ML Story (iM eLove)

42

I'm already on my pajamas when I went out of my room to get down. Umupo ako sa sofa at binuksan ang tv. I am planning to watch a movie since I have no work tomorrow. Pwedi akong magising nang tanghali. Though I still have to find a condo unit tomorrow.

Nakahiga ako sa sofa habang yakap ang throw pillow. My phone suddenly rang so I have to get up to reach for it. Umupo ako ng maayos at hininaan ang volume ng tv ng makita ko ang pangalan ni Shane sa caller ID.

"Hi, What's up?" I greeted her.

[Hoy babae, balita ko naghahanap ka ng condo. Why? I thought-] she's worried.

"I guess I need a new one. I mean I have to move out Shane" I bit my lower lip, hoping she would get what I mean. Shane knows that this condo belongs to Bryan.

Hindi ko na rin tinanong kong kanino niya nalaman na naghahanap ako ng condo. Aries might told them about it since I already opened it to him.

[Oh my G! Bumalik na ba siya?] hindi ko alam kong shocked ba siya o excited o kinikilig. I sighed in relief when she got what I'm trying to say without even mentioning it.

Napalingon ako sa pinto ng marinig ko ang pagclick at pagbukas nito. Bryan went in. Natigilan pa ito ng mapadako ang tingin sa direksyon ko. He's still wearing his office attire. Napansin ko rin ang grocery bag na hawak nito.

Umiwas ito ng tingon at dumiretso sa kusina. Nakalimutan kong kausap ko pa pala si Shane.

[Are you still there Bri? Yohooo! Anong petsa na?] Shane snatched my attention from the line.

"Huh?" maang kong tanong, nakalimutan ko na kung anong pinag uusap namin. Dumaan si Bryan para umakyat sa taas.

[huh-hampas gusto mo? Ano na?] naiinis na tanong nito.

"Anong anu na?" naguguluhan ko paring tanong, trying to remember our conversation. What the hell!

[Dipunggol, anu bang nangyayari sayo Bri? Ang sabi ko kung nakabalik na yung ex mo?] natatawang tanong niya.

"Ah... Oo?" alanganin kong sagot. Mukha akong timang!

[Tanong ba yan? Kaloka ka Bri. Naaaning ako sayo, hindi ka ba kumain ng dinner?] litanya niya.

"Oo nga"

[Ay true ba? O ano na. Gwapo parin ba? Yummy Wait... Is he staying there? Omyge! E di live in kayo?] he giggled exaggeratedly. I rolled my eyes.

"Isa Shane" pagbabanta ko.

[Ito naman joke lang] natatawang pagbawi niya.

Nagkwentuhan pa kami ni Shane, lumalayo na sa main topic namin which was the condo, halos wala na rin akong maiintindihan sa pinapanuod ko.

I tossed my head to looked up. Bryan was walking down the stairs like a king. He brushed his damp hair using his fingers. I shamelessly surveyed his body. He's wearing a white shirt that perfectly hugged his torso and sweatpants.

Dumiretso siya sa kusina. Pagbalik niya inilapag ni ang tatlong canned beer sa center table. At umupo sa kabilang gilid ng sofa, leaving enough space for us.

[So back to the topic. So anu na? Where are you planning to find a condo?] she's now serious. Kung kaninay puro asaran lang namin ngayon ay mukhang matino na siya kausap.

"Dito lang rin sana para malapit sa company at less hassle"  I tried so hard to egnore his presence beside me. Nagsimula na rin siyang uminom habang nanunuod.

[Dito ka nalang sa bahay. Boring din dito e, mag isa lang ako] she said sadly. I can imagine her pouting. I chuckled.

"Ayoko. Maliban sa malayo I need a place of my own Shane" naramdaman ko ang pagbaling ng katabi ko sa akin. Nakakunot nuo ito.

[Ano ba yan, lahat kayo inaayawan ako. Don't you want to be with me?] pagdadrama nito.

"oh I know someone probably willing to live with you, should I call-" I smirked.

[Don't you dare! Don't start with me, I'll go to sleep. Bye] eksaheradang pagtanggi nito bago patayin ang tawag. I chuckled.

"Pikon" I mumbled on the screen. Alam kong hindi niya na ako narinig.

I sit awkwardly when it drawn on me that Bryan was next to me, and probably heard our conversation. He's heavy presence was really hard to ignore. Ghad! This is awkward.

I realized he needs his place too, who knows he wanted to live here just like before or with his...girlfriend. He cannot just totally have this place because I am still here. And he's just being considerate for not directly telling me to move out.

I can feel that he doesn't want me here anymore based on his attitude towards me. Or he doesn't to have any connections with me anymore. Wala na nga siyang pakialam sa akin e.

It made me sad for unknown reason.

Being with him in one place wasn't that...comforting anymore. Malaki ang pinagkaiba sa dati. Just like now, sitting next to him was so awkward. It wasn't right.

I stood up to leave. I picked my phone on the table and was about to go upstairs.

"Hindi pa tapos yung pinapanuod mo"

I stopped on my track when I heard him talk. Lumingon ako sa kanya. He drank his beer, not breaking his gaze on the television.

"You can finish it, I'm sleepy" pagdadahilan ko. Hindi pa naman talaga ako inaantok but maybe I can force myself to sleep.

"Or is it because I'm here" I shook his head and glanced at me. "Anyway, I have to talk to you"

Oh! Right. Maybe he wanted me out already. Dahan dahan akong bumalik at umupo sa eksaktong pwesto ko kanina. I need to talk to him too. Baka kailangan na niya ang condo niya para magsimula sila ni Sheena ng pamilyang bubuuin nila. Wait! Are they married?

"Can you please give me ahm.. another week" I started the conversation even without hearing what he wanted to say.

Napabaling naman ito sa akin, nakakunot nuo at nagtatanong ang mukha.

"I am planning to move out too. I'm actually finding a condo" should I consider Shane's offer. Mananatili muna ako sa bahay niya hanggat wala pa akong nakitang unit. Titiisin ko nalang ang pagbyahi nang malayo. Hindi naman siya ganon kalayo pero compared dito sa condo ni Bryan mas accessible ito.

"What the..what are you talking about?" he asked, confused and clueless. Umigting ang panga nito. "If you are not that comfortable with my presence here don't worry, it's just temporary. After the company's anniversary I won't step on this condo" mariing saad niya. Different emotions pooled in his eyes, I can't name it. He sounded mad and...hurt.

Napaawang ang labi ko ko. Did I got it right. Ako pa talaga ang away sa presensiya niya? I mean do I have the right to. In his place?

"D-don't ..you w-want me o-out?" I sputtered. I thought he wants to talk to me to ask me to leave. He sipped on his beer and looked directly at me.

"Who says I want you to leave? Tss."

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