Cloaked Lust

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐕𝐈𝐈𝐈

𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑'𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐕

It's Saturday.

Sa wakas, dumating din ang weekend. I survived this week.

I still remember that afternoon, na tinawag ako ni Lore. Pakiramdam ko naka-replay ang lahat ng nangyari, rinig na rinig ko pa rin ang boses niya na tumatawag sa akin.

He texted me the night after, asking me if ako nga ang nakita niya sa café nung hapon. His message goes like this:

'Good evening, Reese. Have you, by any chance, gone to a café this afternoon? I thought I saw you, I even called your name but that person never looked back.'

'I want to know if it's you...'

'Is it you?'

'I'm worried. Please respond as soon as you see my message.'

Hindi pa ako nagrereply sa message niya. I just let it be, unread and untouched.

Tumayo ako sa pagkakahiga sa kama, at saka binuksan ang drawer ko.

Kinuha ko ang isa sa mga regalo na ibinigay niya, which left me speechless that day.

It's a ring. A promise ring.

The ring itself is just simple. It is a flower with ten petals, which are dainty and sophisticated morganite, and a diamond center.

It somewhat shows genuine love.

An unconditional love.

'Just wait, I'll be coming for you.'

Those are the words na nakita ko sa note na nakidikit sa mismong box na iyon.

I don't know what it means.

Ang alam ko lang ay parang it serves both a confession and a promise.

This somewhat confused me, I can't see him as anyone else but an older brother to me. Now he's telling me that he's coming for me, to what? For what? And when will he come for me?

I don't want to ask. Pakiramdam ko, ayaw kong malaman kung ano ang sasabihin niya as explanation for the gift.

But all I do is just keep it inside my drawer for the meantime. Never wore it, even once.

And then, ngayon ko lang naalala. The box that Venice gave me is just sitting in the corner, hindi ko pa nabubuksan.

Binuhat ko ang kahon, na medyo may kabigatan, papunta sa kama ko. I grabbed my little cutter and pry it open.

Unang bumungad sa akin ang isang malaking teddy bear. A big, brown one na may bow tie which I find cute.

I also find little dried florals, na nakasilid sa isang kahon with a little vase, seeds, a floral soap with little flower petals on it, and a gift tag. It also have a set of fragrances, and a floral candle na nakasilid naman sa magkaibang kahon din.

Yes, a lot of boxes inside a big box.

It's still thoughtful of him for giving me these, err, gifts that I know cost a fortune too.

Magpapasalamat talaga ako sa kanya dahil dito, masyado na siyang maraming ginawa para sa akin at kahit na hindi niya kailangan na gawin pa 'to.

But I guess, no one can ever stop him.

Inayos ko ang mga regalo ni Venice. Itinabi ko ang iba sa drawer, at 'yung malaking teddy bear naman ay inilagay ko sa gilid ng kama.

"Might as well call you Ven-ven, right?" nasabi ko sabay pat sa ulo ng teddy bear.