My Other Half

10 - Man Hunt

"I'm really glad na day-off mo ngayon." Nakangiting wika ni Tina.

Maaga palang ay nasa bahay na ni Patience si Tina para istorbohin ito at nagyayang lumabas. Hindi niya alam kung saan nito nalaman na wala siyang trabaho sa araw na ito. "Me too. Kaya lang nasa Mall ako ngayon, with you. Instead of spending it with my bed the whole day." She replied lazily. Naglalakad sila paikot-ikot lang sa mall, halatadong wala sa mood na mag-shopping.

Tina pouted. "Don't be like that. I missed you kaya niyaya kitang lumabas. Puro ka trabaho e, plus, it's better to spend the day in bed with a man in it. In your case, that'll be a bore, dahil wala ka namang boylet." Reklamo nito.

She raised one of her eyebrow. "I am currently in a relationship with my bed, and I don't need a man in it." She justified.

"Maybe for a while but six years without a man is just, ugh, I'll die. We have needs." Tina said.

"Dinala mo ako sa mall para pag-usapan ang sex life ko?" Tanong niya.

Tina smiled. "We are man hunting," pag-amin nito.

"Why am I not surprised?"

Hinila ni Tina si Patience sa isang bench and they both sat down. She faced her bestfriend. "Patty, I'm worried about you."

"Dahil wala akong sex life?" Nagtatakang tanong ni Patience.

"No! Well, yes, kasama na 'yon doon but that's not the point. My point is, you need someone. A man in your life, someone who'll make you laugh, make you fall in love. Just like Louis did." She explained.

Bumakas ang kalungkutan sa mga mata ni Patience. "Hin…hindi ko alam kung paano. He was my everything. The moment he died, a part of me died with him. Si Louisa lang ang kailangan ko. No more, no less." She answered.

Itinaas ni Tina ang kamay nito at pinahid ang luha sa pisngi niya na hindi namalayan ni Patience na pumatak na. "I'm not asking you to forget about him or replace him, because no man is good enough to fill the blank space that he left in your heart. Kagaya ng sinabi mo 'part of you', hindi buong ikaw ang nawala. Just move on, 'yong ibang part na natira, share it to someone worth it."

Matagal ng nasa-isip ni Patience ang salitang 'move on', pero ayaw niya bumitaw. Maraming lalaking dumating sa buhay niya pero, none of them was worth of her attention. Laging sinasabi niya sa sarili that, Louisa is all she need. She is already contented and happy with it. She believed that lie for so long that she is also starting to believe in it. Until today, until her bestfriend said it in her face. The truth. "So you think that 'someone' is here? Sa mall? Really?" Biro ni Patience.

"Well, it's a start." Tina laughed softly.

Naputol ang moment nila nang tumunog ang cellphone ni Patience. She looked at the screen before answering. "Hello?"

"Who's that?" Tina mouthed.

Hindi sinagot ni Patience ang tanong kaya't Tina pressed her ears on the back of the phone, also listening.

"Where are you?" Tanong ng kausap.

"I'm out, day-off ko. Napatawag ka? May problema ba sa office?"

"No, no. I'm just wondering, if I could take you to dinner tonight. If wala ka pang plano."

"Tonight? Um…I don't--"

Tina cut her off. "Invite him to dinner sa bahay niyo."

"What? No!" Protesta niya.

"Sige na. Remember, we are trying to find someone para sa sex life mo. Invite him or I swear to God!" Banta nito.

"Fine!"

"Hello? Patience? Are you there? Hello?"

"Yeah, I'm here. I'm sorry about that. May makulit akong kasama e." Paumanhin ni Patience.

"O, okay. So? About the dinner?"

Nakatingin ng masama si Tina sa kanya, habang nag-aantay ng sagot. Kung nakakamatay lang ang tingin, kanina pa siya namatay sa pwesto niya. "I can't go out tonight, so, why don't I invite you to dinner instead. In my house?" Yaya niya at lumiwanag ang mukha ni Tina.

"Really? Sige. That's much better."

"Okay, I'll text you the address. Is 7 pm okay?"

"Perfect. See you tonight."

Ibinaba na ni Patience ang hawak na cellphone nang biglang tumili si Tina. "Aah! Who was that?! Hot voice ha!"

She rolled her eyes. "That was Luke. Co-worker ko sa project na hawak ko ngayon." She answered.

"Kaya pala wala kang gana magman-hunting. Nakabingwit ka na pala sa trabaho mo." Tina teased.

"Baliw. Kaibigan ko lang 'yon." Depensa niya.

"That's were it all started. Friends, to more than friends. Kung ayaw mo ng more than friends, pwede ring friends with benefits. Remember, sex life mo 'to!" Ani Tina.

Hinili siya patayo ni Tina at naglakad pabalik sa kanilang nilakaran. "Saan tayo pupunta?" Tanong niya.

"Obviously, maggo-grocery. Para sa dinner date niyo ni Luke." Tina answered and smiled slyly.

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Authors' Note:

Hey Sweeties,

Dapat nag-update ako noong valentines pa, kaya lang I was so bitter that day and decided not to. Hahaha, Just Kidding. I had a hard time writing this one kasi, mahirap gumawa ng scene! Huhuhu. Anyway, natapos ko rin, thank God for 'Tina the Bestfriend'. Tina was loosely-based on my real life bestfriend. So understanding. Don't you think?

Anyway comment and vote! I love you all!

-Ally

Uploaded: 02/16/15

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