Eliana Rosé

The growing stem

Chapter 9: The growing stem

His side.

The place is smoky, and it smells of burning meat. We are at the makeshift barbecue place beside the road, three intersections away from Gabbie' Haven. 

The place is very busy because there are a lot of customers, and it is a bit noisy because of the passing cars. Nevertheless, it looks so alive. It's refreshing to see this kind of ruckus. No alcohol, no dancing, no blinding lights. A simple and ordinary life.

"Maingay ba?" Ellie asked. "Sa iba nalang sana kita dinala." she said, looking concerned. "It's fine." I replied. "Di bale. Masarap naman ang barbecue at isaw nila dito." she informs. I just gave her a smile as a reply. "Pero, ang init noh?" She added while fanning herself with her hand.

We are sitting inside their makeshift tent, waiting for our order. It is hot because of the smoke all over the place. "Gabriel, naiinitan ka? Okay ka lang?" she asked. "I'm fine." I feel hot too, but it's bearable. "Sigurado ka?" I nodded my head. "Yeah."

Our food was served not long later. It's a plate full of thinly sliced grilled meat and intestines on a stick. It's been a while since I have eaten street food.  "Salamat, kuya." Ellie said to the man who served our food while smiling. 

She placed a plate covered in cellophane with rice in front of me. "Kumain ka ng marami kasi libre ko to." She then put a lot of sticks of grilled meat and intestines on it. "That's enough, Ellie." I said to stop her from dumping much of it on my plate. "There's already plenty on my plate."

"Okay. Kain na tayo?" she said, but more like asking. "Pero magdasal muna tayo." she said with a simple grace, and then we dug in. "Masarap no?" I nodded my head. It was edible and well cooked. So it's okay. "May kalakip pang usok at alikabok yan." I almost choked upon hearing it. "Joke lang." Then she chuckled.

"You just say whatever you want without thinking twice." I commented, wiping the side of my lip with the available tissue on the table. "Asset ko." she replied with a teasing smile. "Mamamatay ata ako pag hindi ko masabi ano laman ng utak ko." she added, half laughing. "Pero, tinatry ko ng e filter sinasabi ko. Mahirap nga lang." 

"Yeah, you should do that." At least she knows that her mouth can't just shut up.  "Pero bukas na kasi may naiisip akong tanong sayo." she said while wiggling her eyebrows. It's unbelievable; she just can't stop. "Ano?" I asked, humoring her. I figured even if I said no, she'd ask otherwise.

"May girlfriend ka?" she bluntly asked, without a tinge of hesitation. Fuck. I almost choked on my saliva."Why? Do you want to apply?" I jokingly replied. "Oo sana. Ano ba standard mo sa babae?" she asked playfully. I sniggered because of her bluntness. Sabagay she was like this since the day we first met at the cemetery. 

"You won't pass my standards, though." I joked, making her pout her lips. "Naku, pakipot!" I snickered. "Pero, serious. May girlfriend ka?" she asked. That question made me think twice. I do, but I don't. I still consider Eliana my girlfriend, though. But she's no longer around. So, that's a rather hard question to answer.

"Gabriel?" she pressed, but I still didn't know how to answer the question. "Let me ask you a question instead," I said, trying to divert the topic. "Eh, asawa? Meron?" she asked, disregarding what I said. "No comment."

"Ang duga." she complained. "May asawa ka siguro, noh? Sabagay 29 ka na naman." she said. "I don't have a wife, Ellie," I responded. I am unmarried, but I almost was. She smiled widely after I said that, and she said, "Pwede pa." 

"Your confidence is over the roof!" I commented, but she just laughed. "Pero may girlfriend ka nga?" she pressed once again. "It's complicated." I simply replied to stop her from talking. "Luh, anong klaseng sagot yan?" She replied exasperatingly. "Pa explain?" 

I sighed and said, "I love someone I can no longer have." 

Her eyes widened at my reply. "May asawa na?! Naku, wag kang maging kabit, Gabriel! Kasalanan yan sa mata nga tao at Diyos!" She exclaimed. I chuckled at her overresponse. "Silly, no." 

"So bakit you can't have?" she asked. Because she's dead. But, of course, it's all in my head. "Stop asking. Stop being nosy." I said, jokingly. "Masyado ka ng pa mysterious!" she whined. "There are things better left unsaid." 

"Pero, at least nalaman kong wala kang nobya." she said. "I didn't say that I don't," I said. "Ses. Basta single ka pa." she pressed. I shook my head, feeling amused by her. She just doesn't easily give up. 

"Ikaw? Ayaw mong itanong kung may nobyo na ako?" she playfully asked me. "No need. I know you don't have one." I said confidently. "Hoy! Meron kaya!" she exclaimed, but I knew she was lying. 

"Stop lying. If you had one, why invite me to dinner instead of him?" I asked as a matter of fact. She didn't instantly give a reply, and I knew that I had hit the bull's eye. "Oo na. Wala akong boyfriend. Pero, naghahanap ako ngayon." she grumbles, then looks at me and says, "Pwede ka?"

"Why does this conversation never stop?" I complained. God, she's overconfident and very blunt. "Curious kasi ako!" She explained. "I'm way older than you." I said to counter her. But she just replied, "Age doesn't matter! Uso na kaya ngayon iyong malaki ang age gap." 

"Why me?" I asked. "Kasi..." she paused for a while, then looked at me intently. "Kasi, may urge sa loob ko na alagaan ka." That made me quiet. "Ang weird no?" Yeah, how weird is that? That was unexpected. All the women I have met so far in two years only wanted to have sex with me or only after my father's money. It's weird to hear that now. She's eccentric.  

"I'm fine, though," I said, maybe trying to assure her. "Pasensya huh kung makulit ako. Di naman ako namimilit." she said. I raised an eyebrow, trying to show that I was unable to believe what I was hearing from her. "Really? You like someone who'd force someone." 

She smacked my arm. "Ang sama mo!" I chuckled. "I'm just teasing you, Ellie." 

"Makulit ka din noh?" she commented. "Not as much as you." 

"Oo na. Pero e dedate mo ko." I flicked her forehead. "About that. Don't expect one. But we can be friends?" I offered. She looked at me with an eyebrow raised. "Di pa ba tayo friends?' she asked. "As far as I can recall, we aren't. You just assumed that we were," I teased her, making her scoff. "Wow, huh?"

"Kidding aside, we can be friends. Can we be friends?" I said. She scratched her head first, then smiled at me. "Oo na. It's better than nothing." 

I don't know where it is leading. But, more than having the feeling of horror when seeing her, I'd rather keep her a friend. So that, I will have more control over it. Besides, I've come to realize that she's fun to be with, and she doesn't know anything about my past. She had the same name as her, but she had nothing to do with it. 

What would she feel when she learned about it? I suddenly got curious and a little afraid. Nah, let's cross the bridge when we get there. Besides, it's just a name resemblance and nothing more. 

To be continued...