a little romance

Chapter 3

I asked advice from my other best friends: Tamara and Liliana. I am more close to these two than I am with Rod, girl talks at chikahan lang ang lamang ng dalawang toh kay Rod. To be honest, I never imagined myself being friends with these two people. Super iba-iba and ugali naming tatlo, as in pero ibang kwento na yun.

“Are you kidding me?”Lil asked.

“Lil, tingnan mo nga ako, nasa pagmumukha ko ba ang kalokohan ngayon? Why don’t you ask that to him? Siya yung parang nasapian, bigla bigla na lang nagsasabi na may gusto siya sakin,” I retorted.

“For God’s sake Stas, you can’t possibly believe him. Please, sabihin mo sakin hindi ka na naman naniniwala sa Rod na yan,” she said.

“I’m not…” I said slowly.

“Then why are you smiling?! “she asked incredulously.

And indeed I was smiling. I didn’t notice I was but a little check on my face proved that she was right.

“Nothing,” I denied. It was a lost cause. Kilalang kilala na ko ni Liliana para malaman if nagsisinungaling ako.

“Just spit it out Anastasia,” she said.

I sighed, no choice na ang lola mo. Aminan na.

“Fine then. It’s just that, he is now so sweet and thoughtful and caring, and well, I’m just amused with the way he’s acting. That’s all,” I finished.

“Talaga lang ah,” hindi pa naniwala yung gaga.

“Yes Lil. Hindi naman ako ganun Katanga para maniwala pa ki Bez. I can handle this, hindi ako mafofall, trust me,” I assured her.

Funny thing was it sounded as if I was assuring myself. Whew.

The situation was a lot different with Tamara. Imbes na pagbawalan at babalaan ako ki Rod, she was, surprisingly, fully supportive of it. Tuwang tuwa siya nang marinig niya yung story at kahit alam kong mali, happy na din ako nang malaman na may kakampi ako sa katangahan kong toh. This is why I so love Tamara, tanggap niya kahit ano man ako, feeling ko kahit sabihin ko sa kanyang gusto ko maging madre e siya pa ang bibili ng belo ko. Kaya nga lahat ng secrets ko sinasabi ko sa kanya kahit yung nagsisimula nang mabuong feelings para kay Bez.

“So, anon a ang plano mo?” she asked after I told her how I was really feeling.

“I really don’t know. For one thing, ayoko pa talaga magkaboyfriend. I mean, gusto ko na pero gusto ko pang ienjoy ang single life. Pero, ayaw ko naman na patigilin si Bez kasi nga Bez ko siya, saka I like him ng konti kahit papano, bez ko nga… kaso hindi ko sure kasi niloko na ako nito dati… mahirap na magtiwala. Alam mo yun?,” I said, struggling for words to explain how I really felt.

“Ahhhhh…,” she started.

(After 10 seconds)

“Actually Stas, hindi ko talaga nagets yung sinabi mo. Ulitin mo nga,” sabi ni Tammy. Tugxing!

I sighed. Hindi ko nga din nagets yung sinabi ko eh. Yup, ganun na ako naguguluhan at kahit sarili ko hindi ko na maintindihan.

“Actually Tammy, hindi ko din nagets yung sinabi ko,” I snorted.

At nagtawanan na kaming dalawa.

“Naguguluhan ka na nga talaga sister,” she eventually said.

“Oo nga eh,” I sighed, the happiness of the silly moment wearing off.

“Wag ka na ngang ganyan, is that you Anastasia Gallego? Hindi ikaw yan. Ang Stas na kilala ko yung masiyahin, lahat ng problem tinatake as adventure. Cheer up, girl,” she encouraged me.

“You’re right Tammy, hindi nga ako ito. Tama, hahayaan ko na lang ito, I’ll just let fate take its course and let the chips fall where they may,” I said taking in what Tammy was making me realize.

“Taray ng english sister, pero tama. Just enjoy the moment. Have fun and make each second last. Don’t rush. Like you said, you’re still enjoying single life and you can test his feelings by letting him wait for you. So I think that you two should just take it slow. We still have plenty of time Stas. Don’t rush,” Tammy said in a motherly tone.

“Mas bongga ang english mo teh,” I laughed but continued in earnest. “Well, you’re right…don’t rush. But I want this to be quite difficult for him, after all, ginago na ako nun dati, may utang siya sakin (evil laugh) ,” I said, a plan forming in my head. 

Okay Rod, let’s start this game… :)