When Love Lasts

13

This is a work of FICTION. All characters are used in FICTITIOUS manner.

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Irene's POV

Days passed and it's already the 23rd of the month. I'm alone here at my condo again. I decided to visit because it's been a week since the last time I went here.

I did what I always do. Painting. Kakatapos ko lang at kahit pinta-pinta ang kamay ko, kumakain ako ng cookies habang nanonood. I'm too lazy to fix my mess. Paints, paintbrushes and palettes are scattered on the floor.

Suddenly I heard my phone rang. I looked at the caller's id and it's Greggy.

"What?" I asked as I answered it.

"Are you busy? Labas tayo, sunduin kita" then I heard the sound of an elevator. "Actually nasa floor mo na ako"

Gulat kong tiningnan ang paligid. This is really a mess. But it's too late to arrange it because I already heard the doorbell rang. I opened it and I saw him stood there. Ayos na ayos, while me?

Just wearing a spaghetti strap sando and a short-shorts. Parang ang dungis kong tignan dahil na rin sa pinta. I let him in despite how messy my condo was. "Saan ba tayo?"

"Mall. Aren't you gonna buy gifts for christmas? Baka wala na masyadong mag-open na bilihan bukas since everyone will prepare for christmas eve."

Oo nga pala wala pa akong panregalo. Uuwi na ako sa bahay bukas at paniguradong kasama si Greggy dahil nga sa bahay siya magpapasko.

"But..." inikot ko ang mata ko sa paligid. "Maglilinis lang ako saglit tapos maliligo ako. Can you wait for me?"

"Of course. I will always wait for you. Now go. Maligo ka na. Let me clean"

"No. Ako na. Just sit there."

"Wag matigas ang ulo Irene. Maligo na." pagtataboy niya sa'kin.

"Fine." I sighed defeatedly. I went to my room to take a quick bath. Nakakahiya, galing pa ata siya ng trabaho.

With that thought talagang binilisan ko ang pagligo. Since umuulan ngayon I wore a hoodie jacket then paired it with pants and then sandals. When I went out of my room, nag-aayos na siya ng sofa.

The condo looks neat again. Pati mga ginamit ko, nalinis at nahugasan na. "You're done? Ang bilis mo ngayon ah. Anyways, I'm also done. Let's go?" He pulled my hand.

We're now on his car. "Anong oras ka aalis bukas? Sabay na tayong uuwi, sunduin ulit kita."

"Probably mga 9 am. Hindi ka ba papasok bukas?"

"Effective na bukas ang bakasyon ko. 10 days" kita ko ang malawak na ngiti sa mukha niya.

"Ang haba naman?"

"Eh gusto nga kitang makasama ng matagal, next year I will be very busy for sure." Magpapatayo nga pala to ng mga branches abroad. Ito siguro ang tinutukoy niya.

When we reached the mall, halos walang mapag-parking'an dahil sa dami ng tao. He tightened his grip on my hand. "Baka mawala ka." he uttered when I looked at him.

Para akong bata na hawak-hawak niya para di mawala. We went first to the jewelry shop na kanina niya pa sinasabi, baka daw magsara na. For pick-up na lang pala ang binili niya kaya hindi ko na nakita kung ano yon, ayaw naman niya sabihin

I also bought a jewelry set for mommy, manang and Liza. I also get them a bag. Iisa na ang binili ko sa kanila pero magkakaiba ang design. I will also buy Liza sandals. To my Manong Bongbong, I bought him five books. Binili ko ang mga alam kong hindi niya pa nababasa, pati na rin yung hinihingi niya sakin. To my nephew, Borgy, I bought him his favorite toys and to Kuya Tommy, I got him a golf tool holder since Manang told me she's getting him a new golf bag.