Stuck With You ✔️

3

Chapter 3

Theo

Dama ko ang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko habang nakaharap sa phone ko at naghihintay ng reply ni Andy. I know she saw my message dahil nakita kong na-seen agad nito ang message ko pagka-send ko palang noon. Hindi ko mapigilang uminit ang mukha ko tuwing naalala ko kung ano ang inisip o sinabi ni Andy sa in-unsent kong message.

I wonder if she thinks I'm weird now. I can't help it. Masyado akong dinaga nang tuluyan kong maisend ang message ko kanina.

Good morning, Andy.

Even now that I'm thinking about it, I still can't help but shiver because of the cringe and at the same time, I'm too shy fo approach her. I'm too conscious on what her impression would be. I feel like I'm walking on eggshells but it's Andy so it's okay.

Naputol lang ang iniisip ko nang tumunog ang phone ko senyales na may nagmessage sa akin. I can't help but be excited and giddy knowing that it was Andy but I can't help but be sullen when I saw her reply.

Andriette Ocampo

Hey, Theo! Sorry, I won't come home later eh. Work stuff.

Oh, so she has work. It's okay but I still can't help but be saddened. Akala ko pa naman ay oras na lumipat na siya ay pwede na kaming maging close ulit. I was also planning to apologize for my behavior this morning just because I found out that she has a boyfriend already.

Well, it's a shame that she's in a relationship already but I can be her friend at least. I'm a good friend.

May mabuti bang kaibigan na nadi-disappoint kasi may trabaho ang kaibigan niya? Yeah, me.

Napahinga nalang ako nang malalim bago napatingin kay Perez na tahimik na nakahiga sa tabi ko. Guess it's just you and me now, buddy. I stood up to get his leash at agad naman itong nagtatalon nang makita nito ang hawak ko. I'll just go on a walk, then.

Nagpalit muna ako ng damit bago kinabit ang leash ni Perez at lumabas para at ipasyal ang aso ko. Hindi ko napigilang mapasilip sa bahay na nasa harapan ko na kasalukuyang walang ilaw bago ako tuluyang maglakad.

As always, it was so silent. The street of the village is very safe and peaceful kaya mas pinipili kong ilakad si Perez tuwing Hapon kung kailan hindi mataas ang araw at hindi pa din masyadong gabi.

Perez also looks like he's enjoying himself as we walk down the street together and when we reach the village park, I let him loose. There are also a few people here with their pets playing with each other. Daig pa nito ang playground na walang masyadong bata na naglalaro.

I just watched Perez enjoy himself while I decided to just sit on one of the bench and enjoy the peacefulness as well. It's been a long time since I go out like this. Bukas ay kailangan ko nang pumunta sa site para kausapin ang mga engineer sa ginagawa naming building. I'm an Architect and I love my job but sometimes it drains me.

I wonder what Andy's doing now.

Nanatili kami ni Perez sa park hanggang sa medyo dumilim bago ko naisipan na bumalik pagkatapos ko itong bilhan ng vanilla ice cream. I don't really feel like going home but since I have work tomorrow, I have to go to bed early.

As I walk, nakatingin lang ako sa semento dahil kahit wala naman akong ginawa masyado, pakiramdam ko ay pagod na pagod ako and as I reached my house, Perez started barking and became so energetic that he was tugging the leash using his mouth na tila ba gusto nitong kumawala.

I was confused on why he was doing that until I faced the gate of my house and saw Andy standing there while watching me. I couldn't help but flinched. I thought she wouldn't come home tonight? Mukha ding kakadating lang nito dahil sa ayos nitong corporate attire.

She looks pretty in that skirt and blouse.

"Hey." Bati nito na may ngiti sa labi na tila ba masaya itong nakita ako. Like magic, the emptiness and exhaustion that I was feeling at the moment disappeared.

"Hey..." Shock was evident in my face as I stared at her, not knowing what to do now that the woman in my mind awhile ago is now standing in front of my house, waiting for me.

Adriette

Hindi ko alam kung saan ako titingin dahil sa klase ng titig na binibigay ni Theo sa akin. Para bang hidni ito makapaniwala na may isang napaka-gandang dalaga na nakatayo sa harap ng bahay niya ngayon.

Okay, maybe OA ako sa part na "napaka-gandang dalaga" but he really looked so shock seeing me. Hindi ko naman kasalanan na biglang na-cancel ang meeting dahil manganganak ang asawa nito. Naalala ko pa kung gaano ka-awkward noong nasa sasakyan ako ni Sir Diego dahil hinatid ako nito.

Bigla ba namang nagpatugtog ng "Traitor" at sumabay sa lyrics pagkatapos kong tanggihan ang inaalok nitong dinner. Paano kung magka-impatso ako, di'ba? Self-care ang tawag sa ginawa ko pero ngayon naman ay panibagong nakakailang na sitwasyon ang kinakaharap ko.

"I mean, I can go home na if you're uncomfortable? I thought kasi you have something to tell me kanina sa text." Paliwanag ko dito at mukha naman itong natauhan at sa wakas ay lumapit din ito sa akin. Agad akong lumuhod para haplusin si Perez na mukhang excited na makita ako dahil agad ako nitong dinamba nang makalapit.

Nang tuluyang mabuksan ang gate ay hinarap ako ni Theo para ayaing pumasok ata agad naman akong sumunod dito. Pinauna ako nitong pumasok sa bahay at halos malaglag ang panga ko sa pagkamangha. I remembered playing inside their house when we were little so I thought I would be familiar sa bahay niya pero ni-remodel ata ang buong bahay!

Kung mataas na ito noon ay mas tumaas pa ito ngayon. Nagbago din halos lahat ng interior mula sa puting tiles, kisame na nalagyan ng chandelier, hanggang sa pader. Mas lumawak ang espasyo pero ang cozy pa rin nitong tignan. There's a black couch, central table, and a flat screen sa living room. Mayroon ding iilang picture frame at napangiti ako nang makitang picture iyon ni Theo noong bata siya. Ilang mga pictures ay noong mga graduation nito pero karamihan ay mga picture ni Perez at ni Tita Diana, ang mama niya.

I wonder where is Tita Diana though? I remember her sweet smile whenever I visit their house when I was little. She would always bake cookies for me at kapag hindi umuuwi si Papa at hindi ako kinukulang ni Kuya Adrian ay sa kanila ako nagdi-dinner.

"She's in Australia." Halos mapa-igtad ako nang biglang magsalita sa likod ko si Theo. Mukhang nabasa nito ang iniisip ko dahil ang tagal kong nakatitig sa picture ni Tita Diana.

"When you left your home, a year after that, my mother decided to settle down to Australia with Dad since it was her home, she said."

Napatango ako. Mukha namang hindi rin malungkot si Theo dahil nakangiti pa ito habang nagku-kwento. "Anyway, nag-dinner ka na? Come, I prepare something. It's actually ordered from my favorite restaurant since I can't cook but I guarantee that it's delicious." Aya nito at ginaya ako sa kusina.

Nakahain na doon ang mga pagkain at plato. Mukhang naghanda ito noong nagtitingin-tingin ako kanina sa living room. Naglaway ako nang makita ang kare-kare. It's been a long time since nakatikim ako ng kare-kare! There's also chicken wings, adobo, and carbonara. Napakadami nito para maubos naming dalawa.

Nang mag-usod ito ng isang upuan para sa akin ay tyaka ko pinakawalan ang tanong na kanina pa nasa utak ko mula nang i-kuwento nito ang tungkol kay Tita Diana.

"Why didn't you go with them?" I asked out of curiosity.

Natigilan ito bago tuluyang umupo sa upuan na nasa harapan ko at pinagsalin ako ng kanin sa pinggan ko, "If I did go to Australia with them, I think I would regret it for life especially now that you came home."

-END OF CHAPTER 3-