Not Now But Forever

Chapter 18

I shrugged the thought of Dale with another woman. Besides, he made it clear naman na nautusan lang sila. My friends are just paranoid. Hindi rin kasi masyadong nagpaparamdam si Dale.

Weeks passed and we would always go out for lunch. Kapag wala siya sa site ay hinahatid niya rin ako pauwi.

"Nag dinner ka na ba?" I asked him dahil na-late ako mag out ngayon.

May pinadagdag na summary checking kasi ang head namin. Kung minamalas ka nga naman. My friends went out. Magbabar daw sila dahil nakakapagod ang OJT namin.

Dale shook his head, "Let's go grab dinner, muna." He told me and maneuvered his car in a near McDo.

Si Dale na ang nag-order habang ako naman ay naghanap ng mauupuan. I found a two-seater table near the window glass.

Habang naghihintay kay Dale. I saw him busy with his phone. Pinagkibit-balikat ko na lang ito, baka ay dahil sa OJT niya.

When Dale got his order, he placed it on our table.

"I'll just get the spoons." I told him dahil mukhang sabog siya ngayon.

Kumuha na ako ng kutsara't tinidor when I bumped into someone habang pabalik.

"Sorry po." I looked at the lady who's eyes are merely swollen. I don't know.

Agad niyang iniwas ang tingin sa akin bago umalis sa harapan ko. Dale looked shocked? Hindi ko alam dahil mabilis niya rin naman iyong nabawi.

"Dale, is there a problem?" I carefully asked him while sipping on my float.

Dale looked surprised at my sudden question. He let out a deep breath and shook his head.

I leaned closer at him and tightly hold his hand, "If you have a problem, you can always tell me. I got you."

He smiled and motioned me to continue eating. Pagkatapos naming kumain ay hinatid na ako ni Dale sa apartment.

"Ingat ka. Text me when you're home." I told him.

"Charm..." Lalabas na sana ako when he called me.

I looked at him. He sighed, "Please always remember that you're the best thing that ever happened in my life. Kahit lagi kitang sinasabihang pangit, you are the most beautiful woman I've ever had. Please, always remember that everytime I get to not to talk to you, I am missing you so bad. I miss you everyday, Charm."

I leaned closer to him and hug him. I saw how his breathing relax, "I love you, Charmylle." He said in between his breath.

"I love you too, Dale." I whispered.

He kissed me on my forehead. I stared at his face for a while and went out of his car. The moment it went out of my sight, my knees began to tremble.

I know something's wrong. Something is really wrong. And it hurt me to not to know what's wrong.

Hindi ko alam kung anong oras ako nakatulog. Nagising na lang ako, wala na ang mga kaibigan ko. Nauna na ata sila sa akin.

Pilit kong inalis sa isipan ko kung anong problema. Kasi sa pagkakaalala ko, wala naman kaming problema. Kahit miss na miss ko na siya, hindi ako nagreklamo. Wala rin akong naririnig na reklamo galing sa kanya.

Saglit itong nawala ng makita ko ang sabog na pagmumukha ng mga kaibigan ko.

"Naglasing ba kayo kagabi?" I asked them.

Puyat na puyat pa ang mga mata nila. Jerard looked so wasted kahit na tinakpan niya ng make-up ang pagmumukha niya.

Parang panda naman si Rose dahil sa egebags niya. Ella looks out of herself and I don't know why.

"Where's Ali?" I asked them nang makitang wala pa ito.

Napatingin na lang kami sa kaibigan namin na nagmamadali sa pag-upo sa kanyang cubicle.

"Wow! May balak ka pa palang magpakita?" Singhal ni Jerard dito.

Lito akong napatingin sa kanila. Ali just rolled her eyes. Dahil hindi ako maka-relate ay umupo na lang ako sa cubicle ko.

Ella went to the restroom. I know something's wrong. I followed her and saw her crying, so bad.

Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko. Niyakap ko na lang ito ng mahigpit. Hindi ako yung tipo ng kaibigan na tatanungin sila kung anong nangyare. I'll just wait until they're ready to speak their thoughts.

To Dale:

   Sorry, passed muna ako sa lunch ha. My friends need me. They look so wasted.

From Dale:

   It's okay. Nasa site rin naman ako ngayon. I miss you.

To Dale:

   Ingat! I miss you too.

From Dale:

   I love you, Charm. I really do.

Naramdaman ko ang pagsikip ng aking dibdib. I should be happy, right? Ngayon lang kami nagpalitan ng gantong message sa isa't isa but my system doesn't know why I can't be happy.

We ate our lunch silently. Nakapagtataka lang na walang masyadong umiimik sa mga kaibigan ko.

"Hindi ka susunduin ni Dale?" Jerard asked me.

I shook my head, "You need me guys. Para kayong naka-drugs!" I said while looking at them.

Naghanap na kami ng taxi at saka sumakay doon. Pagdating namin sa apartment ay nag order na lang kami ng pagkain.

"I won't force you to tell me what happened. Just eat." I told them and handed the foods I ordered.

Pagkatapos ay maaga kaming natulog.  Kinabukasan, nakatanggap ako ng message galing kay Dale.

From Dale:

   Are you free on Saturday evening?

Kunot noo akong napatingin sa message niya. Something about Saturday evening scares me.

To Dale:

   Yes. Why?

From Dale:

   Surprise :)

Pilit kong kinalma ang sarili ko. I tried to functioned well in fixing the papers hanggang sa pinatawag kami sa factory para icheck ang mga mineral water.

Late akong nakauwi. Pagod man ay nawala ito ng marinig ko ang sigawan ng mga kaibigan ko. Naku! Mapapagalitan kami nito eh!

"No! We won't assume anything!" Ella screamed at the top of her lungs.

"Anong we won't assume anything? Bulag ka ba?" Rose asked her in a pitch tone.

"Hindi ako bulag pero ayokong pinapangunahan natin ang tao! This is not our story to tell, Rose!" Ella shot back, frustrated.

"Tama na nga yan!" Jerard said the moment I opened our room.

Hingal na hingal silang apat. Jerard motioned Ali to drag Rose outside our room. Hindi na rin ito umalma pa.

I looked at them, questioning what had happened.

"Away bata lang." Inis na sagot ni Ella.

"It looks serious though." I said in a low voice.

"Did Dale told you that he loves you?" Ella asked out of the blue.

Confused, I answered, "Yes."

She smiled and nodded bago humiga na sa pwesto niya.