Strings of Regret

Chapter 25

  "Anong gusto mong kainin?"

We are currently here at a diner. Its almost seven so we decided to eat dinner. Nakaupo kami ngayon at nagtitingin sa menu.

  "I'm fine with steak then rice tsaka pineapple juice," sabi ko.

Reese is about to order but I stopped him to give him my money. It took me awhile to persuade him that we should both pay half of the bill para fair. He even reasoned out that I already paid for our snacks earlier that's why he should be the one to pay for our food.

I refused to do so after knowing that he's planning to order pizza and other foods for us. I'm sure my bill earlier can't cover up his right now so he got no choice but to agree.

I waited patiently on our table as he lined up in the counter. Nag-chat rin ako nina Sab at Cassi hanggang sa nag text si Renan sa akin.

Renan:

Ate dito na ako maghahapunan sabi ni lola. Ayos ka lang ba d'yan?

Ako:

Yup. Kasama ko si Reese. Nasa resto kami. Uuwi na din ako pagkatapos.

  "Bri?"

I averted my gaze from my phone to the person who called me. Ang pamilyar na mukha ng aking nakababatang kaibigan ang bumungad sa akin.

  "Paul! Kumusta?" nakangiting utas ko at tumayo para salubungin siya.

Saglit kaming nagyakapan bago niya ako hinarap ng nakangiti. "I'm good. Its been awhile, huh?"

  "Yes. Kailan ka nakabalik dito sa Cebu?"

  "Kahapon lang. May inaasikaso lang si Dad at isinama ako. I'll be back to Manila next week."

  "Ang dali naman," nakabusangot na tugon ko.

Paul laughed and messed my hair a bit. "Don't worry, I'll ask for a vacation here in Cebu soon. May pasok pa kasi ako, e."

  "Oh, right. Sabih-"

The sound of the metal tray on the table cut me off. Nandito na pala si Reese dala ang order namin. He pulled the chair across mine and sat there without giving us a single glance.

  "May kasama ka pala. Next time?"

Napabaling ako kay Paul ng magsalita siya. "Sure! Send my regards to Tita and Tito nalang."

  "I will. Regards din kela Tita Percy."

A few more goodbyes and a cheek to cheek kiss before Paul left. Napaupo ulit ako sa silya at tiningnan ang pagkain sa mesa bago tumingin kay Reese na blangko lamang ang mukhang nakatingin sa plato niya.

  "Si Paul nga pala. Nakababata ko. Sa Maynila siya nag-aaral kasi may negosyo ang papa niya doon. Ngayon ko na nga lang ulit na kita yun e," natatawang aniya ko pero napahinto nang makitang walang siyang pakialam na ngumunguya.

Huminto nalang ako sa kakatalak at nagsimulang kumain. Baka gutom na siya at wala talagang pakialam kasi gutom nga.

I was eating silently but the defeaning silence is making a toll on me. There's an underlying tension behind the cluttering of our utensils and our deep breathes as we ate.

Hindi ako mapakali kaya kinailangan kong basagin ang katahimikan sa pagitan naming dalawa. I don't know if its just for me but its slowly becoming awkward for some apparent reason.

  "Ayos ka lang ba?" mahinang tanong ko.

Reese slowly dropped his utensils on his plate but continued munching. Ilang sandali lang ay ang madilim na tingin niya ang sumalubong sa nag-iingat kong mga mata.