Up Where We Belong

Chapter 29

Care

"Sasama nalang kami kay Camille. Kukunin nalang namin ang mga gamit namin sa bahay niyo bukas bago umuwi," balita sa akin ni Edna. Maagang dumating sina Edna at Bella sa concert venue at agad din nilang na-meet si Camille.

That left me dumbfounded. How can I face Gab now after what happened? Inaasahan ko pa naman ang dalawa na sasamahan ako para naman mabawasan ang awkwardness na nararamdaman ko. I should be together with them now kung hindi lang sana tumawag sa akin si Camille kaninang umaga na umiiyak dahil hindi nakaabot sa pagbili ng ticket. Tumawag lang ito para maglabas ng sama ng loob at nagbalitang bumalik ito ng Maynila para sana makahanap ng mapagkukuhanan ng ticket. Hindi kasi malakas ang internet connection doon sa lugar nila sa probinsya kaya noong on sale pa ang mga ticket ay hindi siya nakaabot.

I didn't know she's head over heels for Park Hyun Jun just like Edna and Bella. To make the story short, I gave my slot to Camille. Edna and Bella did not protest when I pleaded to give mine to Camille instead. Nakita ko ang disappointment sa mukha nila pero sa huli ay sumang-ayon din sila. Hindi pa man nila kilala ang kaibigan ko pero alam kong magkakasundo silang tatlo.

"Bakit naman biglang nagbago ang plano niyo?" tampo ko at naglakad patungong exit ng mall. I told Gab this morning when he took me to work that I'd take care of some business somewhere after leaving the office and he should head home without me. He insisted to accompany me, but I refused for a reason that's still not clear to me. I was obviously avoiding him. Yet, I wonder why I kept doing that.

"Sabi kasi ni Camille, sa kanya na kami sasama mamaya para makapag-solo kayong mag-asawa. Baka umagahin kasi kami ng uwi.'

"Oh my gosh. That girl is silly! Don't listen to her!" pag-aalburuto ko. I could imagine Camille grinning devilishly. She must love wrapping me around her fingers. And that pointless game she introduced to us is turning my mind into a sea of mess. Dapat pala hindi ko binigay ang ticket ko sa kanya. Pero sa isiping iyon, nakaramdam ako ng awa sa kanya. She scoured the whole metro looking for an available ticket. She knew people who have one but they're not willing to give it up. Just like her, they're also looking forward to seeing this most beloved superstar.

"Please be with me tonight. We planned to have an all-girl's night, didn't we?" Hindi lang natuloy kagabi dahil nga pinalayas ako sa sariling kwarto.

Nagdahilan itong may aasikasuhin at ako nalang daw bahalang magsabi sa asawa ko.

Sa huli ay nabigo akong papayagin silang sa bahay umuwi mamaya. Anong magagawa ko? Wala naman kasi akong ambag sa usapan kapag nataong sa bahay sila didiretso at kasama ko sila sa kwarto dahil wala naman akong kamuwang-muwang sa nangyari sa concert. Mas maigi na sumama sila kay Camille dahil tiyak na marami silang mapag-uusapan. Alam kong hindi matatapos sa concert ang lagnat ng mga ito.

As I stepped outside, the rain started pouring down. Ang kaninang maaliwalas na langit ay ngayo'y tila nagpupuyos sa galit. I hailed a taxi and went straight home. Habang nasa biyahe ay iniensayo ko na ang mga salitang sasabihin at magiging reaksyon ko mamaya kapag nakasalubong ko siya.

Pagkarating ko ng bahay, agad kong pinuno ng hangin ang aking baga. We'll face each other, that's for sure. I can't avoid him forever. I know he's inside. I can see his car parked in the garage.

I continued making a mental note on what to say and react because I know I'd stammer and get too fidgety when uneasiness gets the hell out of me.

I used the key he had given me before to open the door. I quietly walked until I reached the inside. Gab wasn't in the living room nor was he in the kitchen. I went to my room first to change. I took off my coat and walked towards the closet to get some clothes to wear. That's when I realized that my things are still inside Gab's room.