Manila Girl

Chapter 2

Nakasimangot ako na kumakain.

Instead of my favorite blueberry ay naging cheesecake nalang. I mean no offense to cheesecake lovers out there but blueberry is the best.

"What is wrong?" Tanong ni Marrol habang iniikot ang pasta sa tinidor nya.

I can't hide the disappointment in me, it's all over my face. "I hate that girl."

And she knows what I'm talking about. "Just let it go Jill. Para ka namang bata eh. It just a food okay?"

But I'm still ti fuming mad. "I don't care about the blueberry..", I taste the bitterness in my mouth. "Pero hindi mo ba nakita kung paano nya ako tinitigan?"

Marrol is just looking at me dead in the eye. "No." Hindi ko napigilang napaikot mata. "Masyado kang trigger sa babae na yon, naagawan ka lang ng pagkain."

At tinusok ko ng tinidor ang cheesecake. "I hate that b*tch."

"Kumain ka nalang Jill at malapit na matapos ang break natin."

Pero wala na akong gana, nauhan na ako ng inis. Okay lang naman don sa pag-agaw ng pagkain sakin. Hindi ko lang talaga nagustuhan the way she look at me.

Parang may meaning.

— nang iinis.

Tapos ako nman ay nainis.

Great.

Anyway, bumalik na kami sa office at balik trabaho dahil may hinahabol kaming deadline. Nakatayo ako at chinecheck ang blueprint ng project namin. I just want to make sure everything is perfect dahil pangalan ko ang nakataya dito.

Nag biglang may pumalo sa pwetan ko.

Agad akong napalingon to see who the bastard is.

The smug face greets me. "Sexy."

"How many times do i have to tell you to stop touching me Vanessa?" Inis na sabi ko kay Vanessa. She is the third senior engineer in the team, a lesbian and maniac.

Actually wala naman akong problema sa LGBT people pero kakaiba itong si Vanessa.

"Eto naman ang sungit." Naiiling nito na sabi sakin.

At umupo na ako. Baka umiisa na naman eh. "Tantanan mo kasi ako."

"What if kayo ang nagkatuluyan?"

Kinilabutan ako sa sinabi ni Marrol. "No way!"

"Why not?" Nakangiti na tanong ni Vanessa.

"Anong why not?" I'm defensive. "Hindi tayo talo — —"

Biglang nilapit ni Vanessa ang mukha sakin. "Because I'm a girl?"

"That's one of the reason." Pag-amin ko kasi never ko na imagine na ma attract sa babae —like there's no freaking way. "And most definitely you are not my type."

But Vanessa didn't flinch. "Don't get ahead of yourself Jill." Nagtitigan kaming dalawa. "When you meet a very special girl baka kainin mo yang sinasabi mo."

Nginitian ko si Vanessa. "Don't worry, I won't."

"Pustahan tayo Vanessa?" Biglang sumingit itong si Marrol.

And i give her a glare. "Alam mo minsan talaga hindi ko alam kung kaibigan ba kita o kaaway."

Marrol laugh. "But it's a good challenge right? I know it won't happen kaya nga ako pupusta.

Tumayo ng maayos na ng tayo si Vanessa. "Deal."

Unbelievable!

"How much?" Tanong ni Marrol kay Vanessa.

"20."

"Pesos?" Taas kilay si Marrol.

Naglakad na si Vanessa papunta sa table nya. "Thousand." At kinindatan nya ako.

Ang mga siraulo, pinagpustahan talaga ako..

But anyway, I don't care — kasi alam ko na hindi ito mangyayari. I grew up up with strong attraction with boys.

I'm a bit confused kung bakit pinagpustahan nila ako sa bagay na yon.

It's 5 and it means work is over.

"May bagong bukas na bake shop malapit dito." Salita ni Marrol habang naglalakad kami sa lobby palabas ng building.

"Puro ka talaga pagkain." Naiiling nalang ako.

"At least pagkain."

I look at her sideways. "Bakit meron pa bang iba?"

"Jill!"

At sabay kaming napalingon ni Marrol sa tumawag sakin.

"Your prince charming." Mahinang bulong ni Marrol sakin.

Natawa nalang ako habang pinagmamasdan namin si Mikael na naglalakad papunta samin and i know what he wants. "See you tomorrow. Kausapin ko lang to."

"Ingat ka sa lalaki na yan." At nagyakap kaming dalawa.

"Mas mag ingat sya sakin."

Marrol laugh. "Chat chat nalang." And we wave goodbye to each other.

And now Mikael is standing in front of me, looking handsome as ever. "Are you going home now?"

"Oo." Sagot ko kay Mikael. "Bakit?"

At hinawakan nya ang braso ko. "Let's go to my place. I'll cook us dinner —"

"And?" I asked.

"Let's see what will happen next Jill." Siuklay ni Mikael ang daliri sa buhok nya habang titig na titig sakin. I know that look — "So are you in?"

I really thought about it. But then it's a.. "No."

Pagod pa kasi ako since last night and i really want to rest - not sex.

And Mikael look defeated. Please Jill?"

" I'm sorry Mikael." Sincere naman ako." Pagod kasi ako ngayon — "

His facial expression changed1 instantly." You are really good in this Jill no?"

And I don't know what he's talking about." Ano?"

"They are right, you are good manipulating men." Mikael accused me.

I can't believe what he's saying kasi hindi naman ako ganong tao." Dahil hindi mo lang nakuha ang gusto mo kaya ka nagkakaganyan? " Pero imbis na sumagot ay nilayasan ako ni Mikael. "Hoy kinakausap pa kita!"

Hindi na nya ako nilingon.

Siraulong lalaki na to.

Pero bago pa ako makalakad ay nag ring ang cellphone ko. So i fish it out of my handbag and check kung sino ito — and it's my mother.

She always call me, as in everyday. So i answer it." Hello Mom? Pauwi na ako —"

"Jillian, your father had a heart attack." Agad na sabi ni Mama.

And i hear a long buzz in my ears after that. Even my brain couldn't even process what my mother said.