Dindin's
"A TRIP?"
I excitedly looked at Jayjay. We were in bed that morning, basking each other's warmth and savoring the moment we get to have together. Masyado kaming abala ngayong buong week na ito dahil finals na. I have a lot on my plate. Kailangan kong i-maintain ang scholarship ko at makuha ang matataas na grades para sa mga exams ko. He has a lot too. Maliban kasi sa finals ay marami rin siyang inaasikaso sa company ng tatay namin. We only see each other at night. Swerte na nga kung pareho kaming gising. Minsan nakakatulugan ko na ang paghihintay sa kanya. Nararamdaman ko na lang yakap niya ako sa gitna ng madaling araw. I try to wait for him but most of the time, he comes home late, so I don't get to see him.
"You deserve a trip." He grinned at me.
"Well, how about you? You've worked hard."
"This isn't a trip for me. I have a meeting to attend to the moment we step in Thailand, My love, but because you'll be coming with me, this will be a pleasurable trip. We'll be in Japan for five days. Two days ang meetings ko, we can go around the city for three days. You can buy anything you want." Kinindatan niya pa ako. Pinaglaruan ko naman ang tela ng silk top niya. Nakanguso ako.
"But that could mean that I'd be alone in those two days..." I whispered.
"Yes. Thursday and Friday ang meetings. We will be arriving there on Monday. We have three days to go around and in those three days, I will make sure that I am with you." He kissed the top of my head. "Do you believe in me? I will never leave you."
"Okay, 'cause id you leave me, I'd be lonely." Lost. I thought to myself. I'd be lost without him. People might think that what we have maybe unhealthy, pwede ngang sabihin toxic rin, pero ano bang magagawa ko? Alam na alam kong hindi ko kayang mawala si Jayjay sa akin. We have this thing and I want to trust it. Wala talagang kahit na sinong makapaghihiwalay sa aming dalawa.
We spent the next hour just talking in bed. When the clock strikes eight, naghanda na kaming dalawa. We went to school together. Balewala na sa akin kung pinagtitinginan kaming dalawa tuwing lalabas ako sa kotse niya o kung hahalik siya sa akin nang matagal bago kami maghiwalay na dalawa. I don't care anymore. They kept on saying that I was only his past time, another flavor of the month, a playmate, but they don't know about us. They don't know what we have. They can only see what's outside. They will never have a glimpse of what's inside.
"Mag – usap nga tayo." I thought that after all the exams today, makakauwi ako nang matiwasay, but here is Cole again, grabbing my arm like I owe her something. Padaskol kong binawi sa kanya ang braso ko. Wala akong balak patulan siya. She will only tell me the same thing. She'll call me names again. I am tired of the kind of day I had. Wala akong energy para magalit o patulan pa siya. I'm sure that Nicole is one of the people that spreads rumors about me. Bahala na lang talaga siya. Whatever makes her sleep at night.
"Didn't you hear me?"
"I heard you, loud and clear." Matabang na wika ko. "Pero wala naman akong balak na makipag – usap sa'yo." Sabi ko na lang sa kanya. Muli na naman niya akong hinatak. Ibinalya niya ako sa pader. I gasped and looked at her. "What do you want?"
"Have you no shame? Kissing like that in public where Lauren could see the two of you!"
"Bakit ba ako ang binabarda mo? Bakit hindi mo kausapin si Jacob? Scared that you will sound like a jealous wanna be girlfriend?" Nakatikim ako ng sampal. Napanganga ako. Hindi ko inaasahang sasampalin niya ako and I should fight back, but people are now watching. Alam ko ang kapabilidad ko at kapag pinatulan ko ang babaeng ito, ako ang lalabas na masama. Kaya hindi ako gumawa ng kahit na ano. I stood there, looking at her habang hawak ko ang pisngi kong dinapuan ng kamay niya.
