The Boy Next Door (Ikalawang Pinto)

Chapter 28

Paulit-ulit na bumabagabag sa akin ang sinabi ni Raphael.

Nakwestyon ko tuloy ang mga pinaggagagawa ko dati. Meron ba akong sinabi o ginawa nung mga panahong lasing ako? Did I really lead him on?

Because I was pretty sure, I tried being friends with him without leading him on. But I guess I was successful only when I was sober.

I don't know. I need to clarify it with him.

But will he still talk to me after that conversation? I literally just said I like him and that I'm willing to be in a relationship with him, if he ever gives us a chance again. It almost felt like I was begging. I'm not quite sure.

Shit, is this how disoriented my mind is everytime I'm drunk? Will I even be able to remember all of this tomorrow? Because frankly, I think I'm sober naman.

But in case, just in case, I can't remember this tomorrow, kagaya nung sinabi ni Raphael kanina, because of some sorcery, I should just take note of this.

Therefore, I went to my study table and grabbed a piece of sticky note.

You confessed to Raphael last night. Panagutan mo, girl.

Yeah, that's what I wrote. In case lang naman na makalimutan ko.

Sumalampak ako sa kama at nag-isip kung ano bang next move ko.

When I asked him if he would give me a chance, he didn't give a concrete answer. Hindi naman niya sinabi na ayaw niya sa akin. Oo nga, hindi niya rin sinabi na gusto pa niya ako, pero again, di rin naman niya sinabi na hindi na niya ako gusto. Na hindi na niya ako bibigyan ng chance.

He just avoided the question. So there's a chance. I might still have a chance.

Tama, wag kang susuko, Jazmine Neriah!

May naisip na agad akong move ko bukas. I hope it will go just fine. But even if he rejects me, I'm still gonna keep on trying.

I'm not gonna back down, Raphael.

~~***~~

Maaga akong nagising. Sinadya kong mag-alarm ng maaga kahit konti lang ang tulog ko.

For the record, I can remember everything I did and said last night. I saw the message I wrote on my sticky note, and I even remembered writing that last night.

Naligo ako, madaling araw pa. Tangna, ang ginaw pala maligo early morning! The heater helped though. Pero pagkalabas ko ng CR nilamig pa din ako.

Pagkatapos makapagbihis, nagpunta na kong kusina to start cooking. For today, I'll be cooking breakfast for Raphael and I will bring it to his condo this early morning, para pagkagising pa lang niya, may breakfast na siya.

Sabi nga nila, the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Sounds corny and unbelievable, but worth the shot.

I was done cooking at around 5:30 AM. And then I drove off, with his condo as the destination.

Mainit-init pa ang dala kong pagkain while sumakay ako ng elevator. I rang the doorbell of his unit.

I just hope he's there pa. Wala pa namang 6am eh. Imposible namang mas maaga siyang nakaalis. Or worse, di siya dito natulog?

Pero nasagot ang tanong ko nang bumukas ang pinto.

He looked sooo cute with his disheveled hair. Saktong napahikab din siya pagkaopen. Kakagising lang niya, for sure.

Halata ang pagkagulat sa mukha niya nang makita ako.

"J-Jaz? What are you doing here?"

I showed him the lunchbox, or breakfast box, that I brought. "Dinalhan ka ng breakfast. Just so you know, I can remember everything I said to you last night. And I meant every inch of it. And I'm here now, to prove that to you and to start winning back your heart," I gave him my sweetest smile as I finished. Sumilip ako sa loob, "Can I go inside? Hindi pa din kasi ako kumakain. Sabay na tayo."