You make me laugh in awkward places
you keep me guessing all the time
little things that make me glad you're mine
It's always brighter when you're smiling
you bring the thunder when you're mad
but you're the sweetest thing I've ever had
--Everytime by Shane Filan
--
Lena couldn't hide her excitement. In less than one month, Cyrus will be going back home. It's been too long. Kahit araw-araw silang nagkikita through video calls, pakiramdam niya ay napakarami pa rin niyang hindi naikikwento rito. She still has so many things to say to him, things that she would like to tell him in person.
Like for instance, hindi niya maikwento rito 'yong kaklase niyang palaging bumabanat sa kanya dahil alam niyang magsi-selos si Cyrus. She basically can't tell him anything about other guys because he's a very jealous guy. She also can't talk about him with him because that would be awkward. For these things, she was glad that she has Alex to confide to.
And because that is the case, hindi rin niya maiwasang mabanggit ang pangalan nito tuwing mag-uusap sila ni Cyrus. Kahit hindi naman niya sabihin ang mismong pangalan ni Alex, when she tells Cyrus that it's about a certain friend that she couldn't name, he would still assume that it's Alex. And then he'll get annoyed.
"Alex na naman?" may halong tampo nitong tanong. "When will I ever not hear that name in our conversation?"
"He's my friend," she told him.
"I don't care. I'm not interested in him so let's not talk about him, okay?"
She pouted, but didn't argue. She knew that it will just ruin their night if she pressed on the issue at hand. "All right. What do you want to talk about instead?"
"Right. I have something to ask you. I just forgot because you keep on talking about Alex."
"Kita mo 'to. Huwag daw pag-usapan tapos isinisingit pa rin sa usapan."
"Sinasabi ko lang. Anyway..." He showed her pictures of different crystals. "Ano'ng pinakang maganda?"
She had a hard time deciding. "They all look beautiful."
"Yeah, pero ano 'yong pinakang gusto mo?"
"Why do you ask?"
"I need your professional opinion."
"Uhm... the third one?" she said, still unsure of her choice. She likes them all. "I don't know. They all look pretty."
Cyrus sighed in defeat. "That didn't help me at all."
"Para saan ba kasi 'yan?"
"For a project. The client couldn't decide so they left me with three choices. Hindi rin naman ako makapili."
"Hindi ba pwedeng lahat na lang?"
"Pwede naman. But it will be expensive."
"Okay lang 'yan. Mayayaman naman ang mga tao dyan, e."
"Hmm... I guess you're right." Ibinaba nito ang mga litrato at saka nagpangalumbaba. "Masyado na bang late dyan? Gusto mo nang matulog?"
"Kaka-twelve pa lang," she answered dismissively.
"It's twelve already? You should sleep then."
Agad siyang umiling. "Ayoko pa."
"May pasok ka pa bukas."
"But I'm not sleepy yet," she complained.
"Kahit na. You should sleep. It's way past your bedtime."
"Are you my dad or my boyfriend?"
He gave her a hard look. "Masama na bang maging concerned sa 'yo?"
"You always treat me like a kid."
"That's because you're still a baby. You're my baby," malambing nitong sabi. If she could barf, she would have. Literal siyang kinilabutan dahil sa kakornihan nito.
"That was the most cringe-worthy thing you ever said to me."
"What? Don't you want me to call you baby, Baby?"
She made a face. "Stop that! If you had to call me that, then I'd have to call you Daddy and it sounds wrong. Dad ko lang ang maiisip ko." She shuddered at the thought.
Cyrus let out a hearty laugh that woke all her dogs up.
"So it's out of the question then. Ano ba kasing endearment ang gusto mo?"
"Let's not be those couples who have endearments, please."
"Why not?"
"It's just weird," she replied.
"No it isn't. You're just not used to it. Ayaw mo, Honeybunch?"
She shuddered again. "Huwag na nga sabi, e!"
"But it's fun, Hun!"
Napasapo siya. "And I thought you were mature."
"Just try to come up with one, Sweetheart."
She huffed. Hindi talaga ito titigil hanggat hindi niya pinapatulan.
"Come on, Pumpkin," he cooed.
"Fine. Cabbage."
"Cabbage?" Now he couldn't stop laughing. "Of all the vegetables, Lena, CABBAGE talaga?!"
"Bakit pwede 'yong pumpkin tapos bawal 'yong cabbage?"
"Because it doesn't sound right!" he answered while wiping the tears on the corners of his eyes. Tears that he got from so much laughter. She never made anyone laugh that hard before. And she wasn't even trying.
"Eggplant? Broccoli?"
"Tama na! Hahaha!" Nakahawak na ito sa tiyan katatawa.
"Ayoko na nga!" She crossed her arms against her chest. "Matutulog na 'ko!"
Cyrus composed himself. "Oh, you're so cute. I want to go through the screen and squeeze you."
"I wasn't trying to be funny."
"Maybe that's why you're funny." His face finally became serious again. "Matulog ka na kasi."
"Matutulog na talaga ako."
"All right. Good night."
"Good night."
"I love you, Mi Cielo," he told her before ending the video call. She quickly searched for its meaning and blushed when she saw it. She didn't think that she could fall for him any harder, but she just did.
