Perfect Timing

[20] Give It A Try

"Kim? Hello? Good morning!" I greeted Kim as I called him early the next day. I was in the living room, taking the time to call him as I waited for Sam and Ben to finish getting ready for work. Para akong chaperone dun sa dalawa, pero sige na lang, Sam needs all the support she can get at this time.

"Good morning Dei! O, napatawag ka bigla," he said, seemingly happy as I could hear the happiness in his voice. "Wait, is this good news? About my plan for Saturday? Please say yes, please say yes," he pleaded.

"Actually," I started, feeling my palms sweat as I was about to dash his hopes. Pero in fairness, para akong artista, may pa-Actually pa 😂. I clear my throat, trying to get the words out of my mouth. "Actually, hindi ako pwede--"

"Hindi sya pwedeng humindi sa kung anumang plano ninyo!" Sam said as she grabbed my phone and talked to Kim on the other end. "Hello nga pala, this is Sam, Dei's friend and housemate who has been dying to meet you! So, ano na yung plan nyo ulit dalawa?"

Glaring at Sam as I took my phone back, I forced a smile onto my face as I talked to Kim once more. "Ah, Kim, can I just call you back in a few minutes? May istorbo kasi dito na hindi marunong umintindi ng 'personal space' at 'privacy'. I'll call you back once I'm in the office, okay?"

"Sige, if you're still thinking about it or pag 'Hindi' ang naiisip mong sagot, take your time. Pero kung 'Oo' na, tawag ka agad; I promise to answer your call immediately. Scout's honor," he replied, still trying to eke out a 'Yes' from me.

"Sige na, tatawag ako mamaya - whether the answer's YES or NO, malalaman mo agad. Bye."

As soon as the call dropped, I turned to Sam, who stood there, wiggling her brows as her eyes twinkled with mischief. "Ayiiiii! Magkaka-boyfriend na si bunso! Oh my goodness, nagdadalaga ka na!"

I opened my mouth to retort when the door to Ryan and Rich's room opened. Out came Rich and smiled at Sam and I. "Morning," he mumbled and headed into the kitchen for his morning coffee. Hmm, he's back to his old, grumpy self it seems.

I quickly pulled Sam into her apartment and hissed. "Gaga! Nag-uusap lang ng maaga, magkakaboyfriend na agad? Ano yun, parang instant noodles na lalagyan mo lang ng mainit na tubig, within 3 minutes ready na? Hoy, dalagang Pilipina yata ako, hard to get!"

"E teka, ano ba yung pinag-uusapan nyo kanina kung hindi yun tungkol sa pagsagot mo sa kanya?" she asked as she stared at me quizzically.

I stared at her in disbelief and laughed hysterically after. "Ayan! Kasi ang tsismosa mo! Hindi muna kasi intindihin yung istorya bago nakisabat. Ang 'assuming' mo kasi," I teased Sam as I hugged her for being so irritating yet irresistably cute.

"Teka nga. Maiba ako. Ikaw, kamusta ka naman? You seem to be in a better mood this morning," I asked.

Sam gave me a wry grin and said, "It is what it is. Okay na rin ako after I vented everything out to you. Thank you talaga for listening to my kadramahan. Pero... you're changing the topic! Yung sanyong dalawa ni Kim ang tinatanong ko! Anone?"

"Alam mo ikaw, minsan nakakaawa, madalas nakakainis. Pero sige, since involved ka naman, share ko na rin sa iyo." I took a deep breath and said in a rush, "Kim's planning to visit me here this weekend..."

"But?" she prompted.

"But I'm planning to say no kasi may plans na tayo together this weekend e. And syempre kayo ang mas priority ko over him."

Sam stared at me as if I had grown an extra pair of eyes on my head. "Hindi ko alam kung sasabunutan o iuumpog kita. Ang tanga mo girl! Mag-e-effort na nga yung tao para makasakay sa eff-lane para makita ka tapos sasabihan mo ng 'No'? And for what? Kasi nagdrama ako kagabi? Well, ngayon pa lang, sinasabi ko na sa iyo: hindi ka namin pasasamahin sa lakad namin. Dun ka sa manliligaw mo or maiwan kang mag-isa dito sa bahay - your choice."

"Wow, so ngayon ako pa ang masama kasi inuna ko lang ang family natin dito? Dahil hindi ako naging selfish? Salamat talaga ha," I replied, miffed at Sam's reaction. I stood up and hurriedly went back into our apartment with Sam quickly following behind.

"Dei! Hoy, ano ba? Wag ka na magtampo dyan! Gusto ko lang naman na i-explore mo yung possibility between you and Kim, masama ba yun? Di ba, Rich?"

"Huh?" Rich asked, puzzled.

"Basta! Just say yes!" Sam demanded from Rich, as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Uh--- yes?" Rich answered.

"See?!? Kahit si Rich agree na ituloy mo yung date nyo ni Kim. Kaya please, pumayag ka na. Kung ayaw mo na whole day kayo magkasama, kahit dinner mo na lang sya yayain. Although Lord knows na wala kayong masyadong mapupuntahan dito paglagpas ng 8 or 9pm even on a weekend."

(A/N: Yes, Cebu was such a sleepy city way back 2001/2002. As in, tahimik na sa Mabolo by 8pm.)

"Huh? Teka, date? Sino? Kelan? Saan?" Rich asked, his curiosity piqued at what he heard.

"Kim and Dei. Saturday. Dito sa Cebu," Sam rattled off the answers. "Dei, please. Just give it a try? Please? My sad heart will be happy, knowing that you might meet Mr. Right in Kim. Pretty please?" she pleaded once more, with a pout on her face.

"Sandali," Rich cut into the discussion once more. "Paano magde-date sila Dei e nasa Manila yung... yung isa?"

Sam rolled her eyes at Rich. "Hello, obviously mag-e-eroplano! One hour lang naman ang byahe. Ikaw, kailangan mo pa yata ng kape, ang slow mo ngayon."

"Uh, guys, I need to prepare my things muna. Hayaan ko kayong dalawang mag-argue dyan ha? Paglabas ko, sana pareho na kayo ng sagot, okay? Para alam ko na kung ano gagawin ko, according sa utos nyo, mga kamahalan," I answered sarcastically.

I went into the room, closed the door and leaned against it.

Argh! Kainis talaga itong mga ito! Kahit sarili kong lovelife, di ko pwedeng desisyunan mag-isa. Kailangan may input talaga sila, hay.

Forcing myself forward, I sat down on my bed and thought about my choices. If I don't go out with him, pwede naman ligawan pa rin through phone. If I go out with Kim, it would be a good test if our personalities will match. Whether I go out with him or not, LDR pa rin naman kami eventually - if sasagutin ko sya. Aaargh! So many things to think of at this early hour.

"Hoy Dei, nilamon ka na ba ng mga gamit mo? 20 minutes ka na namin hinihintay dito! Bilisan mo at may department meeting kami, ayaw ko ma-late!" Sam shouted as she knocked on my door.

"Fine! I'll be out in a minute," I hollered back.

I picked up my small bag and made sure I had my company ID, wallet, phone and cologne in it. Yeah, yeah, maarte ako. I can live without nice clothes and make-up but I can't leave the house without my cologne.

Opening the door, I saw Ben, Sam and Rich waiting for me. "O, akala ko tayo lang ni Ben at Sam?"

"Since ready na rin ako, makikisabay na rin lang ako sa taxi nyo. Pwede naman daw sabi nila. Not unless may problema sa pagsabay ko?" Rich asked.

"Um, of course not! Mas matipid pa nga sa pamasahe yun. Let's go?" I answered.

"Tara, Ben, alalayan mo naman ako pababa, baka malaglag kasi ako," Sam held on to Ben's arm, leaving Rich and I to walk down the stairs together without talking to one another.

Oh goody, awkward 1 hour ride to the office, coming up!