To Love the Dawn

33

"Dominguez, ang putla mo.." Ngayon lang namutla nang gano'n si Zelena. "Huy, okay ka lang? May sakit ka ba?" She shook her head.

Kinapa ko agad ang noo niya kung mainit siya. Normal naman ang temperature niya. I gave her my sandwich and bottled water.

"Salamat," aniya. I nodded at her before continuing my business. "David, are you single pa rin?"

I held the sides of the table as I looked up. Is this the answer to my prayers back then? After how many years... I clicked my tongue against my cheek as I glanced at Zelena.

"Bakit? Interested ka ba?" I asked while smiling.

"No. But I can offer more than that." She looked around the room, there was no one aside from us.

"More than a relationship? What could that be?" I went to her position. I looked down to meet her eyes.

"This..." She tiptoed as she pressed her lips on mine. I didn't respond at first. But after some time, I gave in.

It has been months since Sola and I broke up. And now, Zelena's here for me. Or maybe that was what I thought. Seeing her eyes show a different emotion when she saw Xhaiven made me question our relationship. Baka wala lang 'to kay Zelena. But I was willing to be with her all throughout. Kahit bilang kaibigan pa 'yan.

Zelena got confined in a hospital. I was there to take care of her because no one else was there for her. Ultimong si Xhaiven na mahal na mahal niya, tinaboy niya. I had a hunch that she was carrying Xhaiven's child. But I just didn't get a confirmation. Hindi ko rin kasi narinig ang sinabi ng doctor sa manager niya at kay Zelena. However, just by observing, I could tell that Zelena was pregnant.

I immediately refused the girls who wanted to sit beside me. Some even offered drinks. Napalingon ako sa mga kasama ko. Mukhang wala pa silang balak umuwi. Nang lingunin ako ni Clara ay nagkaroon na ako ng pagkakataon na magpaalam.

"Uwi na 'ko, tol. Naghihintay 'yon si Sol sa 'kin." It was already past 2 AM. Kailangan ko nang umuwi. "Pasabi nalang sa kanila na nauna na ako, ha? Hinahanap na kasi ako."

"Hindi mo naman misis pero naghihintay? At saka, 'di ba break na kayo?" Clara raised a brow at me. "Nagkabalikan kayo, 'no?"

"Saka ko na ikukuwento kapag ayos na kay Sol. Sikreto lang muna namin 'yun, e. Sige, una na ako. Mag-iingat ka, ha? Text mo ako kapag hindi ka masusundo ni Edward."

"Mmm, ingat ka! Pasalubungan mo naman si Sol!" I didn't have the time to respond. Dumiretso na ako paalis.

Bago ako umuwi, dumaan ako sa drive thru ng favorite fast food restaurant ni Sol. Inorder ko ang favorites niya. I checked my phone but there was no sign of Solana looking for me. Baka tulog na siya.

Napangiti ako nang makita ang sun sticker na idinikit ni Sola noon sa mini-compartment ko. Kaya nasa isip ko palagi na kailangan kong umuwi. Na kailangan kong mag-ingat sa daan dahil uuwi pa ako sa kaniya. At ngayon, sa kanila na ng anak namin.

Naging sensitive si Sol dahil sa pregnancy niya. Umiiyak siya sa maliliit na bagay. Maliliit na bagay para sa akin pero para sa kaniya malaki at mabigat. Kaya naiintindihan ko siya.

"Mavi! Nalanta siya!" She cried when she saw the bouquet of sunflowers that I gave her the last time. "Do you know how precious it was to me?"

"I'll buy you a new one, okay?" She shook her head. But I knew she would be happy if I did that. "Okay okay, I'll fix it nalang."

"Thank you!" She hugged me and cried on my chest.