I
Sa kabila ng lahat, iniwan pa rin siya ni Juno.
Gumising siyang mag-isa sa kama. Inikot niya ang buong kabahayan at hindi niya nakita ni anino ni Juno o ni TJ.
He's so disappointed with himself for being lenient. Pinaasa siya ni Juno sa mga sinabi nito at siya naman itong tanga na umasa.
He stopped at the living room. As soon as his sight landed on a vase at the center table, he thoughtlessly seized it and smashed it on the wall. It felt good hearing the breaking sound. But he immediately regretted doing it. He's being childish.
Naupo siya sa sofa at inabot ang remote. Maybe watching the news could ease his mind. Pagkabukas niya ng TV, saktong entertainment segment na ang ipinalalabas. Featured doon ang agency ni Fatima at isa sa mga kasama sa na-ambush interview si 'Tala Crevin' na kinuhanan ng side tungkol sa malas nilang girl bandmate na ngayon ay hinahanapan pa rin ng kapalit.
Nadagdagan na naman ang sama ng loob niya kay Stell habang pinapanood niya itong nagpapanggap bilang siya sa harap ng camera. Tinamaan na naman ng swerte ang kanyang magaling na kakambal. Sa isang iglap ay nakay Stell na naman ang lahat.
Balak rin sanang ibato ni Tala sa screen ng TV ang hawak-hawak pa rin niyang remote control nang tumunog ang kanyang bagong cell phone. Wala siyang in-e-expect na tatawag sa kanya dahil hindi pa naman niya ipinapamigay ang kanyang number.
He picked up the phone anyway.
"It's me." Kaagad na nagsalita ang nasa kabilang linya. "Nagising ba kita?"
Tala forcedfully closed his eyes. He couldn't make anything out of this call. He can't miss the sound of Juno's voice over the line. But is this really it? He's giving him a call like nothing's going on?
"TJ is with me, in case you're looking for him."
"Nasaan ka ngayon?" Ang tanong ni Tala nang kahit papaano ay huminahon na siya. It's good that Juno checked up on him, meaning he still care. Isinama pa nito ang anak-anakan nila. Tama na muna iyon. If he exploded now, Juno might not want to talk to him again.
"Hindi ba, sinabi ko na sa iyo kahapon? I also texted my address."
Nang i-check niya ang kanyang inbox, may message nga sa kanya si Juno at nandoon ang bago nitong address. Ngunit alam niyang hindi ibig sabihin nu'n ay puwede na niya itong puntahan kung kailan niya gusto.
They were like in a trial of trust. Who will trust who, who will betray who... and it looks like Juno suddenly got the hold of the steer and is the one dictating what happens to their relationship.
"We can go out on Wednesday..." Sabi ni Juno sa kabilang linya. "Siguro sa araw na iyon, missed na kita."
Inilayo ni Tala mula sa kanyang tainga ang cellphone.
Everything that's happening to their relationship is what he's hoping to be, from when he decided to pursue Juno, but there seems to be always lacking and that is like a slow poison that's eating him up. He can't feel Juno's love at all.
