He and She

Chapter 5

Mabuti na lang at sabado ngayon. Ilang araw din kaming hindi magkikita ni Caleb. Nahiya ako bigla sa inasal ko. I admit it, I like him too pero I'm just not ready yet. Lumabas ako ng kwarto at naabutan si Cha na kumakain ng breakfast.

"Want some?" Tanong niya at inalok sakin ang pancake.

Umiling ako at umupo sa tapat niya. "Nandito si kuya kahapon." I stated. Natigilan si Cha sa pagkain pero nanatili ang tingin dito. "Nasampal mo daw."

She sighed. "He deserved it. Gago siya. No offense."

Tumawa ako. "Non taken." Kumurot ako sa pancake na nasa plato niya at kinain ito. "Anong gagawin mo later? Labas tayo?"

Ngumiti siya. "You know what, that's a good idea. Lumabas tayo. Tayong dalawa lang. Girl's night out. No boys allowed!"

Ngumisi ako. "Alright!"

Tonight, magpapaka-laid back ako. Dito lang din naman kami sa parañaque. I don't want to go out tonight have men lusting over me. Yabang noh? Hahahaha

I wore my white camisole ang paired it with washed out polo and high waisted shorts. Then I paired it with my white birkenstock. I dabbed my face with facepowder and some tint to give it some color. When I went out of my room, I saw Cha wearing a pair of black leggings and white sheer sleeveless top paired with black beaded fit-flops. She wore her hair in a loose bun. Grabe, kitang kita ang soft features niya. Wala rin siyang make up pero sobrang ganda niya. No wonder baliw na baliw si kuya dito.

She picked up her LV purse and the car keys to her mustang. "Let's go?"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. "You're driving?" Tanong ko. "Wait. I have to go get my rosary."

Tumawa siya. "Loka ka, promise, I won't drive lika a drag-racer." She chuckled.

Grabe kasi itong si Cha. Sobrang bilis magpatakbo! Pano kasi bata pa lang nakahiligan na niya ang pagdadrive. Lagi niyang pinapanuod ang daddy niya magdrive. Paano ba naman kasi soprts car enthusiast din si tito. Kaya nung mag-10 years old siya, nagaral na siya magdrive. Take note, car racer/drifter pa ang nagtrain sakanya! Kaya ayan, saksakan ng dami ng speeding tickets tuloy! Pano ba naman from parañaque to alabang gusto niya idrive within 20 mins lang!

Nagpunta kami sa Cole dito sa malapit sa PICC. Chill lang. Kumuha kami ng isang table away from the speakers kasi ang gusto lang naman namin ni Cha ay to have some relaxing evening. Umorder ako ng isang bucket ng san mig lights apple para saming dalawa. Yes, we drink beer too.

"Alam mo babe, meron akong isang lalaking hindi matanggal sa isip ko." Pasimula ko.

Kumunot ang noo niya. "Sino? Don't tell siya pa rin?"

Umiling ako. "Yung head lawyer sa firm namin, si Caleb Martinez."

Nanlaki ang mga mata. "OMG!! Siya lang naman ang hottest bachelor sa GQ mag!" Tili niya. "Talaga? Did he make a move on you?"

Tumango ako. "Pero I turned him down."

Bigla akong binatukan ni Cha. "Ano ka ba naman! Grasya na yun babe!" She sighed. "Do you like him?"

I looked away. "I-I don't know. Siguro, he's CALEB MARTINEZ for pete's sake! Who would not like him?" I paused. "Pero kasi I'm still scared. I don't want to go through the pain again. Once is enough.."

"Alam mo babe, matagal na yun. Wala na siya. Hindi mo na maibabalik ang nakaraan kahit gustuhin mo pa. You have to learn to let go. I'm sure Ace would not want you to carry the burden of his love forever."

Uminom ako ng beer. "I feel like I'm betraying him. I don't like that when I'm with Caleb, I feel happy."

"Give yourself a break, girl. You deserve to be happy. Alam kong mas gugustuhin niya yon." She paused and stood up. "Alam mo tara, sayaw na lang tayo!"

We were having fun that night. No boys to think about. Just me anf my bestfriend. Mukhang medyo tinatamaan na ng beer itong si Cha. Pano ba naman kasi hindi naman talaga siya nainom. Occasional wines and champagne lang. Maya-maya pa ay may humawak sakanyang bewang na isang lalaki.

"Hey babe," biglang lumitaw si Kuya Red sa gilid niya, nanlilisik ang mga mata.

Nanlaki ang mata ni Cha. "What the hell?!"

Hinila ni Kuya si Cha. "Let's go."

Napangiti ako sa nakita. Biglang may humawak rin sa bewang ko.

"We're leaving too." Biglang sumulpot si Caleb.

Now it's my turn for wide eyes. Naramdaman ko na lang na kinakaladkad niya ako papuntang parking lot.

Pinapasok niya ako passenger's side ng BMW niya. Dali-dali siyang pumasok siya driver's seat.

Nakakabingi ang katahimikan. I took a peak on him and saw how he clenched his jaw and how tight his expression was.

"You look pissed." I started.

He scoffed. "Pissed is not even the best term to describe what I'm feeling right now."

"Why?" I asked.

Suddenly, he pulled over and heaved a heavy sigh. "You're asking why?" He scoffed. "Bakit kayo pumunta don na kayo lang?" He asked.

Kumunot ang noo ko. "What's wrong with it? Are we not allowed to have fun?"

"You're not allowed to dirty dance!" He yelled. "Fuck, Sam! Those filthy men were lusting over you! Both of you! Kaya galit na galit si Red eh!"

"Wait, how did you know we were there? And how do you know my brother?!"

Hindi siya sumagot. Huminga siya ng malalim at hinigpitan ang kapit da manibela. His eyes were fixed on the road. Lalo lang akong nagalit sa pagtahimik niya.

"If you don't answer right now I swear I'm gonna get fucking out of this damn car!" Banta ko.

"Fine!" He sighed. "Red's my batchmate in Yale. I was classmates with him in literature and foreign language. But I didn't know you two were related. I've seen you on campus before but I guess you never recognized me. I was a nerd back then."

I scoffed. "You knew all along?! Why won't you tell that to me upfront?!"

He sighed and glanced at me. "Because I've liked you since college days, Sam!" He yelled in frustration. He looked away, blushing. "Tangina, ang torpe ko kasi eh."

I wanted to smile and hug him and tell him it's okay, but no. I had to be firm. Pero deep inside, halos matunaw na ako. Ayan na naman ang puso ko, nagwawala.

I didn't say anything else. I leaned back, trying to hide the smile that's creepin on my lips and looked away.

He sighed once more and drove off in silence.