Invisible Girl (Chat MD Series #1) (TO BE PUBLISHED)

Day 79

(Phone conversation)

SAT AT 04:31 PM

Call started.

Marcus :
(Low voice) Jen ko? (Pauses) Tumahan ka na?

Jenessy :
(Sniffs) Okay naman na. Wag ka na mag-alala kasi. No phone call while driving...

Marcus :
(Sighs) I'm not driving. Itinabi ko muna tong sasakyan. Hindi ako mapakali e...

Jenessy :
(Breathes deeply) Okay lang ako. Promise...

Marcus :
(Exhales) (Long pause) I know it hurts to hear those words sa kapatid mo. I don't know what else to say except, there's nothing wrong with this, Jen. (Sighs)

Jenessy :
(Sniffs) Okay lang. Ayaw naman talaga sa kin ni Ate Karen. (pause) Saka, baka naimpluwensiyahan lang yun ng mga nababalitaan niya sa STU kaya nagsalita nang ganun... (Voice breaks) (sobs silently) Basta ang mahalaga, hindi ka naman naniniwala run, di ba? Na oportunista kami kaya ako lumapit sayo?

Marcus :
(Clicks tongue) They don't know about us. You don't even have to apologize to me or to them. (Pause) Next time, let me handle those kinds of assumptions... (pause) or confrontations.

Jenessy :
(Sniffs) (shaky voice) Hindi na... (Pause) Kapag sarado na ang utak ng tao, kahit na anong paliwanag, wala ring mangyayari. (Exhales) Nasaktan lang ako kasi para niyang in-announce sa sala na oportunista ako. Sa harap mo pa talaga...

Marcus :
(Sighs) I don't know what to say to you...

Jenessy :
Wag ka nang mag-alala. May pupuntahan pa kayo ni Ash e. (Sniffs) (exhales) Hindi ko naman makikita yun si Ate Karen sa school kasi sa Engineering naman siya e. Malayo sa building natin. (Pause) Saka, pinagsabihan naman siya ni Tatay at Ate Paula.

(Silence)

Jenessy :
I'm just sorry you had to see that scene.

Marcus :
I was sorry for seeing how they treat you, too. (Exhales sharply) (Hisses) I can't calm down.

Jenessy :
Isang beses isang linggo lang naman ako nagpupunta run. Hindi ko rin laging naaabutan si Ate Karen... (Lowers voice) Wag ka na mag-alala. Naiistorbo ko schedule mo...

Marcus :
Okay. (Sighs)

Jenessy :
Nakauwi naman na ko sa bahay... (Lowers voice) Please? Don't worry na? You have a thesis to test.

Marcus :
Okay. Dadaan ako diyan bukas pag pauwi na kami ni Ash.

Jenessy :
Hala. E baka gabing -

Marcus :
Dadaan lang ako. I need to see you.

Jenessy :
Okay...

Marcus :
(Sighs) I love you. Don't let these things mess us up... okay?

Jenessy :
(Breathes slowly) Pag-iisipan ko...

Marcus :
(Clicks tongue) Itong sinasabi ko e...

Jenessy :
(Laughs a little) I'm just teasing you, MM.

Marcus :
(Hisses) You're spoiled and now you're becoming a bully..? Tss.

Jenessy :
I won't give this up. (Almost whispering) Nagsisimula pa nga lang tayo.

Marcus :
(Laughs a little) Okay. I'll keep that in mind.

Jenessy :
Sige na. Baba mo na.

Marcus :
Okay. See you tomorrow. (Clears throat) (gentler voice) I love you.

Jenessy :
Okay... Uhum. (Pause) Ba -

Marcus :
No. Nasan ang 'I love you' ko?

Jenessy :
E kasi... (Voice fades)

Marcus :
No, no. Bukas pa ko babalik. I need to hear at least that to keep me going.

Jenessy :
(Teasing voice) Hala... (Laughs a little) ang arte po ni MM.

Marcus :
Say it, Jen ko.

Jenessy :
E kasi nga -

Marcus :
(Sighs) Pano ko mapapanatag nito? (Sighs) Akala ko nagpapraktis ka..? (Sighs)

Jenessy :
Ito na! (Whispers) (Almost inaudible) I love you... (Voice fades)

Marcus :
Huh? I didn't even hear it, Jenessy.

Jenessy :
(Whiny voice) Sinabi ko na e!

Marcus :
(Clicks tongue) A little louder, please?

Jenessy :
(Shaky voice) (whispers) I love you, too...

Marcus :
Huh? I can't even -

(Ash voice cuts on background :
Narinig namin, Jen. Naka-loudspeaker ka. Buang to si honey!)

Marcus :
- Shut up, Ash!

Jenessy :
Hala! (High pitch) Nakakaasar ka naman e!

Marcus :
(Laughs) It feels good to hear it. I love you, Jen ko!

(Ashton's voice : Buang ang powtek. Nang-iinggit.)

Marcus :
Inggit talaga to si milabs! (Laughs triumphantly) See you, tomorrow!

Jenessy :
Madaya ka!

Marcus :
You'll get over it, honey. Let it pass this time. (Laughs) Bye!

Jenessy :
(Whiny voice) Bye. Ingat kayo.

Marcus :
(Laughs)

Call ended.