Perfect Timing

[14] Sign

I was seated on the sofa, watching TV, when I heard someone call my name.

"Psst... huy Dei," Sam called out from her apartment door.

"Ano yun?" I asked testily. Today hasn't been the greatest of days. I woke up with cramps due to my monthly visitor and in the office, everything that could go wrong had gone wrong.

Late to the office - check. Busted machine - check. Emergency meetings - check. No time for lunch - check. Overtime request for tomorrow - check. Can this day get any worse?

"Grabe sya, ang sungit! Punta ka dito, I cooked tuna carbonara and I have enough for both of us."

Hmm, I just really want to be alone tonight...

"I also have garlic bread and raspberry iced tea," she added, seemingly aware of my internal dilemma.

Darn. Free food vs. Solitude?

"Be there in a few. Kunin ko lang phone ko." Shoot, Dei, you're weak. You're really weak af.

Within 5 minutes, Sam and I were seated on the sofa, chowing down on her glorious carbonara while watching the episodes we missed on the latest season of "Charmed". I sigh as I suddenly wish I had magical powers like my favorite character, Piper Halliwell.

"Ungh mrshhff ufff," Sam said around a full mouth to my confused look.

"What? Nguyain at lunukin mo muna yang kinakain mo. I didn't understand a word that you said."

She took a big gulp of the iced tea before replying. "Ang sabi ko, why the sigh? Ang lalim e."

"Haaaaayyy! Naloloka na kasi ako sa araw na ito. Kung kelan malapit na ang bakasyon, parang ang daming hindi magandang nangyayari. Yung period ko, fine, monthly naman talaga dumarating yun. Pero yung nalate ako sa trabaho kasi walang masakyan kanina, tapos di na ako nakapag-lunch dahil sa dami ng emergency meetings then may request for OT tomorrow dahil may extra release bukas, ano yun?!? Sabay-sabay talaga?"

My rant was interrupted when my phone pinged with an incoming message. Sam smirked as she saw me quickly view the message on my phone.

"Si lover boy ba yan?" she asked saucily.

"Hoy! Lover boy ka dyan! Classmate ko sya nung college and friendly lang sya. Wag kang assuming dyan," I corrected her while my cheeks flamed in embarrassment.

"Asus! Kausap mo araw-araw, madalas mag-text, tapos ikaw, ngiting abot Manila ka lagi pag kausap mo sya. If that is just being friendly, then friends lang pala kami ng boyfriend ko," she answered while she scooped a forkful of pasta in her mouth.

"Wow, ikaw ba may hawak ng cellphone ko? Bakit alam mo na sya yung nagte-text? Or tumatawag? Hindi ba pwede na mga kapatid ko or ibang tao yun?"

"Family, my butt! Pag kausap mo kaya yung kapatid mo, lagi kang nakasimangot. Tapos ang lagi mong sinasabi, 'hindi ko pa sweldo' or 'mas maliit kaya ang pasweldo dito sa Cebu kesa sa Manila.' Pero sige, para maniwala ako na iba yun, patingin ng phone," she challenged. "Daliiiiii! Akin na yan!"

Putting my phone out of her reach, I rolled my eyes and came clean to her. "Fine! Si Kim nga yung nag-text ngayon. Mabait lang yung tao, saka bumabawi lang sya sa bad first date experience naming dalawa."

If Sam were a dog, her ears would have twitched when she heard the last sentence. But Sam being Sam, her eyes widened and she slammed her hand continuously on the arm of the couch in excitement.

"Gurrrrrrrllllll! How come I only heard about this today?!? Akala ko ba friends tayo? When? Where? Why? How? Oh my gosh, dalaga na ang friend ko! Nakipag-date na sya!" Sam said excitedly.

"Ang OA mo! Hello, nakapag-date na ako dati. Kahit ganito itsura ko, I've had two boyfriends na kaya. And ngayon mo lang sya nalaman kasi hindi mo naman ako tinanong. Si Rich lang ang may alam kasi kasama ko sya the day when Kim first called."

Sam's eyes widened even more when she heard that last part. "Alam ni Mr. Friendship yung history about Kim?" Her look suddenly switching to a smirk, she teased me again, "At ngayon alam ko na kung bakit ang sungit nya lately. Uuuuyyyy, may nagseselos sa friend ko! Girl, pakitalian nga yang buhok mo, umaabot dito sakin e, sinasampal ako."

I laughed out loud at what Sam said. "Hahaha! Patawa ka talaga! A-ako? Ang lala na talaga ng tama ng utak mo! Mas may chance pa na may gusto si Ben sayo kesa magselos si Rich sa akin. And excuse me, may girlfriend sya plus he doesn't like women of my color and size."

Sam raised a brow at me. "Ah, defensive much? Ang daming explanation sa sinabi ko, pwede namang, 'you're kidding' lang ang sagot."

"Tsk. Ikaw? Makukuntento with that answer? Noooooo. I know you quite well, Sam. Nuh-uh, it wouldn't work."

"Fine!" she huffs in reply. "Pero teka, you still owe me that story about the date, the call and the convo with Mr. Congeniality."

Knowing I won't get out of her apartment without telling her the details, I recounted what happened. I must have been a pretty good storyteller that when I ended the tale, Sam's mouth was hanging open. I stood up and pushed her mouth closed. "Baka pasukan yan ng lamok," I teased.

I got the surprise of my life when Sam hit the back of my head with her hand. "Awwww! What the heck was that for?"

Sam blubbered for a moment before screeching at me. "Girl, ang dense mo!!! He wants to have another date with you! He likes you! Di ba obvious sayo yun?"

"Wow, ikaw na ang expert sa relationships. O sige, let's say he does like me - which I totally doubt, by the way - how do we make it work? Virtual ligawan? Virtual dates? Anong klaseng relationship yun if ever?" I challenged.

"Ouch. Ang sakit, girl. Hindi pa ba kami sapat na example on how to make a long-distance relationship work? So far okay naman di ba? All four of us are still in our current relationships. I'm even engaged! So it is possible to make it work if you want it to. The REAL question is: are you too chicken to give it a try?" she countered back.

I paused for a few moments to think about what Sam said. Finally, I answered, "Sige, if within 10 minutes I get a text, call or any message from him, I'll give him a chance. Otherwise, baka third time's the charm ang magwo-work kay Kim."

"Grabe ka. He already texted you earlier and I'm sure you told him, 'talk to you tomorrow.' Extend the deadline bukas ng umaga uy! Unfair ka!"

I stood up, stretched, yawned then placed my plate in the sink. "Bru, maaga pa ako papasok bukas. Basta, yun ang sign na hinihingi ko. If wala, sorry na lang sya."

"Hay, may magagawa pa ba ako? Iwan mo na yang plato mo dyan. Sa dami ng chika mo, kulang pa yung pagpapakain ko sayo. Goodnight bru!"

I have just entered our apartment when Rich came out of the toilet, heading back to his room. "Uy Dei. Nakalimutan ko sabihin sayo kanina, may dumating na card para sayo, nasa ibabaw ng TV."

"Card? Di ko naman birthday ah. Sino naman magpapadala sa akin?" I wondered aloud.

"Nagtataka ka pa ba? E di syempre, galing sa manliligaw mo - si Kim. Sige, matutulog na ako. Goodnight." Then Rich went back into their room and slammed the door closed.

"Deiiiiiii! Ayan na ang sign mo! You have to give him a chance!!!" Sam shrieked from her door.

Hala! Lord, sign na po ba talaga ito na dapat kong i-consider si Kim? Waaaah! Magkaka-lovelife na din ba ako?