The Aftermath of a One-Night Stand (Aragonza #2)

Chapter 13

"I wanted him to kiss me again, but I don't know how to tell him."

They stared into each other's eyes for a long while. She wanted to just lean closer and take the chance, but something's stopping her. Hindi rin naman gumalaw si Vince. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang hinihintay nilang dalawa.

Why does it seem so hard to just cross that tiny space between them?

Mukhang hindi naman ni Vince gagawin, kaya lumayo na lamang siya. It was so awkward. Gusto na niyang lumabas ng KTV dahil sa nangyari.

Laking pasalamat niya nang dumating na sina Red at Vico.

Moira couldn't keep it to herself anymore, so pag-uwi niya ng bahay, agad niyang kinausap si Neri. Her cousin listened patiently and when she's done talking, ang unang-una nitong tanong sa kanya ay, "Mahal mo pa rin ba sya?"

It's the question that she couldn't bring herself to answer.

"It's been ten years, Neri," was all she could say.

"It doesn't matter if it's ten or twenty or fifty years ago. Kapag mahal mo, mahal mo. Moira, if it's too much for you, then quit the job."

"Pero nakakahiya na sa inyo. Palagi na lang kayo ang nagsu-shoulder ng mga gastusin."

Bumuntong-hininga ito. "Ano ka ba, para namang iba ka sa 'min."

"Neri, you've been more than a cousin to me for ten years. Kahit man lang sana sa pagbabayad ng bills, makatulong ako sa 'yo."

"Do you really mean that or are you just making excuses para hindi ka makalayo sa kanya? If it's the latter, then it's fine. Hindi na kita pangangaralan. Just please be true to yourself."

"Three weeks na lang naman, Neri."

"My god, Moira, you're still in denial! You're in fucking denial for ten years! Just admit that you love him! Ikamamatay mo ba kung aaminin mo sa sarili mong may feelings ka pa para sa kanya?"

"Calm down!" saway niya sa pinsan. Yumakap siya rito. "You shouldn't be upset."

"I know, but you're upsetting me. Alam mo naman sigurong ikaw ang dahilan kung bakit hindi pa 'ko nakakasal?"

She sighed. "E, ikaw naman kasi. Sino ba'ng may sabing hintayin mo 'ko? Okay lang naman ako kahit ikasal ka."

She's been goading Neri to accept her boyfriend's proposal, pero matigas ang ulo nito.  I will not get married until you're happy, sabi pa nito sa kanya dati. But that happiness is taking too long to come and she's afraid na baka mainip na ang boyfriend nito kahihintay.

Men can't be expected to hang around forever.

"Ikaw, okay lang, pero pa'no si Kelvin?"

"We'll be all right," she insisted.

Kinuha nito ang kamay niya at pinisil iyon.

"Moira, don't you think it's time for Vince to know the truth?"

--

Vince spent the weekend with Troy, Red and Kylie. Naghuhuramentado na naman daw kasi ang pamangkin niya.

"I think she knows that I'm pregnant and she doesn't like it," Red told him.

Kinalong niya ang pamangkin. Tahimik lang itong nakasunod sa bawat galaw ng ina. Hindi naman ito umiiyak, pero hindi rin ito playful.

"How can she know? She's just a baby."

Nagkibit-balikat si Red. "I don't know. Pero may nabasa ako somewhere na kaya raw umiiyak ang babies kapag gabi, e para mapigilan ang parents nilang gumawa ng bagong baby."