Not Now But Forever

Chapter 17

I sent my address to Dale. He told me to wait for him. Nang makita ang ko ang isang Mazda ay agad na nanlaki ang mga mata ko.

I went inside his new car and looked at him. He pulled me for a hug and breathe.

"Finally, I'm fucking home."He whispered. I felt my heart became heavy.

Sobrang busy na kasi namin pareho. What's nice is that we tend to understand each other.

"Hey, are you okay?" I cupped his face and planted a soft kiss.

He smiled, "Hirap lang nang OJT namin. Ikaw?" I shrugged my shoulders and smiled.

"Hirap din but at least, nandito ka na diba? Kala ko nga di ka na magpaparamdam eh!" Biro ko sa kanya.

Ikinulong niya ako sa kanyang braso bago kami nagtawanan. God, the little things. They really do mean the most.

"San tayo?" I asked him. Alas otso na kasi ng gabi.

"Tagaytay." He said. Pinanlakihan ko naman ito ng tingin.

"What?" He curiously asked me.

"Hindi pa ako nakakapunta dun." I shyly told him.

Akala ko ay aasarin niya ako, "Then you'll go there with me." He smiled.

I nodded. I don't know what's on Dale's mind. Ang alam ko lang ay abala talaga siya sa OJT niya. Hindi ko rin masyadong close sina Von kaya hindi ko magawang magtanong.

"I know a perfect bulaluhan here. You'll love it." He said and kissed my knuckles.

I love Dale. Kahit alam kong mabilis, kahit alam kong nakakabigla, I love him. There's something about him that do completes every inch of me.

Dale parked his car in front a small house. Ito na siguro ang sinasabi niyang bulaluhan.

He made me sit on a two-seater table while he takes our order. I roamed around my eyes. It is made of bamboo painted in green. Nakakaakit din ang mga light bulbs na nakapalibot sa buong kainan.

He went back to our table and sat in front of me. He leaned his hand on the table and stared at me. I raised an eyebrow at him.

"I miss you," He whispered, right enough to make my heart beat fast.

God, Dale and his out of the blue sweetness!

"Ganyan pala epekto ng OJT?" I mocked him.

Sinamaan niya ako ng tingin kaya naman tinawanan ko ito. Natahimik lang kami ng iserve na ang pagkain.

"Sabihan mo ko pag masarap ha?" He cautiously asked me.

I nodded at him and tasted the bulalo. Aminin ko, hindi pa ako nakakatikim nito. Kaya para sa akin, masarap talaga siya.

"Okay ba?" He asked me again.

Kunot noo ko itong tiningnan, worry sketched on his face. Bakit ba ang cute ng boyfriend ko?

"Ito na ba ang masarap dito?" I slowly asked him.

His adam's apple move, "You can tell me if you don't like it. I know a lot of places pa naman."

Tinuro ko sa kanya ang kutsara ko bago tinawanan. Pinitik ako nito sa ulo. Pikon ata!

"Umuwi kang mag-isa sa Manila!" He teased me.

I angrily looked at him, "Pano kapag na-rape ako?"

Gulat niya akong tiningnan, "May mag-iinteres ba sayo?"

Binatukan ko ito. He laughed so loud that other people looked at us. Sinita ko siya kaya tahimik na ulit kaming kumain.

We drove back to Manila. Hinatid na ako ni Dale sa apartment na tinitirhan namin.

"I'll see you tomorrow, lunch." He said habang tinatanggal ko ang seatbelt.

I nodded and leaned closer to him. I planted a soft kiss at his lips.

"Ingat ha? Goodnight." I said and went out of his car.

Pagkarating ko ay tulog na ang mga kaibigan ko. Nagbihis muna ako bago natulog na.

Kinabukasan ay sabay-sabay kaming pumasok. Masyadong maganda ang mood ko kaya kahit nakakastress ng mga pinapagawang papeles ay okay lang.

Lunch time came and Dale is already waiting in the lobby. I told my friends na sasabay ako kay Dale.

"Sana all may kasabay kumain!" Ella said and crossed her shoulders.

"LDR pa more!" Rose teased her. The usual Ella just rolled her eyes.

"Sis, OA! kasabay mo naman kami kumain!" Jerard hissed and teased her more.

I bid my goodbyes at them. Babalik din ako after lunch. Dale is wearing a white short sleeve polo paired with black pants and his vans shoes. I giggled as I walk near him.

Para siyang artista eh! Sorry na lang sila, he's mine.

"Hi," I greeted him and planted a kiss on his cheek.

He smiled at me before hugging me tightly.

Naghanap kami ng malapit lang na kainan. Karinderya would do. Hindi naman ako maarte sa ulam.

I ordered Sisig, while he ordered sinigang. Syempre, two cups of rice for the both of us.

We silently ate our food, "Nasan parents mo?"

Naalala ko kasi na malapit na kami mag one year pero hindi niya pa rin ako pinapakilala.

"They're busy." He simply said. I nodded and just eat my food.

Sana lang ay hindi ni Dale makalimutan ang anniversary namin.  Right after eating, hinatid na ako ni Dale sa office.

Pagdating ko doon, ang naabutan ko lang ay sina Ali at Jerard. Inutusan daw kasi sina Rose at Ella ng boss namin.

I shrugged my shoulders and just continued in fixing some papers. Mas okay na to kaysa nasa lab kami.

Napansin ko ang pagkabalisa nina Ella at Rose. I confusedly asked them what's wrong. They just shrugged their shoulders.

"Okay naman kayo ni Dale, diba?" Gulat akong napatingin kay Rose.

I looked at her and nodded, "Oo naman. Magkasama nga kami kanina, diba?"

Her face looks like she realized something and nodded, "Oo nga pala. Baka workmate niya lang 'yun."

I raised my eyebrow, "Bakit?"

Rose looked at Ella. Napatingin na rin ako sa kanya, "Nakita kasi namin siya sa Mall, may kasamang babae. Pero hayaan mo na, katrabaho lang 'yun."

I texted Dale where he is and he told me na nasa mall daw siya. Inutusan kasi siya ng boss niya.

Napahinga naman ako ng maluwag, "Ang paranoid niyo ha? Inutusan lang daw sila." I told my friends and went back to work.

Maging ako ay paranoid din. Dale never told me how much he loves me. Simula nung nag OJT na, wala na akong masyadong naririnig about sa kanya.

Should I be scared of something?