Chapter 21
I hugged him.
"Take care, okay?" bilin ko.
He nodded. He's still not releasing his hug.
"I'm going to miss you." he whispered.
"Me too."
We're at the airport. He's going back to Manila. Dumaan siya sa unit ko kaninang madaling araw bago kami pumunta dito.
"I want to take you in a vacation so bad." he said.
"Soon. As for now, you're doing a very great job. I'm happy to see you achieving your dreams." I said.
He loosened up a bit and looked into my eyes.
"I'm so proud of you." I said and tiptoed to kiss his cheeks.
"I love you." he said and planted small kisses on my forehead and cheeks.
"I love you too, Maz." I responded.
We hugged each other tightly before he left.
"Dave!"
I called him as I saw him passing by.
"Hey. Wala ka bang pasok?" he asked.
"Mamayang eight pa, it's still seven thirty." I said.
Dave nodded.
I can't believe how time can fly so fast. It's already the second semester of our second year in college.
I'm sitting here at one of the school's bench. I told Maz's driver to drop me off here at school since I already bought my stuffs. Maz insisted na ihatid ako pabalik ng driver niya kahit pwede namang mag-jeep nalang ako.
"Ikaw ba?" I asked him.
"Mamayang eight pa rin." he said.
He sat beside me.
May mga subjects na magkaklase kami. Atleast here, people are more amiable than the people where Dave and I came from. I made couple of friends here and also at the fast food restaurant I work part-time.
"Kamusta na kayo ni Maz?" he asked.
"Nagkita kami kanina lang. It's been months na rin no'ng huli pa naming pagkikita. He barely sent me replies to my messages and answered my calls lately." I said.
"Umuwi pala siya?" Dave asked.
He didn't know? Sa'n natulog 'yon?
"Yes? Alas dos ng madaling araw kumakatok na sa pintuan ko. He said his flight is eight in the morning so he'll spend the remaining time before his flight at my unit. Do'n pa nga siya nag-agahan." I said.
"Siguro 'yon lang ang inuwi no'n dito. Wala naman siyang events dito. Maybe he just came home to see you." Dave said.
Gago pala 'tong si Maz. Pwede namang mag-skype kami.
"Talaga? Kung alam ko lang hindi ko na sana pinayagan. Sobrang stress na siguro no'n."
Poor, Maz. He's so busy. I can feel his stress. He fell asleep hugging me at my sofa while I was telling him how my life has been.
Umiling si Dave. "Ito talagang si Mazro. I'm glad you landed to someone whom I know is reliable. You made the right decision, we are indeed better this way." Dave said.
Tiningnan ko siya. Nakatingin siya sa mga estudyante na naglalakad.
"Thank you. You're the best friend I've ever had. Salamat dahil pinagtiisan mo 'ko. I was so cruel to you, yet, you're still here with me." I said.
That caught his attention. Napatingin siya sa akin.
"No, I was the cruel one. I was rushing that time. Inamin sa'kin ni Mazro na gusto ka niya. Napakagulo ng isip ko no'n. I don't want him to win in everything. Nasa kanya na si Papa, tapos pati ikaw pa. Ang nasa isip ko no'n ay sinasadya niyang kunin ang lahat sa'kin. Siguro nagawa ko lang 'yon dahil napakagulo ng isipan ko at hindi ko man lang iniisip ang mararamdaman mo." sabi pa niya.
"We talk about you often. Hindi 'yan ang intensyon niya sa'yo. He's concern and sincere about you." I said to him.
"I know and it's my fault for misunderstanding everything. Sorry kung hindi mo alam 'yong gagawin no'ng biglaan akong nagtapat sa'yo, but, it wasn't something that's pure lie. Minsan din akong nakaramdam ng pakiramdam para sa'yo na higit pa sa kaibigan."
I looked away. Tangina naman, oh.
"Sorry! I-I didn't mean it that way. Noon l-lang 'yon, wag kang m-mag-alala." natatarantang sabi niya.
"Bwesit ka! Umayos ka nga!" natatawang sabi ko sa kanya at hinampas ang braso niya.
We laughed.
"Night shift ka ba mamaya?" he asked, referring to our part-time job.
Tumango ako.
"Sabay na tayo pumunta do'n. Let's meet-up here, my last class is five thirty and our shift starts at six thirty. Libre na kita ng hapunan."
"Sige ba, hanggang five thirty rin last class ko, eh. Hindi kita aayawan dahil nagtitipid ako, big-time ka na naman." sabi ko at tumawa.
Nagpaalam kami isa't-isa bago naghiwalay patungo sa sarili naming klase.
"Kakapagod!" sabi ko no'ng umupo ako sa bench.
I glanced at my wrist watch, it's five thirty five in the afternoon.
"Ano? Kakain na ba tayo o magpapahinga ka muna?" sabi ni Dave.
"Let's eat, baka ma late pa tayo sa shift natin." I said.
Dave and I arrived at this small karenderya. The foods here are great. Dito ako bumibili ng ulam kapag tinatamad akong magluto sa tinitirhan ko.
We started eating when our foods arrived. I texted Maz, updating about my happenings.
To: Maz
Kumusta? Dave and I are having dinner together.
Few minutes later and I got no response.
To: Maz
Busy ka ba? Sabi mo kanina free ka ngayong hapon.
Sinubukan kong tawagan siya pero hindi niya ito sinasagot. Ilang ulit ko siyang tinawagan pero wala pa rin. What could he possibly be doing?
"Kumain ka muna. Maybe Maz is just busy." Dave said.
"He said I can call after my class because he's not busy. I didn't even get a reply." malungkot kong saad.
"He mentioned may movie siyang gagawin and she's paired up with a veteran actress."
I dropped my phone.
"Aarte siya? Akala ko sa music industry lang siya, doing collaborations and guestings." takang saad ko.
"Hindi mo alam? Sinabihan kasi siya ng manager niyang subukan ang pag-arte dahil may director na gusto siyang kunin na isa sa mga artista no'ng nakita niya ang video no'ng play niyo. Sa pagkakaalam ko, pumayag siya."
I shook my head. "Wala akong alam tungkol diyan pero mukhang magandang opportunity naman. Proud ako sa kanya." I said then genuinely smiled.
Dave continued eating and I snuck into my phone to message Maz.
To: Maz
I heard you'll be having a movie.
To: Maz
Good luck :)
^_^
