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XXI. The Gift
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2021-08-09 19:18:46Kinahapunan ay dumiretso na sila sa bahay nina Abby na kapitbahay nina Jay. Doon sila nagbihis at nag-ayos samantalang si Brix naman ay nauna na kina Jay dala-dala ang kanilang regalong external drive na pinagtulungan nilang bilhin. Panay ang sulyap ni Trisha sa kanyang phone habang nakaupo sa mahabang supa. Hindi pa natatapos sina Abby at Joyce sa pag-aayos.
“So, darating ba si Marsden?” tanong sa kanya ni Analie na katabi niyang nakaupo sa mahabang supa.
“Hindi eh,” pilit siyang ngumiti dito. Ayaw niyang magsinunghaling sa rason kung bakit hindi ito makakapunta kaya naman hindi na niya ipinaliwanag pa ang dahilan.
“Sayang naman, we’re looking forward to meet him. Oy! Pasensya Trish pero nacurious ako eh…ang gwapo pala ng Marsden mo. Celebrity!” kinikilig nitong tapik sa balikat niya.
Hindi nga naman niya naisip na celebrity ito. May kaibigan nga itong artista, negosyante, artist, heiress at modelo pero hindi niya kailan man inisip na sikat rin ang kaibigan. Mas lalong nanlumo si Trisha, ngayon siya tinatablan ng agwat nila ng estado sa buhay kaya naman pinigilan niya ang sariling sulyapan ulit ang cellphone.
Nang matapos ang mga kaibigan sa pag-aayos ay pumunta na sila sa bahay ng may birthday. Absent si Jay dahil may special leave ang mga empleyado kung sino mang may kaarawan.
“Happy Birthday!” sabay nilang bati kay Jay.
“Pretty girls, halika kayo pasok!” malakas na tili nito nang makita sila.
“Bruha, hinaan mo nga ang boses mo. Nakakahiya!” sita ni Abby.
“Hindi ka naman kasali eh, huwag ka ngang assuming!” saad ni Jay habang ikinakabit ang mga braso sa braso ni Abby at Trisha.
Abby pouted and pretended to be hurt samantalang si Trisha naman ay natatawa sa dalawa.
“Ang dami mong bisita ah!” Ani Analie.
“Pansin mo boylet ang marami,” saad naman ni Joyce na sinulyapan ang mga bisita ni Jay.
“Opps! Speaking of boylet, nasaan na ang Marsden ko girl?” tanong nito kay Trisha.
“Busy sa work?” aniyang patanong. “I mean busy sa work!” pag-uulit niya.
Tumaas ang kilay ni Jay pero hindi na siya nito kinulit pa. “Sayang naman, excited pa naman akong makita siya sa personal. Celebrity pala girl! At tsaka may-ari ng Zion?!” kinikilig nitong saad.
Hindi niya kailanman inisip na esearch si Marsden sa internet. Malaking negosyante nga naman ito. Natawa na lamang siya sa mga kaibigan. Pati siya hindi rin naman makapaniwala na magkakaroon siya ng kaibigan na kagaya nito.
“Eh si Chloe nasaan?” ani Jay nang makapasok na sila sa loob ng bahay.
“Papunta na daw, may tinapos lang sandali.”
“Abalang-abala ang lola! Namiss ko ‘yon.”
“Kaya nga eh talagang pupunta ‘yon ngayon, namiss ka rin for sure,” aniyang nakangiti kay Jay.
“Masaya naman ako at finally nakarating ka na rin ng maaga sa birthday ko–“ Hindi na nito natapos ang sasabihin nang pumasok si Chloe sa gate.
“Sister Happy Birthday!” masayang bati ni Chloe nang lumapit sa kanila at may dala-dalang regalo. Nagbeso-beso ito kay Trisha at sa mga kaibigan.
“Hoy lola, bakit naman hindi mo pinapasok ‘yong nagdeliver sayo?” saad ni Jay nang magbeso-beso ang mga ito.
“Parang LBC lang!” anitong natatawa. “’Yong amo ko ‘yon, hinatid ako kasi nagdemand ng extension para matapos ang isang report.”
“Oi! Baka magkalove life ka na Chlo,” ani Joyce.
“Sus! ‘Yon? Over my–“
“’H’wag kang magsalita ng tapos!” saad nilang lahat kay Chloe.
Wala na masyadong bisita at sila na lamang ang naiwang nagkakantahan sa sala nang may dumating na delivery guy at may dalang regalo with a red ribbon.
“Oi special delivery!” saad ni Chloe nang magkakasama silang lahat na lumabas ng bahay at pumunta sa cute na delivery guy.
“Dito po ba ang bahay ni sir Jay Orbuda?” tanong nito.
Nakakagat labi si Jay na tumango at kinuha ang regalo. Panay ang ngiti nito sa delivery guy. Natatawa na lamang sila nang naiilang nitong ibinigay ang pepermahan ni Jay.
“Thank you!” paseksi nitong saad sa delivery guy na nagmamadaling sumakay ng motor.
“Grabe ka talaga Jay!” natatawang saad ni Analie.
“Ang gwapo eh, hindi ko maiwasang magflirt. Teka! Saan ba ito galing?” Sinuri nito ang card pero Jay at Happy Birthday lang ang nakalagay.
“Oi mysterious! Walang sender,” ani Abby na nasa likuran ni Jay. “Halika buksan na natin.”
Excited naman si Jay na buksan ang regalo nang makarating ito sa sala. Pinalibutan nila ang regalo.
“Teka girl, baka suspense to. Baka naman kamay ng boylet mo ang nand’yan!” panunukso ni Chloe.
“Sira ka talaga Chlo!” natatawang saad ni Trisha sa matalik na kaibigan.
Hinawakan ni Jay ang dibdib at huminga ng malalim. “Whoa! Kinakabahan ako girl”. At tuluyan na nga itong binuksan.
Napanganga ang lahat nang makita ang laman ng regalo. Jay looked immediately at Abby. “My fairy godmother? Totoo ba to? Subra-subra to sa hiniling ko,” sabay yakap kay Abby.
“Ano bang pinagsasabi mo, akala mo ba afford ko yan?” nangingiting saad ni Abby at napasulyap kay Trisha.
Trisha was confused bakit ganoon ang tingin sa kanya ni Abby. Bumalik sa kanya ang ngiting ipinupukol nito sa kanya kanina.
Jay was now crying. She knew it was tears of joy. Matagal na nitong gustong palitan ang tab nito dahil nagloloko na pero wala itong perang pambili. Napakabait naman ng nagregalo sa kanya ng Apple IPad Pro. It definitely worth a lot.
“Eh sino namang magbibigay nito kung hindi ikaw eh ikaw lang naman ang nagtanong sa akin kahapon.”
“Hala girl, parang suspense na nga ito. It’s a bait!” seryosong saad ni Chloe with a look of fright.
Nagtawan ang lahat maliban kay Trisha. She was thinking maybe it was from Marsden and she was very touched. Seeing how happy Jay was, she really wanted him to be here with them.
Tumingin siya kay Abby and she saw the confirmation in her eyes when their eyes met. Napansin ni Chloe na natahimik siya.
“Trish?”
“Hmm?” tanong niya sa kaibigan.
“Natahimik ka ata?”
“I’ll explain to you later,” bulong niya dito.
Bumalik na sa pagkakantahan ang mga kaibigan samantalang si Jay naman ay yakap-yakap pa rin ang regalo habang nakaupo sa mahabang supa katabi ni Abby.
★★★
Hindi makatulog si Trisha. Katabi niya sa kama si Chloe, tulog na ito at siya naman ay nakaupo at nagdadalawang isip kung pasasalamatan si Marsden o hindi. Nakapatong ang kanyang baba sa mga tuhod habang paulit-ulit na nagta-type at nagdedelete sa kanyang cellphone. Paano kung mas pinili ni Marsden na kalimutan ang pagkakaibigan nila? Paano kung napagtanto nitong mas mabuting huwag na silang magkita? Siguro ang pagbibigay nito ng regalo was a sign of closure?
No matter what, she owes Marsden a thank you for what he did. Bago sila umuwi ay kinausap niya si Abby. Sinabi nito na tinawagan siya ng assistant ni Marsden at pinakiusapan siyang alamin kung ano ang gustong regalo ni Jay. Assistant pala ni Marsden ang lalaking naka-eyeglasses na minsang nagbigay sa kanya ng macarons.
“Marsden…Marsden…Marsden. What will I do with you?!” nalilitong bulong ni Trisha.
Huminga siya ng malalim at pinagpasyahang pupuntahan ito sa office bukas.
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