Pahina ng Pag-ibig

Ika-sampung Pahina

Kung ang kalendaryo ay may petsa,
Ang kalangita'y may makislap na tala,
At ang tinidor ay may kapares na kutsara,
Si Kupido, ikaw ang siyang sa akin ay pinana.

__________

"What do you mean "in your room" ha Andrada?" Yan ang bungad agad ni Gindel nang makaupo kami matapos makahanap ng mapu-puwestuhan dito sa malapit na fastfood.

Sa isang pabilog na lamesa ay hinayaan namin ang mga sariling magsiksikan. Sabi nga ni Terra, mas accurate ang chismis kapag ganito.

"Why don't you ask Cliff?" Napapakamot ulo nalang talaga ako. Hindi naman kasi kailangang sabihin ni Clifford yun sa harapan ng mga 'to! Pwede namang kapag kaming dalawa lang or sa chat, diba? Pagdududahan pa niyan nila kami e!

"Care to explain, Perez?" Asked by Rave. Huminga ng malalim si Clifford, nakahanda ng magpaliwanag.

"It was Saturday, I was sleeping--"

"You did what? Sleep? Sa bahay nila Kiana?!" Xy interrupted, making Cliff paused for explaining. 

"Pwede ba, patapusin mo muna kasi?" Makakabatok ata ako ng wala sa oras nito e!

"Gagi, wala ka pa kayang ibang pinapatulog sainyo maliban sa amin! Si Clifford palang!" Si Rave naman nagsalita ngayon.

"Makinig nga kasi muna! Ang kukulit! Ulit-ulit lang? Boomerang yarn?" Sarkastiko kong naibulalas.

"Oo na, go." Natatawang sabi ng mga ito.

"So, as I was saying, I was sleeping in Theo's room because I'm--"

"You are what?!" Malakas na sabi naman ni Terra. She even stood up from her seat. Dito na ako napaface-palm. Gosh, these people!

"Please try to calm down. Can't you all wait patiently?" Said Clifford. Napapakamot na rin ito ng ulo. Kasalanan mo 'yan, panindigan mo.

Umupo na ulit si Terra. Lahat kami ay nakatuon na ang mga mata ngayon kay Cliff.

"So, again for the third time, what I was saying was that I was sleeping in Theo's room because I had something to discuss with him, who is a friend of mine. A very close friend. We've been friends for four years now. So, to be clear, I did not sleep in Ana's room. Sa room ni Theo na "friend" ko ako natulog." Pinakatitigan nito si Terra habang binibigkas yung word na "friend". Natawa ako ng bahagya doon.

"Then?" Terra asked.

"And then, when I woke up, I did not expect to see Ana there, standing in front of us. Akala ko kasi--"

"What? you are not expecting me in our house? Takteng 'yan! Bahay ko din yon!" Pagsingit ko. Tumawa ito ng mahina.

"Imagine kasi, kasalukuyan palang na napapanaginipan kita tapos pagmulat ng mata ko, nandon ka na bigla sa harapan ko! Sinong titino ang isip sa mga oras na yun, ha?" Anito na ikinatawa ng mga kasama namin.

"E sa pinapagising ni mommy si kuya e! Sino bang mag-aakalang nandon ka din? At sino bang dapat na mas magulat sa atin, ha? E bahay namin 'yon! Also, you know that Theo is my brother! Kailan ka pa ba nagpupunta sa bahay?" Dahil kung apat na taon na silang magkaibigan ni kuya, bakit hindi ko pa ito nakita before?

"It was just the third time last Saturday. At first, Theo was the only one in your house. He said you and your other family members are not there because you went to attend an event, and Theo doesn't like formal parties, so he was left at your house. He got bored; I was in my first year of college then, and we had a small party at your house together with our other friends. I just can't remember the exact date. Second, I'm in my third year of college. It wasn't a sleepover because I just brought food from our hometown and gave it to your family. That's where I met your mom. You're in your second year, so you're not really there because it's a weekday and you have school. Your mom introduced you to me using pictures. The ones displayed in your living room, the big ones there. That's why I didn't get bored staring at your picture while I was waiting for Theo. Doon kita unang nakilala. At alam mo ba? Unang kita ko palang sayo, gusto na ki--"