Ubiquitous Love

Chapter 4

"Sa hindi inaasahang..

Pagtatagpo ng mga mundo..

May minsan lang na nagdugtong..

Damang-dama na ang ugong nito.."

Kumakanta si Ari ngayon sa condo. Habang ako naman ay nakatulala lang sa TV. Hindi ko alam bakit ganon yung naramdaman ko nung nagkatinginan kami. Paulit-ulit na nagrereplay sa utak ko ang nangyari kanina.

Our eyes locked, but neither of us looked away. My heart was beating so loudly. It went faster than its normal beat. Biglang tumunog yung phone ko kaya napaiwas ako ng tingin. Tumatawag pala si Ari.

"Chandraea, nag order kami ng Jollibee. Bilisan mo na kasi parang si Abi lang ang uubos nito," Saad niya. Hindi na ako nakapagsalita at binaba nalang ang tawag.

Hindi ko na hinintay ang traffic light at lumiko nalang para pumunta sa condo.

Why the heck would I feel that way? Sinasampal ko yung mukha ko habang pinipigilan yung utak ko na i-replay ulit 'yon.

"Nababaliw na siguro ako, Abi.." Tiningnan naman ako ni Abi habang kumakain siya. "Bakit? Anong nangyari sayo?" Tanong niya. Umiling lang ako at tumingin ulit sa TV.

Out of curiosity, kinuha ko ang phone ko at sinearch ang pangalan niya. Zion yun sa pagkaalala ko. Hindi ko kasi nakita yung lanyard niya kanina kung saang school siya. Marami kasing universities ang sakop ng University Belt.

Kanina pa ako nagsesearch pero walang lumalabas. Konti nalang at itatapon ko na talaga yung phone ko dahil wala talaga akong mahanap. I sighed in defeat. I give up. Ayoko na.

Nakichismis nalang ako kila Abi kung ano yung nangyari sa first day of school nila. Madami na agad silang kaibigan. They asked me how mine was, I told them what happened from morning until I went back to the condo. Hindi ko sinabi sa kanila na nagkita kami ni Zion kasi baka rin dahil sa antok ko ay kung ano ano nalang ang nakikita ko.

The next thing I knew it was already Saturday. May school works na sila Abi kaya nag volunteer nalang akong maglaba. Mga uniform lang din naman yung lalabhan ko kaya its not a big deal tapos may washer naman kami.

Tinapos ko na kasi kagabi yung mga school works ko bago matulog para hindi na ako mag cram. Pumunta agad ako sa laundry area at naghanap ng sabon.

"Hindi pala kami nakabili ng powder..." Puro kasi pagkain ang kinuha namin at kaunting toiletries lang. Bumaba nalang ako at bumili ng powdered soap. Habang nasa elevator ako pababa, hindi ako mapakali kasi parang may kulang sa'kin.

"Shit." I whispered, nakalimutan ko yung wallet ko! Bwesit tinatamad na akong pumunta pabalik sa taas kasi nasa 28th floor kami. Naalala ko na may laman pala ang Gcash ko kaya problem solved!

Pumasok na agad ako sa Uncle John's para bumili ng sabon panlaba. Namimili ako kung ano yung mas mabango ng maalala ko na hindi pala pwede na labhan ko yung uniform namin gamit ang washing machine. Pwede naman kaso ayoko na masira siya agad or masobrahan sa ka lukot.

Bumili ako ng powder at bar soap. Kumuha na rin ako ng Choc-o. Nag-iisip pa ako kung ilan ang bibilhin ko kasi para may stock ako sa condo.

"Tatlo nalang kaya..." I whispered to myself. At the end, I decided to get 5 pieces of Choc-o instead. I went to the sweets and bought Reese's also.

Pumila na kaagad ako para makabalik na. Mahaba ang pila sa Uncle John's ngayon kasi hapon na. When it was my turn, I took out my phone to pay through Gcash.

"Do you accept Gcash po ba, Ate?" Tanong ko. Eto talaga yung ayaw ko eh, natatakot ako na baka wala palang Gcash eh anong gagawin ko sa nabili ko?

"Try nalang po natin, Ma'am" Ate replied. Fuck, kinakabahan ako. When Ate tried to scan my qr code, nag error sa system. I was sweating bullets now.

"Try nalang po ulit natin, Ma'am" Buti naman at hindi gaano ka strict si Ate. In the end, ayaw talaga ng machine gumana. Fuck, anong gagawin ko?

"Ah... Ate, pwede bang magpapacash out muna ako? Or kukunin ko nalang yung wallet ko sa condo?" I asked her. Then her brows furrowed. Oh no.

"Ma'am, bawal po kasi. Nasa guidelines po namin na bawal ang ganyan kasi baka hindi ka na po babalik," She explained. I sighed. Naiiyak na ako sa totoo lang. Bakit ba kasi nakalimutan ko yung wallet ko.

"I'll pay for it, Ate. Magkano ba?" A stranger spoke behind me. I had to looked up to see those eyes again. It was Zion! Damn! Sa daming tao sa mundo bakit siya pa yung makakakita sa'kin na ganito!

"273.50 po, Sir." Ate replied. I was about to refuse his offer when he spoke.

"You can pay me whenever you want, hindi 'to libre." He added. Of course I know that it was not libre! Di naman sobrang kapal ng mukha ko para isipin na libre iyon!

"Can I have your number then?" I said not thinking that he might get the wrong idea. He was trying to hide his smile when I realized it sounded wrong.

"You're fast, huh?" He said, with his other brow raising. "That's not what I meant!" I defended myself. "I'm going to pay you through Gcash like right now!" I added. Ang kapal naman ng mukha niya to say that to me!

Binigay na ni Ate ang pinamili ko at naghintay ako sa gilid since Zion was still paying for the things he bought. He looked so tall in the line. I looked at him and realized na parang kakagaling niya lang mag shower.

His side profile was worth dying. The ladies behind him was giggling while looking at his damn biceps. His tshirt says that he was a varsity of the yellow school. UST Men's Volleyball. Iyon ang nakalagay.

He walked towards me after paying, wearing a big smile on his face. Fine, he is indeed gwapo. He was not this tall the last time I saw him. I also didn't noticed him during our graduation, or I think I was just too preoccupied about my parents.

"I don't have Gcash, eh" He said. Clearly, I can't tell him to wait while I go out and get some cash! That would be too much, he already saved me from that embarrassment.

"I don't have cash with me..." I whispered.

"Sige, ganito nalang. Let's see each other tomorrow? Same time, same place. Don't forget to bring your cash," He said, while looking outside. It seems like it's about to rain.

I nodded in response and he immediately ran outside while waving his hand saying good bye. He went inside the bus so I ran to the condo since I don't have an umbrella with me.