"Lovely naman pala kasi."
I don't know how many times did Sophia teased me since I arrived here in their house a while ago. After ilang beses na pilitan ay pinayagan na ako ni Lola na bumiyahe paMaynila. It's just so awkward since I'm not also used to ask Damien for permission but I have to. Pati siya ay ayaw na lumuwas na agad ako ngunit gusto ko na talaga.
"I didn't come here for you to just pester me with that caption of his." I rolled my eyes for the nth time.
"It's lovely naman kasi talaga. At least react to that post, para siyang tanga na wala man lang reaction na nakuha mula sa fiancé niyang lovely." I stood up ang walked towards the kitchen earning a loud laugh from Sophia.
The day passed by like a wind breeze. Sophia kept on teasing me the whole time. Nasa kwarto na ako ng magnotify ang phone ko na may message ako sa instagram.
It's from Dame.
We're already in Manila.
Di ko alam kung anong isasagot ko. Hindi ko alam na aalis din naman sila that day para umuwi dito. I thought they will stay a bit longer sa kanila naman.
Oh. I thought you'll gonna stay their for a bit.
Naseen agad ang reply kahit mga ilang minutes muna bago nagreply ako sa kanya.
They're bored.
What are you doing?
Dalawang magkakasunod na message ang agad na reply niya. Is he this active here on IG?
Nothing. Just preparing for sleep. We're going to a resort tomorrow, had to wake up early.
Ilang minuto na ngunit di pa siya nagrireply. Pero naseen niya na naman.
Nagulat ako ng bigla siyang tumawag. It's a video call. I'm torn between answering it or not pero why not? Wala naman din akong rason para di siya sagutin.
"Where are you going tomorrow?" 'yon ang bungad niya sa akin. He is already on the bed, and I guess he is topless because his shoulders are visible.
"Where going on a resort, opening kasi ng beach resort na pagmamay-ari ng family ng husband ni Sophia."
"Who will be with you?"
Naiilang ako sa nga tanong niya. He is looking at me directly, seryosong seryoso.
"Uhm, Sophia's family."
"Uhuh."
"And uhm, the hosts of course. And we have some college friends who will be there. I don't know who exactly are the invited 'cause I am just an invited one also."
"Update me then. You didn't even texted me when you arrived there."
"Oh. I'm sorry, Dame. I just got busy catching up with Sophia. And I'm not used to updating someone of my whereabouts." Sobrang hina na ang pagkakasabi ko ng last part. Nahihiya akong umamin.
He chuckled.
"You should get used to it Isabella."
I just nodded, not minding what he used to call me.
I tried to ask him to put the phone down dahil maliligo na ako but he refused. Iwanan ko na lang daw ang phone sa bed and go get some bath. He'll just wait 'til I'm finished. Nagugulohan man, sinunod ko na lang.
"You're not yet sleeping?" I shyly asked him. Di ko alam kung maririnig niya ako dahil parang nanonood siya sa TV. Ngunit nang bumaling agad siya sa akin ng nagsalita ako ay napagtanto kong nag-aantay pa rin siya.
"Ikaw?"
"Uhm, matutulog na mayamaya."
"Matutulog na rin ako pagnatulog ka na." I checked the time, it's almost 10 PM. The life here in the city just started.
"Wala ba kayong lakad ng barkada mo?" Napabaling siya agad sa akin mula sa pagkakatingin sa TV. He seriously look at me as if figuring out my question.
"Aster Isabella, if I am going out, I will tell you. I will ask permission or I will update you. You are my fiancee now. And besides, I will ask you to come with me too if you'd like."
"Well, uhm. You don't have to do it naman. I understand that you have life here in the city. It's okay-"
"And updating my fiancee about my life here is already a part of it. Stop arguing."
"But-"
"I said, no arguments Aster Isabella. Anyways, until when will you be staying in your friend's place?"
"Until my examination day." I hesitantly said.
I heard him sigh.
"You don't want me to accompany you to the examination venue?" He asked. I don't know what to answer.
"Uhm, baka busy ka that day. And besides, sabay naman kami ni Sophia sa pagtake ng exam. Sabay na rin kaming pupunta don."
"How about after the exam? Can I fetch you?" Seryoso pa rin siya.
"Well, uhm. We have plans after that. We will be going out with some of Sophia's friends. But it's still tentative though."
Nakita ko siyang napayoko. I feel an urge inside me to just tell him that he can fetch me or be with us na lang.
I heard him sigh again and that's when I decided to let him do what he want.
"Dame, you can fetch me and then we'll have dinner. Pwede mo naman akong ihatid sa night out namin, right? Or you can come with us if you're not busy that day." I smiled at him.
He nodded slowly and then smile a bit.
"It's settled then. I think you're already sleepy. Let's end this call so we can sleep."
Tumango lang ako at hinintay na patayin niya ang tawag. Humiga na din ako.
"Goodnight, Aster." He huskily said while he nuzzled on his pillow.
"Goodnight, Dame." Hinintay ko pa rin na patayin niya ang tawag ngunit nanatili lang siyang nakatingin sa akin.
"Patayin mo na." I told him.
"End the call." Seryoso naman niyang saad. Nagugulohan ako sa gusto niya, bakit naman kailangang ako pa ang pumatay sa tawag, pwede namang siya na lang?
"Uhm, okay. I'll end it now. Goodnight."
"Update me tomorrow. Goodnight."
That's his last words before I ended the call. Ilalagay ko na sana ang phone ko sa side table ngunit may message pa siyang nagpop up sa notification.
Take care for tomorrow's event. Update me, please. Goodnight.
