Cough Syrup (And I See You) [ONE-SHOT]

Cough Syrup (And I See You)

It's Sunday. A muggy and an insufferable Sunday morning.

May isang lalaking nakahiga sa kama niya, He's staring at the ceiling with an empty mind. Wala pa siyang tulog. It's past 7 am. He should be preparing now for the 9 o'clock mass since it will took him around an hour para makarating sa devoted church niya from his condo (the traffic has always been a b!tch) and work his ass off to the KPO company that he works into na walang definition ng salitang day-off. That should be it for him. All sketched up. That's the usual routine.

But out of the blue, the guy broke a smile while still staring at the ceiling. He thought of something. He decided to go unlikely this time. Hindi niya muna susundin ang nakasanayan niya.

Hindi muna siya magsisimba at hindi muna siya magtatrabaho. It will not hurt naman kung ngayon lang siya magsi-skip sa habits niya right? He will do the thing that he had always wanted to do ages ago. He thinks this is the right time for him to do this.

This is the perfect time to see his girl. The woman that he had given his heart and soul to. The person that he had sworn he will spend the rest of his life with.

He excitedly sprung up from his bed to sit and dialed the number that he memorized by heart. Nakangiti siya habang hinihintay na sumagot ang babaeng nasa puso't isip niya sa kabilang linya.

Mahigit isang taon na din silang hindi nagkikita, him and his girl. Kailangan kasing pumunta ng girlfriend niya sa malayong lugar. But the guy doesn't miss a moment para kausapin siya. Lagi siyang gumagawa ng paraan para makausap ang girlfriend niya. Lagi namang pinaparamdam ng girlfriend na nandyan lang siya sa tabi ng lalaki as a return.

One, two, three rings.... Nobody picked up. The guy is just waiting. After a while, nagsalita ang answering machine matapos ang isang malakas na beep.

"Hey, it's Jacquie, sorry I missed your call. Here comes the beep, you know what to do. [BEEP]"

The guy cleared his throat before he spoke to his phone. "Jacquie, it's me. Nag-promise ako sayo na pupuntahan kita kapag okay na ko. I think I can now." He took a little breath. "I'll go whenever you are. Let's see each other? I really miss you so much. Call me when you hear this. I love you."

Another beep ended the guy's message. Mabilis siyang tumayo. Binuksan ng lalaki ang closet niya para magbihis. He needs to prepare for their meetup.

~o~

The guy's standing at the counter of a suit store. Nakangiti ang clerk sa kanya. She bowed and asked him, "ano pong suit ang kailangan niyo sir?"

The guy smiled back to the clerk. "I want the most expensive one." He gazed his sight among the other suits displayed. Mas napangiti siya. Alam niyang gustung-gusto ng girlfriend niya kapag naka-suit siya.

Tumango ang clerk. "Follow me this way sir."

Napunta ang lalaki sa VIP section. There are lots of tuxedos and suits available. Most are studded with high-class cuffs and embroideries, but he chose the simplest one.

"I want this." Turo ng lalaki sa isang black american suit sa dulo ng VIP section. It's a sleek and clean suit with a very black necktie. "Same size with the display. Yan yung sukat ko."

The clerk nodded to him.

Kinuha niya ang napili niyang suit. He is very satisfied.

He paid it off and drove away.

~o~

"Miss, isang bouquet nga nito at nito." Itinuro ng lalaki ang balot ng white roses at tulips sa babaeng nagtitinda sa stall. Kanina pa siya naghahanap ng tulips at white roses sa buong lugar nila pero wala siyang makita. Mabuti na lang at nadaanan niya ang maliit na flower shop na ito habang paounta siya sa girlfriend niya at nakita niya ang mga bulaklak na hinahanap niya.