Pieces of Me

Nine

"Maine, Alex was calling you pala kanina pa. Ngayon ko lang din nakita. Medyo naaliw ako sa pinapanood ko eh. Three missed calls na o. Matagal ka pa ba diyan?

"RJ kakapasok ko lang. Could you answer when she calls again? Bihira tumawag yan so baka importan--"

"She sent a text. Do you want me to read it to you o ikaw na lang mamaya pagtapos mo maligo?"

"Read it to me na lang, love."

Woi san galing yung love? Aba at feel na feel mo na tala--

"Baby she's asking you a gardening question."

"Ha? Anong gardening question?"

"She's asking kung nadiligan na daw yung calachuchi mo. What do I tell her?"

Shutanginabells! Pahamak ka talaga Alexandra!! Juskolord ano na? Humanda ka saking babae ka. Babangon ako't dudurugin kita! Bwiset bwiset bwiset!

"Maine? Nalunod ka na ba diyan sa bathtub? What do I tell her? She texted again kasi. Kinakamusta yung hardinero mo. Menggay... is there something you want to tell me? Sinong hardinero? Also... wala ka namang calachuchi dito sa condo mo kahit dun sa balcony or sa kitchen. Come to think of it you have zero house plants. Baby is this code? Are we okay?"

Ohmygodohmygodohmygod anong sasabihin ko!? Author ka hindi ba? Make up a story! Research ganon! Ahm... character development kemerut! SAY SOMETHING BAGO KA PA PASUKIN NI---

"Maine, I'm coming in."

"TEKA KASI ANUBA! I'm naked, RJ! Mamaya na! Give me five minutes! Don't read her texts anymo---"

"She's calling!"

"Don't answer!"

"Kinakabahan na ko. Are you breaking up with me? Sino yung hardinero? Lumabas ka na diyan please! Pag-usa---- Menggay... punong puno ka pa ng sabon."

"MALAMANG! Hindi pa ko tapos maligo eh!"

"Bakit ka galit? Was I not supposed to find out about this hardinero guy? Nagsawa ka na ba sakin? Masyado na ba kong clingy? Sana lang... just... hindi ko kayang mawala ka sakin. Talk to me naman. Baka sakaling mabago ko pa yang isip mo."

Aba ginoong super mario anong sasabihin ko!?

"Maine, please. Tell me what I did wrong."

Sandali lang naman kasi diba? Ano ba kasi, paano ko sasabihin. Ganito kasi yan RJ, ikaw yung hardinero tapos yung ahm... PAANO KO SASABIHIN!?!

"Yes it's code."

"Oh."

Wow teh. Talaga, yun ang unang banat mo? Yes it's code? Tignan mo nga o malapit na umiyak yang si pogi. Ay ayan na, neng yung buhok mo o, hanggang Catarman Islands na lang. Sige sarili mo pa kausapin mo. Tuloy mo yan.

"RJ! Teka! Where are you going?"

"Home. Obvious naman na ayaw mo pang sabihin sakin. I'm just giving you time and space to think. Tsaka siguro ihahanda ko na rin ang sarili ko emotionally. Tawagan mo na lang ako pag ready ka na makipag-usap."

"What are you talking about?"

When all else fails, pull out your pa-inosente card.

"What do you mean what am I talking about?"

Ay pota ibinalik sakin. Ano to ping pong?

"Bakit ba galit na galit ka?"

"Who says I'm angry?"