Perfect Timing

[24] Kuya Mode

Anong ginagawa ni Rich dito? Binabantayan ba ako?

"Ah, Kim, una ka na, naghihintay na yung taxi. Thank you ulit sa pagbisita. Pasok na ako ha!" I smiled uneasily at Kim as I tried to hurry him off.

"No problem. Ikaw pa ba? Thank you din sa pagsama sa akin. At saka dun sa... alam mo na yun," he replied with a sheepish smile. "Goodnight, Dei. Pre," he nodded towards Rich then went back inside the taxi.

As soon as the taxi sped off, I closed the gate and marched up the stairs leading to our apartment without waiting for Rich. I was about to enter our apartment when he grabbed my hand and said, "Masyado yata kayong ginabi ngayon. Nag-alala kaming lahat kasi halos hatinggabi na wala ka pa."

I shrugged his hand and gave him an irritated stare. "Wala namang nangyaring masama sakin di ba? Saka kung lahat kayo nag-aalala, bakit ikaw lang ang naghihintay?"

Without waiting for his answer, I went inside our apartment and headed to my room. Before I reached the door of my room, Rich's voice halted me.

"Kayo na ba?"

I turned, stared at Rich and gave an incredulous laugh. "Wow ha. Nagulat ako sa tanong mo. Pero teka, anong koneksyon nya sa pag-uwi ko nang late? Pag sinabi ko bang kami na, okay na, wala nang problema? Paano kung hindi? Papaluin nyo ba ako?"

"Bakit ka ganyan sumagot?"

"Bakit ka ganyan magtanong?" I replied in turn.

"Bakit di mo na lang kasi sagutin yung tanong ko?" he insisted.

"Gaaaaah, ang kulit mo! Hindi pa po! Okay na ba? Nasagot ko na po ba yung mga tanong nyo?" I pulled on my hair in frustration.

"Bakit mo sya kiniss sa cheek kung hindi pa kayo?"

I paced the living room as I tried to walk off my frustration. "Boyfriend lang ba ang pwedeng i-kiss sa pisngi? E ikaw nga nung birthday mo may kiss na, may hug pa, may nag-isip ba na tayo na?"

"Birthday din ba nya?" He continued asking me.

"Rich, I swear, I'm this close to either shouting at you or pulling your hair out," I told him while showing my pointer finger and thumb with a small space in between.

"Grabe ka naman. Nagtatanong lang ako kasi concerned ako sa iyo. Hindi mo naman masyado kilala yan. Saka mahirap kaya magkaron ng long-distance relationship - tingnan mo nga yung nangyari kay Sam. Ayaw lang namin na magkaganon ka din," he answered with a concerned look on his face.

With an exasperated sigh, I sat down on the sofa and thought very carefully about what I wanted to say. "I know how difficult a long-distance relationship could be. My parents know that firsthand kaya. They eventually gave up and separated ways pero what I commend them for is the fact that they really gave it a try. Buwanang padala ng sulat at taped messages - yung cassette tape pa nga gamit namin nun! Walang palya yun. Pero hindi talaga umubra e."

I saw him trying to say something so I immediately cut him off. "It does not mean that because it didn't work out for them, hindi rin uubra for me. Besides, may mga good example ako ng mga lalaking mabait kahit na nasa long-distance relationship."

"Sino naman yan?"

"E sino pa ba, e di kayong tatlo nila Ben!" I answered with a laugh.

"Kunsabagay nga naman," he chuckled along with me. "Pero napaka-rare kaya namin. Kaya walang assurance na yang Kim mo e pareho din namin."

Being the eternal optimist, I retorted back with, "Pero posible din na kapareho ninyo sya. O baka kayo magkagusto din sa ibang babae habang may girlfriend kayo! Lagot! Isusumbong ko kayo sa mga girlfriend nyo pag nagkaganon!"

"Pwede naman magka-crush sa ibang babae uy! Yung crush paghanga yun. Normal lang yun. Ang importante, hanggang crush lang talaga sya. Walang follow-through. Pag ginawa kasi ng lalaki yun, malaki ang chance na mauwi sa nangyari kay Sam yung mga bagay-bagay. Saka, mas maganda na sa babae kami magka-crush kesa naman sa lalaki di ba?"

I gazed at him until he blushed. "Oyyyy, naintriga ako bigla. Bakit ang defensive mo, kuya? Meron ka bang crush na hindi ko alam? Share mo naman, tingnan natin kung maganda, daliiii!" I teased Rich.

Rich suddenly stood up and yawned. "Hala, masyado na pala talagang late! Pasensya na Dei, ha. Inaantok na ako saka maaga pa akong maglalaba bukas. Mauna na ako sa iyo ha?"

"Okay, fine, kung ayaw mong mag-share! Pero wag mo na akong i-third degree kung di mo rin kaya ma-interrogate." I then stuck out my tongue at him.

"Ah, hehe, pasensya ka na kanina, Dei ha? Lumabas yung big brother instincts ko kasi nung ang tagal mong lumabas sa taxi kanina. Di talaga ako dapat bababa e. Baka lang kasi kung ano na ginagawa ng mokong na yun sa iyo."

"Rich, pasensya ka na din kung masungit ako kanina. I just didn't expect you to wait up for me or that I'll be subjected to a third-degree. Pero okay na naman tayo ngayon, di ba?"

"Oo naman!"

"Hoy, matulog na kayo pareho! Yung ilaw dito sa salas nakakaistorbo sa tulog ko," muttered Ben from his bedroom door.

"Ay! Sorry Ben, nandyan ka pala! Eto na po, papasok na sa kwarto. Pasensya na! Goodnight, Ben, Rich!" I apologized to Ben and slipped inside my room with a smile on my face.

"Ito talagang mga kuya ko, napaka-protective. Hay, good luck na lang sa kanila e si Sam na mismo nagbebenta sakin kay Kim. At nababaliw na ako kasi kinakausap ko na ang sarili ko. Tulog lang ang kulang mo, Dei. Itulog mo na yan." I shook my head at my silliness as I started to change clothes.

After finishing my ablutions, I slid into bed and drifted off into sleep with a smile on my face. What a great day this has definitely been.