Oh, how I hated you. I hated that years later you're still able to induce such a strong emotion like hate from me. I hated that I carried the hope of a second chance with you for nine years and just when I had finally come to terms with the fact that I wouldn't get it, you came prancing back into my life messing me up again.
"Oh, my God, Cuz, ano ba kasi ang nakasulat d'yan at muntikan pa tayong magbuwis ng buhay dahil sa note na 'yan, ha?" my cousin asked sounding annoyed as I stared unseeing at the piece of paper in my hand. "Masyado pa akong bata para lumisan sa mundong ito, Champagne. At alalahanin mong ikakasal pa ako—"
"It's him..."
"What?" she asked frowning.
"It's him," I repeated.
"Who the ef is him?" Sherry sounded angry. "Him ka nang him, eh, hindi ko naman alam kung sino itong tinutukoy mo—"
"It's Leon."
"Who—oh, my, God, the McDo guy?!" she asked her eyes widening with excitement.
I nodded.
"Wait, akala ko ba ay hindi kayo nagkita? You saw him there? He was in Philcoa, too? Teka, what did he say? Bakit hindi mo ikinuwento?" she added, her voice gaining a decibel higher with each word and ending in an enthusiastic shriek. "Oh, my God, Cuz!"
"Kumalma ka, Cuz. Do you want to read the note—"
I was not even able to finish my sentence because Sherry snatched the piece of paper from me. Slowly, the smile on her face disappeared as a frown gradually replaced it. "What the actual fuck...?"
"I know, right?"
"Ano ba itong lalaking 'to? Ang tagal n'yang nawala without any explanation at may gana pa s'yang magpa-mysterious effect ngayon? Why was he even there? I mean, it's too much of a coincidence. Has he been following you all this time?"
"I don't know and I honestly no longer want to know," I said before I stepped on the gas.
"Dahan-dahan naman! Kaskasera ka talaga!"
"Imbes na kiligin ay naiinis ako!" I heatedly said ignoring my cousin's complaint. "He did not even have the balls to approach me? Talaga ba, nine years later, this is the best that he can do? Literally drop me a fucking note?"
"Oh, well..."
"Alam ba n'ya na ilang taon ko s'yang hinanap? Alam ba n'yang—shit na 'yan...bwisit 'tong lalaking 'to..." I muttered under my breath.
"Bwisit s'ya because despite the fact that you hate him now, you're curious and you'd like to see him?"
"Sherry Brias!"
"Oo na, oo na, sorry..." my cousin apologetically said. "Alam mo naman na kakampi mo ako, 'di ba? And I do not even know this guy, ni anino nito ay hindi ko pa nakita. I was even starting to think na figment lang ng imahinasyon mo—"
"Anong figment ng imagination ko?" I demanded hotly. "You thought he was an imaginary person?"
"Eh, h'wag ka nang magalit. Kasi nga, 'di ba, hello, ni wala s'ya sa Facebook at ni hindi mo man lang alam kung ano ang phone number n'ya? I mean, Cuz, kung maglalandi ka, you should at least know the basics, ano, like his FB account and phone number. Dios mio, alam nga natin 'yung telephone number n'ung magtataho sa atin, eh, 'yan pa bang medyo isang taon mong nakausap?"
"Kasi nga..." I sighed. "Kasi nga we wanted to keep it platonic...at least that was the vibe that I was getting from him."
"Lintek na platonic 'yan, mag-iisang dekada na ay hindi ka pa rin nakapag-move on."
