Marrying Ms.Bratinella

Chapter 24. (In Between)

"I know that she loves me 'cause it's obvious
I know that she loves me 'cause it's me she trusts
And she's missing me if she's not kissing me
And when she looks at me, her brown eyes tell it so"

Danger

"Mahal mo na ba?"

As Lorene repeated my words. She's sitting in front of me while sipping her coffee. After I confessed my feelings towards Karina.

Mahal ko na ba siya? Siguro. Baka. I don't know. Naguguluhan ako which is 'di naman dapat.

"I guess so."  And I sighed deeply. "Hindi naman siya mahirap mahalin eh. Kaya lang..."

"Kaya lang ano? Naguguluhan ka. Dahil baka matulad na naman sa ex mo. Well, Danger, life is full of surprises. You know? Kaakibat ng pagmamahal ang sakit." Mahabang litanya ni Lorene. "Eh 'di masaktan at umiyak ka na lang ulit pag iniwan ka niya." She added.

Umasim ang mukha ko kasi kung makapagsalita siya akala mo nagmahal na nang tunay. Knowing her. Puro lang naman one night stand ang alam. Then the heck, she will advise me about love. It's a no for me, but she has a point. A 0.5 point.

I scratched my nose first before I answered her. "Kaya lang, baka iiwan niya lang din ako after all. Nakaka trauma, Lorene sa totoo lang. Like, takot na akong sumugal ulit. Baka pag iniwan na naman ako ng taong mahal ko. I'm scared that I won't make it. Iba 'to kaysa sa dati. Ibang-iba."

"Tingin mo ganun si Karina? Danger, I know that you know your wife's aura. Mahal ka nga nun dati pa eh. Baliw yun sayo kung hindi mo alam. Ang tiyaga ng asawa mong hintayin ka for so many years. She's a keeper. Don't let her go. Opportunity will come and knock just once. Not twice, Danger." She smiled at me saying you can do that. Ikaw pa ba.

Kaya natawa ako. Naging oportunista pa ako. Lorene is so full of herself. Ganun ang basa niya sa akin. Ang tiwala niya na kaya ko. Go ko na at sabihin kay Karina about my feelings. Knowing Lorene na wala pang karanasan sa totoong love.

"What's funny?" She asked me. 'Di na siguro nakatiis ang bruha.

"Nothing, it's just that so awkward na magbigay ka ng payo sa akin." May katotohanan na sagot ko.

"Crazy." While she does a head shake. "Atleast, matinong payo kahit papano."

"Do you have any errands to do?" Panay ang check niya kasi sa relo.

"Yeah. I'm waiting for someone. Oh, there she goes!" She pointed her pinky finger outside while sipping her coffee. "Gotta go, Danger." She's in a hurry to stand up then go out in the coffee shop.

No need to guess. May laban na naman ang bruha mamaya. As I shake my head and wave her goodbye.

I'm calling Karina at the moment. Naka ilang ring na ako eh hindi pa rin niya nasasagot. Was she busy? It's still 2:37 in the afternoon. Wala naman siyang class sabi niya sa akin kanina.

Hindi na ako papasok sa firm at puntahan na lang siguro siya sa school nila. I miss her so badly.

I left her a message just in case na mag check siya ng phone niya. Baka kasi magulat ko siya kung lilitaw lang ako bigla sa harapan niya.

I'm on the way to Karina school. Medyo malapit lang naman sa workplace ko. Mga 25-30 minutes? Ayain ko na lang siyang mag merienda if ever wala na siyang klase mamaya. I have so many thoughts in my mind kung paano ko umpisahan ang mga balak ko. Mukha akong tanga kasi hindi na ako bata sa ganito. But here I am, rehearsing on my mind sa mga possibilities na gagawin ko later.