JIA POV
JIA: "Love. Darating pala ang friend ko today from the states. Susunduin ko siya sa airport, sama ka ba?"
Paglalambing ko sa kanya, habang nakaupo ako sa lap niya at ipinulupot sa leeg niya ang dalawang kamay ko. Nilalaro-laro ko ang buhok niya sa batok.
BEA: "I would love to do that. Gusto ko rin mameet yang friend mo. Kaya lang Love, may importanteng business meeting ako today. If you want, ihahatid na lang kita dun?!"
She was looking at me and held my hand.
JIA: "Business meeting na naman?"
Pagrereklamo ko sa kanya sabay pout. Ilang araw na rin kasi siyang puro business meeting. Hindi na natapos.
BEA: "It's for our future, Love. Alam mo naman yun di ba?! Bakit parang mas lalo ka atang bumabango?!"
Sabay halik niya sa pisngi ko at amoy sa leeg ko. She always do that.
JIA: "Hindi ah. Mas lalo ka lang talaga lumalandi kaya ganun."
BEA: "Hahaha. I love you."
At pinanggigilan na nga niya ang kanang tenga ko. Then, hinalikan niya ang punong tenga ko. Kaya nakiliti ako sa ginawa niya.
JIA: "Stop it."
Sabay kurot ko sa tagiliran niya. Para patigilin siya. Good thing tumalab naman.
BEA: "Anong oras pala darating ang friend mo?"
Pag-iba niya ng usapan.
JIA: "Mamayang 4:00 pm ang arrival ng plane niya."
BEA: "Ganun ba! Sorry Love, I can't make it. The meeting is set from 2:00 to 5:00. Hindi ako aabot. Baka nga maextend pa yun mamaya eh."
And she means it. Nakita ko naman na gusto niyang pumunta kaso hindi lang siya pwede.
JIA: "It's okay. I understand."
BEA: "If you want, maybe we can eat outside na lang for dinner after ng meeting ko para mameet ko rin yung friend mo."
Ipinulupot niya ang dalawang kamay sa aking bewang at niyakap ako palapit sa kanya.
JIA: "Pagod ka na sa meeting. Tapos baka sobrang late na kayo matapos para sa meeting."
BEA: "Well, thinking about that. I am not sure really what time we will finish. Alam mo naman si dad."
JIA: "Some other time na lang kapag hindi ka na busy. Magtatagal pa naman siya dito ng isang linggo kaya may ibang time pa."
BEA: "Okay. How about tomorrow evening. I will free up my sched and then, invite your friend tapos isama na rin natin mga kaibigan natin para makilala din niya. What do you think?"
JIA: "I like that. Sige. Bukas na lang, para makapagpahinga din siya ngayon."
BEA: "Saan nga pala siya tutuloy niyan, pagkagaling niyo sa airport mamaya?"
JIA: "Tanong ko na lang siya kung gusto niya sa bahay ng parents ko para may kasama siya or sa isang unit ko na lang kung gusto niya mapag-isa."
BEA: "Okay. What time will you gonna leave to fetch her in the airport?!"
JIA: "Siguro mga 3:00 pm."
BEA: "Bakit hindi ka na lang sumama sa akin sa opisina, tapos from there tsaka ka dumiretso sa airport para mas malapit ka na. Then, pahatid na lang kita kay Mang Tony para sunduin ang friend mo."
JIA: "Gusto mo lang ako makasama, kaya pinapupunta mo ako sa opisina. Hahahaha."
BEA: "You were right. I need an inspiration in the office para naman ganahan pa ako magtrabaho."
And from my waist, unti unting bumaba ang kanang kamay niya sa hita ko.
JIA: "Yang kamay mo kahit kelan hindi marunong magbehave."
Natatawang wika sa kanya.
BEA: "Hahaha. They have a life of their own. Hindi ko mapasunod."
JIA: "It's already past 12:00 noon. Kailangan mo na pumunta sa opisina for your business meeting. Malelate ka na niyan."
BEA: "Can you spare me just few minutes?"
She was biting her lips. And her hands started to move again. Kaya pinigilan ko ito. Pero hinalikan na niya ako. Though I stop right away.
JIA: "We can have more time pagbalik mo mamaya. Kaya, you need to go to your work now."
Bagsak ang mga balikat niya sa sinabi ko. Umalis na ako sa pagkakaupo sa lap niya at hinatak ko na siya para tumayo at makapagbihis.
BEA: "Mamaya ka sa akin pag uwi ko maghanda ka."
Tumawa lang ako at umakyat na siya sa room para makapagbihis. Then, matapos makapag-ayos ay nagpaalam na din siya. Pero bago tuluyang umalis humirit pa ng kaharutan niya.
Bago mag alas tres ng hapon ay umalis na ako sa unit. Baka kasi matraffic at mauna pang dumating ang eroplano na sinasakyan ni David. Nakakahiya naman sa kanya.
Good thing bago mag 4:00 ay nakapasok na ako sa arrival area. Doon na ako naghintay sa pagdating ng kaibigan ko.
I am excited to see him. Nung umalis kasi ako ng States ay hindi na ako nakapagpaalam pa sa kanya. Hindi na kami nagkita dahil pinuntahan niya ang kapatid niya.
Lagpas isang buwan na rin mula ng huling magkita at magkausap kami ni David. Huling usap namin ay yung nasa park kaming dalawa.
Iyon yung araw na mismong dumating si Bea. That same day ay nagpaalam si David na pupuntahan niya ang kapatid sa malayong lugar. And after that hindi na kami nakapag communicate pa.
That time kasi I was pre-occupied by Bea's presence. Mahabang panahon din kami na hindi nagkita ni Bea. Kaya naman sabik din ako sa muling pagsasama namin.
Then, after one week na magkasama kami ni Bea sa tinutuluyan ko ay nagdesisyon na kami na umuwi sa Pilipinas.
And now, ito inaabangan ko ang pagdating ni David. Two weeks ago, nagkausap kaming dalawa sa chat at nabanggit ko sa kanya na umuwi na ako sa Pilipinas.
Ayun, gusto niya pumunta dito at sumunod sa akin. Nagpabook agad siya ng ticket. Gusto rin niya kasi na makapunta ng Pilipinas.
Habang naghihintay, tinext ko si Bea to let her know na nasa airport na ako. Hindi siya nakapagreply, kaya it means busy siya sa meeting.
Inabala ko na lang sarili sa pagtingin at pag-obserba ng mga ibat-ibang taong dumadaan. Kalaunan ay dumating na din ang inaabangan ko.
Malayo pa lang kita ko na agad ang kakisigan at kagwapuhan niya.
DAVID: "There you are."
Masayang wika niya ng magkita na kaming dalawa. He is full of excitement. All smiles agad siya as he always do.
JIA: "Thanks be to God. Finally, you are already here. Welcome to the Philippines."
And he hugs me. Wala siya pakialam sa mga taong nakapaligid sa amin. Nakatingin na nga yung iba sa amin.
DAVID: "I miss you."
Sabay kiss niya sa cheek ko. Hindi na ako nagulat, kasi sa kinalakihan niya normal na ang ganun.
JIA: "Come on. It's only a month that we haven't seen each other. Don't be over reacting David."
Natatawa kong wika sa kanya. Para kasi siyang bata.
DAVID: "Hahaha. Don't be rude to me. I am not over reacting. I just honestly miss you."
Labas pa ang mga dimple niya habang nakangiti.
JIA: "Is that all your things?"
Wika ko ng makita ang dala niyang maliit na maleta.
DAVID: "Yeah. And where is she? I am excited to meet her."
She is referring to Bea. He thought na magkasama kaming susundo sa kanya ngayon.
JIA: "She is willing to accompany me in welcoming you but sadly she had a business meeting until 5:00. She can't make it."
DAVID: "Such a busy partner. Busy making money. Hahahaha."
JIA: "Don't tell her that. Hahahaha."
DAVID: "I was so excited to finally meet her. But I guess I have to prolong it a bit longer. My element of surprise."
JIA: "Yeah. But not that long, because tomorrow we will be having dinner with her and all of my other friends. I want them to meet you."
Excited kong pahayag sa kanya. My friends also wanted to meet him.
DAVID: "Oh wow. I love to know that you have friends and would love to meet them. But I never thought you had other friends aside from me."
JIA: "Shut up David. Of course I had friends. A lot of friends. I am not like you, I am your one and only friend."
Kung wala lang kami sa airport, malamang nasapok ko na ang isang mapang-asar na ito.
DAVID: "Hahahaha. I thought you are more of a loner type. Someone who doesn't like being with other people. Hahahaha."
He is starting to make fun of me. We are just way too comfortable with each other now. I felt like I find a trully blood-related brother in him. Pero lakas niya makaasar.
JIA: "Let's go. Before, I can decide to just leave you here."
DAVID: "I am just kidding. I just miss you, that's all."
Then, we started to walk. I lead him to where I park my car. He is all talk while we walk even until we settled inside the car. He is non-stop. I wonder if he will ever stop.
JIA: "Aren't you tired, I mean traveling from the states all the way here?"
Curious na tanong ko sa kanya habang nagmamaneho.
DAVID: "Nope. I actually sleep in the plane. I had no one to talk to. So, I spent the whole flight just sleeping. Imagine how bored I am?!"
JIA: "Now I know why you have all the energy right now."
We both laugh. I just miss this conversation with him.
DAVID: "So, how was the things going when you came back?"
Panimula niya ulit ng usapan.
JIA: "Not that worst as I have expected when I came back."
DAVID: "Well, atleast you are doing okay. So what do you do?"
JIA: "Nothing much. Aside from going to my company at times and visiting Bea's company as well, I sometimes visit my friends or most of the time just stay at the condo."
DAVID: "Your girlfriend is a CEO of a big company. If I were you, I will no longer work. I will just accompany her wherever she goes."
JIA: "Hahaha. And what will I do while accompanying her?"
DAVID: "Well, anything that she needs. Like helping in the paper works, preparing her coffee or just spending time making love with her. Hahaha."
JIA: "Shut up."
DAVID: "What?! Come on. What do you expect whenever you are together? Are you expecting that you will just look at each other in the eye the whole day?"
JIA: "Shut your mouth David. You are starting it again."
Pagsaway ko sa kanya. May angking kapilyuhan din kasi ang lalaking ito.
DAVID: "Why are we stuck?"
Mukhang napansin na din niya. Akala ko sa kadaldalan niya hindi na niya mapansin na kanina pa kami hindi gumagalaw dahil sa traffic.
JIA: "Hahaha. Welcome to the Philippines."
DAVID: "Hahaha. Ohhh, I see. It's traffic jam. Is it always like this?"
JIA: "Yeah. Always. ALLLLLWAYS."
Natawa siya sa pag-ulit ko.
DAVID: "Is it always this worst? I mean, we're stuck for about 10-15 minutes already?"
JIA: "Hahaha. You brace for more."
DAVID: "Well, I guess it is to our own advantage. We can still have more time for catching up with things."
JIA: "How about you? How is it going? What's new?!"
DAVID: "Me?! Hmmm... I am actually dating someone."
Energetic na naman siya at mukhang magmamalaki pa na may dinidate na siya.
JIA: "Do I know her?"
Saglit ko lang siya tiningnan dahil ibinalik ko din agad sa daan ang tingin.
DAVID: "Nope. You haven't meet her yet."
JIA: "Girlfriend material or for dates only?"
DAVID: "Hahaha. Why are you asking me that way? That's unfair."
JIA: "Let me ask you, how many girls have you dated already and how many of them actually has been labeled as your girlfriend? Oh not to mention, those you meet and have a conversation with just for a day."
Pagpapaalala ko sa kanya sa mga pinaggagawa niya sa buhay niya.
DAVID: "I am just having fun."
JIA: "That is why, you never had a serious relationship because you are having so much fun. Mga lalaki nga naman."
DAVID: "Oh come on. I didn't come to the Philippines to hear your sermons. I have enough of that from my parents. And please no Tagalog words."
Nagtaas pa siya ng kamay. Ayaw na ayaw niya kasi yung sinisermunan siya.
JIA: "I'm just stating facts. And you are here at the Philippines, I am allowed to speak whatever I wanted."
DAVID: "I know what you are doing. But you see, if I found the right one for me, then, I will settle. But I haven't found it yet."
JIA: "Whatever. I hope when the right one comes, you will not regret the things that you did in the past."
DAVID: "I will keep that in mind. Where are we heading right now?"
Pag-iba niya sa usapin.
JIA: "To my parents house!"
DAVID: "I am thrilled to meet them."
JIA: "They are also excited to meet you. Do you want to stay with them for your vacation? Or you want to stay alone in one of my condo units?"
Hindi ko kasi alam kung ano ang trip niya. Baka kasi kapag nasa bahay mailang siya sa mga magulang at kapatid ko.
DAVID: "Actually I preferred to stay where you and Bea stays."
Nakangisi pa talaga siya habang nakatingin sa akin.
JIA: "You can't stay with us?"
DAVID: "Why not?"
JIA: "Because I said so."
DAVID: "Come on. I won't bother your loving thing. As long as you are not doing it infront of me. Hahahaha."
Ang lakas ng tawa niya.
JIA: "Excuse me. I am not like you. And I will not give you any reason to bully my relationship."
DAVID: "As a friend, I just want to know her better and to be sure that she is the right one for you."
JIA: "No need. She is the right one for me regardless of what you say. And don't you dare try to say things against her or even flirting with her, I will kill you."
Pagbabanta ko sa kanya. May kalandian pa man din ang lalaking ito at maari niyang gagawin yun para lang asarin ako.
DAVID: "Hahaha. Okay. I'm hands off to her. Don't worry, she is out of my list. She is safe with me."
JIA: "Good to hear that. And one more thing, no flirting with my friends either."
Mabuti na yung malinaw. Hindu naman sa ayaw ki sa kanya, kaya lang kasi hindi siya seryoso sa relasyon as of the moment.
DAVID: "What if they want to flirt with me?"
I gave him a dagger look, one that will stick to him so he won't forget.
DAVID: "I am just kidding. Dxxx, stop looking at me with that kind of deathglare, it's scary."
JIA: "You should be. So you better behave if you don't want me to hit you in the face."
DAVID: "Hahaha. Okay, I will."
Inirapan ko na lang siya saglit.
DAVID: "Did you and Bea have plans of getting married already?"
Panimula na naman niya ng bagong usapin.
JIA: "No serious talks yet. She is busy with the company for now."
DAVID: "Have you ever thought of proposing to her yourself?"
JIA: "Why would I do that?"
DAVID: "Why not? Aren't you delighted to get married with her?"
JIA: "Of course I am. But it's not yet the priority."
DAVID: "You both love each other. What keeps you waiting?"
JIA: "Why are you so persistent with my wedding?"
DAVID: "Am I that pushy?"
JIA: "Why don't we talk about yours? When will you get married?"
DAVID: "When the right one comes."
JIA: "There is no such thing."
DAVID: "I tell you, if I found her now. The right one for me, I would definitely ask her to marry me right away."
JIA: "Hahahaha. That fast?"
DAVID: "Yeah. Why would I wait again another time to marry her? I have been waiting all my life to find her."
JIA: "You're such a spontaneous."
DAVID: "I am. That's me. David."
JIA: "I get it. But not all people is as spontaneous as you."
DAVID: "You know, there is already a different glow in your eyes."
JIA: "What are you talking about?"
DAVID: "You look so happy."
JIA: "Am I that obvious?"
DAVID: "You are that transparent."
JIA: "Well, I am indeed happy."
DAVID: "And I am glad to see that you are happy now."
JIA: "I am so happy also to see you here."
DAVID: "I know. Because I am your one and only handsome friend."
I just laugh at him. We just continue with the conversation hanggang sa makarating na kami sa bahay. Good thing that he is a talker atleast the whole travel is not boring even if it's kinda traffic.
When I already introduced him, my family members gets along with him so well. He knows how to mingle with people. He can easily blend in. And my family was happy to finally meet him in person.
And I know kapag nameet pa niya ang mga friends ko, makakasundo rin niya ang mga iyon. Excited na nga ang mga yun na makilala siya.