It's the opposite.

Twenty seven

Tahimik akong nagmumuni-muni nang tumunog ang cellphone kong nakalagay sa bed side table ko. Bumangon ako sa pagkakahiga para sagutin ito.

"Bro, nakausap ko na 'yung girlfriend ni Velasco."

U-huh?

"Sabi niya 'Besh is into books and coffee.'" Anito na inimpersonate pa ang boses ng kaibigan ni Rese, kaso hindi pasado. Tunog bakla lang siya sa ginawa niya. Patawa ang gago.

"She mentioned your girl's favorite author, too. So I am advising you to look for that author's books, buy those and give them to her as a gift. And if you want to know more, according to Velasco's girlfriend 'you should ask Ej or Mik.' Mas close daw ang dalawang 'yon kay Kendra bago pa man sila maging magkaibigan."

"Noted. Thanks."

Cyrus sent me the list of the books that certain author wrote.

Dumaan ako sa kuwarto ni Mommy at nagpaalam na lalabas muna saglit.

Therese Kendra

"Malapit na ang birthday mo Therese Kendra, anong plano mo? Do you wanna have a party?"

Kagigising ko lang ay dinadaldal na naman ako agad ni Kuya.

"I just want a simple party Kuya. When I said simple, I meant it. I don't like it grand. For Pete's sake birthday lang naman 'yon. You can invite your friends if you want and Liero's as well."

I told him just to shut his mouth up. He tends to talk a lot kapag ganitong may upcoming occassion. He always wants to involve himself sa planning at kung anu-ano pa.

"Okay, I'll tell Mom then. How about your friends? Darating ba sila?"

"Yeah. 'Yung iilan lang siguro. You know how busy people are nowadays."

"Okay."

He was nowhere to be seen after that. Ang bilis nawala amp.

"Ate, I heard Kuya will throw a party for you. Ngayon pa lang I am telling you not to expect for a simple one. Oa 'yon so expect it grand."

Pagkatapos kay Kuya ito namang si Liero. My God!

"Whatever. Hayaan mo na siya. He was born crazy. We both know that."

We both laughed.

Kapag naaalala ko 'yong nangyari sa bahay nina Rence parang gusto ko na lang lamunin ng lupa. God! That was really nakakahiya! His mom even called me 'daughter-in-law'. Does that mean she likes me for his son? Oh whatever.

Hindi ko nalamayang nakatulog pala ako sa pag-iisip. Alas siyete na ng gabi nang magising ako dahil ring nang ring ang phone ko. I answered the call without minding who the caller was.

"Hello?" malamyang sagot ko rito.

"Uhh, did I wake you up? You sound like you've just woken up."

Napabangon ako nang marinig ang boses ng nasa kabilang linya. It's Just Rence!

"Seems like nagising nga kita. By the way, nasa labas ako ng bahay niyo."

What?! Dali-dali akong tumalon mula sa kama at patakbong nagtungo sa may bintana para tignan kung talagang nasa labas ba siya. Malay ko ba kung bluff lang 'yon?

He's there. Nakasandal sa kotse niya hawak ang cellphone na nakalapat sa tenga at nakatanaw sa gawi ng kuwarto ko. Agad kong binalik ang kurtina at nagtago sa likod nito.