For Loren, the day was long and demanding. She conducted many interviews while working as a journalist. Because the railway station is so close to where she works, she always takes the train to come home.
Sitting next to her was a tall woman with a bag filled with paperwork. They were all simply going about their own thing; none of them spoke to break the silence. They held out for the train to show up.
They are the only passenger on the train and they sat together. Loren could feel her hands sweating because she gets nervous around people.
Finally someone broke the silence
"Ba't parang pinag-papawisan ka? eh ang lamig naman dito."
Because she was stunned, Loren was unable to instantly answer.
"Excuse me, do I know you? My gosh"
"Ang sungit mo naman, Madam Journalist. Mga journalist nga naman."
"I believe we have already met; are you a lawyer?
You seem quite familiar to me."
"You're acquainted with Risa, right? Then I believe we've actually met before. Ikaw yung kasama niya na sinukahan yung bag ko dahil hindi naman pala ikaw umiinom tapos inubos mo yung isang bote ng vodka para matawag ka na cool. Hmm, Loren right?"
"Ikaw ba yun? I'm sorry. Pilar right?"
"Wag mo na isipin yun, the damage has been done. Hmm you do really look fantastic in your white long sleeve shirt and skinny jeans. Bagay sa'yo. Pero smile ka naman."
As she always does, Loren smiled, crinkling her nose.
"Ang cute naman." Pia whispered to herself
"Thanks, alam ko. You don't have to remind me dear."
Upon hearing Loren's "dear", Pia's eyes grew wide and her heart began to beat more quickly. She was unable to speak.
Loren ended up dozing on Pia's shoulder because their house was 45 minutes from their work place. To prevent waking up Loren, Pia remained still the entire way.
"We're here. Tulungan na kita diyan sa gamit mo, baka di ka na makarating sa bahay mo."
"Huwag na, kaya ko naman."
Pia insisted and took Loren's things.
"7-11 tayo, dear?"
Pia's heart is racing because of that "dear."
"Ah pwede naman, sige."
"Bakit ka namumula, Pia? Ako nalang kasi bubuhat niyan gamit ko, baka mapano ka pa."
"Ah hindi, Loren okay lang ganito talaga ako. Sige lakad ka lang."
Loren gave Pia a siopao and a coffee when they entered the 7-11. Loren, however, simply purchased water.
They continued to walk.
"Saan ka ba nakatira? Bakit parang pareho tayo ng pupuntahan?" Loren curiously asked Pia
"This is where I live," Pia said, pointing to her home, which is next to Loren's.
"Pucha, we are neighbours?"
"What?! Kapitbahay pala kita? Hindi ka kasi lumalabas kaya hindi ko alam na kapitbahay kita."
When they realized they were neighbors, they both laughed uncontrollably.
"Sabay ulit tayo bukas, dear?"
"Sige, text me ha! Good night my girl!"
"Good night, dear!"
Pia walked upstairs as soon as she got inside her house to peek out the window at Loren.
"To have a neighbor like her, I feel so fortunate."
As Pia went through her nightly routine, she couldn't stop thinking about Loren as she lay in bed.
As soon as Pia sees her, and recalls Loren putting her head on her shoulder, she feels immediately at ease. She appears to find refuge in Loren.
"I wonder if she has the same feelings. Well, I certainly hope she does." Pia thought to herself
YOU ARE READING
Forelsket (PiLo Au)
Romance"A tug was felt when we first met. Unsure of how we wanted to feel, we were like two magnets." A tale about a lawyer and a journalist who met on a train on their way home from work and realised they felt the same way about each other. How much time...
