Life Of Yesterday (Only a Mémoire)

Chapter 9

"Bakit ang sungit mo?"

I've decided to ask a random question to Marco while he was busy cooking. Nakaupo ako rito sa dining table, pinapanood lang siyang ipagluto ako ng truffle pasta. My legs were crossed, my elbow is resting on the table habang nakapatong 'yung pisngi ko sa kamay ko.

"Hindi naman, ah." Marco answered.

"Oh, come on." I murmured.

"Matatapos na 'to in a few minutes." pag-iiba niya sa usapan.

Instead of asking him more, nag-cellphone na lang ako. I scrolled through my social media accounts. I clicked Calynn's IG story and saw that they were having fun at Lian's house. They're with Lian's parents. They were laughing and playing some games.

How I wish I could give that same happiness to her.

I scrolled more but I got bored so instead, I stalked Marco's Instagram account. Tinignan ko ang mga pictures niya, puro lugar lang naman. Wala siyang picture kahit isa pero mayroong isang babae rito. It was a picture in Paris. The girl was laughing under the beautiful Eiffel Tower. I got curious so I clicked the picture.

I love you forever, Macy.

That was the only caption. I can't tell that this was his girlfriend because they were so much alike. Magkamukhang-magkamukha sila. Morena ang babae tapos ang ganda. May mga kaunting differences lang pero kapag tinignan mo, you'd know that they were siblings.

Mabilis kong itinago ang phone ko sa ilalim ng table nang maglapag si Marco ng dalawang plato. He even put a red table cloth earlier tapos mayroon ding wine. Why does it feels like Valentine's Day and not Christmas?

"Why?" Marco's forehead creased when he saw my reaction. Umiling lang ako.

He finished preparing our food before sitting in front of me. We were about to eat but I decided to stood up and got my gift for him first. Nasa couch na 'yung box at para siyang may galit do'n dahil kanina pa masama ang tingin niya ro'n.

Paglapit ko sa gilid ng table, inabot ko sa kaniya ang box. I smiled and said, "Merry Christmas, Marco."

His eyes widened as he stared at the box. He didn't budge so I shook the box a bit para naman ma-realize niya na nangangawit ako.

"This is... for me?" He pointed the box.

"I'm giving it to you, right? Isn't it obvious?"

"Akala ko ba⎯"

"Yes. This is for a man. Aren't you a man, Marco?" I sarcastically asked. "Kunin mo na, nangangawit ako."

Para siyang natauhan. Kaagad niyang kinuha sa akin ang box at nilapag sa table. Umupo na rin ako sa tapat niya at nagsimula nang kumain.

"Can I open this?"

"You know, I still don't get why sometimes you asked the most stupid questions." I said before taking a sip on my wine.

He chuckled and shook his head. "I was really stupid." he whispered to himself.

"What?"

He looked at me. "I was sulking the whole time because of this yet this is for me?" Natawa ulit siya. "I'm really stupid. I thought it was for another man."

"Don't you trust me?" masungit na tanong ko habang iniikot ang pasta sa tinidor ko.

"I do," he answered. "But I'm not your boyfriend so I don't have the rights to question you."

Umirap ako. "Whatever."

Nakangiti siya habang binubuksan ang box. He didn't have any mercy and just destroyed the poor wrapper. He opened the box and smiled even more when he saw the house I built.