Hey You

Chapter 15

"Yes po, Ms. Ma'am," Jane sighed while she tossed to the other side of the bed.

"Humbaam," Nella said it like she was hyping Jane up. "Ganun kasi yun, parang perrriiioood," she laughed.

Jane laughed with her. "Hummbaaam," she repeated.

"Korek. You better watch out kasi my friend Jane is going to take over the world. Huuumbaaam." It was Nella's way of a pep talk.

Jane continued to laugh. "Alam mo, parang di nako naniniwala na introvert ka and na allergic ka sa tao. Ang galing mo sa ganito eh."

Nella's two eyebrows rose. "Huh? Anong magaling? Saan ako magaling?"

Jane couldn't stop herself from smiling. "Ang galing mo mang-boost ng confidence ng tao lalo na ako."

"Ah, tao ka ba?" Nella joked because she didn't know how to react to Jane's comment about her.

"Baliw. Hindi ako tao, si Darna lang ako," Jane giggled.

"Wow, superhero pala ang peg mo. Okay, I'll take it," Nella replied.

Jane tucked her right hand under the side of her face while she laid on her side. "Nella," she called out to her friend. She was quickly drifting off to sleep. "I love you."

Nella's heart skipped a beat. Jane's words came out of nowhere, she felt as though the wind was knocked out of her. She wanted to say something back, anything, her lips started to quiver but failed to put words together.

"Ngayon lang ako nakaramdam ng ganitong klaseng pag-aaalaga galing sa isang kaibigan kaya salamat. Sa oras, sa tiyaga, sa lahat-lahat ng oras na pinagaan at pinakalakas mo ang loob ko," Jane mumbled while half asleep.

Nella swallowed. "Ikaw talaga. Worth it ka naman. I was really wrong about you, Jane. I regret ever thinking negatively about you kasi malayong-malayo ka sa taong inakala kong ikaw. Deserve mo yung pag-aalaga, yung oras, yung atensyon, at yung boost ng confidence na binibigay ko sayo. Konti pa nga yun eh. Sobrang konting-konti pa. Alam mo, sa totoo lang, nakakasakit ng damdamin pag naririnig kong ang harsh mo sa sarili mo. Ang taas na nga ng standard na you've already set for yourself, Jane, pero hindi pa rin enough for you. Masyadong high yung expectation na sini-set mo para sa sarili mo, yet you're already on top. Gets moko? You're already great just the way you are kaya go easy on yourself. Natutuwa nga ako sayo eh. You know how to make people feel good about themselves. Sana lang magawa mo rin yun sa sarili mo. You see the good in everyone katulad ko, sana makita mo rin yung good na meron ka in you. Kung nakita mo nga yung good sakin, I'm sure makikta mo rin yung good sayo kasi madami, Jane. Sobrang dami. Kita mo oh, mabilis mong nasabi na mahal moko kahit na yung ibang tao siguro won't find anything to love sa akin because I push them away. Kung may deserve ng words na mahal kita, para sayo dapat yun. Kaya I love you too, Jane. I hope na with me saying that to you, maramdaman mo na there is a lot to love about you, kung alam mo lang."

Silence filled the air after Nella spoke.

"Jane?" She listened carefully for Jane's response, but there was nothing. "Are you asleep?" She asked. She tried to listen even harder and heard Jane's heavy breathing. She did fall asleep on her, and it made her giggle a little. "I hope you heard man lang kung ano yung mga pinagsasabi ko before you fell asleep, PB, kasi minsan lang ako nakakapag-bitaw ng mga salitang ganun kaya sana kahit nakatulog ka, tumatak yun sa puso at isipan mo. O sya, pahinga ka na—"

"Please stay," the words that came out of Jane was barely audible while she mumbled in her sleep.

"Stay?" Nella wanted to make sure she heard her right. "Like stay on the line?"

"Mhm," Jane replied.

Nella thought it was cute hearing Jane's subtle snore. It wasn't loud at all, but it was enough to let her know that she had drifted off to sleep. She glanced at her phone to check the time. It was ten minutes after midnight. "Ikaw talaga ha, ang weird ng request mo pero buti na lang malakas ka sakin," she said while getting settled in bed. She smiled while listening to Jane's breathing. "Wawa ka naman, I could tell you're tired. Rest well, PB."