A Week in Bangkok

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Isinama ako ni Heikenz sa dinner niya with Miles tonight. I don't know how Miles would say about my stay here pero for sure, magtatanong 'yon on why I decided to stay. Hindi rin naman ako pwedeng magtagal dito. I'm only here as a tourist, not a resident o kung ano man. Pwera na lang kung may gustong magpakasal sa akin, but that's another thing and I'm far from getting into that point. May iba pa akong bagay na kailangang gawin.

"What do you think Miles would say?" I questioned.

He creased his forehead. "About you staying here in Bangkok?" Tumango ako sa tanong niya. Lumapad naman ang ngiti nito sa mukha at bahagyang natawa pa. "He sounds so happy when I talk to him earlier. I don't think he will make you feel bad about your decision. He's happy to invite you for dinner so I think there's nothing to be worried about it. You're in good hands, Andrew. You'll be good."

Pinatong nito ang kanyang kamay sa ibabaw ng kamay ko and that gesture assured me and that he was right about it. Lakas na lang din talaga ng loob ang kinukuhaan ko ng lakas kung bakit koi to ginawa.

I wouldn't have done this idea in the first place kung wala rin akong mga kaibigang nagpu-push sa aking gawin 'to. Hindi ko sinabi kay Cely itong plano ko, but I guess Caro already did tell her. Alam kong susuportahan nila ako kung ano man ang mangyari sa akin dito. If anything goes wrong, e 'di kasalanan ko, mga babaitang iyon.

Pero kinakapitan ko ngayon ang mga sinasabi sa akin ni Heikenz ngayon. Wala pa akong ideya kung ano nga ba talagang mangyayari sa akin ngayon dito sa Bangkok, pero ready ako—hindi magpa-opera pero kung ano mang hamon ang dumating. Napaka-drama ko naman.

Nagpaiwan lang naman talaga ako kasi baka mutual feelings kami ni Heikenz. Well, ang assuming ko sa point na 'yon. But I was looking for a sign and the moment he has kissed me, I knew that was the sign I was looking for.

Iyon nga ba ang sign na hinahanap ko?

Not that long when we finally reached the place he was talking about. Kami ang nauna sa restaurant just around Bangkok pa rin naman. Malapit na raw sina Miles at ang asawa nito pati na rin iyong isa nilang babaeng kaibigan.

"Kinakabahan ako..." aniko.

Heikenz chuckled at what I said. Umiling naman ito at pinatong ang kamay sa braso ko. "No, you're not. And you don't have to be scared of them. They're good friends. If Miles didn't tell you about me then that's the part you should be worried about, but then here you go."

I feel good—that's what should feel, but I'm still worried and shaking inside. Hindi ko lang pinapahalata sa kanya 'yon. I never really planned to stay in Bangkok, biglaan ito. BIglaan ang lahat so I'm adjusting to this new setup of mine.

Ilang saglit lang din naman ay may itinuro si Heikenz and then we saw Miles and his husband, I guess walking towards our direction. Nanginiginig ang labi ko sa pag-ngiti nang makalapit sila sa amin. They hugged us—like a normal hug and they've asked me what I'm feeling. Naging totoo naman ako sa sagot ko na kinakabahan talaga ako.

"I'm glad you stayed, Andrew. Hindi ko in-expect na gagawin mo 'to, but I'm happy for you."

"Thank you..."

"So, where's your friend?" he asked.

"Oh, she left just a moment ago," sagot ko. "She needs to go back to Manila na. Hindi pwedeng pati siya mag-extend din ng vacation niya. Pupunta rin kasi 'yon sa Las Vegas so she has to leave..."

"He didn't tell her about that though," singit ni Heikenz.

Napangiwi na lang ako.

"Oh, really?" he sounds so surprised. Tumango na lang din ako. "Well, if you think that your stay here will benefit and help you, then that's a good decision for you. Wala namang mali kung sa tingin mong makabubuti ito sa 'yo. And I'm sure Heikenz will keep you company at all times."