Chapter 29
We're already back on the road para umuwi sa apartment. I still have to shower again for Sara's party tonight kaya kinailangan na naming umuwi.
"Sabi ni Tito Samuel may apartment ka daw sa Hollywood." sabi ko. He glanced at me then back at the road saka tumango. "Bakit di mo sinabi saken? Tsaka bakit sa Baldwin ka pa din umuuwi?"
"Well, I haven't really moved in yet. It's a few blocks away from your office. Eh kaya lang I promised Nicolo na hihintayin ko sila ni Kai makabalik from their honeymoon bago ako lumipat." sagot niya. "And Frank's back in Japan to report to his dad kaya di na lang din muna ako nagdecide lumipat."
"Ah. But are you planning to tell me about it?" tanong ko. He chuckled saka umiling. "Bakit?! Siguro kasi dun ka mag-uuwi ng mga chics mo no?! Mga bar owners talaga di makuntento sa isa."
"Hahahahaha. Bilis mo magconclude ah. Pero sorry to disappoint you, my love. I was hiding it from you kasi plano ko sanang isurprise kita kapag nakalipat na ko. But I have a very talkative dad kaya ngayon, alam mo na yung about sa pad ko."
"Surprise pang nalalaman." irap ko.
"Haha. Diba sabi ko sayo, I'd give you the world if I have to? Kaya gusto kita isurprise palagi." aniya. "Sabi ko nga diba gusto kitang i-baby uli? And you said yes."
"Whatever." sabi ko. "Sabi ko naman sayo, na kahit simpleng dinner lang sobra mo na kong mapapasaya? Di ka talaga marunong makinig no?" nanlilit na matang sambit ko. Ngumiti lang siya kaya inirapan ko naman siya. He then took my hand and kissed the back of it saka niya ito hinayaang magstay sa lap niya while he returned to his driver mode.
"As much as I want that too, syempre mas gusto ko yung big surprises. Yung hindi mo makakalimutan talaga. Yung pag nakita mo tong bagay o lugar na ganito, ako agad maaala mo."
"Babe, kahit saan naman naaalala kita. For example, when I was in New York a month after I came here naisip ko, siguro kung magkasama tayong nagtravel dun, ako na pinakamasaya. But I was just there to accompany Archie to this fashion exhibit he wanted to see. Kaya yun. Pero if only you were with me, hahayaan kong maligaw yung baklang pinsan ko na yun dun. Hahahaha."
"Hahaha. I know that naman. Pero naalala mo ko nun na may panghihinayang. Kasi nung time na yun yung time na umalis ka at iniwan ako. Gusto ko, you'll remember the place because we both had fun in it. Hindi yung dahil may regrets. May what ifs." aniya. Napasinghap na lang ako saka siya tinanguan. May point din naman siya dun. Gusto ko rin naman yung bawat mapuntahan ko in the future eh siya ang maaalala ko dahil may ginawa kaming masaya dun sa lugar na yun. May remembrance kumbaga.
"Bumabawi ka talaga no?" tanong ko.
"Oo naman." tango niya. "Sabi mo nga torpe ako nung highschool eh. Which I don't really think I am. Kasi I'm pretty sure may mga nagawa ako nun na nagpakaba sayo." sambit niya pa and gave me a knowing look.
"Hahahaha. Madami. Kung alam mo lang Corpus. Napakarami." iling ko. His smile turned to a grin saka siya lumingon sa akin.
"Tell me about it..." aniya.
"Wag na! Magpatugtog na lang tayo." sabi ko pero ini-off na niya ang stereo even before I could connect my phone to it. "You're so unfair."
"My car." kibit-balikat naman niya. "Now what? Kwento na, babe."
"Where do you want me to start?" tanong ko. Kinakabahan ako as I remember every single thing he did to me that made me stop breathing. Sobrang dami to the point na nakakahiya na ishare.
"Yung unang-unang incident."
"Ganito na lang. Let's have a deal." sabi ko.
"Madaya ka pag ganyan eh!" aniya.
