Kabanata 22
Elliot's Calling...
Nanginginig ang kamay ko na dinampot ang cellphone. I swiped the screen to pick up the call.
I heard him cleared his throat before speaking. "Hello?" Napangiti ako. Marunong pala siya noon?
"Hi." I awkwardly replied.
"Hmm, can we talk?" Umpisa niya.
"We are talking." Mabilis na sagot ko.
"Yeah, uhm, yes we were." I heard him chuckled.
"Max..."
"Ellie..."
Nagkasabayan naming sabi.
"You first." Inunahan ko na siya. Kasi hindi ako sigurado sa dapat kong sabihin.
"Hmm, I was wondering if you are available over the weekends?" Biglang bumilis ang pagtibok ng puso ko. Was he asking me out or something?
"Ahm, off ko ang Saturday and Sunday." Mabilis na sagot ko.
"Shoot!" Nagulat ako sa sagot niya. I even heard him snapped on the other line.
"I am going to ask you a favor, that is, if it is fine with you..." he trailed off.
"Hmm? What is it?" I asked.
"The thing is, Mama will having her birthday celebration on Saturday night. I was so busy at work for the past months that I wasn't able to go home." He cleared his throat before he continued.
"Mama was asking for you, and she told me to bring you to her party. I—I know this is no longer your part but if you are not okay with—"
"Okay, I'll accompany you. Besides your Mama was a nice person to me." Putol ko sa sinabi niya.
"That's great! Thank you. See you on Saturday then."
"Yeah." Tanging nasagot ko.
"Bye."
"Bye." I replied. A small hope arose from my heart. May pag-asa pa ba kami? Should I talk to him about the possibility of us? O talagang hanggang pagpapanggap lang kami?
***
Sa mga sumunod na araw ay naging mas masigasig ako sa trabaho, hindi na ulit ako tinawagan o minessage ni Elliot. But the mere fact that I'll be seeing him over the weekends made me excited. I can't wait for the weekends.
It was Friday night. Niyaya ako ng barkada na mag-night out pero tumanggi ako. Kasi ayokong may hangover ako bukas.
Dumaan ako sa mall to grab something for Tita Elen. I bought her a bracelet with charms. Napansin kong mahilig siya sa ganoon.
Pag-uwi ko sa apartment ay nagdadalawang isip ako kung ite-text ko ba si Elliot o hindi. Alas nueve na. Paniguradong tapos na siya sa trabaho niya.
Sinusubukan kong mag-compose ng message para sa kaniya nang bigla siyang mag-message.
Elliot
VOUS LISEZ
Elliot's Bed Warmer : ZBS 2
Fiction généraleDahil sa malaking pagkakautang ng ama ni Maxene, at ang nagbabadyang pagkuha ng pinagkakautangan nito sa bahay na parte na ng kanyang buhay at mula pa sa mga magulang ng ama ay napilitan siyang pagbayaran ang utang sa lalaking nagngangalang Elliot Z...
