Best for Us (GU #3)

twenty-seven

Twenty-Seven: Vanessa Gerleen

'WILL tell you something when I get back later.'

Napakunot ang noo ko sa huling text ni Tyler. What could that be?

Sinimulan niya akong itext kanina-nina lang para sabihing naroon daw si Mr. Villaruiz sa bahay ng kanyang ate. I asked if he was okay. Knowing Tyler, baka agad-agad na umalis na iyon doon para lang maiwasan ang kanyang ama.

But what he texted back really surprised me. Doon daw magdidinner ang Daddy niya. He said he invited his father. At bago pa ako makapagreply, mayroong sumunod doon sa text niya. He said he remembered what we talked about few days ago. And that helped him made that decision.

Of course, I felt pleased, and at the same time, really happy for Tyler.

I typed back a reply. 'Okay. Later.'

"Van," narinig kong tawag ni Ate Kimberly. Inalis ko ang tingin sa cellphone at tiningnan siya.

She was looking at me like something's funny though. Yung ngiti niya. Napataas ako ng dalawang kilay. "Ano po 'yun, ate?"

Tuluyan nang nangiti si Ate Kimberly. "Kanina ka pa kasi namin tinatawag. Hindi mo kami napapansin."

Oh. Because I was too focused on waiting for Tyler's updates.

Hindi pa ako nakakasagot nang sumingit na si Kuya Miles. "Sino ba yang katext mo? May boyfriend ka na?"

My eyes widened at him. "Kuya!"

He didn't laugh though like I was wishing he would do. Instead he remained serious as he looked at me. "Hindi sa pinagbabawalan kita. After all, I'm aware that Mom and Dad already gave you permission to date. But I just want to remind you of your promise. Bago mo sagutin, dapat ipakilala mo muna sa amin ni Dad at Mommy yan."

I blinked at him, not believing we were having this talk.

Napabuntong hininga naman siya. "Mahirap na, kung sinu-sino lang yung ineentertain mo. Hindi mo alam sasaktan ka lang ng mga yan."

Doon na ako napailing. "Wala."

Binigyan niya ako ng tingin na parang sinasabi sa aking hindi pa rin siya naniniwala. "Eh bakit sobrang tutok ka sa cellphone mo, aber?"

Nagkibit-balikat ako, saka mabilis na nag-isip. At sa pilit na pinakalmang boses ay sumagot, "Si Jena lang. May emergency sa kanila."

Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako nagsinungaling. But I just knew thay if I told him the truth, that it was Tyler whom I texting, he would have more reason not to buy my excuses. Lalo na't biglang naging tungkol sa manliligaw yung topic namin.

Sa susunod, susubukan kong sabihin sa kanya kapag alam kong pwede na.

Umabot ng dinner ang pagiging third wheel ko sa date nila Kuya Miles. So when I got back to Montereal Place, it was already quarter to eight.

Nagmadali pa akong makasakay ng elevator pagkapasok ng building. Tyler didn't text anymore. But he must be here already. And I couldn't wait to see him. At saktong pagbukas ng elevator nang makatuntong ito sa 7th floor ay tumunog iyong cellphone ko.

My heart sped up when I saw it was Tyler. Hindi ko alam. Epekto ba ito ng hindi ko pagkakita sa kanya ng kalahating araw? Ganoon ko na ba siya kamiss?

Shrugging those thoughts away, I tapped the answer button. "Hello."

"Hello there," bati niya pabalik. And I couldn't depict his tone. It seemed like a mixture of elated and bothered. "Nasa Montereal ka na?"

I hummed in answer but soon said, "Yes. Kahahatid lang sa akin nina Kuya Miles," saka idinugtong, "Ikaw?"