Best for Us (GU #3)

twenty-nine

Twenty-Nine: Vanessa Gerleen

I ended up spending my night in Silverio's household. Paano'y hindi na kami pinauwi ni Kuya Miles nina Mommy't Daddy. Bascally, it was just Mom, but later on Dad also agreed. So, ang ending napagkaisahan kami.

Medyo late na ring umuwi ang mag-inang Salazar—that was their last name when Tita Juliet and Quentin's dad were still together.

One of the things I learned from last night—through Tita Juliet dahil naikwento niya—ay hiwalay na nga silang mag-asawa. Noong umalis daw sila sa probinsya noon para magtungo dito sa Maynila ay nagsimula raw yung pag-aaway nilang mag-asawa. Money matters. Hanggang sa dumating 'yung isang beses na grabe silang nagtalo at humantong na iyon sa annulment.

Pagkatapos ng annulment ay saka lumipad pa-US ang mag-ina at doon na nga nanirahan. Bumalik lang ngayong taon dahil sa isang importanteng kaganapan. Isang balita na talagang kinagulat ko rin.

And that news had to do something with my unplanned schedule this weekend. Ang totoo, kaming buong pamilya. Pero nauna nang tumanggi si Kuya Miles dahil may importanteng project daw na gagawin so kami na lang nina Mom at Dad.

Gusto ko na rin talagang sabihin na may gagawin ako. But that was so a lie. Dahil alam ko naming wala.

There was a knock on the door before Kuya Miles' voice came. "Van? Ready ka na ba?"

Ibinaba ko na 'yung hair brush na hawak saka huling beses na tumingin sa salamin. Maaga kami ngayon dahil dadaan pa kami sa condo para kunin 'yung gamit sa school. Actually, ako lang, dahil always ready 'tong si Kuya Miles, nasa kotse na niya 'yung gamit.

"Lalabas na!" sigaw ko pabalik saka naglakad na rin papunta doon sa pinto.

When I opened the door, Kuya Miles was still standing there. And when I saw the shirt he's wearing, I almost laughed. It was a plain green one, and just below the neckline printed the body of Finn from Adventure Time.

Kuya Miles glared at my reaction. "Not helping, Van."

Natawa na akong tuluyan. "Eh kasi bakit ganyan 'yung suot mo? Wala ka na bang ibang shirt?"

"You know most of my clothes were already in the apartment."

"Bakit kasi nilagay mo lahat dun?"

Inikutan niya lang ako ng mata. "Just hurry up. Para kapag maaga pa, makadaan pa tayo ng apartment."

I nodded though I don't think that's possible since medyo malayo 'yung apartment ni Kuya doon sa Montereal Place. And he'll go back there, didiretso na lang ako sa GU.

*

"Bilisan mo ha," pang-ilang beses ng paalala ni Kuya Miles nang makapagpark kami sa harap ng Montereal Place.

Like I expected, nawalan na kami ng oras para pumunta ng apartment niya. Mabilis naman 'yung byahe kaso nastranded kami doon sa isang intersection, nagkaroon kasi ng banggaan kaya ayun.

Pero gusto kong sagutin si Kuya Miles na kahit maglalakad pagong ako'y sapat lang yung time para makapunta ng Montereal. But I chose to just nod at him. Grumpy lang 'yan kasi hindi pa sila nagkikita ni Ate Kimberly.

Sa kanilang dalawa talaga, mas clingy si Kuya Miles. Sobrang namiss, isang araw lang naman hindi magkasama. Kapag magboyfriend at girlfriend talaga, given na 'yun.

Nasa elevator ako nang biglang may naalala. Balak ko sanang i-check yung phone ko kaso wala akong nakapa sa bulsa ng pants. Saka ko naalala na nasa purse ko iyon, na naiwan ko doon sa upuan sa sasakyan.

Hindi ko pa rin binubuksan iyong phone. And I wished I already did para hindi ako sobrang nag-iisip ngayon. Tuloy hindi mawala ang kaba sa dibdib ko. Like, what if I saw Tyler, anong mangyayari?

The elevator dinged and soon it opened on my designated floor. Humakbang na ako palabas at naglakad sa hallway. Nang makarating sa labas ng unit ko'y hindi pa ako agad pumasok, napalinga doon sa katabing kwarto. Nandyan kaya siya?

At nang mapagtantong kahit na ilang oras ang gugulin ko kakatitig sa pinto ay kung wala naman siya doon, wala ring Tyler na lalabas. Malamang sa malamang, nakaalis na 'yun.

Binuksan ko na iyong pinto ko saka pumasok sa loob para makuha iyong gamit.

Just as I saw my bag, the phone rang. Lumapit ako doon para sagutin. "Hello, good morning."

"Hindi ka pa bababa?" boses ni Kuya Miles. I smiled. Ang atat talaga.

"Pababa na po," sagot ko. "And Kuya Miles..."

"Hmmm?"

"You still look handsome even with that cartoon shirt," malambing kong sabi. "And I know Ate Kimberly would agree with me kapag nakita ka niya so smile now."

Malalim na huminga si Kuya Miles saka sunod ay nagsalita na rin. "Alright," his voice was gentler now. "Just hurry up."

"Okay, Kuya."

Binaba ko na iyong phone at napailing. Magic word na talaga 'yun ni Kuya Miles—pangalan ni Ate Kimberly.

Sinukbit ko na iyong bag ko saka lumabas na rin ng unit. But just as I opened the door, I heard another one opening. Almost automatically, my eyes went sideward.

"Hey," si Tyler ang unang bumati, ang ganda ng ngiti niya. And at that I knew he didn't mean anything bad when I cancelled yesterday.

"Hi," sagot ko saka nadinig ang tunog ng paglapat ng pinto sa likuran ko.

"You're here," nakangiti pa rin niyang sabi.

"Oo," sagot ko. "Kararating ko lang din, kinuha ko 'yung gamit ko."

"Will you be heading to GU then? Sabay na tayo?"

And how I was tempted to say yes to that. Pero kasama ko na si Kuya Miles. Isa pa, hindi pa alam ni Kuya na magkaibigan na kami ni Tyler.

"Kasama ko si Kuya Miles,. Actually, siya 'yung naghatid sa akin dito."

"Oh, ganun ba?" there was a hint of disappointment in his voice but that was instantly gone as if I had only imagined it when Tyler flashed that bright smile again. "Then I just see you after school?"

Tumango naman ako. "Sige."

"I'll get going then."

Another nod from me.

Inalis na niya 'yung tingin sa akin at nagsimulang maglakad at pakiramdam ko'y bumagsak iyong kalooban ko. Parang may kulang. Parang hindi pa sapat 'yung sandal naming pag-uusap.

Nakasunod pa rin ang mga mata ko kay Tyler nang bigla siyang huminto, sunod ay marahan siyang lumingon sa akin. He made that two long strides, somehow making our distance close. Close enough that I can reach him with my hands if I would just let it.

"Can I do something?"

Napataas ang kilay ko roon, ang bibig ay bahagyang nakaawang. I so didn't have a clue what he's telling me. Regardless, I gave him a nod.

He chuckled then, shaking his head. "Know what? It's not even my nature to ask before doing something. So, I'm just gonna do it. Feel free to hurt me."

And before I could process what he's talking about, Tyler already closed the distance between us, his arms surrounding my waist and back in a tight hug. "I missed you."

At wala na akong nagawa kundi ibalik iyon. Namalayan ko na rin ang mga kamay na umikot sa bewang niya.

Then I closed my eyes, just reveling in this moment. And right now I realized that what was missing earlier, what was seemed not enough, has been finally filled. And my heart already felt satisfied.