My Greatest What If - Gio Ortega (2023)

Chapter 4

She stayed. God, she did. Although she had misinterpreted my words because I was begging her to stay in my life forever, I was still glad that despite how late the evening was getting and despite her hunger, she held me close until my sobs subsided.

"Shhh...tahan na...tahan na..." she repeatedly whispered. "Alam kong masakit 'yan, pero, lilipas din 'yan, Gio. Trust me, you'll survive this. Hindi naman kita iiwan, eh, nandito ako hanggang kailangan mo ako."

I hugged her tighter. "Paano kung habambuhay kitang kailangan?"

"Eh 'di, habambuhay akong nandito," she said.

I kissed the top of her head. "Pangako 'yan, ha."

"Oo. Nandito ako hanggang kailangan mo ako sa buhay mo. Nandito ako habang hindi mo pa kayang mag-isa. At nandito ako hanggang lumipas na 'yang sakit na 'yan. Hindi ba gan'yan dapat ang kaibigan?"

Langya naman, okay na sana, eh...

I groaned. "Ayoko ng kaibigan."

"Ay, kapatid ba ang gusto mo?"

Mas malala 'yan.

"Ayoko..."

"Ina?"

"Baby naman, eh..."

"Ama?"

"Moira Gokongwei, isa pa, hahalikan na kita," I threatened.

She laughed before she sighed. "I will be whoever you want me to be, Gio. Kung kailangan mo ng cheerer, I will be your cheerleader. Kung kailangan mo ng suporta, I will be your number one fan in all your endeavors. Kung kailangan mo ng ina, ama, kapatid, ate, kuya, kakaririn ko ang mga 'yan para sa'yo."

I laughed in spite of myself. "Paano kung kailangan ko ng asawa?"

"Ihahanap kita."

"Pwedeng ikaw na lang?"

"Okay ka na, friend, malandi ka na ulit, eh," she said patting my back. She made a move to step away from my embrace but I held on to her tightly.

"Baby, stay...please..."

"Gio, I have to go home," she said. "Alam mo naman sigurong kailangan kong umuwi, 'di ba? Hindi bale, pagdating ko ng bahay, siguradong wala pa si Tita d'un kaya makakapag-usap tayo kaagad."

"Sa akin ka na lang umuwi..."

"Grabehan, may malisya ba 'yan? Dapat na ba akong matakot?" she asked.

I immediately loosened my hold on her. George, tama na. Baka mailang s'ya...

"I'm sorry for being so clingy. I'm just really like this to my...friends..."

"Hm...okay." She smiled. "Okay ka na?"

I nodded and she proceeded to wipe my face using her hands. "Pasensya ka na wala kasi akong panyo, eh."

"Okay lang. Salamat," I said.

She gently touched my face. "H'wag kang mag-alala, I am sure nagsisisi 'yun kung bakit ka n'ya ipinagpalit."

H'wag na s'yang magsisisi, okay na ako sa'yo...

"Gagawin ko ang lahat balikan ka lang n'ya."

Grabe naman, h'wag mo naman akong ipamigay.

"Napaka-supportive mo naman," I sardonically said but she did not catch on.

"Ganito talaga ako kapag gutom. Mayamaya nito mananapak na ako..."

She looked at me, her face mirroring concern. "Kaya mo bang umuwing mag-isa?"

I smiled. "Bakit, Baby, ihahatid mo ako?"