Bay of Strangers (Manila Girls #2)

Kabanata 41

Kabanata 41

Move on

Unknown Number:

Thanks for letting me ride with you. Good night.

Kanina pa ako tulala habang binabasa ang mensahe ni River kagabi. I was really hoping he's joking, you know. Na nagbibiro lang siya na sasama siya pauwi. Hindi ko inaasahan na hahayaan niyang umuwi mag-isa si Arianna. Oo, alam kong medyo nakakaasar siya pero parang ang bastos naman na iniwan niya si Arianna para lang samahan ako umuwi. Obviously, I didn't like the girl and she didn't like me too, but it doesn't mean that I wish her harm or anything.

We didn't talk the whole ride. Simpleng mga paalala lang habang nagmamaneho siya. Nakaidlip din kasi ako pagdating namin sa SLEX kaya pag gising, malapit na kami sa destinasyon.

Drinop off ko siya sa apartment na tinutuluyan niya sa Malate, Manila saka ako dumiretso rito penthouse ni Rush.

I expected that he already has his own house. Or that he lives in a condo somewhere in BGC, Makati or QC, but he's still in Manila. Maybe because that's where his post is? I don't know. I don't like the nature of his work, but I am still thankful that he's able to provide services for my father when the accident happened.

Tapping my phone, I contemplated whether I should reply to him or not. Yes, I gave him my number. Okay, judge me all you can, but at least he's the one who asked for it! Hindi ako. Ang offer naman kasi ni Rush noong nakaraan ay ako ang kumuha ng number ni River.

"Do you think it's okay to be friends with him again?"

"Friends lang naman ah..." Tatawa-tawa si Rush nang marinig ang buong kwento ko. "Oh, kaso nga pala... Iba ang definition ng friends sa inyong dalawa."

Sumimangot ako, nanatiling nakahiga sa malambot niyang kama.

"Hmm, may sarili kaming dictionary back in the days, bakit ba."

I heard him mumbled something, but I'm too tired to ask him so I let him be.

"Just talk to him, will you... Para naman magkaroon ka ng peace of mind."

"Akala mo naman talking to him is like a piece of cake!" I snorted. "Makita ko pa nga lang mga mata niya, natatameme na ako."

"You sound like a silly teenager, Lei." He chuckled a bit, and tapped my foot. Abot-kamay niya kasi iyon. "Baka gusto mo pa rin hanggang ngayon?"

"Pinagkakanulo mo ba ko?"

"You should talk to him, not because I want you two to get back at your 'friends that make out phase', but because I want you to be free... To be more open and comfortable when he's around because I'm betting all my cards here, Aviva Kamalei that he's going to stick around."

I fell silent. I fixed my hands and gently put it on my chest, feeling its stable beat. How silly of this tiny blood-pumping organ to race whenever he's near or whenever he does something so romantically-cliche and overwhelmingly astounding gestures? How come that it forgot its own purpose just so it can beat for River?

That's its only function, should be, right? Bakit siya titibok para sa isang lalaki na ang pangalan ay River Osvaldo Gaisano? At ang mga lintik na kulisap sa tiyan ko, bakit ba sila nag chi-cheer kay River? They're not a fucking butterfly cheerleaders for Pete's sake!

"Can you come with me?" I said after awhile.

"I can't, Lei. Sorry."

Nagtaas ako ng kilay at inangat ang katawan mula sa kama niya. Naroon siya sa dulo ng kama at abala sa cellphone. Nangi-ngiti niya akong hinarap at pinasadahan ng tingin bago napailing.