"Boyfriend mo?" Gulat na gulat si Albert samantalang 'yung new boyfriend ko naman ay inatake yata ng asthma at 'di na magkamayaw sa kakaubo kaya tinapik-tapik ko ang likod n'ya.
"Aww, Fruitcake what's wrong?" Pinanlakihan ko s'ya ng mga mata. Taragis. H'wag mo akong ibubuko kundi tatadyakan talaga kita sa ngala-ngala!
"Kelan pa naging kayo?" Albert inquired and I nearly launched a verbal tirade against him but I was able to hold myself back.
Tandaan, Gianna, hindi ka pwedeng mag-bitter-bitteran, Inday!
"Kailangang alam mo?" I smiled at the cockroach before I turned to look at Red. "Fruitcake, uwi na lang tayo sa apartment. Sabi ko nga, 'di ba, you shouldn't strain yourself kasi na-sprain ka," I sweetly told him as I held his hand. "I love you, Fruitcake."
Mamatay ka sa inggit, baluga ka!
'Yun nga lang ay naloka yata si Red at nakatulala lang s'yang nakatingin sa akin. Ang slow naman nito! Ang hina ng pick-up!
"Fruitcake naman eh! Nagtatampo ka pa rin sa akin? S'ya 'yung kinita ko sa Philcoa para sabihin 'yung tungkol sa atin pero naunahan 'nya ako but I guess all is well."
"Ha?" Red asked looking more bewildered.
I tiptoed as I pretended to kiss his cheek before I whispered into in his ear. "Red, please lang sumakay ka naman! Kahit anong hihilingin mong kabayaran ibibigay ko sa'yo!"
"May nililigawan ako!" he whispered back.
"Hindi kita aagawin sa kanya, gago! Ngayon lang 'to! Please." I smiled at him again cupping his cheek. "I really love your unspoken words, d'yan mo ako nadali," I added.
Biglang tumawa si Albert at lalo akong nabwisit. "Kayo? Talaga lang, ha?" he asked shaking his head. "Hindi mo ako kailangang pagselosin, Greeney."
I arched my brow. Ang kapal nitong mukhang hitong to! Ang sarap bigwasan! Kaya lang ito namang kakuntsaba ko, ang hina-hina—
"Cupcake..."
Anetch?
Napatingin ako kay Red at muntikan nang tumaas ang kilay ko nang bigla n'ya akong hinawakan sa mukha.
"I'm so sorry I doubted you. Nagselos lang talaga ako," he said finally catching on. "Cupcake, mapapatawad mo pa ba ang Fruitcake mo?"
He put one of his arms around my waist and pulled me against him.
Maryusep, ano itey?
"Alam mo namang patay na patay ako sa'yo, 'di ba? Mahal na mahal kita..."
He sounded so sincere that I felt my heart lurch inside my chest. Hindi ko alam kung dahil mausok, sadya lang nasapian ako ng kabaliwan noong panahong 'yun o sobrang korni lang n'ung sinabi n'ya dahil bigla akong naiiyak.
Syet naman, may drugs ang uling na ginagamit nina Mang Larry, I thought to myself as my vision blurred with unshed tears.
Red kissed the top of my head before he turned to address Albert. "Ako nga pala si Red, brod," he said extending his hand to offer him a handshake.
But, Albert just stood there glowering at him.
Redley withdrew his hand. "Sorry dahil kahit alam ko namang may boyfriend na si Cupcake, pero, hinabol ko pa rin. Alam kong maiintindihan mo ang nararamdaman ko dahil nagmahal ka rin naman."
Ay, ang taray!
"Please, h'wag mo sanang isiping niloloko ka ng Cupcake ko kasi ako naman talaga ang nagpumilit. Mahigit isang taon na naming itinatago sa'yo—"
