Kinabukasan ay maaga kaming gumayak ni Eli papuntang Supermarket. Kami ang naatasan mamili ng mga kakailanganin para mamaya sa birthday dinner ni Tita Elena. Kahit antok na antok pa nga ay hindi na ako tumanggi dahil bukod sa nakakahiya ay chance ko na din ito para makapaglibot libot sa lugar. Sa biyahe ay hindi pa din maalis alis ang kakulitan ni Elijah, ayaw niyang tumigil sa pang-aasar sa akin. “Akala yata ni Mama di kita inaalagaan sa bahay,” nakanguso niyang sabi habang nagmamaneho.“Nagsumbong kasi ako sa kanya na kinakawawa mo ‘ko.” pang-aasar ko naman. Tinapunan niya ako ng tingin at saka tumawa.“I know I fuck you too hard pero never kitang kinawawa, Anj.” My mouth formed an “o” shape after that bold answer, malaki din ang mata ko habang di makapaniwalang binalingan siya ng tingin. Mabilis lumipad ang kamay ko sa braso niya para paghahampasin siya pero natatawa niya lang na tinanggap iyon habang nagmamaneho.“Napakabastos mo!” Kahit kailan talaga yung bunganga
Nakailang ikot na ako sa aking kama ngunit hindi talaga ako dinadalaw ng antok. I checked the time on my phone and saw that it's nearly 2am now. I kept on tapping my arm as I shifted from side to side. Until I decided to stare at the ceiling. I blew out a frustrated sigh as I recalled the scenario in the kitchen earlier. I admit, the unexpected scene which happened tonight really bothers me. Ganun ba kamahal ni Tito Elias si Victoria para tuluyan niyang iwan ang kanyang pamilya dito sa Pilipinas? My heart is really breaking for my best friend. He doesn't deserve this pain. Naiisip ko pa lang ang paghihirap ng kalooban ni Eli sa bagong balitang iyon ay nadudurog na ang puso ko para sa kanya. Alam ko namang wala ng pag-asa pa na magkabalikan muli ang kanyang magulang. Si Tita Elena na mismo ang nagpasya na wakasan ang pagsasama nilang mag-asawa ngunit hindi ko maitanggi na sa puso ko.. meron pa eh. May konti pa. May pag-asa pa akong nakikita. Nararamdaman kong mahal pa nila ang isa't
Our three day vacation at Elijah's family's house comes to an end. Akala ko ay hindi na magiging masaya ang mga huling sandali namin sa kanilang pamamahay matapos ang nakakagulat na anunsyo ni Tito Elias, but I think everyone in their little family already saw it coming, naghihintay na lang siguro sila ng panahon kung kailan ito mangyayari. Sa huli ay sinulit namin ang natitirang oras bago kami bumalik sa Maynila. Ako, Tim, Elijah and Tita Elena, the four of us went on a small escapade, we went shopping and ate in various restaurants downtown. I'm glad that Elijah managed to make his little family happy by spending time with them. At masaya ako na nasasaksihan ko ito. It's his small wins na alam kong hindi niya pinagtutuunan ng pansin dahil para sa kanya parte ito ng obligasyon niya, pero para sa akin na isang outsider sa kanilang pamilya, proud na proud akong makita kung gaano siya karesponsableng anak. "I'm still surprised that you decided to bring along home
"Can you come over?" Jemi asked me on the other line. Pauwi palang ako dahil kakatapos palang ng shift ko sa trabaho. Isang malalim na buntong hininga ang ginawa ko bago ako sumagot ulit. "Ano bang problema?" I asked lazily as I massaged my neck while walking to my car. "He wants to die, I think," she answered back.Alright so here's the thing, I have three best friends named, Jemi, Riz, and Elijah who happens to be the only guy. Yes, he's a hundred percent straight. And Jemi called me because our dearest friend Elijah was heartbroken."Tell him I'll kill him with my own hands when I arrive." sabi ko saka binaba ang phone. I drove to his place with a heavy heart, it's not that I hate him for not talking to me for three consecutive weeks but it's the fact that after all those weeks of not talking to me this is the first news I'm going to hear from him. Hindi pa ako nakakatatlong katok ay pinagbuksan na nila ako agad ng pinto.I frowned after seeing their long faces. I walked throu
"C'mon Ej, wash yourself first before going to bed." pagpupumilit ko habang hinihila siyang tumayo. I heard a groan from him, he's drunk but he's conscious."I can't do it myself, I'm too drunk Anj." he whined. Alright, bestfriend duties I guess. "C'mon I'll help you okay?" pangungulit ko pa. Sa huli wala rin siyang nagawa kundi tumayo, hirap na hirap akong itulak pa siya papasok ng banyo because he's too sleepy. He lazily walked inside and stand under the shower which he didn't turned on yet while I stand there inside watching him with hawk eyes, making sure that he's going to take a bath. I stood straight there with my folded arms as I watch him pulled up his shirt but stop on his neck when he realized that I'm still standing there and watching him shamelessly, he muttered soft curses while raising his brows at me."What? you're going to stand there and watch me wash myself? Jesus, Anjie." he scoffed at me in disbelief. When he saw that I'm not kidding about staying ins
Nagising ako sa mabangong amoy galing sa labas. The sweet aroma of coffee is lingering in the air as well as the smell of delicious breakfast, my stomach started to rumble sa sobrang gutom. Pikit mata akong nag-unat habang humihikab.I reached for my phone at the bedside table and saw that it's quarter to seven a.m, I need to get ready for work. Napasapo ako sa noo ko nang maalala ko na wala nga pala akong baon na damit pamalit, I sighed when I realized that I still need to go back home and get change especially that I forgot to wash it last night, there's no way in hell na papasok ako sa trabaho na ayun pa rin ang suot ko. Mabilis akong naligo at halos magdikit ang kilay ko nang hindi ko na makita ang mga damit kong hinubad kagabi,Shit where's my clothes dito ko lang 'yon nilagay ah! Nagbalot ako ng towel at nagmamadaling lumabas ng kwarto para tanungin si Eli. "Eli--" "Jesus, Anjie! You shouldn't be going out with just a towel on your body while I'm practically here!!" natata
6pm and my work is finally over."Any plans for tonight, Anj?" tanong ni Kairus habang nag aayos ako ng gamit ko. Nakasandal siya sa pinto ng opisina ko at hinihintay ako, habang nakasuksok ang dalawang kamay sa kanyang bulsa.Nangunot ang noo ko at nilingon siya."Why?" taas kilay kong tanong habang isinusukbit ang bag ko sa balikat saka sabay kaming lumabas na ng opisina at naglakad papuntang parking lot. Nagtext si Eli na nandoon na daw siya at naghihintay. "Club." maikling sagot ni Kairus sa gilid ko at nagkibit pa ng balikat. Agad nagusot ang mukha ko after ko marinig iyon, I don't do those kind of things anymore. Call me boring but I really don't like going to those places, I'm not fond of crowded area. Unless sila Eli ang kasama ko. I saw Jay jogs toward us with a smile on his face, I'm glad he's kind of relaxed now. Kairus turn his neck to face the newbie."Ikaw Jay? Sama ka? Club." yaya niya pa. Napailing nalang ako sa kalokohan niya kakaumpisa pa lang magtrabaho dito ng
Quarter to 2 am nang matapos namin ang movie, Elijah insists na dito nalang din matulog sina Riz and Jemi but they both refused dahil may mga lakad pa daw sila early in the morning kaya naman wala na rin nagawa si Eli kundi ang pumayag. Eli offered na ihatid sila kahit hanggang sa parking lot lang at ako naman ay nag umpisa nang magligpit ng mga kalat sa living room.After cleaning the living room I strolled to Elijah's room and make my way through the bathroom to brush my teeth. I heard Elijah's footsteps entering his room as well and it's not late before he swung his head to the doorstep of the bathroom as he stood there without his shirt on and just his black cotton shorts while watching me through our reflection in the mirror. He stared at me for a minute as he crossed his arms against his broad chest while leaning to the door frame before he decided to open his mouth to talk.. "Carlo invited me to his party next week," he started, voice deep and low.Carlo? Oh, Amber's boy b