CAPTAIN
Kanina pa hindi umiimik si Dennise magmula nung maka-alis kami sa bahay niya hanggang umabot dito sa clinic. I asked her but she said she's okay. Siguro, ayaw niya akong kausapin para hindi ako lalong ma-miss ni Dennise.
"Doc, mag-aayos lang kami ng gamit sa loob ah. Harutan muna kayo ni Captain."biglang sabi ni Sophie na kaagad namang tinanguan ni Dennise. Kasama nito si Lovelle. After they disappeared from my sight, I sat beside her.
"Mahal, alis na ako." bulong ko sa kaniya before kissing her forehead. I was about to stand up but Dennise pulled my hand back causing me to sit again. She sighed.
"Fine! I'm going to miss you..kainis." she said, avoiding my gazes. I let out a giggle and slightly pinched her nose.
"Ito naman...parang dati nga wala kang pakialam kapag aalis ako ng bansa."
"E siyempre hindi pa kita mahal before kaya wala akong pakialam sa'yo. There's a difference between that." she reasoned out.
"So now you love me na that's why you care for me?" I asked. She just rolled her eyes at me.
It's very rare to see this woman being so clingy. Most of the time, she's passive and calm. Haaay, mas nahihirapan akong umalis dahil sa kaniya e. Sounds overacting man pero I have nothing to do with that. I love her.
"I'm going na. I have my flight at 12 noon, mahal. Let's just call each other nalang, okay?" I assured. Dennise stood up.
Dennise, pouting her lips."Mahal...ihatid nalang kaya kita sa airport?"
"Alam mo, ang sweet mo today. Mula kaninang umaga until now. You're making this hard to leave you for a week ah. But thanks for the offer, you have work."
She wrapped her arms around my midsection as I snaked mine in her waist. Ano kayang nakain niya at ganito siya?
She giggles, "That's actually my plan! Choz. Sige na nga, wala naman akong magagawa kung ayaw mo. But you have to promise me that you will be fine at babalik kang ligtas sa akin, okay? Yan naman ang lagi kong pinapa-alala even before."
"Noted po ma'am. Dati, sinasabi mo na bumalik ako ng safe para kay Bebu. Ngayon, para sa'yo na. Naks!" asar ko. Kinurot naman niya ako sa aking side. Nasa labas na kami ng clinic at ako, pasakay na sa kotse.
"Sige na. Go ahead. Take care and be safe, my love.." Dennise is quite far from me.
"Kiss." I slightly shouted. She then quickly ran towards me to give me a short sweet kiss on the lips. "I love you! Bye!" She just winked at me before I close my car windows.
———
DOCTOR
"Ay, ang arte! Sherep?" Lovelle asks after I entered the clinic. I threw a sharp gaze at them and went back to reading documents.
"Cute niyong couple, doc. Ang clingy mo kanina, nakakaloka ka!" singit naman ni Sophie habang inaayos ang kaniyang uniform.
"Excuuuuse me mga chismosa ng taon! Ngayon lang kasi nga isang linggong mawawala, okay ba? Tsaka anong pakialam niyo, boyfriend ko naman siya." sagot ko pa as I rest my back on the swivel chair.
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"Bakit ka ba galit? Sinasabi lang e! Anyways, eh 'di wala siya sa birthday week mo? Sa friday na 'yun a!" -Lovelle.
My face turned sad and heaves deeply. That's why I feel so devastated (char) because he's not going to be here sa aking birthday. Ang masaklap pa, I have no idea kung alam niya ba date ng birthday ko!
"Silence means yes. Pero don't worry Doktora, celebrate natin 'yan kahit wala muna si Captain. Malay mo bumawi 'pag uwi 'di ba? Huwag ka nang malungkot...O praise the Lord..."
Dahil sa biglang punch line ni Sophie ay nabato ko siya ng ballpen na hawak ko sabay tawa ng malakas. Si Lovelle rin tawang tawa. Bwisit!
"Nakakainis ka, Sophie! Lumayas ka nga sa harapan ko. Kung anu-ano na ang nasusuksok mo diyan sa bunganga mo. Tse!"
Umiwas naman si Sophie sa akin, "Joke lang! So.. ano nga, dok? Alam ba niyang birthday mo sa Friday? May plans ka ba?"
I shook my head. "Hindi ko alam kung alam niya. Pero okay lang. I understand. Tsaka have I told you before that I hate celebrating my birthdays? Yun! That's it. Ayoko rin ng celebration!"
Si Lovelle, siniko naman ako sa tagiliran sabay kantyaw. "Ikaw, sobrang lame ng buhay mo. Parang awa mo na, mag-celebrate ka naman. Kahit i-libre mo nalang kami sa samgyupsal!"
Napatingin naman ako kay Lovelle sabay hila ng buhok niya. "Ang mahal mo naman mag-request! I'd rather not celebrate kung kayo lang kasama ko noh!"
"Masyado ka naman. Gusto mo lang kasama yang jowa mo kaya ka ganyan—e ang masaklap, wala naman siya dito sa mismong birthday mo! So, paano?"
"Heeep! Shut up! Oo na, sige na. Let's go on a samgyupsal night this Friday. Tama rin naman kayo, imbis na magtago ako sa lungga ko eh okay na ring ganito na kasama ko kayo kahit mga insekto kayo ng buhay ko."
Much better if he's with me...hay.
————
I'm in the mall with Bebu. Sabi kasi ni Joaquin, sa akin muna itong anak niya. Tsaka his helper, Ate Janet, is out for a week long vacation dahil sa wala rin ang amo niya sa bahay.
Ang agenda ko lang naman today ay...wala. Mamimili lang ng ilang mga gamit sa bahay kabilang na ang mga spare clothes for the boyfriend. Wala naman, gusto ko lang bilhan siya ng mga damit so he's not going to bring some every time he decides to sleep at my house.
"Grace?"
I came back to my senses when I heard a manly voice called my name. I turned around only to see a familiar face na hindi ko matandaan ang name. I squinted my eyes and observes him. Ooooh shoot! I know him! My classmate in high school!
"Are you—Are you Basti? Basti Villanueva?Am I right?" I asked. Hindi ako sigurado kung si Sebastian Villanueva itong kaharap ko o kamukha lang.
"Yes, I am! So good to see you here!"
"Oh! Hi, hi! So nice to see you again!" and he leaned to give me a beso. God, he's scent is just so strong. My nosetrills hurt a bit.
He's Sebastian Villanueva. My highschool classmate. He's of the student council's president way back. He's also the very first person who tried courting me. Highschool sweethearts kami before. I admit I liked him pero hindi ko sinagot just because I was too busy with my studies.
"Wow, is this your pet? What's its name?" He kneeled down for him to meet Bebu. I feel a little bit shy so I scooped the dog in my arms, "She's Bebu."
"Nice name. By the way, are you all alone? Might wanna have some small talk over a coffee or what?"
Napaisip ako. Tutal wala naman akong importanteng bagay na gagawin bukod sa pagbili ng mga damit ay sumang-ayon na ako kay Basti.
Now, nandito kami sa isang coffee shop kung saan pwede naman si Bebu. Animal friendly ang shop kaya it's a yes for me. Nasa lap ko lang si Bebu, tulog.
"How are you? It's been a decade since we last saw each other ah." he started.
"Heto, okay naman. Now a vet, ikaw?"
"Really?! I am so glad you achieved your dream. Ako naman, I am now an Engineer. Sa States kasi ako nag-aral after we graduated in high school. Kakabalik ko lang sa Pinas last month." sabi niya. Tumango naman ako.
"Ayos porma natin ah! Pogi mo lalo!" biro ko sabay higop sa aking coffee. Dati kasi kilala siyang hearthrob sa school namin dahil bukod sa charming looks ay smart din siya. Minsan, nakakahiya tabihan.
"All for you! Uhm, sa Saturday, can I invite you for a small party? Don't worry, lahat nf invited ay classmates natin. Ikaw na nga ata lang ang kulang and I'm so happy na nag-cross ang paths natin again dito pa sa mall."
"Saturday?" I repeated. "Sure, why not? Sige, pupunta ako. Just give me the address."
Basti shook his hands multiple times, "No, no. You give me your address and I will be fetching you. So ungentleman of me kung hindi kita susunduin e ikaw ang niyaya ko, right?"
I chuckled, "Tama nga naman. O sige, here's my calling card. Nandyan na ang contact number ko and my address."
"Naks! Thank you so much, Ms. Reyes! So, are you still single—"
"Shit. I'm sorry. Bebu, why did you spill the coffee naman anak. Sorry, Basti. Wait, I'll go get tissue..."
Nakakahiya. Natapon yung coffee dahil pilit inaabot ni Bebu yung bread. Natapon tuloy papunta kay Basti yung kape. Jusko!
———
Christian Vasquez as Sebastian Villanueva
