Perfect Timing

[11] Perfect

"Dei, ready ka na umuwi?" asked Rich as he peeked from the other side of my cubicle.

The testing of the emergency fix to the code was a success. Even if I already released the build containing my fixes, I had to wait for the Test team to sign it off before I could leave. Thus the reason why Rich and I will be going home together.

Saka mas matipid at safe mag-taxi pauwi pag may kasama. Iilang buwan pa lang ako nagtatrabaho at ang hirap pala na mag-survive sa sweldo na mala-sibuyas. Mala-sibuyas sya kasi NAKAKAIYAK.

Anyway, binilin din naman ni Sam na sumabay ako pauwi kay Rich - goodness, if you knew Sam, she can strike fear in the hearts of many if you cross her. Better be safe than sorry talaga.

"Yup. I'll just run to the ladies' room real quick after mag-shutdown ng machine ko. Kanina pa ako nawiwiwi pero natatakot lang akong lumabas nang walang may alam na mag-CR ako," I replied with a shiver, holding it in.

"Naku, bakit di ka nagsabi? May mga tester ako na pwede kong sabihan na samahan ka sana."

"Okay lang yun, noh. Kaya ko pa naman tiisin. Sige, sa lobby na lang tayo magkita. Mabilis lang ako," I told him as I grabbed my bag and left for the toilet.

After my business was done, I gave myself a pep talk at the mirror. "Dei, diretsuhin mo na si Rich. Let him explain pero wag basta-basta maniwala! Tell him na you can be civil to each other pero it will take time for you to feel comfortable with him again. Okay? Okay."

Taking a deep breath, I squared my shoulders and went out of the ladies' room, ready to finally address the issue between Rich and I.

*****

"So Rich."
"Dei, pwede ba--"

We were in the taxi on the way home when we started to talk at the same time. "Ladies first," Rich said.

"Quick question muna. Do you already have an idea what the problem is?"

"May idea na pero gusto ko lang maniguro kaya mas okay siguro kung sa iyo na manggaling," he replied.

"Okay. If possible, wag kang magre-react until I'm done. Ready ka na?" I asked him and he nodded in answer.

"Remember the night of your birthday? The night when Lanie first arrived in Cebu? Everything started that evening.

"I was coming out of my room to do my nightly routine when I heard you and Lanie talking on the couch. Sasara ko na sana yung pinto - it is a private conversation after all - when I heard my name and I decided to listen in for a bit."

As I was saying the last part, Rich's expression turned into a grimace. Ahh, now he really knows where this conversation's going.

"Imagine my surprise when your girlfriend mentioned that he thinks I have a crush on you. I got curious on what your response would be. Ang inisip ko pa nga, 'Ay for sure i-a-assure nya si Lanie na friends lang turing ko sa kanya.'

"In fairness naman sayo, you did that. Pero... you did more than that. You assured her na walang problema yun. Kasi hindi mo type ang mga matataba at maiitim na gaya ko. After you said that, I couldn't take it anymore. Sinara ko na lang ang pinto and I promised to myself that I will only be civil to you from that moment on.

"So ngayon, naiintindihan mo ba kung bakit naiilang akong kausap ka? Naiintindihan mo na yung pakiramdam ko sa nagawa ninyo sa akin?"

Rich ran a hand across his face. He took a deep breath then asked, "Pwede na akong sumagot?" I nodded in reply.

"First of all, gusto ko lang mag-sorry dahil sa narinig mo. Naiintindihan ko na kung bakit di ka na masyado nakikipag-usap sa akin kahit sa bahay. Di ko na pwedeng ibalik yung mga nasabi ko kaya sorry na lang yung sasabihin ko.

"Pero may idadagdag lang sana ako, Dei. What you heard - una pa lang yun. Sinabi ko kay Lanie na napakabait mong housemate at comfortable ako sayo kasi naaalala ko sa iyo yung pinsan ko na pinakakasundo ko. At kaibigan lang talaga ang turingan natin sa isa't isa.

"Sinabi ko nga rin na malabong magka-crush ka din sa akin kasi sinabihan mo na rin ako na mukha akong matanda saka pangit ako manamit."

Wa-wait, what? He heard that?

"Ah, teka lang. Kelan mo narinig yun? Erm, I mean, kelan ako nagsabi ng ganyan?"

"Minsan nag-uusap kayo ni Sam sa bahay, nabanggit mo sya. Di nyo yata napansin na nasa kitchen ako at malakas yung boses nyo galing sa kabilang bahay. Tinutukso ka kasi ni Sam sa akin nun. Ayun, pagsagot mo, sabi mo na wala kang crush sa akin dahil dun," he calmly explained.

Busted. Here I am on my high-horse, expecting him to grovel for the injustice he did to me when all along, I was also guilty of what I had accused him of.

Pot, meet kettle.

"Oh, um, Sam and I were just fooling around. She was teasing me kasi ako daw yung madalas mong kausapin sa bahay. Tinukso ko kasi sya about Ben then similar to what happened with you and Lanie about me, nalipat sayo yung usapan," I rambled on, trying to explain things without digging myself an even deeper hole.

"Okay lang yun, naiintindihan ko. Ganon din naman yung sa amin ni Lanie. Pero hindi maganda yung ginawa ko kasi hindi yun gawain ng isang gentleman. Kahit kailan, hindi dapat nilalagay ang babae sa alanganin lalo na sa mga usapan tungkol sa crush. Baka isipin pa ng mga tao na ang vain ko akala mo naman kung sinong guwapo," he stated with conviction.

If it were possible, I felt myself shrink even further in mortification.

"It's fine, Rich!" I answered with a smile. At least I hope my face showed a smile. "Good that we finally cleared the air. I... I only wanted to know the reason naman. And now that you've explained it in detail, okay na ako. Saka dapat mag-sorry din ako sa iyo because what I did, while done in jest, isn't something friends should do behind their backs."

"Okay lang yun. Sa sunod, harapan na tayo mag-asaran," he replied with a bedimpled smile.

It was at that moment when the cab arrived at our place. Oh thank goodness, we're finally here!

After paying for our fare and helping me out, we walked in silence towards our apartment. Upon entering the house, I bid him goodnight and was turning towards my room when he called out to me.

"Dei? Friends na ba tayo ulit? Wala nang tampuhan?" He held out his hand as I turned towards him.

I stared at his hand for a few moments. Slowly, a smile formed on my lips, a genuine one this time, as I shook his hand. "Friends."