Scandalous Affair: Atlas Mate

32

O L I V I A   V A L E Z

I never thought those good days would fall to me again. For the past few years, I have been fine. Fine, but not better. There would always be a thin visible line separating being fine and better. I saw it in the hard days, and I was contented being fine. I thought it was better than being sad and broken again. The worst feeling I got was missing that one person who was an almost. And I feel continuously painful because I could not name that feeling. It would always made me feel tired of everything.

But now, all those tiredness seeping into my bones were nowhere to be found. I feel so energetic buying all the things I would need for the exceptional day. I walked back and forth with my hands full of balloons. It was a hot sunny day, and sweats kept sliding to my skin as I kept moving around, but it didn't bother me even a bit. 

"Tessa! Bring me the tarpaulin." 

Inilapag ko ang mga hugis pusong lobio na aking hawak-hawak. Napangiti ako ng makita ang tingkad ng pagkapula nito. I'm a hundred percent sure that Liberty would immediately see this! My best friend liked flashy things, so she would love this. 

Nakatatawa ngang isipin na almost two years bago natuloy ang kaniyang pag-uwi. Na aalala ko pa no'n kung gaano ako ka-excited nang malamang uuwi na siya. That one text made my entire year. Akala ko talaga ay maka-a-attend siya ng graduation ko, but hindi siya natuloy sa pag-uwi rito sa Pinas. Her family problems especially, her mom worsen. 'Yung inipon niyang pampatayo ng restaurant niya ay nagastos ng mom niya. Liberty was so devastated, mabuti na nga lang ay may pumuntang opportunity sa kaniya kaya natuloy ang pagpatatayo ng restaurant niya.

Her restaurant kept her so busy, kaya talagang natagalan siyang makauwi rito. Mabuti na nga lang at stable at malaki na nag kita nito ngayon, kaya makauuwi na siya sa wakas! And I could not be happier than a kid who got her first barbie doll. 

"Ma'am, eto na po 'yung tarp. Saam po ba 'to ilalagay?" pawisang tanong sa akin ni Tessa, habang hawak-hawak ang pagkalaki-laking tarp na aking pinagawa. 

"Get manong here to help young put that tarp here." Sabi ko habang nakaturo sa kung saan ko gustong ipalagay ang tarp.

Agad namang tumalima si Tessa sa aking utos. Habang naghihintay kay Tessa at Manong ay naisipang kong silipin ang aking cellphone para sa mga messages. Baka nag-update sa akin si Libs, pero medyo impossible 'yon kasi nasa airplane pa siya. Wala ring update si Dad sa akin. Ang alam ko ay ngayon ding araw ang uwi niya, e. Kaya nga pinalakihan ko na ang tarp tutal ay dalawa naman silang uuwi ngayon. 

Pinindot ko ang message ni Beck sa akin. Napangiti naman ako nang basahin ko ang pangalan nito sa contacts ko kasabay ng message niya sa akin. From Dr. Crazy, good morning! How's your day, Ms. Late Valez? Are you up for some dinner later? 

Napailing na lamang ako sa binigay nitong nickname sa akin. I was never late to my work kaya sa mga appointment ko sa kaniya ako na lalate. I stopped coming to his clinic since I was diagnosed that I was already okay. But since we became friends, he would often chat with me and ask about my day. It was his way to still check about my condition, and I was thankful that he did things like that. 

I replied to him. Sorry, Dr. Crazy, but I'm not available tonight. 

Na siyang agarang na-reply-an niya. Hindi ba busy ang doctor na 'to? Wala ba siyang patient ngayon? Bakit ang bilis nitong mag-reply?

Aw, you're always unavailable. When are you going to be available for me? Napangiti naman ako ng may nakitang may kasama pang sad emoji at nag-wa-walling na GIF. 

Itinabi ko na ang cellphone ko nang makitang palakad na sa akin si Tessa at Manong. agad na kaming kumilos muli sa pag-de-decorate ng bahay. May apat na oras na lang akong natitira para kimulos abgo ang dating ni Liberty. Grabe, kapag excited ka pala parang ang tagal-tagal ng oras. O, dahil maya't maya ang tingin ko sa oras kaya akala ko matagal?