After kong pumunta sa airport, nagdecide ako na puntahan si Karelle. Ilang araw ko na kasing pinag-iisipan kung anong gagawin ko and I realized that maybe it's time. Pagdating ko sa resto, nakita ko na andun na si Karelle. Lumapit lang ako sa kanya at bumeso.
"How are you?"tanong niya sa 'kin.
"Okay naman."
"Are you drinking your meds?"
"Yes, I am."sagot ko sa kanya tapos inayos niya yung gamit para mailapag ng waiter yung pagkain namin.
"So di ka na sinusumpong ng gastritis mo?"
"Hindi na ulit."
"Yung annual heart check-up mo? Pinupuntahan mo pa ba?"tanong niya. Natawa tuloy ako. Karelle really does sound like my mom. "Wag mo akong tawanan lang dyan Agnes ah."dagdag niya.
"Can you please relax?"sabi ko sa kanya habang kumakain.
"How can I relax? Di ko nga alam kung ano na nangyayari sa'yo."
"Basta, someone's taking care of me okay? Ipapakilala ko siya sa'yo when she's back."
"Sino ba kasi yan? At nasaan siya?"
"Umalis eh. Pumuntang America for vacation. But, promise. Papakilala ko siya sa'yo."
"Hindi si Raisa yan ah."
"Nope."
"Siguraduhin mo lang Maristella."sagot niya. I laughed.
"Bakit ba lahat kayo galit kay Raisa? Kahit yung Runway, high blood sa kanya eh. Raisa just wanted what's best for me."
"And ano kami? She just wanted you for herself. She tried to make you stay away from your friends, Agnes. Sino sa 'min ang matutuwa?"sabi niya and she was slicing her meat a bit forcefully.
"O kalma. Baka maging giniling yang steak."sabi ko sa kanya. She sighed.
"Agnes, can I ask a favor?"sabi niya.
"Ano yun?"
"Pwede ko ba i-invite yung band mo for a beneficiary concert para sa Hamon? Sige na."sabi niya.
"Wala namang problema dun K. I'm sure papayag sila."sabi ko sa kanya.
"Well, that's good then. Pero pwede bang ikaw na mag-invite sa kanila?"
"Uhm. Ayoko K."sabi ko sa kanya.
"Bakit naman? Hay nako Agnes. Why won't you let people know that you are doing something good?"
"K, sabi ko naman sa'yo di ba, simple lang prinsipyo ko sa buhay. If you're doing something good, hindi mo siya kailangang pagsigawan."sabi ko sa kanya. She sighed.
"Fine. Pahingi na lang ng contact."sabi niya. I smiled and gave her the number of Tita Val.
"K."sabi ko sa kanya. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko sisimulan, but I know that I need to get her help.
"O?"
"I need help."
"Anong klaseng help ba yan?"tanong niya.
"You... you know how I have a phobia of getting married di ba?"sabi ko sa kanya. She nodded.
"Don't think too hard about it Agnes. Relax. Uminom kang tubig."sabi niya. Mukhang nahalata niyang namumutla ako.
"K, I..."sabi ko sa kanya after kong uminom.
"I want to go to therapy."dagdag ko. Halatang nagulat si Karelle. Dati niya pa sa 'kin sinasabi na I should seek professional help nung kami pa ni Raisa but I always refused.
"Are you sure? Agnes, therapy is not cheap, and you need to give it time. Kaya pa ba ng oras mo?"
"Karelle, this time I'm sure."sabi ko sa kanya. She looked at me as if I said something very ridiculous.
"What made you change your mind?"sabi niya.
I took a deep breath. Naalala ko how Pat looked like when she woke up, how I laughed whenever I'm with her, and how whenever I would think about her, I get this overwhelming feeling. And I know. This time I'm sure.
"I want to marry this girl."
