I practically ignored everyone while I was in Subic by snubbing all phone calls and messages. When Iggy and I became official after less than 24-hours, I just turned my phone off.
"Daming messages, ah," my boyfriend commented as my phone's message tone sounded nonstop.
We were driving back to his house in his new car after we had decided to check out of the hotel. Ang sabi n'ya kasi ay mas gusto n'ya raw na doon ako magpahinga sa bahay n'ya.
"Pahinga ba talaga? Sigurado ka sa pahinga?" I had kidded and he had laughed.
"I just realized that I don't know any of your friends," he told me.
"And I don't know any of yours," I said.
"I've introduced you to Henry."
"And I've introduced you to my cousin and my mother."
He grinned. "Oo na, lamang ka na. Pero, gusto ko sanang makilala rin ang iba pang mga kaibigan mo."
"Mamaya I'll introduce you to my family and friends. Sa Facebook at IG ko nga lang and I'll just be showing you their pictures. Pero, at least makikita mo hitsura nila, 'di ba, para kung sakaling magkita kayo sa birthday ko ay hindi ka na mangangapa."
"I would love that..."
"Ikaw, marami ka bang kaibigan dito?"
"Tatlo lang. Tatlo lang talaga ang masasabi kong mga kaibigan ko, 'yung tipong tatakbuhan ko kung kinakailangan. The rest are just good-time buddies."
"Matagal na ba kayong magkaibigan ni Henry?"
"Pitong taon na rin. Henry and I go a long way back. Mga wannabe rappers and skateboarders pa lang kami n'un na tumatambay sa Dewey ay magkaibigan na kami. Loko-loko rin 'yun, akala mo? Pero, tumino n'ung ibinigay sa kanya ng Daddy n'ya 'yung branch na 'yun ng Ford. I guess, responsibility can do that to you."
"Maliban kay Henry, sino pa?"
"Well, there's Gene. Pinsan s'ya ni Henry and he's a doctor. Ikakasal na pala 'yun ngayong December and I want you to be my plus one. Sa Makati Medical Center din nagtatrabaho ang mapapangasawa n'ya at sa Makati na s'ya nakatira ngayon."
I looked at him expecting him to say more but he just continued driving.
"Sino 'yung pangatlo?"
"Ha?"
"Dalawa pa lang 'yung nasabi mo, ang sabi mo tatlo 'yung tinatawag mong kaibigan."
"Ah, 'yun..." He laughed softly. "Baka pag-awayan natin."
I frowned. "Sino nga? Babae?"
He nodded. "Oo."
"'Yung ex mo?" I asked. "'Yung first girlfriend mo na sobra mong minahal?"
"Sabi ko na pag-aawayan natin, eh."
I leaned back against my seat.
"Eira...pwede ko s'yang iwasan para sa'yo."
"Para sa akin? Hindi mo s'ya iiwasan dahil gusto mo s'yang iwasan but rather iiwasan mo s'ya to please me?"
"Hindi sa gan'un...that came across differently..."
I laughed. "Fuck, Iggy. Man, this is more complicated than I thought..."
"What do you mean?"
I continued to laugh.
"Eira..."
"You know what, that information could have been helpful kung sinabi mo 'yan sa akin bago natin ginawang official 'to. Sana sinabi mong may sabit ka."
