By any chance... will you marry him?

CHAPTER 6

***

Day 2 ng vacation trip nila sa Batangas.

To keep her loyalty to Paul, and so as not to waiver and feel things she shouldn't feel towards Chance, Luna suggested to Paul na humiwalay sila ng pamamasyal this time from Chance and Suzy.

"They wouldn't get that close kung parati nila tayong kasama," sabi niya kay Paul.

"And I wouldn't get so close to you as I want kung parati rin silang kasama, so nice idea, Ms. Nurse ko."

Paul liked the idea so much he said yes to doing it in a heartbeat.

Habang tulog pa si Suzy at si Chance 'e lumabas na sila from their rooms and go wondering around Batngas on their own. Lumabas sila ng resort and checked out all sorts of places around the area. They even found a place na nagseserve ng sobrang sarap na bulalo!

"Nako, kung kasama natin si Chance, matutuwa nang sobra 'yon. Favorite na favorite no'n ang bulalo," nasabi niya na lang habang kumakain sila ni Paul.

"Chance na naman."

Nabitawan ni Luna ang hawak na kutsara. "Hala, sorry. It's just that, si Chance ang parati kong kasama kaya—"

Hinawakan siya bigla ni Paul sa ulo at ginulo ang buhok niya. "Nag-jojoke lang ako. I'm not jealous."

"Sure ka?"

"Oo. Like I told you, I believe in you 100%, always, Ms. Nurse."

Parang may sibat na tumama sa puso ni Luna nang marinig ang sinabi ni Paul. Kung dati rati'y lumulundag ang puso niya tuwing maririnig how much he believes in him, ngayon ay para bang pinipiga ang puso niya. She suddenly feel like suffocating. Parang gusto niyang lumuhod sa harap ni Paul at humingi ng sorry. Pero what for? What is she sorry for, anyway?

"Ex-patient, after this, would you mind going with me sa simbahan?"

Ngumiti si Paul. "Ang bilis mo naman. Pakakasalan mo na agad ako?"

Pinaltok ni Luna si Paul ng tissue. "Sira ka! Pagdadasal lang ipupunta natin do'n!"

"Sure ka? Ayos lang naman. Game ako."

Pinaltok niya itong muli. "Loko!" she said, then she laughed.

Masarap pa ring kasama si Paul, pero malinaw sa kaniyang may nag-iba na para sa nararamdaman niya rito.

Goal niyang maikasal by the time she's 28 years old. Mas maaga do'n, mas okay. Pero, noong mabanggit ni Paul ang tungkol sa pagpapakasal, kahit pa pabiro lang, she didn't found it pleasant. It was as if she dreaded that happening. She couldn't picture herself getting married with him.

--

Sobrang pagod sa buong araw nilang paglilibot sa Batangas, bagsak si Paul sa kwarto pagkabalik na pagkabalik nila sa resort. Luna on the other hand, even if she feels tired, hindi siya makatulog. Her heart feels restless, that's why.