Moment That I Met U

Chapter 18: Bati na ba tayo?

 "Ano balak mo ngayon?" Tanong sa akin ni Alden, magkatabi kaming dalawa sa isang bangko, kumakain ng barbeque. "May plano ka na ba?" Nagusap kaming dalawa sa isang barbequehan na malapit sa main branch. 

"Ano plano mo ngayon?" Tanong sa akin ni Alden na katabi ko.

Pinaikot-ikot ko sa aking mga daliri ang stick na naka tusok sa isaw. "Hindi ko alam..." I took a small bite on the top of the isaw.

"Kung gusto mo, you can have your job back at the bakery." In-offer nya ulit sa akin ang trabahong ni-resignan ko kahapon. "Tutal hindi ko pa naman na aasikaso ang resignation papers mo, kaya technically you still work there."

I shrugged my shoulders, "I want to, pero I don't think that I'll still feel the same way." Something kept bothering me at the back of my mind, para bang sa isipan ko, nawalan na ako ng ganang pumasok araw-araw.

"Well it's your choice." Sabi ni Alden na direcho lang ang tono ng boses, "if you wanna stay you can, if you don't then I understand." He sipped on the coke he had on his hand.

Na iba ang feeling ko sa pagdedesisyon kung babalik ba ako o hindi. Hindi ka pinilit bumalik sa store? Inner self asked, in which I kinda wanted him to actually say, but he took the mature route and left the choice to me.

While we were quietly eating or food, in-approach ako ng maliit na bata na may hawak na cellphone. "Ikaw po ba si Yaya Dubsmash ng Lola's Pandesalan?" she politely asked.

I was caught off-guard with what she said, Yaya dubsmash, famous ka na talaga Maine. I looked at Alden, and the only thing he did was raise his shoulder while biting his lips. "Oo ako nga."

"Pwede po ba tayo magdubsmash dalawa?" mahinang tanong nya sa akin, habang dahan-dahan inabot sa akin ang hawak na cellphone.

"Oo naman, baket naman hindi. Halika dito" I reached for her phone and she sat near me. "Lapit ka pa," I asked her so both of our faces would fit in the screen. She scoots over until we both saw our faces on cam, "ayan, ready ka na ba?"

She nods her head and I hit and played the video she already pre-picked.

Hi kami ang pabebe girls, at wala kayong pake kung pabebe kami sa mga video namin. At wala kaming pakialam dahil nanunood lang kayo. Dubsmash ko sa video

Tama, kaya kahit sino man sa inyo walang makakapigel sa akin! sabi naman nya.

Pareho kaming napatawa sa video na ginawa namin, pati si Alden napansin kong ngumiti habang pinapanood kami.

"Thank you po ate" binigyan nya ako ng malaking yakap at tumakbo siya sa nanay nya na pinanood kaming nagdudubsmash from afar.

"Sige ingat ka, aral ng mabuti!" I yelled out before she moved even farther.

Habang kinakawayan ko sila narinig ko si Alden magsalita, "your good with kids."

"I've always wanted one..." both of us became quiet, then I realized what I just said, "kapatid, batang kapatid!" I corrected myself even though I knew it was already too late.

He quietly laughs, "alam ko," he shakes his head while staring down on the street. We were silent again, it felt more uneasy than awkward.

Both of us were there sitting side by side, eating our food and staring blankly at random happenings around us. May tricycle na nagsisiksikan sa eskinita, may mga taong naglalakaran sa harapan namin, mga batang naglalaro ng piko.

He finally spoke up again and stood up while staring at his watch, "Maine, I have to go." He looks around and waves at a tricycle. "Kita nalang tayo bukas sa bakery kung nag desisyon kang bumalik." sumakay sya sa tricycle and said goodbye before making the tricycle leave. "Ingat ka and hopefully see you tomorrow."

Pinanood ko yung sinakyan nyang tricycle umalis habang naka upo parin ako sa bangko iniinom ang softdrink ko. Hay... ano ba gagawin ko.

I decided to head to Rhianna's apartment tonight. I didn't know why pero nagawa ko nalang i-text si mama na kina Rhianna ako makikitulog. Ma, sa kabila ako tulog, nakausap ko na si Alden, pero deciding parin ako. I texted her.

In which she replied back with, Ah... ganun ba sige ingat ka. Good night. Di man nya ako tinanong tungkol kay Alden.

When I got to the apartment, everything was orderly and tidy. Para bang walang nakatirang tao sa bahay, pang commercial ang itsura sa sobrang linis. Binaba ko ang bag ko sa sofa na palagi namin pinag pwe-pwestuhan ni Rhianna pag feeling tambay lang kami sa off-days namin.

I started looking around the area to find signs kung si Rhianna pa ba ay dito parin nakatira, and the first thing that pops on my mind is her room. When I opened the door knob, the door creaks and the light from the outside room cast a lits up the room. Everything was well made, the sheets were nicely folded, the pillows sit on the bed's center, and there are no signs of clothes around her room. Ba't ganun... Parang ahas yan si Rhianna, pagkahubad ng damit iniiwan lang nya wherever yung mga clothes nya, she'll only pick it up when she's about to do laundry.

After cheking her room, I decide to check the fridge, diba ang bahay ay hindi bahay pagwalang makain anuman, but when I opened the fridge door, there was food but it wasn't the usual. I saw a bowl of soup and a serving plate na may buong manok. Asan ang mga ulam? Asan ang pitchel ng tubig? Pati yung pitchel na pinaglalagyan namin ng ipapalamig na tubig nawala, na palitan ng mga bottled water at isang bote ng coke.

Ngayon talagang kinabahan na ako, bakit andaming iba sa kwarto? Isang araw palang ako nawawala, ganito na ang nangyari? Hindi kaya na evict na si Rhianna sa apartment! I thought to myself.

While I was in the middle of a panic attack, the front door opens and my state of worry went away. Oh thank goodness, adyan na si Rhianna. But when I turned around I saw tall man with brown hair holding a bunch of plastic and paper bags in his hands. Pagka tinginan namin sa isa't isa, na patalon kami ng sabay dalawa, nalaglag pa nya yung hawak nya. Ang mata namin nagsipag bilugan, pati na rin ang bibig namin na pwede na pasukan ng isang malaking orange. Ahhh!

"What is going on he-" I recognize that voice anywhere, "Maine! Andito ka pala!" Rhianna yells at seeing me. She gives me a hug and went back to put the bags on top of the table. The tall man still frozen standing by the door. "Maine musta ka?" she asked me giving me a hug. Like the guy wasn't there. "Ay. Oo nga pala."

"Rhianna who is she?" The guy asking, his voice having a strong accent.

"Oh yes, yes..." she nodded, "that's Maine, Maine this is Harry."

"Hello," I put out a small grin and a wave, while he did the same. "I'll to my room now, give you guys some time." I said, before heading to my room, Rhianna text nalang kita mamaya." Sabi ko sa tagalog, hoping na hindi ako maintindihan nung lalaki. Si Rhianna naman, tinanguan lamang ako.

Back at my old room, it was completely neat as well, like the other parts of the apartment. The bed was tidy, my dirty clothes basket was empty and there was like no sign na may gumamit na netong kwarto na ito. I went to my computer and checked my social media,and everywhere. Yaya Dub ng Lola's Pandesalan is everywhere. It was so overwhelming na makita ang mga ito, yung mga selfie na ginawa ko kasama ang mga customer, posted all over social media.

In the middle of my discovery of my new found "fame" someone was came knocking on my door. "Pasok!"

And Rhianna came in sitting on the edge of my bed, "Okay ka na be fren?" I nodded my head and gave her a smile, "mabuti naman, pasensya ka na kung nagulat ka kay Harry ah.." tinuloy nya ang explanation nya, "kasi unexpectedly nag text siya na darating siya para bumisita, kaya nagmadali ako, naglinis ng bahay at nag prepare."

"Ahh, ganun ba, hindi... I understand naman." She smiled, mga mata nya sumingkit nung ngiti nya, "pero infairness ahh... gwapo si Harry!" both of us laughed.

"Thank you, thank you." she bows her head, as I applauded, "I try my best."

Biglang tumunog ang computer, new notification! "Ha..." I clicked on the tab to see the Lola's pandesalan website tagged me on something. Nagulat ako sa aking nakita. "Rhianna tingnan mo 'to" She rushes to see what I saw on my screen

Come and Join Lola's little Bakery with Alden and Yaya Dub! An ad pops up with my face on it. Si Alden talaga...