And Then You

30 / maureen

NO'NG college, outside of his famous barkada, Kuya Inggo wasn't a friend.

He was a lover or an ex-lover, but never a friend.

But since Valentine's last year, he made it clear his bachelor days were over.

He's making the effort to show it to Maureen, pero bakit parang ang hirap paniwalaan na hindi 'to tatagal?

Na parang may expiration date 'to?

And it's unfair, Maureen knows, because he's trying his best kahit mahirap. Kahit na hindi niya inaamin na mahirap, na hassle.

May toothbrush si Kuya Inggo sa tabi ng kanya sa unit ni Maureen sa Blue. May charger sa sofa, may ilang hoodies and shirts sa closet that he sprayed with his cologne because he knows she loves his smell. May stock ng Kopiko Blanca, may laman ang fridge niya kasi he checks it every time he's here.

He's taking up space in her unit like he's never leaving, pero bakit pakiramdam ni Maureen na iiwan siya?

Mag-iisang taon ang time that it took for him to leave his things in her unit.

Pero isang gabi lang, isang trip lang paakyat at pababa sa kotse, pwede niya nang kunin ang lahat ng 'to at bawiin.

Their last call, Maureen was showing him her new clothes. He said all the right things, made her stomach flutter from his gaze up and down her body through the screen, pero as soon as she was out of the frame, Kuya Inggo massaged his forehead with a sigh and went back to his books.

The call before that, nanonood sila ng favorite movie niya, Tangled, pero 'di naman nanonood si Kuya Inggo. He was studying. Naka-mute pa nga yata yung movie.

Hindi rin naman siya matulungan ni Maureen sa studies niya kasi wala siyang kaalam-alam sa med. One time, in the middle of their call, Kuya Inggo said, "Rinn, baby, sandali lang. I'll call you back, papa-explain ko lang 'tong isang case."

She told him no rush. To do what he needs to do and not worry about her.

She stays up with him when he needs to, helps him review terms and even reads up sa module niya para may maiambag siya, pero ayun lang, pa-lessen na nang pa-lessen ang mga tawag since she said that kasi hindi naman talaga alam ni Maureen yung specifics ng mga kailangan niya aralin.

Gets naman niya.

Pero hindi niya mapigilang isipin he's getting tired before they even started.

Actually, parang sila na nga kasi, e. Ang difference lang is they're hiding it 'tsaka walang sex.

Nakikita lang ni Maureen kung pa'no mag-scramble for time for everything si Kuya Inggo. When he's not in class, he's busy wolfing down food kasi five times a day siyang kumakain sa laki niya, reviewing for his next class, sitting in an oversized chair talking to her, studying with his classmates, or dead to the world sa kama.

Kaya when he doesn't answer his phone and Maureen knows he forgot he's supposed to show up at Ateneo para sa career talk ng freshman class niya, Maureen decides to keep her cool.

Baka nag-aaral o natutulog.

"Mau," sabi ng homeroom adviser na partner niya kanina. "Wala pa rin si speaker? Should I be worried? You said ikaw na bahala sa kanya."

Dahil hindi sumasagot si Kuya Inggo, she calls someone else. "Kuya."

"O. Miss mo 'ko?" sagot ng kuya niya after one ring, at alam ni Maureen na he's grinning.

Her mouth turns up at the corner as she leans against the wall. "Baka ikaw, Kuya. Sa'n ka?"

"Dinadalhan ng coffee si Valle para 'di masungit bago ako umuwi. Hanggang mamaya pa kasi. Bakit? May kailangan ka? Pwede kita daanan."