Love Maneuver (LOVE TRILOGY #2)

✭ LOVE MANEUVER 12 ✭

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Drino Wang

"Kain ka na, huwag mo pabayaan sarili mo. Magagalit ako 'pag pinabayaan mo baby ko. Kain ka sa tamang oras, 'a." Was the text I received from Mark. Kaya feeling ko, this is the way of the universe telling me na okay lang 'yong nangyari na hindi naman napansin ni Mark. To convince myself more, itinabi ko 'yong bracelet sa mga susuotin ko. Susubukan ko 'yong pagiging lucky charm n'on! Napangiti na lang ako and I texted back, "Ikaw din, woy!"

Mabilis na lumipas 'yong mga oras. By 3:30 PM, nagpaalam na 'ko kay mama na naglalaba that time. Sinabihan ko rin kapatid kong si Bryle na siya na bahala sa bahay kahit na natutulog siya that time, as in sumigaw ako sa kuwarto niya, oo na gaga ako, at naaantok naman siyang sumagot.

Tumingin pa 'ko paglabas ko sa amin sa bahay nina Mark. Dahan-dahan pa talaga ako sa pagsarado n'ong gate namin, tumatalbog pa dibdib ko. Sana lang huwag siyang lumabas! Baka tulog as of the moment or busy doing some household chores or babysitting Macy (na ang tagal ko nang 'di nakasama, probably will ask him about her. miss her cuteness).

Pagdating ko sa kanto, nakita ko agad 'yong kotse ni Dex sa gilid. Medyo ang layo ko pa nga n'ong bigla kong nakita ulo niya from its car front door, as in lumabas 'yong ulo niya saka nagtama mga mata namin. From that point of view, kita kong naka-polo siya ng sky blue. I smiled and waved at him. 

He even went down para pagbuksan ako.

"Hi!" bati niya sa 'kin nang nakangiti.

"Hi, Dex, aga mo, woy! What time ka pa andito?"

"Just 15 minutes earlier."

"Thanks," sabi ko n'ong after niya mabuksan 'yong front door. He even gestured, reminding me to hop in.

Napag-usapan kasi namin ay exact time kami which was according sa napag-usapan naming dalawa (3:30 PM) tutal ang lapit lang naman n'ong location ng pupuntahan namin. Isa pa, malay ba namin kung andon na 'yong dalawang magkasintahan. Eh kesa kami pa mauna at maghintay pa nang matagal.

"You want some candy? May snowbear ako," sabi niya habang nagda-drive, 'di nakatingin sa 'kin. I saw him wearing some watch.

"No thanks. Okay lang ako, Dex. Just focus on driving." Pasimple-simple kasi siyang sumusulyap sa 'kin. Not in a way na I feel some uncomfortable feeling, but in a good way to make me feel accommodated and safe.

"You sure?" another tanong niya, that time, sumulyap siya nang saglit sa 'kin.

"Yup!" I answered excitedly. Okay lang naman talaga ako, knowing that Dex is beside me, wala akong dapat ipag-alala.

Binalot kami nang katahimikan. It felt kinda awkward. Maybe because I enjoyed talking to Dex, exchanging some opinions, kaya hinanap siya ng sarili ko. And 'pag may kakilala ka na vocal when it comes to his opinions, I think you'd want to learn from them and discover how broad their perspective is.

That's why when a random thought revisited my memory, I said, "Dex, nga pala."

"What?"

"I have some question," panimula ko. Iniharap ko nang medyo 'yong katawan ko. I was wearing denim jeans. "I know it's weird to ask this question and I know it's weirder to ask this question to you, kasi nag-assume ako that you'd be affected kahit na alam ko naman na you're already getting to know a girl. Naba-bother lang talaga kasi ako dito sa bagay na 'to."

Napalunok ako. My hypocrisy just slapped me. At bakit pa ako magtatanong? Eh ang sabi ko nga, ang gusto ko, kami magda-direct ng relationship namin ni Mark, but now why was I even asking for other people's input? Like, why Celine? Why are you betraying yourself? Like, ang gulo mo! Kung ibang tao ako as observer sa kagagahan mo, maguguluhan din ako sa 'yo. Why don't you just wait or just talk to him directly? Eh hindi sana may clarity. Why aren't you even asking him? You're not like this! Sanay kang hindi naghe-hesitate sabihin 'yong dapat mong sabihin!