400 Days After Fina

Day 475

400 Days After Fina by JellOfAllTrades
Chapter 23

My phone rang on the center console, jolting Angel awake. She sat upright while I reached for my Bluetooth headset and put it on.

Mary Folloso calling...

I checked Angel again and saw she's watching me from the corner of her eyes. When our eyes met, she turned away. I let out a sigh and accepted the call.

"Hello," I greeted. "Anong balita?"

"Gumising na si Mr. Romulo. The doctor said he's doing fine but they'll have to do more tests in the morning." Mary said on the other line.

Angel and I wanted to stay to help out with the Romulos but we both have work that we need to attend to back in Manila, so I asked Mary to assist the couple while we're away. Before leaving, Angel and I promised tita Nani we'll be back the following weekend. She said we didn't have to if we're busy in Manila but thanked us significantly by hugging and calling us her children.

"Si tita Nani?"

"Nasa prayer room, nagdadasal."

"That's good. Keep me updated."

"Sure. San na pala kayo?"

"SLEX na," I reply, giving Angel another look. She's facing the other way but I can see her face on the window's reflection. She's awake and watching me. "We'll be home in an hour or so."

"Malapit na pala kayo."

"Yeah. Sige na, may sasabihin ka pa ba?"

"Wala na. Ingat kayo."

"Kayo din."

Mary ended the call and I disconnect my headset before putting it away.

"Gising na si tito." I tell Angel, returning my focus on the road. We had just passed a hill on the right side of the expressway that is my marker that we're now entering Alabang.

"Kumusta siya?" Angel asked, still not looking at me.

"He's fine. May mga tests pa daw na ico-conduct sa kanya mamayang umaga."

"Okay,"

At three in the morning, I've been up for almost a whole day now but I still don't feel sleepy, instead, I feel very much awake. Maybe it has something to do with Angel being in close proximity to me since I went to take her and tita Nani to the hospital. After our conversation in the playground, we've been carefully watching each other and while I've attempted to make small talk, she's keen on shutting me down. I don't know if tita Nani noticed the animosity between us but she never said anything and I'm left feeling like a douchebag for what happened.

The pain in my chest is now similar to what I felt when I found out Fina has cancer. I know it's irrational to compare the two girls even more, but the way Angel is disregarding me is reminding me of how Fina hid her illness from me. They don't trust me with their feelings. And I can't blame them, after all, I did forget Fina and I did reject Angel.

But just because I deserve this treatment means I'm not allowed to be upset. I never wanted to forget Fina and I never wanted to hurt Angel's feelings.

Although, now that I think about it, I should have known better than to kiss Angel's forehead. Kate said Angel started to act like she's crushing on someone after that date we had in Luneta.

Wait, was it a date?

I asked her to hang out with me, I never said anything about a date. Did the stuff we did that afternoon give her the idea that she had a chance with me and the kiss I gave her just cemented that idea into place?