To Meet In The Middle (Meet Series 1)

SC 16. The One with the Anniversary

"Luke, lumipat ka na dun sa higaan mo. Tulog na 'yun."

Kaagad akong naalimpungatan nang marinig ko ang boses ni Tita Zenith. I wasn't even aware that my eyes were closed. The last thing that I could remember was listening to her and Tito Fred's faint conversation from the living room habang nakaupo ako dito sa may dining area.

I shut my eyes tightly before rubbing them both, trying to adjust to the dimmed lights. Tito Fred was already nowhere to be found, probably already in bed. Habang si Tita naman ay nakabihis na ng pantulog. Hindi ko alam kung ilang minuto akong nakaidlip.

"Okay lang po ako dito, Tita." Bahagya akong umubo nang mapansin na medyo namamaos na ang boses ko. I checked the time on my phone and saw that it was already fifteen minutes past midnight. My eyes quickly scanned my girlfriend's graduation photo that was set as my lockscreen wallpaper before looking at her closed door to my right. "Hindi pa po ako inaantok."

Tita only sighed before she started opening the kitchen cabinets behind me. Dahil dun ay naalarma ako. I quickly got up and stood beside her.

"Ano pong kailangan niyo? Ako na po."

Saglit siyang napahinto sa paghahanap bago ako binigyan ng tipid na ngiti. "Nakalimutan kong hindi na pala nagkakape 'tong si Lana. Ipagtitimpla sana kita—"

"There's no need, Tita." Mabilis akong napailing bago tinuro ang nangangalahati ko nang kape sa mesa. "Hindi ko pa po nauubos 'yung binili ko kanina."

Again, she gave me that knowing look. I know that it's already a given but I'm still bothered by how much Clem looks just like her mom. I blinked a few times to wake myself up because my mind's already playing tricks on me. Iniisip ko na naman kung ganitong-ganito rin ba ang mukha ni Clem in twenty years time. Kung nasa buhay niya pa ba ako sa mga panahong 'yun to witness her growth...

"Kakagaling mo lang din sa trabaho. Tas ikaw pa nag-asikaso sa 'min kanina. Magpahinga ka din. Tulog na 'yung si Clem. Don't worry."

She's not.

I just know that she's not.

I can clearly picture her lying flat on her bed, staring at the ceiling, mind's already wandering... thinking about what's gonna happen tomorrow.

But I can't tell that to her mom. Baka ay paalisin ako ni Tita dito sa apartment ni Ate Lana. Mabuti na nga lang at pinayagan niya ako na dito na matulog, kahit na sa sofa bed na lang ng sala.

"Kahit ako ay kinakabahan din. But I believe in her, nakita natin kung paano niya pinaghandaan ang board exams..."

All the all-nighters, the flashcards that we both made, 'yung twelve hours of study a day niyang routine, ang palala nang palala niyang coffee addiction, 'yung ilang beses kong naaabutan siyang umiiyak mag-isa sa tuwing binibisita ko siya, sa tuwing nagagalit siya kapag masyadong mahirap 'yung mga tinatanong kop... lahat ng mga ginawa ni Clem sa anim na buwang pagre-review... all brought us to this day. To the few hours before her board exam.

To our first year as a couple.

It was already a given na walang engrandeng mangyayari sa araw na ito. Ilang beses na namin itong napagusapan. This day is for her four years of hardwork in college. This is about her. Ano lang ba ang isang araw sa mga susunod pa naming anniversaries? It can wait.

I can wait.

We only had an intimate dinner here at Ate Lana's place. I cooked for her entire family bilang 'yun ang hiningi niyang regalo sa 'kin. I could've gotten her more but I know that she'll hate me kung sasawayin ko siya.

"Kakayanin niya. Kaya 'wag kang mag-aalala. Matulog ka na muna."

Hindi na ako umangal kay Tita Zen bilang alam kong bago kay Clem ay siya ang original na huling salita. I was left with no choice but to transfer to my makeshift bed.