Perfect Timing

[9] Changes

"... may crush ka nga ba talaga sa akin?"

I stood there, stunned and speechless at the audacity of Rich to ask me that question. I blinked - once, twice, three times but I still couldn't wrap my head around this sudden turn of events.

"Dei? Ok ka lang? You look shell-shocked," he asked.

"A-Ako? Paano akong magiging okay? After you asked that... that stupid question!" I sputtered in response.

His cheeks turned red in embarrassment as he finally seemed to realize his mistake. He ran a hand through his hair and he mumbled his answer. "Hindsight is always 20/20 talaga ano? Sorry Dei, ha? I know na parang presko ang dating ng tanong ko pero wala akong masamang intensyon, na-curious lang talaga ako."

Aba, aba, aba, palusot ka pa?!?

Finally getting my wits back, I retorted, "Okay, you got curious - Fine. Pero what would you have done if I said Yes or No? Aber, ipaliwanag mo. What would you have done with the information?"

He kept quiet for a moment and adjusted the glasses on his face as he thought of his response. "Kung sinabi mong 'No', e di hindi, wala talaga. Pag sinabi mong 'Yes'... ayun, ibig sabihin tama si Lanie ng hula," he answered sheepishly.

What the heck? Ganon lang ba kasimple yun?

"Wow, ganon lang ba yun? Anong pake ko kung tama o mali si Lanie? Anong mahihita nya? Magsasabihan kayo ng 'I told you so'? Wala ba kayong ibang mapag-usapan ng girlfriend mo at pati ako dinadamay nyo?" I fumed.

"Let me spell it out for you, Rich. Whether I answered your question or not, things would now become awkward between the two of us. Bakit? Kasi whatever answer I gave, I would now start to avoid you kasi feelingera kayo ng gf mo. Baka pag nadikitan pa kita lalo, isipin ng girlfriend mo na I have the hots for you."

Having said my piece, I started to walk away but Rich grabbed my hand and said, "Dei, I'm sorry. Wala naman talaga akong masamang intensyon. Can... can we just forget that I asked the question and go back to being good friends?"

I looked at our joined hands and raised an eyebrow before I yanked it out of his hold. "Sorry Rich, hindi ito pelikula na kagaya ng MIB where you can wipe away my memory para di ko matandaan na nangyari ito. I feel so embarrassed and furious at the same time na konting-konti na lang masasampal na kita. So you better stay out of my way kasi lalabas ang ugali kong taga-Singalong at masasapak talaga kita pag hahara-hara ka sa dadaanan ko sa susunod!"

I stalked off and as I reached the bottom of the stairs I turned around to look at Rich. He was still staring at me with a sad look on his face. Well, boohoo! He should have thought of the consequences before he did that.

"And by the way, para maklaro na talaga ang mga bagay-bagay, WALA AKONG CRUSH SA IYO. Sabihin mo sa nobya mo, walang aagaw sayo dito at isaksak ka nya sa baga nya!" And I ran up the stairs and dashed into my room where I finally let the tears flow, praying it washes away my embarrassment and anger.

*****

*knock, knock, knock*

I awoke to the sound of knocking on my door.

"Dei? Gising ka na, hindi ka pa daw nagdi-dinner. Tara, kain tayo sa Pepperito's, treat ko," called out Sam from the other side of the door.

I opened my eyes to darkness and stayed in bed, feeling lethargic, not wanting to get up at all.

*knock, knock, knock*

"Dei! Open this door! Kanina pa nag-aalala yung mga tao dito sa iyo. I swear, bubulabugin ko yung landlord natin to get the spare key to your room if you don't open this in the next few minutes!" she threatened. A smile started to stretch my lips. Ahh, there's the Sam I've come to know and love.

I sat up in bed and rubbed my eyes, hoping that any sign of my crying jag is no longer visible on my face.

*knock, knock, knock*

"Dei! Open this door within a minute or else!"

I stood up and opened the door and asked, "Or else what?"

Sam breathed a sigh of relief. "Buhay pa sya guys, thank goodness!"

My eyes widened at their assumption that something might have happened to me. "Ang OA nyo ha! Natulog lang yung tao dahil sa pagod tapos kung anu-ano na naisip ninyo dyan."

"E kasi this is the first time na past 8pm na hindi ka pa nagdi-dinner. Diet ka ba, teh?"

I smiled sweetly at Sam even if I wanted to slap her silly at the moment. "Mag-toothbrush at maghihilamos lang ako ha? Tapos pwede na tayo umalis."

"Isama mo na rin yung pagsusuklay ha? Ang iksi lang ng buhok mo pero parang dinaanan ng ipo-ipo ang dating!" called out Sam as I entered the bathroom. Sam, Sam, Sam; what would I do without you.

*****

Pepperito's is a small restaurant about a block from where we lived. It offers comfort food and since I needed comfort at this time, I ordered a tocilog and one big ass slice of chocolate cake. And no, I am not sharing it with Sam, thank you very much.

"Naku, naku, naku! Ang bait mo talaga bru! Kung ako yun, nasampal o nasabunutan ko na sya. Wala akong pake kahit matangkad sya! Gagawan ko ng paraan at maaabot ko din ang buhok nya!" fumed Sam on my behalf.

"Hayaan mo na sya. I'm going to avoid being alone with him and just be civil pag magkakasama tayo as a group. Hindi rin naman sya madalas makipag-usap sa atin so walang masyadong adjustment na mangyayari. Wag lang bumisita ulit yung girlfriend nyang ewan kundi... nakuuuu!"

"Kunsabagay, useful din ang pagiging aloof ni Rich sa atin. Kering-keri na di sya pansinin at all. Saka mahilig yun sa routine kaya pwede mo talaga iwasan yung mga oras na nasa salas or kitchen sya." Sam suddenly had a thoughtful look on her face. "Siguro kaya din madalas makitambay satin si Ryan noh? Kasi mapapanis laway nya pag hinintay nyang makipagkwentuhan sa kanya si Rich." And we laughed out loud as the imagery of that scenario popped up in our head.

We were already back at the gate of our house when I suddenly remembered, "Yung labada ko! Hala, nakatulugan ko sya!" I rushed to the laundry area and to my surprise, all of my clothes are now hanging to dry.

"O, tapos na pala labada mo e!" said Sam as she followed me there. We started up the staircase and I wondered in a loud voice, "E sino naman naglaba nun samantalang nakatulog nga ako?"

The door of our apartment opened and out came Rich who said, "Ako na yung nagtapos ng labada mo. It was the least I could do pagkatapos ng nangyari."

I grabbed onto Sam's arm tightly, not letting her go as she might leave me alone with Rich.

"Thank you, Rich. Hindi naman kailangan pero salamat pa rin," I mumbled my thanks to him.

"O sige, pasok ka na sa bahay at may... may itatanong nga pala ako kay Rich," Sam fibbed.

"Sige, una na ako sanyo, Rich, Sam. Goodnight," I nodded at Sam, thankful for the reprieve as I rushed inside the house, going inside my room without looking back at the two.

First night of Oplan Iwas - SUCCESS!