Perfect Timing

[6] Jealous

"Hi Lanie! Welcome to Cebu! Ikaw ha, di mo natiis si Rich, talagang binisita mo pa talaga dito! Huwag kang mag-alala, good boy yan kahit madaming may crush sa kanya," Sam divulged, receiving death glares from Ben, Ryan and I.

"What? Totoo naman di ba? The girls and gays alike in the office always look at him when he passes by. Dapat nga proud tayo kasi 'crush ng bayan' si Rich kahit suplado," Sam continued, ignoring our stares.

Lanie grabbed on to Rich's arm and laughed. "Okay lang yun! Sanay na ako sa ganyan. Kahit naman sa kanila, ganyan din ang effect nya. May pinsan kasi siya na bading tapos yung mga barkada, grabe makatitig sa kanya, akala mo gustong iulam sa kanin. Tapos pag nagde-date kami sa labas, madalas syang tinititigan. Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit ang lakas ng appeal nya, e ang suplado naman tapos parang matanda ang ayos!"

"Parang matanda ang ayos pala ha. Kaya pala nung niligawan kita, ang bilis mo akong sinagot," he teased Lanie.

"E kasi naghahanap ako ng father figure tapos ikaw ang bumagay," she retorted back.

Sige, magharutan pa kayo sa harap ko. Sige lang.

We all laughed at how they teased each other like an old married couple and I breathed a sigh of relief when Rich said, "Gutom na ako; tara kain na tayo! Buffet naman kaya diretso na lang tayo sa mga station."

We all stood up and went to the buffet station as a group. While the guys were busy filling up their plates, Sam sidled up to me and whispered, "Okay ka lang, Dei? Nag-iba yung mukha mo kanina nung nag-uusap si Rich saka yung girlfriend nya."

Shucks! Did I really do that? "Oo naman, bakit hindi ako magiging okay? Gutom lang talaga ako kasi hindi ako nag-merienda. Yung mga bilbil ko mababawasan pag hindi ako nakakain sa tamang oras," I replied in jest.

"Sabi mo yan ha," she looked at me as if in doubt. "Babatukan kita nang malakas pag malaman kong tama ang hinala ko! I'm watching you."

As we sat down to eat our first round of dishes, Sam asked, "Would you mind if we ask you questions?" To which Ben countered, "Hoy Sam, mahiya ka naman! First time mo pa lang nakita si Lanie, gini-grill mo na?"

"Ano bang paki mo? Ikaw ba tatanungin ko? And for your information, wala akong pake sa gurangers mo na lovelife! Pwe!" Sam answered back.

I stepped in since the two were at each other's throats again. "Pasensya ka na Lanie, ha? Ganyan talaga yang dalawang yan, sobrang sweet mag-usap. Just don't mind Sam's request; she's always like that even with people she meets for the first time."

"Ay, okay lang naman sa amin, di ba, love? Ngingiti na lang kami if hindi namin kaya sagutin," Lanie replied. Rich looked uneasy but short of saying 'No' to his girlfriend outright, he just didn't answer at all.

Love. Okay. Parang ayaw ko na yata ituloy ang discussion na ito.

"O ayan, okay daw ha! Ako na magisisimula!" and the ever inquisitive Sam started the ball rolling. "Gaano na kayo katagal? Saka paano ba manligaw yang si Rich? Ang tahi-tahimik sa bahay, parang iniisip ko kung nagsasalita ba sya pag nanliligaw."

Ben and I rolled our eyes at Sam's question. Hindi talaga pwedeng walang okray dito kay Sam e.

"Isang taon na kaming dalawa. Actually, nagkakilala kami sa simbahan. Reader/Lector kasi ako tapos sya Chief Sacristan. Laging nagkikita sa simbahan, kaya ayun, nagkausap and nagkakilala. Tapos tinukso ng mga kasama sa church kasi bagay daw kami. Siguro napansin nya na hindi ko naman sya binara kaya pagkatapos ng isang Linggo, nagdala ng bulaklak sa simbahan saka nagtanong kung pwedeng manligaw. After 1 month, sinagot ko na rin kasi naawa na ako sa kanya," Lanie teased.

Uy, chief sakristan. Pero teka, last year lang? Pwede palang sakristan hanggang 20?

"Anong bulaklak dinala nya? Sampaguita? Saka 20 na sya, sakristan pa rin? Ano yun di sya pinagraduate?" Sam asked and I kicked her under the table. While I'm grateful that she asked the question, her tactlessness is really going to get her into trouble one of these days. "Aray ko! Ba't ka ba naninipa? Curious lang talaga ako, masama ba?"

Lanie laughed while glancing at Rich who looked even more uncomfortable since we started talking. "Dapat sya sumagot nyan hindi ako. Ikaw na, love. Please?"

Rich answered albeit unwillingly it seems. "Dun sa sakristan, pwede naman hanggang 21 saka nag-e-enjoy ako mag-serve kaya ganon. Yung faith ko tumatag sa pagiging sakristan ko. At least kung mag-aasawa na ako, alam ng mapapangasawa ko na God-fearing yung magiging kabiyak nya. 

"Yung sa gift ko naman kay Lanie, isang rose lang. Wala kasi akong pambili ng bouquet nun. Field Technician lang naman ang trabaho ko dati," he said in a somewhat self-deprecating manner. Switching to a lighter tone, he then told Lanie, "Naawa ka sa akin? Kaya pala kapag hindi ako nakadalaw sa inyo ng isang gabi, tampo ka na the following day. Natakot ka lang siguro na may ibang makakuha sa akin kaya sinagot mo na ako. Mabenta yata ito!"

Everyone at the table laughed, including me, seeing a different side of Rich who is typically reserved when at home. Maybe he's only talkative and teasing when he's with someone he cares for.

The rest of the evening passed by quickly, filled with controversial topics, laughter and delicious food from the buffet. We went home in two taxis, leaving the lovers in one taxi while Ben, Ryan, Sam and I were in another. 

"Ang sikip naman natin dito! Dapat talaga Dei, sumama ka na lang sa kabilang taxi, swak ka naman dun - lahat ng babaeng may crush kay Rich!" Sam exclaimed.

"Dei?! Hindi nga! May crush ka nga ba talaga kay Rich?" Ben asked, surprised.

"Oo nga, Dei, di ko alam yun ah," Ryan added.

"Hoy Sam!!! Yan na nga ba sinasabi ko, mamaya masabi mo yan sa harap nila Lanie at Rich, nakakahiya! Ben, Ryan, at SAM, wala po akong crush kay Rich. Para lang tayong magkakapatid sa bahay, bawal ang ganyanan," I answered even as I blushed furiously, glad that the darkness could mask my embarrassment.

The conversation ended, thankfully, as we arrived at the house. Claiming to be sleepy already, I went ahead and stayed in my room until I thought it was safe to come out without being interrogated by the three. Bringing my towel and toiletries, I slightly opened the door to check if the coast was clear and heard people talking. I was about to close my door again when I heard my name and decided to listen for a bit.

"... yung Dei palagay ko may crush sayo yun," said Lanie.

"Huh? Pano mo naman nasabi? Ikaw, pati ba naman kasama ko sa bahay pinagseselosan mo?" Rich replied.

"Hindi kaya! Never kaya ako naging selosa sayo kasi secure ako na ako lang ang love mo. Pansin ko lang kasi na panay ang tingin nya sayo tapos hindi maipinta yung mukha nung nagkukuwento tayo tungkol sating dalawa."

Oh shoot, did I really do that?

"Pssh, wala lang yun, baka ganon lang talaga facial expression nya. Saka, hindi ako magkakagusto dun no. Alam mo naman na ang type ko, maputi saka sexy. E si Dei, ang taba-taba tapos maitim pa! Hindi sya ang tipo kong babae!" Rich replied.

Not able to take anymore, I slowly and quietly closed the door to my room. I sat down on my bed, in disbelief at the fact that Rich said those hateful words when I thought he and I were friends.

All of sudden, the tears came out and I bit my pillow, trying to prevent the sobs from being heard outside. My heart felt like it was being crushed and that night, I cried myself to sleep with the words "mataba" and "maitim" echoing in my head.