The Write One To Love

03

CHAPTER THREE

Lucho

"S-SIR Lucho?"

Bakas na bakas pa rin ang gulat sa mukha ni Audrey nang makilala niya ako. Kailangan pala makita niya muna ako dahil hindi sapat na buong pangalan ko lang ang sinabi ko sa text. Ang pormal kasi ng reply niya sa text ko at napagtanto ko na matagal na panahon nag lumipas, baka nalimutan na niya ang pangalan ko. Pero siya ang hindi ko malimutan at masaya ang puso ko na kaharap ko na siya ngayon. From the way her almond shaped eyes widened upon realizing who I was to her kissable lips that formed an O shape. Sandali ko lang iyon nakita dahil agad niya natakpan ng kamay. It's Elianne Audrey Habunal normal reaction and she never changed at all.

She never changed.

She's still the comprehensive-eyed teenage girl who confessed her feelings to me ten years ago.

"So..." Simula ko. "Shall we skip the introduction part? We've known each other for a long time, and I'm glad to see you -"

Audrey gestured her hand up to stop me from talking.

"Sandali. Kailangan ko pong huminga muna." Tinalikuran niya ako at tuloy-tuloy na tumungo sa comfort room nitong coffee shop.

Hindi ko maiwasang magtaka sa nangyari. Did I say something terrible for her to walk away? My time is precious. How dare she stop and turn her back off me?

Tumayo ako at aktong susundan siya ngunit pinigilan ko ang aking sarili. I have keep my cool. Bawal akong ma-stress kahit alam ko na china-challenge lang ako ng Diyos. First was my illness, now this weird writer that I adopted who has a past with me.

Not literally a past.

Hindi ako nakikipagdate sa mas bata sa akin. I take back the compliment I said about her lips. She's off-limits, and I'm here to help her write a good romance novel. She needed two things to be able to write a good romantic story.

First, she must have first-hand experience. I have to delve back into Audrey's life to know if she had a bad experience, aside from her confession to me. Imposible naman na ako ang dahilan kaya hindi siya makasulat ng romance novel. She never gave me a chance to answer her admission ten years ago.

Second, a new hero. An inspiration to write a piece with a heart and soul. First step ito dapat pero gagawin ko na lang second dahil mas curious ako sa buhay na meron siya pagkatapos ko umalis.

Bakit nga ba?

I don't know the answer.

Napatingin ako sa cellphone ko na sunod-sunod nag-vibrate. It was a text message from my ex-wife.

From: Ex-wife

WE. NEED. TO. TALK.

Hindi ako nag-reply. Hindi ko rin alam ang sasabihin at iyon ang klase ng text message na naririnig ko. I suddenly felt a chill like I've seen a ghost or something.

Another text message came in.

From: Ex-wife

I'm with Mama, and she's pretty emotional. You have to hurry before she gets a heart attack.

From: Ex-wife

It's serious, Antonio. Her BP is too high.

Damn!

Luminga ako sa paligid hanggang sa dumapo iyon sa sticky notes at set ng ballpen na nakasama sa gamit ni Audrey. I wrote something and paste it on her laptop. Sa susunod na lang siguro kami mag-uusap dalawa. I couldn't believe that I have to end our meeting today. May kailangan pa ako harapin na mas mahirap kaysa magturo kung paano sumulat ng romance novel. It's about my life together with two crazy woman I have. Actually one, because my life with Sera had passed already. Our time already passed..