Hello : Goodbye : Hello

Chapter 7 : Hello, How Have You Been?

Frankly, I was a bit on the fence about this mission Lean gave me.

Not because I can't find anything to write sa mga hearts na ibinigay niyang ito. As I've said multiple times before, malambing si Gab. Maasikaso. Ang dali lang sana tapusin ng 30 hearts na ito kung tutuusin. Ang siste, there's this shadow in me din kasi. A shadow that incessantly whispers "totoo kaya iyan" or "pakitang gilas na naman ito". Which, I must admit, is wrong. Pero there's this feeling of genuine-ness din kasi. Na hindi ko makita sa ginagawa niya.

But seeing how much Lean sold me this idea, this mission, I had no choice but to see it through. Tama din naman siya. We've been together for god knows how long. I should at least try and make us work.

That way, wala na akong regret kahit kaunti.

Days turned into weeks. Weeks turned into months. Pero hanggang ngayon, bakit wala pa rin ako naisusulat na isang bagay na nakakapagpakilig sa akin?

Iniisip ko na lang, siguro masyado lang busy si Gab. Well, to be fair, busy nga naman talaga siya. We see each other mga once, twice a week lang? Maybe even less. Lagi niyang dahilan ang kanyang bagong venture. He needs to have investors, sabi niya palagi. At dahil ako mismo e walang masyadong alam sa mga business stuff na iyan, I just let him handle all of his affairs.

It was one of those days when I decided to visit Gab sa condo niya. It was quite far from my place, but seeing that he's my boyfriend naman I can visit him anytime I wanted to. So maaga pa lang, gumayak na ako at pinuntahan si Gab sa kanyang tirahan.

Pagdating ko sa unit niya, I saw a man standing by his door. He looks like a decent man, pero may dala siyang pagkain. Tinginan niya ako, then just gave me a smile. I approached him para tanungin siya at kung ano ang kailangan niya.

"Girlfriend ka ni Gab Sankuaier?" tanong niya bigla sa akin. I just nodded. He let out a half-baked smile.

"Isa ka rin pala sa nagoyo ni Gab" sabi nito sa akin, then proceeded to sit at the floor. "Your boyfriend is busy fucking my girlfriend at the moment. Kung gusto mo sila istorbohin, then you can come in."

He showed me the door na parang host lang. I started listening to what was happening inside that door. The moans inside were like shrieks that were shouting at my heart. Nakakapanghina na nakakapanghilakbot.

"If I were you, I'll just let them finish first. Then kakatok na lang ako pagkatapos nilang magkantutan." The man was calm as a rock habang sinasabi niya ito.

"Don't worry, I won't make a scene or sasapakin ang boyfriend mo."

I just decided to sit down on the floor as well, nakatulala habang sari-saring mga bagay ang nasa isip ko. Gusto ko sanang umiyak, sumigaw, magwala o kung ano pa man pero parang walang lakas ang katawan ko para gawin iyon. After 30 minutes, tumayo ang lalakeng kanina pa nag-aantay sa may pintuan at biglang nag-doorbell. It took them about three minutes before they can answer the door.

"Michael?" nagtatakang tanong nang babae na nagbukas ng pintuan. Gab then went to see the person in front of his door. Nabigla pa ang lalakeng iyon nang makita niya ako, ang kaniyang girlfriend, na nakatalungko sa may pintuan niya. Tumayo ako at sinalubong ang kanyang mga mata.

"Babe?" nanginginig pa niyang sabi sa akin. I just stood there motionless, staring at him straight into his eyes. If looks can kill, I would be guilty of committing murder. Lahat yata nang galit sa katawan ko biglang lumabas na sa aking mga mata.

Hindi ko na lang pinansin ang sinabi niyang iyon. Sa halip, I just faced the guy I was with for almost an hour.

"Michael, right? I'll go right ahead" sabi ko na lang sa kanya at sabay nagpaalam. Hindi ko na tinginan si Gab pagkatapos ko magpaalam sa lalakeng iyon. Dire-diretso na lang ako papunta sa mga lift.