Us Again

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Chapter 2

                                                             
✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

Nakarating kami sa harap ng clinic ng doctor ni Riri. I asked her if she wanted me to go with her inside.

“No need na ate.” Sagot niya sa akin at pumasok.

I walked back outside and saw Lincoln with his brother talking. They stopped talking when they saw me walk towards them.

“Tara coffee,” aya sa’kin ni Gabe nang nakalapit ako sa kanila. Tumango ako bilang sagot.

“Ikaw?” tanong ko kay Lincoln. He shook his head.

“I have meetings to attend today. Tell Riri I’m sorry, and I’ll take her shopping tomorrow instead,” he said before he got inside his car and drove away.

Inakbayan ako ni Gabe habang naglalakad. We’re walking towards a nearby coffee shop at dahil maaga pa lang ay kakabukas lang nila at kami pa lang ang customer. Lumapit sa amin ang waiter at kinuha ang order namin. I ordered a slice of red velvet cheesecake and a chocolate frappe while Gabe ordered a slice of strawberry shortcake and a glass of orange juice.

“You really like chocolates, don’t you?” he said while scanning the menu.

“I love it. O-order ka pa ba?” tanong ko sa kaniya.

“Yeah, peace offering for Mamita. She’s mad at me because I forgot to water the plant she gave to me,” sagot niya na ikinatawa ko. He called the waiter and ordered a box of yema cake.

“Namatay ba? Binigyan niya rin ako nung birthday,” sabi ko. Dumating ang waiter dala ang order namin. Agad kong kinain ang cake ko habang si Gabe ay nagbayad muna.

“Oo,” sagot niya at sumubo ng cake.

“Graduating na tayo,” sabi niya.

“Oo nga. Himala wala kang naging girlfriend ngayong school year,” pang-aasar ko sa kaniya na ikinataas ng kilay niya.

“I’ve promised dad that I’ll focus on my studies this year. No girlfriends this school year. I mean, maybe. Fuck, I have a crush. I’ve been crushing on this girl for a very long time,” sagot niya sa akin.

“Ba’t di mo jinowa?” tanong ko sa kaniya habang tumatawa.

“Because, Cosette, she’s different from the girls I’ve dated. I don’t think she’s going to like me,” sagot naman niya sa akin.

“Why do you think so?” I asked him.

“Ang hirap ipaliwanag,” tipid na sagot niya sa’kin. Nagkibit balikat na lamang ako dahil nakita kong paparating na ang waiter.

Dumating ang waiter dala ang order niyang yema cake. We finished our breakfast and paid the bills before we got back to the clinic to fetch Riri. Naabutan naming si Riri na nakikipag-usap sa guard ng clinic. Sumimangot siya nang nakita niya kami.

“There you are. Kanina pa ako naghihintay sainyo. Saan ba kayo nanggaling?” she asked while pouting.

“We ate breakfast. Sorry na,” hinging patawad ni Gabe kay Riri habang inalalayaan siya papasok sa sasakyan. Pumasok ako sa clinic at kinausap ang doctor ni Riri. May mga binilin siya at ibinahagi sa’kin ang improvements ni Riri. Nang natapos kaming mag-usap ay lumabas na ako. Binuksan ni Gabe ang pinto nang nakalapit ako sa kanila. Pumasok kaming dalawa at umalis na kami.