Ineffable Euphoria

Kabanata 35

Kabanata 35...
Shadows

"Ang sabi ni Leon sa'kin, ang sinabi lang sa kan'ya ni Aga ay may sinabi lang s'ya sa'yo. Pareho pati kaming nacu-curious ilang araw na kung ano 'yon," ani Callie.

"Si Attorney hottie?" Mula sa pagli-lift ng dumbbell ay nilingon kami ni Mia at nagpapahid ng pawis na tinungo kami ni Callie na pawang nagpapahinga.

Mia had complained that Pilates was boring her, suggesting we switch to the gym instead, and here we were, seated in the corner of the gym after 20 minutes of cardio, now apparently talking about "Attorney Hottie."

"Attorney hottie, Mia?" natatawang ani Callie.

"Eh, he's hot and he's an attorney so..." Mia giggles and sits beside Callie. "Naiinis nga sa'kin si Justin, nagseselos yata nang marinig ang palayaw ko roon."

Natawa na rin ako.

I really admire the dynamic of their relationship. Para bang hindi lumipas sa kanila ang honeymoon stage after marriage. Puno pa rin ng saya at romance ang pagsasama nila. I wonder how they do it... Especially since I rarely see couples maintain their loving relationship even after many years.

"Hindi naman importante ang sinabi n'ya sa'kin,"

Callie made a skeptical face, as if she didn't quite believe what I had just said. Sinabayan pa ni Mia kaya napairap ako.

Pilit kong ipinagsasawalang bahala ang mga tanong nila sa'kin tungkol sa kung ano mang mayroon sa'min ni Ali, o kahit pa ang sinabi n'ya lang noong nakila Callie kami.

They eventually stopped asking me, but they continued to discuss how curious they were about him.

It's not that I don't trust them enough. It's just that I am not really comfortable talking about Ali, especially when I don't even know where to start. Lalo pa dahil sa sinabi hauling sinabi n'ya sa'kin.

I still can't wrap my head around what he's trying to do.

Manliligaw s'ya? That's absolutely ridiculous. Ni hindi ko nga alam na nasa bokabularyo n'ya 'yon. Sanay s'ya na babae ang madalas humabol sa kan'ya, baka minamaliit n'ya ang salitang panliligaw?

Alessandro:

I planned to go to your office this morning, pero may importanteng bagay lang talaga akong kailangan ayusin.
May ipinadala na lang ako d'yan sa office mo. I hope you'll like it. :)
I miss you.

"Oh my God..." eksaherada kong bulong nang mabasa ang huli n'yang mensahe.

Kasasakay ko lamang ng elevator pataas sa aking office nang mag check ng messages at sa kan'ya agad ang bumungad.

This is nuts.

Is this really him?

"Good morning, Miss Marjorie," Bless greets me as soon as I open the glass doors.

I gave her a subtle smile and return her greeting.

Bless reiterate all my agendas for today. Hanggang makarating ako sa pintuan ng aking office ay may ilan pa rin s'yang inilalathala.

"Is that all?"

"That's all po." She smiles, but then her eyes widen as she seemingly remembers another thing. "Muntik ko na pong makalimutan. Nasa loob po ang mga kapatid n'yo,"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko.

Huli n'ya pa iyong sinabi?!

Nauna pang mapukaw ng tingin ko ang palumpon ng tulips na nasa lamesa ko, at isang paper bag kalapit niyon, bago ang mga kapatid kong nakaupo sa harap ng lamesa ko't ineeksamina ang mga bulaklak.