"And where did you spend the night? Hoy, Alexa! Hindi porke matanda ka na, pwede ka nang kumilos basta-basta, ah!" panenermon ni ate. Nagising ako sa ring ng cellphone ko kaya napilitan akong sagutin iyon kahit antok na antok pa 'ko.
"I'm at Rue's place..." hihikab-hikab kong sabi.
"What? Si Theo ang sumundo sa'yo kagabi tapos sa bahay ka ni Rue natulog? Hoy, Alexa, umayos ka nga. Umuwi ka na, ngayon din!" galit na talaga si ate—or more like, naiirita. Pero hinayaan ko na lang siyang mag-rant sa cellphone. Alam ko namang lilipas din 'yon. Bungangera lang talaga si ate. Simula nang magkaaanak siya, daig pa niya ang limang sirena ng ambulansya sa ingay. I wonder, would I be like her after I get married?
The thought made me look in Rue's direction. He is sleeping peacefully on the couch. Napaka-cute niyang matulog. Akala ko naman di na talaga siya makakatulog pa. Pero sabagay, past 10 am na rin. Nakatulog din pala ako ng ilang oras. Gigisingin ko na ba siya?
"Ate, mamaya na 'ko uuwi. I'm old enough. I can handle myself. Don't you trust me? May aasikasuhin pa kasi ako ngayon. See you tonight. Bye, I love you!" Iyon lang at pinatay ko na ang tawag. Alam ko namang hindi ako matitiis ni ate, eh. Nagsend na lang ako ng isa pang message sa kanya.
Sorry. Alam kong nag-aalala ka lang, ate. Pero promise, uuwi naman ako mamaya. Let's talk, okay? May aasikasuhin lang talaga ako. Hihi. Love ya! 😊
She replied, siguruhin mo lang ha? Lagot ka sa'kin.
I was about to get up when another message popped up on my screen.
It's from Theo.
Sorry about last night. I was just too drunk. Please, don't get mad. Can we talk?
I replied, No harm done. Let's just forget everything. We're friends, okay? I understand.
Sana napansin niya ang emphasis ko sa sinabi kong 'yon. I don't want our friendship to be ruined. He's a great guy. It's been a year since I last hung out with real friends. Panay bahay lang ako sa loob ng isang taon. I distanced myself from people who I hurt and hurt me. It's fair, I guess.
Hindi na naman siya nagreply kaya hinayaan ko na lang din. I just want to draw a line. We can't be more than friends. Ngayon pang sigurado na 'ko na I like someone. Napangiti ako at muling tumingin sa direksyon ni Rue.
I felt that the world stopped spinning. My heart beats rapidly as I look at him— he's looking at me. His intense gaze makes my heart flutter. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin saka dahan-dahang bumangon, tumalikod at bahagyang inayos ang magulo kong buhok.
"Good morning, Miss Drunkard," narinig kong sabi niya. Even his voice sounds appealing. I shook my head to remove the thoughts in my mind.
"Ang harsh ng definition!" he laughs softly. Hindi pa rin ako humaharap sa gawi niya dahil naiilang ako sa itsura ko ngayon.
"Ano'ng gusto mong almusal?" Narinig ko ang pagtayo at paglakad niya palapit sa'kin.
"A-anything..." kinakabahan kong sagot.
Please, don't move any closer.
"But, do you have any spare toothbrush and mild soap? You see, I look like a mess," reklamo ko. I heard him chuckle. Then, after a minute he handed me a white towel, a facial cleanser and a toothbrush na nakaplastic pa. Natawa 'ko sa isip ko kasi pambabae ang facial cleanser niya. Pero agad ding nawala 'yon dahil sa naisip ko. Baka nagdadala siya rito ng babae?
"Wow, prepared," I whispered. "And one more thing, can I borrow a shirt?" sabi ko habang iwas pa rin na makita niya ang mukha ko.
"Bakit ba ayaw mong humarap?"
YOU ARE READING
Are We on the Same Page?
RomanceAlex is a children's book author who hired an illustrator. Then, they've become friends. What would she do if their friendship deepens? Would she risk losing their friendship to have something more despite the fact that her past still haunts her?
