakiramdam ko lang," she then said and giggled.
Ilang minuto lamang ay nagpa-alam na siya. Tinatawag na kasi siya ng isant manager. I really adore her braveness, sobrang tapang niya. I mean, how can she bear to raise a child alone? Kung ako yun, baka maiyak ako sa sobrang depress.
"Kainis, bakit ba kasi wala akong number ni Rago," inis na bulong ko sa sarili.
I patiently waited for another 3 hours, sitting here, while that girl was intently staring at me. Bobo ba siya? Akala niya talaga tatakasan ko siya? Ugh, the nerve of that woman.
Out of boredom, I continued to sketch my plan for my Building Design project. Kumuha ako ng konting idea dito sa building nila Minari, I copied some of their structures but changed some of the details.
I took my colored pencils, and colored them, lightly. As much as possible, ayaw ng prof kong matitingkad na kulay sa projects. She said it makes her head ache, matanda na rin kasi, hehe.
"Hey, Emeticia, wake up," pagtapik ng isang tao saakin.
"Mama, mamaya na. 5 minutes," I groaned.
Seconds later, he tapped my cheeks, again. "Iiwanan kita rito," someone said in a baritone voice.
Napalikwas ako ng bangon. Shit! Ngayon ko lamang na-realize na nakakahiya ant pwesto ko. Damn, I was lying on the waiting area's sofa, while sleeping. Sana hindi ako nakitaan.
"I'm sorry, nakatulog ako." I gave him an apologetic smile and fixed my hair.
He looked at me, intensely. "Why did you come here? I told you, I am always busy," aniya medyo kunot ang noo.
I gulped. Bakit kasi ang gwapo niya kapag galit?. I chuckled. "Sorry na, ayaw kasi ako papasukin dahil wala daw akong appointment," I explained.
He sighed. "Have you waited long?" he asked.
Bahagya akong napangiti dahil concerned padin pala siya kahit papano.
"Hindi naman, mga 6 hours lang," I teased him and properly sat.
I saw his haw clenched. "Ihahatid na kita," he said and stood up and get my books from my hand.
I smiled. "Mahal mo na ba ako?" biro ko dito.
He glared at me. "Shut up, and walk," masungit na sambit niya at dire-diretsong nagtungo papauntang parking.
I was at his back, adoring his frim and masculine body. I saw him worked out, grabe both heavy and light weights ginagawa niya. I don't doubt how he got this body of him.
Ilang minuto pa ay sumakay na siya sa driver's seat at ako naman ay sa tabi niya. He set his Waze and started the engine. Sobrang tahimik lamang namin, so I opened the radio. My favorite song, 'All of the Stars' by Ed Sheeran.
I fake a cough. "Hey," pag-agaw ko sa atensyon niya.
He just glanced at me. "Can we reschedule our workout session?" I seated sideways to face him more.
Naalala ko kasi na meron nga pala kaming pupuntahan ni Zach sa sabado, at magrereview naman ako sa linggo kaya hindi ako makakapag-gym.
"Hmm, we have a session? I didn't know that" pambabara niya.
I pouted. "Please, next week nalang, ha?" I said and opened the car's window.
"Suit yourself," tipid na sambit niya.
Ilang minuto ng katahimikan. He suddenly asked me, na ikinagulat ko.
"Kumain ka na?" he asked.
I smiled. Kainin kita eh, grr. "Hindi pa, pero kumain ako kaninang tanghali ng rice,"
He turned his car and drove to the nearest restaurant. Yellow Cab. Hindi naman ako mahilig sa pizza, di bale na kasama ko naman siya.
"Let's eat?" at bumaba na. He closed his car. Ugh.
Sumunod naman ako kaagad at hindi na umasang pagbubuksan niya pa ng pinto. He's not the gentleman I've been dreaming of but he's the kind of guy that wants.
We entered inside and dine in for two. The woman gave us the menu, kokonti lang ang tao dahil gabi na rin. It's already 12:08 at midnight.
He looked at me. "What do you want?" I then glanced at the menu.
I looked in the menu, i used to go here with Mama and Papa, noong okay pa sila. I shrugged, I can't believe I can still remember it.
"Ikaw," sambit ko nalang dahil hindi ko rin alam ang oorderin.
I turned to look at him, I was shocked when I saw his face turns red. Hindi ko mapigilang matawa. Did he misunderstand what I said? I chuckled at my thoughts.
"I mean, ikaw, anong sa'yo, yun nalang din ang akin," paliwanag ko at ako nakangiting nakatingin sa namumula niyang tenga.
"It's not funny," he stated and gestured the waiter to come and pick up our orders.
Hindi mawala sa mukha ko ang ngiti. I was munching my pizza while taking glances and smirking at him. Nakakatuwa siyang asarin.
"Stop staring," habang namumula parin ang tenga.
I laughed. "Hindi naman ah, feeling 'to," sambit ko.
Halos isang oras kaming nanatili sa loob, dahil sa bagal kong kumain. He didn't say something, he just patiently waited for me to finish my meal. He paid for everything, hindi na ako nag-inarte, sayang din ang libre.
Sumakay na kami sa sasakyan niya. As usual, I can still smell his perfume, like Zach's. Saan kaya nila nabibili ang pabango?
"Anong pabango mo?" curious about his perfume. Kasi sobrang bango talaga niya, like this perfume, can stay for a week.
"Calvin Klein," aniya. Hindi na ako nagtaka, syempre yamanin 'to.
"Okay, thanks. Hihingi nalang ako kay Zach, "I told myself and presently sat.
He looked at me intensely. "Bakit ka hihingi?" eager to get information from me.
Umiling-iling naman ako. "Nababanguhan kasi ako, parehas kayo ng pabango, kaya hihingi ako sakanya kapag nagkita kami," I responded.
He started the engine. "Huwag ka nang humingi roon," he commanded.
Nagtaka naman ako. "Bakit naman? Gustong-gusto ko talaga noon, wala naman akong pambili so, mind as well, humingi sa mabait," aniko.
I saw his jaw tightened. "I have an extra," he stated.
My eyes widened. "Talaga?! Ibibigay mo sakin?" masayang sambit ko.
At last, one of my perfume can last for a day. Halos lahat kasi ng pabango ko wala pang tanghali, ubos na ang amoy. Mabuti nalang talaga.
He sighed. "Yeah, I'll give it to you, tomorrow,"
Masayang tumango naman ako. "Grabe, super thank you. But I'll try to ask Zach padin, if he has other perfumes, trip ko talaga mga pabango niya," I said and closed the car's window, because it's getting cold.
I heard him, clicked his tongue. "I said I have an extra," sounded like a mad man.
Tumango ako. "Oo nga, thank you. I mean, gusto ko rin magtanong kay Zach, baka may iba pa siyang hindi na ginagamit na pabango o kung may ayaw siyang pabango, para akin nalang," I explained.
Hindi niya talaga ma-gets yung point ko. Gusto kong magkaroon ng panlalaking pabango, dahil ang sarap lang amuyin palagi. Nagpasalamat naman na ako sakanya eh.
"Meron nga ako," he said almost frowning.
I sighed. "Oo nga, Vustamante. Salamat ng marami, syempre gusto ko rin magtanong kay Zach, baka meron pa siya para instant perfume,"
He suddenly stopped the car at the side of the road. "Are we just gonna fight over him, this whole night?" mariing sambit niya.
My jaw dropped. "H-hindi, eh kasi..okay, I'll stop na," sambit ko.
He started the car, again and drove, silently. Hindi ko alam kung paano ako naka-survive sa loob ng kotse niya hanggang sa makarating kami sa bahay.
I gulped and gulped. "Ah, ano. Uhm, thank you for driving me home and for the meal," pasasalamat ko.
He just nodded. "Hmm, rest well," aniya at iniabot saakin ang bag ko.
Tinanggap ko ito, avoiding his gaze. "Salamat, sa uulitin," biro ko para mabawasan ang tensyon.
"Aced at class, tomorrow," he said, while directly looking at me.
I gulped. I remembered someone who said that. I sighed, avoiding his intense gazed, that can eat my whole system.
"Damn, Rago what are you doing to me?" I whispered enough for him to hear it.
He came closer and closer until my eyes met his. I closed my eyes to feel his warmth, his smell, and his face. Hindi ko alam na makakalapit ako ng ganito sakanya.
"What are you, doing to me?" he whispered in my ears, that sent shivers down my spines.
Iminulat ko ang mga mata at umatras ako para mabawasan ang tensyon. Kahit nakapal ang mukha ko sakanya, may hiya parin naman ako at dignidad. I can't let my guard down.
"Stop saying things you don't mean," sambit ko at inayos ang pagkaka-sakbit sa bag.
He nodded. "Okay, get inside and sleep," he immediately turned his back at me.
Hindi na siya tumingin pabalik. Pinaharurot na niya ang kotse at tuluyang umalis. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako nalilito, dati naman hindi ganito ang naramdaman ko. Crush padin ba ito o malala na ako?
I walked inside our house and showered. Ang lagkit ko na. I wore my usual night gown, a silky dress. I opened Mama's cabinet to my brush. Napakunot ang noo ko nang may makita akong notebook. I didn't notice it before.
"Listahan ba ito ng utang ni Mama?" I asked myself and opened it.
As I scanned the notebook, I saw addresses. Naguguluhan ako, anong address ito? Kanino? Para saan? May isa pang address, Melbourne, Australia.
Hindi naman siguro ito address ng mga pinagkakautangan ni Mama, ano? Shit. Don't tell me i have to pay them? Tipid na tipid nga ako sa pagkain eh, pero sa paglandi hala sige, gastos pa ghorl.
I took it and sat in my bed. I captured the addresses and send them to Esther. I wanted to know what's Mama's been hiding, i wanted to talk to Tita Emily, Esther mother and my mom's best friend.
Bali tatlong address ang naririto. I scanned at the back of these addresses and saw a note.
'Find them, Emet. So we can have justice.' -Mama.
Napakunot amg noo ko. Anong hustisya ang sinasabi niya? Find them? How? Wala akong perang pang-out-of-town.
I looked at it again. Isang address sa Isabela, sa Davao at isa sa Australia. Tell me, mama. What justice are you talking about? What do you want to say? Tell me. My mind was in a state of confusion. There are so many questions in my mind and I cannot sleep at peace. I rummaged my closet and fixed it, ito lang ang pampatulog ko.
"Ano ito, Mama?"