Midnights with Pierce Psyche Esquivel

Chapter 18

I thought it would be a normal courting…but again he is always extra with everything. Hindi na dapat ako nagulat.

Napa buntong hininga ako habang nakatitig sa sampung naglalakihang bouquets ng red at white roses sa may pintuan ng unit ako. Kinuha ko lang sa baba ang delivery kong pagkain at ito na ang nadatnan ko pagkabalik ng unit.

At ang alam ko may shooting rin siya ngayon sa isang commercial at mamayang gabi pa iyon matatapos. And how do I know about it? He just started texting me everything that he does and I guessed he just stopped because he needs to work already.

I squatted and looked at one of the notes. At halos mapangiwi ako ng mabasa ito. He is corny too, huh?

‘I hope you’ll think of me all day just as much as I think of you.’

Wala na akong nagawa kung hindi ang isa-isa itong pinasok sa loob. And maybe I should buy some vases for it. Hindi ko naman pwede hayaan na lang na malanta at sayang rin lang naman.

I will arrange the bouquet in my room for now and I’ll be buying the vases after our dinner.

Wala akong pasok ngayon dahil Linggo at may iba akong lakad. I’ll be seeing Mom today with Brianne in a restaurant. I talked to her the other day and she said ‘yes’ so I shouldn't waste this opportunity. Minsan lang siya pumayag.

Afterwhich, I ate my lunch, took a short nap and got ready for dinner.

Panay ang alert messages ko habang naghahanda at akala ko ay si Mama o Papa na iyon pero hindi. It was Pierce again who was sending me tons of messages since this morning.

I told him that I’ll be meeting my Mom today with Brianna but I never told him anything about my Mother’s identity. Sikreto iyon ng pamilya namin at hindi ko naman basta-basta pwedeng sabihin na lang iyon dahil nanliligaw siya.

At ngayon ay panay na ang tanong niya kung anong oras kami matatapos at gusto niya kaming sunduin dahil matatapos na ang trabaho niya. I told him that it’s fine and he doesn't need to bother.

Maya-maya pa ay tumunog ang doorbell ko at siguradong si Brianna na iyon at Papa. I opened my door and I was right.

I kissed my Dad on the cheeks and Brianna hugged me tightly right after.

“Pwede bang mag commute na lang kayo mamaya pakauwi niyo? I have an emergency meeting, anak.” Papa asked unsurely.

Tumango ako. Mas maganda na iyon kaysa sa magkita pa sila ni Mama at kahit alam kung gusto niya ring makita si Mama kahit saglit.

“Ako na po ang bahala.”

My Dad is an architect but he wasn't able to work very well these past few years because of his depression and health. Kaya naman ang makita ko siyang ganito ay nagpapasaya sa akin ng husto.

We bid our goodbyes and I resumed preparing for our dinner. Mag aayos lang ako ng kaunti at aayusan ko rin si Brianna.

“You got many flowers, Ate.” She commented as she entered my room.

Right. I haven't told her nor my Dad that I have a very very invasive suitor.

Huminga ako ng malalim at lumuhod sa harapan niya.

“Tumatanggap ka na po ng bulaklak sa mga manliligaw mo?” She asked curiously with a hint of disgust on it.

“Yeah…may manliligaw na ako.” I carefully answered her back.

Agaran siyang umiwas ng tingin. “If it wasn't Kuya Pierce then I don’t want it.”

Hindi ko mapigilan na mapangiti sa sagot niya at halikan siya ng marahan sa namumula niyang pisngi.