The (not so) Sweet Serendipity

50.2

Fuck. Lagot. Nag reply na lang ako ng pauwi na.

"Anyway, don't be a stranger Elmo, the next time you're here, pakita ka naman ng mas maaga, hindi yung, pauwi ka na the next day."

"I will, I will. This visit kasi was all about work eh."

She looked at me, "Yeah, I can see that. All about work. It was nice meeting you, Maine. Do come back here."

"I will. I will bring my friends here next time. It was lovely meeting you too."

When she left, Elmo checked the time. "Shit. I'm sorry. I didn't know it's already past 10."

"It's fine. Ako naman yung dumaldal ng dumaldal."

"Pano, to be continued na lang ah."

"Oo ba. Pick up lang natin where we left off."

He asked the bill from the waiter, but the waiter said that there was nothing to worry about, it was on the house. Elmo turned to look for Jules, but she was not around.

"I'll just leave her a message."

"That was very sweet of her. Tell her thanks rin from me."

"I will. Tara?"

"Yup. Let's go."

Since we left after 10pm, there was not much traffic anymore and I was home in less than 30 minutes. I thanked Elmo for the night.

"I enjoyed tonight Elmo, thank you very much."

"I did too. Thanks for the catch up. Bukas pala, paano ka puntang airport?"

"Dadating si Richard tomorrow actually. Siya na maghahatid sakin."

"I see, I see. Okay. I'll see you tomorrow then."

"See you, drive safely ha."

I went in my building, rushed to the lifts and into my room. Actually hindi pako nakakapasok, tinatawagan ko na si Richard.

He picked up after a couple of rings and all I could think of was thank god hindi na siya nagpahabol.

"Hi Chard!" Shit, masyado atang mataas yung boses ko. Umayos ka Meng. "Sorry natagalan ah."

Tahimik lang siya.

"Huy. Hello? I'm here na. How's packing?"

"Nakainom ka ba?"

Fuck me. "Konte. Pero nawala lang talaga isip ko sa time eh, nagulat nga ako when I checked my phone. Friend niya rin kasi yung owner kaya natagalan. Maganda yung place tsaka masarap yung food, dalhin kita dun pag balik ko."

"Okay okay. Alam mo ang pacute mo ha nakakainis. Pahinga ka na."

"Huy. Galit ka ba?"

"Hindi na."

"So galit ka kanina?"

"Ang kulit. Hindi nga. Basta, dating ko bukas mga before 8, pag na late ka, hindi ako magpapakita sayo."

I was about to say something when I remembered parang ako nagsabi niyan sakanya ah. "Teka. Gaya gaya ka ah! Line ko ata yan!"

Tapos natawa na rin siya. Hindi rin nakatiis. "Gumaganti lang ako sayo. Pero seryoso yun ah!"

"Opo, hindi po malalate. May arte ka pang nalalaman, gusto lang pala gamitin line ko."

"Syempre, giving you a taste of your own medicine lang."

"Che. Ano, tapos ka na magpack?"

"Yep, actually hinihintay na lang kitang tumawag, patulog na rin ako."

"Oh okay. Una ka na, I'll just wash up then sleep na rin."

"Sabay na tayo. I can wait."

"Sus. Okay give me mga 15 minutes. I'm tired na rin eh."

"Okay. I love you Menggay."

"I love you too. I really can't wait to see you tomorrow."

"Eh, iiwan mo rin naman ako agad."

"Ang drama mo, we've talked about this."

"I know. Bawal bang ma sad?"

"Bawal. Fast lang yun promise. O, mag set ka ng alarm ha, don't miss your flight."

"Ikaw rin. Be there tomorrow."

"I will."

"Make sure, mukhang marami kang nainom eh."

"Grabe siya. Sakto lang. Napasarap lang usapan."

"Ah ganun ah, ano namang pinag usapan niyo?"

"Ikaw. Tayo. Kasi naman, medyo agaw pansin po yung singsing na sinuot mo sa daliri ko." Natawa lang siya. "Huwag ka nga masyadong kiligin."

"Basta magising ka bukas ha."

"Oo na nga, pero tetext ko sayo address ko incase."

"Meng!!"

"Joke lang! 'to naman! Huwag ka nga sumisigaw diyan, anong oras na o." Natawa na rin ako sa reaction niya. "O sige na, tulog na tayo. I love you!"

"I love you too, good night Menggay."

"Night Chard."

End. Shit, I set a couple of alarms, I cannot oversleep tomorrow and sleep through my alarms.

I closed my eyes and hugged my pillow tight. I miss Chard.