The Missing Piece Of Me

Chapter 36

Approaching X&Y club house...

I'm with my unisex polo and shorts matched with white shoes at naka-cap ng black while my friends here are on the hook w/ heels and killer dress.

Bumaba na kami sa kotse at nakipag-pair na ako kay Ponggay para maiwasan ang isang war between the trio. Pagkapasok naman ay naghanap na agad ng vacant seats at nag order ng isang bucket ng drinks tapos seafoods.

I took a sip from the San Mig apple and looked around the vicinity dahil sobrang laki na ng pinagbago nito since I went here. I caught a young lady, ka-age ko lang halos and she's alone drinking on the counter, nakatingin siya sakin kanina pero nang magtama ang mga mata namin ay umiwas na rin siya.

"Pongs", I called out.

"Oh? Lasing ka na?", pabiro niyang tanong.

Mas mukha nga siyang lasing kesa sa mga nandito kanina pa eh.

"Siyempre hindi. Uhmm, kilala mo yun?", tanong ko habang nakanguso sa may counter.

"Michelle Cobb", sagot niya.

"Cobb... Familiar", I thought out loud.

"Baliw. Setter ng La Salle yan. Bet mo ba? Ikaw ha... ", sagot niya habang may pang-aasar.

"Loyal po ako", pagtataray ko sa kaniya.

"Iba naman ang loyal sa faithful tsss. Ang loyal, makakapaghanap ng iba pero babalik sa original", pag-eexplain niya.

"Eh di faithful ako. Tsk", pagmamaldita ko.

"Loyal lang eh", dagdag asar niya.

"Rest room lang ako tsk", padabog kong pagpapaalam dahil napipikon na ako kay Ponggay.

Papasok na sana ako sa isa sa mga pinto ng banyo ng bigla itong bumukas.

Sorry/Sorry

Sabay naming paghingi ng paumanhin. Unti-unti kong tinaas ang aking ulo sa pagkakayuko at nabigla ako sa nakita.

"Wongskie", bati niya.

"Mich?", I felt her hug filled w/ happiness.

Michelle Cobb, kaya pala hindi ko siya nakilala agad dahil Cobb na ang gamit niyang apelyido. She was one of those flings I had way back in high school when I lost Jema. I got excited w/ the feeling kaya naman napatagal pa ang pag-uusap namin.

"Hindi ka ba naiihi? Haha", pagbibiro niya.

"Nope. Maghihilamos lang sana. Hmm tara sa labas? Ipapakilala kita sa teammates ko", pag-aaya ko at sumunod naman siya kaagad.

Malayo pa lang ay tanaw ko na ang nakakalokong ngiti ng mga kasama ko pero I ignored them and introduced Mich.

"Girls, this is Michelle Cobb", pag i-introduce ko.

She smiled and greeted everyone nicely afterwards.

"Hi. I'm from the Archers. Nice to meet you all", she held each hand and turned to shake.

"Hi Mich, hmm friends kayo ni Deanna?", nakakalokong tanong ni Ate Bea.

"Yes/Exes"

Magkaiba naming sagot. Nabigla din ako sa sinabi niyang ex kasi kahit alam naming naging seryoso kami sa isa't-isa we never really had a label.

I turned to look at her pero ngumiti lang siya na para bang walang problema.

"Upo na muna kayo", Captain ordered in a cold voice. Medyo may tama na rin siya eh.

We sat there paving the tension Mich brought unwillingly but we still managed to have a good time. When it got a bit late, we decided to head back to our dorm and call it a day.

"Mag-usap tayo", Ponggay ordered habang inaayos ang higaan niya.

"What's up?", inosente kong tanong.

"Anong what's up? Ex? Ex mo yung Cobb? Tapos pinakilala mo pa. Ano na lang iisipin ni Ate Jema?", madiin niyang tanong.

I felt guilty.

"H-hindi k-ko n-naisip", sagot ko sa kanya nang nakayuko.

"Hindi mo naisip o nakalimutan mong may girlfriend ka? Contact her now, Deans. Man up. May babaeng nagmamahal sayo tapos ganyan ka", sermon niya at nagtaklob na ng kumot.

I wanted to tell her I'm sorry but I guess she's really mad at me kaya ipagpapabukas ko na lang. I unlocked my phone to confess to Jema but one message caught my eye and it's unregistered.

From: 09XXXXXXXXX
So you did not change your sim. I asked some for your number eh.
Good night, Wongskie. It's fun catching up w/ you :)

I read.

I felt excited w/ the thought of having someone convenient to talk to. Jema's been really busy in Europe so I guess I have to enjoy my self around here.
I thought.

To: 09XXXXXXXXX
Good night, Michie. More hangouts soon, I hope.

Sent.

From: 09XXXXXXXXX
Sleep ka na po :)

From: 09XXXXXXXXX
On second thought, can i call you?

To: 09XXXXXXXXX
Sure.

I immediately went out, frightened I might disturb Ponggay kaya pumunta ako sa garden.
The idea of talking to someone this late makes me feel refreshed. I can't explain it. I missed this.

I sat there barely having dull moments while talking to her when a car parked along the road.

"Labas ka saglit. Nandito ako", the other line said. I just watched her make her way outside the car and she's really there. Lumapit ako sa kaniya and ended the call and then she kissed me on the cheek.

"Good night, Deans", she got back to her car and off she went.