My Greatest What If - Gio Ortega (2023)

Chapter 3

"Malandi ka, alam mo ba 'yun? Ang akala ko inosente 'yung mga hirit mo sa phone kaya ayaw kong bigyan ng kulay pero malandi ka palang talaga," Moira said.

I laughed. "Baby, sa tingin mo ay nilalandi kita?"

"Hindi ba?"

"Do not assume unless otherwise stated."

She arched a brow. "Oh, so you want the direct approach...let me ask you then, are you flirting with me, my friend?"

Shit talaga 'yang word na friend na 'yan. Sino bang nag-imbento n'yan at nang maipatumba na?

"Sagutin mong maayos 'yang tanong ko, ha, kung hindi..." She playfully narrowed her eyes at me.

Trick question 'yan, George...careful...

"Hm..." I gazed thoughtfully at her.

"Hm..." she said holding my gaze.

Ang ganda naman ng mata nito...

"Ano?" she pressed.

"I'm not flirting with you," I finally said.

"Hm...okay..."

"Disappointed?" I teased.

She frowned. "Why would I be disappointed? I am worried that you somehow see me as some rebound girl. That's going to ruin our friendship, Gio, kaya utang na loob, ha, matinong usapan, walang halong landian itong pagkakaibigang ito."

I know Moira Gokongwei, she might be naïve but she wasn't stupid. And if I were to go by the alibi I gave her, I was supposed to still be pining for my ex. "Oo, wala..." I said inwardly wincing.

"Pangako 'yan, ha."

"Hindi kita lalandiin." Mamahalin kita, I added quietly.

"Thank you. I don't want to lose you, Gio. Ikaw na nga lang ang kaibigan ko 'tapos mawawala ka pa dahil malabo ang usapan. Malinaw 'yan, ha."

Kumusta naman talaga ang talento ng babaeng itong mang-friendzone?

I smiled. "Oo."

"O, s'ya alis na ako. Salamat sa libre, ha. I had fun—"

"Wait, what? Aalis ka na? Bakit ang aga naman?"

"Anong maaga? Gabi na, ano. Kanina pa kaya ako rito."

Ako rin, I wanted to say. 'Yun nga lang tanga ako at pinanuod lang kita at hindi man lang kita nilapitan.

"Ihatid na kita."

"H'wag mo na akong ihatid. Masyado kasing out of the way."

"Stay. I can always drive you home."

"Pasensya ka na, medyo naalala ko na may gagawin pa pala ako..." she said unable to meet my gaze.

I frowned at her. Baby, ano 'yun? Anong problema? Na-turn off ka ba? Was I coming on too strong?

"Moira, walang nag-text sa'yo kasi hindi mo naman tiningnan 'yung telepono mo. Wala rin akong narinig na nag-ring kaya walang tumatawag. O, kung naka-vibrate man 'yang telepono mo, eh 'di, sana kinuha mo na sa bulsa mo para tingnan. Come on, what is it? Is it something I said? May nasabi ba ako na ikina-offend mo?"

"Ano ka ba, not everything is about you," she kidded.

"Hayaan mo na akong ihatid ka. Ang sabi mo kanina ay malayo ito sa bahay mo at apat na sakay pa bago ka makarating sa inyo," I insisted.

She shook her head. "Hindi na nga, ano ba 'yan. Okay lang ako. Sanay naman akong walang naghahatid sa akin. Malaki na ako, ano. Kayang-kaya ko nang umuwing mag-isa. O, sige na, mauna na ako sa'yo, ha. Text-text na lang."