White Lies

Third Wheel

"Mmmm.. Mmmmm.. mmm.." Lea hummed as she took a sip of her coffee, too engrossed with the music sheet on her left hand.

Its been two days since the fainting incident. She had taken a few days off from work, as per her doctors advise. Now she's here on their veranda with music sheets scattered on the table. Staying just on her bed, doesn't do good on her sanity.

She dropped the music sheet she was holding on her lap and leaned back on the chair as she closed her eyes. One particular song clouded her mind. She took a deep breath and tried to give it a go.

"when I go away I'll miss you
and I will be thinking of you
every night and day just ...

Promise me you'll wait for me
'cause I'll be saving all my love for you
and I will be home soon.. " a tear fell from her right eye, her throat is constricting again.

She breathes in again and released a very deep sigh.

"Ang lalim nun ah, baka malunod ka niyan."

Lea was startled of the unexpected company who is casually leaning on the door frame of the veranda. She very discretely wiped off the tear that successfully break free from her eyes. Traitor.

"Will you stop that?! Para kang kabute, bigla-biglang sumusulpot" she sat properly "..tapos bigla mawawala." he is not supposed to hear that last line.

"Ikaw lang naman ang nawala Lei."

Goodness.

"What brings you here Aga? Were you standing there long?" Lea asked changing the topic.

Long enough to see your tears. "Kamusta na pakiramdam mo? Akala ko naka bedrest ka?" he walked forward to approach Lea and kiss her on the head. Still same lavender scent.

Lea was eyeing him suspiciously, so he decided to sit down and diverted his attention on the music sheets instead.

"Kahapon pa sana ako dadalaw eh, kaso may prior appointment kasi ako the whole day. Dumaan ako after kaso gabi na, nag baka sakali, eh ayun sabi ni Tita tulog ka na kaya di na kita inistorbo." he picks up a music sheet and pondered how weird people can read this kind of stuffs. He read the title "I think I'm In Love? Nice song. Does Tita know you are out here? Nagta-trabaho ka pa din."

"Mas magkakasakit ako kapag wala ako ginagawa." as she snatched away the paper on Aga's grasps.

Aga can feel Lea's tension. Her body language says it all. "Sobrang nag-alala ako sayo, bigla nag cancel si Direk sa script reading ng movie kasi nga tinakbo ka raw hospital. I was calling you naka off cellphone mo."

"I am fine Aga. Low blood sugar, nawala sa isip ko hindi pala ako kumakain."

"Alagaan mo naman sarili mo Lei, wala ako lagi sa tabi mo para alagaan ka. " he exaggerates.

Lea rolled her eyes "Ganon?" as she smiled at Aga's smooth lines. "Dahan-dahan sa banat, baka mahulog na naman ako. Wala yung PA ko dito na sasalo sa akin."

"Bakit pwede naman kitang saluhin ah, ayaw mo lang talaga magpasalo."

1-0. Damn you Aga.

--

"Ilang beses mo na siya sa pinatay diyan sa isip mo?"

"Huh?" snapped out of her reverie. "I'm sorry Dawn, you were saying?"

"My God Lea! Kanina pa ko daldal ng daldal dito hindi ka naman pala nakikinig.

"So sorry dear. I just thought of.. something."

"Something or someone?"

Lea sighed in retreat, she pursed her lips together and looked away.

"Lea.. dalawa lang tayo dito ngayon sa kwarto, bakit pakiramdam ko tatlo tayo?" she raised an eyebrow at Lea whom the latter just shooked her head and fidgets. "Hindi ako pumunta dito para maki-third wheel diyan sa taong nasa isip mo. Masyado akong maganda para maging kabit."

That earned a smile from Lea. Dawn pulled her and eneveloped her in a tight embrace. "Hinay-hinay lang kasi Lei, andito lang ako palagi ha?"

"Mm-mm." Lea replied.

"Ang tipid naman ng reply mo, may pinag-iipunan ka ba?"

And they both giggled.

--

Many days have passed and Lea is back on track. She kept herself busy with work. She can't afford anymore distractions right now because concert will be in few days.

"Ms. Lea, andito po si Sir Aga." Rona chirped in.

Its been weeks since their last 'talk' at her veranda. She nodded okay and composed herself. So much with not having distractions.

Lea was busy checking out her phone so Aga cleared his throat to inform her about his presence.

"What is it Aga?" she asked without looking at him.

"Lea, can we talk?"

"We are already talking." stating a fact her attention still on her phone.

Aga suddenly snatched her phone away.

"What the- ano ba? Give it back!"

"Not until you look at me Lei." and she glared at him.

"Iniiwasan mo ba ko?"

"Ags naman, busy ako."

"Two weeks Lei! Two weeks walang paramdam. Ni hindi mo sinasagot mga tawag ko. Pati sa text, ni ha, ni ho, wala. Sana man lang magreply ka di ba, para alam ko naman kung okay ka."

"I said I was busy okay? Plus, I didn't know we are on that level of commitment. Aren't we?"

"Okay pa tayo nung huli tayong nag-usap ah. What changed?"

Lea stood up and went to fix her things in hope of Aga will just drop it.

Aga can no longer take the coldness Lea is giving him so  he grabbed Lea's arm and pulled her to face him again.

"Ouch! Aga ano ba nasasaktan ako!" she tried to pull away but Aga doesn't budged.

"Ano ba kasing problema mo ha?"

"Ikaw! Ikaw Aga ang problema ko! You! You reappearing in my life, giving me mixed signals. It's confusing! You can't just walk in on my life again as if.. As if nothing happened."

Aga was too shocked looking at her as he let go of her arms.

"Please Aga, I need to stay away from you."

"Bakit Lei?"

"Don't make me say it. Please."

"Lea, durog na durog na ko eh. No words from you can hurt me anymore."

Silence enveloped the four walls of her dressing room.

"Bakit ba kasi, ha Lei?!"

"Its because I'm married!"

---

Thoughts? 😳