WHAT ARE WE?

[19]

//Anarisa's POV//

I just arrived sa bahay ng mother ko. The helpers helped me bring the groceries I bought sa loob.

"Mommy!" I greeted my mom and bumeso sakaniya, "How have you been, my dear?"

"Okay naman po." sagot ko. Dumiretso na kami sa living room at doon na rin nagkwentuhan.

It has been so long since I last visited dito sa bahay kung saan kami lumaki ng kapatid ko. One of the reasons why hindi na ako laging nakakapunta ay dahil busy sa work at dahil din sa layo.

"You know, Jay has been stopping by for months and hinahanap ka niya." My mom said. 

Jay — he was a friend of mine. We were very close to each other and it even came to a point na he asked if he could court me. But I made a decision that we are better off as friends and he disagreed.

"You already know what happened, ma."

"I know. But can't you just give him a chance?"

"Ma, I already made my decision. Besides, Jay is just like an older brother to me."

Hence, also another reason bakit ako nagpakalayo. That guy would keep on bothering me. Noong nasa med school pa ako at umuuwi kena mom during weekends, he'll be there sa bahay at hihintayin ako para 'makausap'.

"I thought he went to the US?" I asked, naalala ko kasi noong huling bisita ko months ago ay nakausap ko siya for a bit of time and he mentioned that he will be going to America.

"He did. Kakabalik lang niya last month. He was in America for 5 months lang or so. And the first thing he did when he came back was to visit me here at kumustahin ka rin. Pero I told him na hindi mo pa ako binibisita at nagcacall lang tayo." my mother explained.

"I thought he was staying there for good."

"Hindi ah." someone said, I looked around and saw him leaning sa may door frame ng entrance ng bahay.

Anong ginagawa niya rito. How did he know I am here.

"J-Jay, Anong ginagawa mo rito?" I asked bewildered that he is here, "Pauwi na sana ako pero napansin ko 'yung kotse mo sa labas so I had to check. Andito ka nga talaga... It's been a while, Ana."

Ana. That is what he calls me.

"Yup. Kumusta?"

"Nothing much. I just missed you."

I let out an awkward chuckle and nodded at him.

"If you'll excuse me, I still have to fix some things. It's nice seeing you again, Jay." I said and took the tote bag I laid sa may couch para dalhin sa kwarto.

"Alright. It's nice seeing you too, Ana." He said at umalis na.

Pumasok ako sa kwarto ko at inilagay ang tote bag sa may bedside table ko. It has some of my things like my laptop, charger, and other work-related stuffs.

Nagulat ako nang makita ko si mom sa may door frame ko.

What is it with people and door frames? Agghh!

"Uhm... come in?"

"What's with the air?"

"What air?"

"Between you and Jay."

"Ah wala naman po."

"Okay. If you say so." she said and was about to walk out of my room pero pumasok rin siya ulit. I sat on my swivel chair and my mother sat on the cushion.

"Jay's a sweet guy."

"I know that, Mom."

"He has been with you since you were kids. His family knows you and we know him. He is also financially stable, he has nice work and he does the things he likes."

"What are you getting into, mom?"

"I'm just telling you... there's nothing wrong if you like him."

"But, I don't like him, Mom! I already told you, he's just like an older brother to me."

"Okay then. It's your decision to make naman. I'll go and prepare dinner na."

"Okay po." I answered.

I opened my laptop to do some things I needed to do and finish some documents that I needed to.

In the middle of working my cell phone chimed. I looked at it and it was a message from... Jay.

Jay: Hi! (received)
Anarisa: What? (sent)
Jay: What? Can't I talk to my friend? (received)
Anarisa: Jay, we both know na hindi na lang "as a friend" ang turing mo sa akin. And if you are texting me to change my mind, then, my answer is still NO. I still believe na mas okay if we are just friends. (sent)
Jay: Hey. I know that, okay. I'm okay with that setup. (received)
Anarisa: Really? (sent)
Jay: Yes. I've come to realize that we are better off as friends. At para hindi na rin awkward between us. So can we be friends again? (received)
Anarisa: Okay. (sent)
Jay: Cool! See you around, Ana! (received)
Anarisa: Good night, Jay! (sent)
Jay: Good night! (received)

Parang nawalan ng tinik ang aking lalamunan at nakahinga ako nang malalim sa sinabi ni Jay. Finally, natuto na rin siya.

I got back to what I was doing and this time I opened the TV sa room ko and opened a television series to watch or more like to act as a white noise.

-

Nagising na lang ako bigla, I didn't even realized na nakatulog na pala ako sa desk ko. My neck was aching so bad, I tried to do some neck exercises pero parang lalo lang sumakit, I checked the time and it was 3 am.

Lumabas ako ng kwarto dahil naramdaman ko ang pagkulo ng aking tyan. I haven't had dinner pa nga pala.

When I arrived at the kitchen ay binuksan ko ang ilaw, madaling araw na talaga kaya wala ng taong gising sa bahay, even the kasambahays are already sleeping.

Dahan-dahan kong binuksan ang kaldero at nagsandok ng niluto ni mom. It's my favorite... sinigang. Mukhang mapaparami pa ata ang kain ko.

Pagkatapos kong sumandok ng pagkain ay inilatag ko na ito sa may counter at doon na lang kumain, gutom na gutom na rin ako at nakakatamad nang maglakad papunta sa dining table.

"Oh, bakit gising ka na?" I heard my mom asked and saw her walking down the stairs with her eyes on me.

"Nagutom po." I answered, she also went to the kitchen at kumuha ng gatas sa ref at inilatag ito sa aking harapan at umupo siya sa tabi ko.

"You know, I miss this."

"Miss what?"

"This. You in this house. In the kitchen, eating what I have cooked. It's been so long since we've got to do this." my mom expressed, reminiscing those days na andito pa ako nakatira and whenever naaabutan niya ako sa kusina ng midnight at naghahanap ng makakain habang nagrereview for examinations.

I also miss those days.

"You grew up too fast," she said and caressed my hair, I just smiled at her and kept on eating.

"Naaalala ko pa noon, lagi kitang naaabutan dito ng mga 3:00 am, then you'll ask me kung may biscuit or chips akong naitago." I chuckled at what she said and also remembered those times.

"I also missed you, mom!" I said and hugged her, she hugged me back and went back to telling me stories, mostly of how I was when I was a kid and during my teenage years.

"Sobrang tigas ng ulo mo noon, nahihirapan na kami ni Daddy mo saiyo, kasi you always want to go outside and be with your friends. 18 year old you was very sakit sa ulo." she said and we both laughed.