CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Friend Zone
“So what’s the real score between you and Ella?” tanong ni Phillip kay Charlie isang araw na naisip niyang pumasyal sa condo unit nito.
“What do you mean by what’s the real score between us?” nakakunot ang noong balik-tanong ni Charlie.
“Oh come on bro, you can’t deny the spark and chemistry between you two. And besides, she’s a really wonderful woman” papuri pa ni Phillip kay Cinderella.
“Yeah, I know. Pero yung sinasabi mong spark and chemistry? Bro, we’re just friends. And you know that” depensa ni Charlie.
“You can deny it all you want but I know that you like her. You like her more than just a friend. Saka bakit mo ba idedeny pa eh pareho naman kayong single and available. Wala naman sigurong problema kung magiging kayo” nakangiti pang sabi ni Phillip.
Napabuntong hininga si Charlie. “Okay okay! I admit it, I like her. Actually I like her a lot! But I dont think I’m ready for that kind of relationship. At sa tingin ko, hindi pa rin sya ready.”
“Eh kalian kayo magiging ready? Kapag pareho na kayong uugod-ugod?” biro pa ni Phillip.
“What’s uugod-ugod?” nakataas ang kilay na tanong ni Charlie.
“Ang tagal mo na dito, hindi mo pa rin alam ang ibig sabihin nun? That means old, with grey hair and rheumatism” natatawang dagdag ng singkit na binata.
Napatango lang si Charlie. “Let’s just see. Anyway, enough about me, kumusta naman kayo ni Jessie?”
Napailing pa si Phillip sa pag-iiba ng usapan ng kaibigan pero napangiti sya sa pagkabanggit kay Jessie.
“Well, we’re taking it slow but that doesn’t mean that I’m not doing anything about it. Right now we’re just enjoying each other’s company. Alam mo na getting to know each other stage.”
“Ganun din naman kami ni Cinderella ah!” malakas na sabi ni Charlie.
“Magkaiba yun no! Yung sa amin, alam na ni Jessie ang feelings ko sa kanya as in nanliligaw na ako sa kanya. Eh ikaw? Puro ka pa friendly gestures! Aba bahala ka baka mafriend zone ka nyan!” natatawang pang-aasar ni Phillip.
“Okay lang. Sa ngayon kasi sa tingin ko yun ang mas kailangan niya eh. Yung friend na handang makinig lagi sa kanya, yung ready na samahan sya, a shoulder to cry on. And I’m willing to play all those parts for her, as long as she needed to” seryosong sabi ni Charlie.
Napangiti si Phillip. “Wow ah! Bro, prince charming na prince charming lang ang drama mo ha! Alam mo tama nga si Jessie. You and Ella really compliment each other. Sa loob daw kasi ng two months na pagkakakilala nyo ang laki na rin ng pinagbago ni Ella eh. Mas naging outspoken daw at ikaw naman ay mas naging thoughtful and caring.”
“Pero wala nang tatalo pa sa inyong dalawa. Super bilis mo Phillip! Imagine wala pa kayong 24 hours magkakilala pinormahan mo na agad!” biro pa ni Charlie.
“Hindi mo naman ako katulad eh. Nung unang beses pa lang na makita ko sya, I already knew! She’s the one for me! Kaya bakit ko pa sya dadaanin sa friendship friendship? Eh di ligawan ko na agad sya. Atleast habang nagkakakilala kami nadedevelop pa lalo yung feelings namin for each other. Tama ba ako Mr Torpe?” tukso ni Phillip.
Napailing na natatawa si Charles kaya naisip na lamang nya na suntukin ang braso ni Phillip.
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“Oh Jessie may flowers daw for you!” at si Cinderella na ang kumuha ng delivery na flowers para kay Jessie. Sinilip pa nya kung sino ang sender.
