moirai

pangga

"Pangga"

He loved how this seemed like a very natural thing to call her, his now love of his life. He even changed her name on his phone to this. He had never called his past relationships with this term. He was in several serious ones but they would always call each other by name. Somehow, Maine was different, she was more special.

Even the people at home noticed how he slowly transformed from the geeky homebody to a more outgoing and relaxed person. He was already goofy and playful around his sister, Riza but somehow, he became more playful with her.

He seemed to lose interest in his model helicopters. He played more musical soundtracks when he stayed in his room. Once in a while, they would hear him belt out some tunes at the top of his lungs. The maids found this amusing and would often say, "Ara na naman sya, ga-concert!" and giggle.

His parents and Steven noticed how happy he was generally. His choice of clothes, too, seemed to be more on the happy and light. Out of curiosity, his parents asked Steven what was going on.

"I don't also know, Tita..." was all Steven could say. He still had no idea that his best friend now had girlfriend and all these changes were because of her.

"Pangga"

The sweet way of how he said it lingered in her memory. She loved how it seemed so natural, so gentle for him to call her that. She felt so precious with that name. Her Lolo and Lola called her that and being their first girl grandchild made her the apple of their eye. She felt safe and at-home when she heard "Pangga".

The people in her house noticed some little changes with her. While she was always the serious, driven type, she was also more of a homebody, often preferring to just stay home after work. Even when her parents or Dean would ask her to join them for coffee or dessert or a stroll after dinner, she would sometimes agree but they generally saw and felt that she was just half-dragging herself to join them. She was shy and an introvert so they would normally let her be and watch over her from afar.

However, the past weeks were a little bit different. Whereas she would be normally having her head bowed down as she walked around the house or when out in the mall, she now looked up showing her glowing, clear face and she had a happy smile on.

This delighted her family and Yaya Maring. Maine seemed to be slowly coming out of her shell. She was smart, spontaneous, giggly, fun to be with, despite being an introvert. She seemed to be more willing to share with people who she really was.

"Ga...thank you again for the tickets...I can't wait to watch Les Miz with you..." she texted him which he read once he got home after he "delivered" them to her.

"Ga" he stared at this little syllable for a while. It brought a smile to his lips. His heart skipped a beat. He imagined her saying this...

"You're welcome....I love you...."

She stared at the 3 last words on her screen. Her heart skipped a beat. She smiled and plopped down on her bed. She flipped on her pillow and screamed into it.

With her face buried in her pillow, she jumped when she heard her phone go off. She checked her screen and saw that she had a Facetime call request...from HIM! She nervously clicked on the icon and smiled when his face appeared.

"Hi Pangga!" he said.

"Uhh...hi!!"

"Matulog ka na?"

"Maybe not...pero nasa bed na ko...."

"Ako man...."

"May plans ka after work tomorrow?" he asked

"Hmmm...dali lang...check ko...." she jumped up from her bed to get her planner from her desk and scanned through it then return to him "may client call lang ko after lunch sa Fort pero after, wa-ay na..."

"Until what time ang call mo?"

"Hmm...mga 4-4:30pm siguro..."

"How will you get there?"

"Mapadul-ong lang ko kay Mang Jun...or kung sin-o ang driver nga available..." (I'll have myself brought by one of the drivers here...)

"And then...?"

"And then I'll text Wally or Dean..."

"Ahh....wait lang...." he said then disappeared from the screen but could be heard moving about the room he was in...

"Amo ni...I'll pick you up....where in the Fort will your call be?" (Why not I pick you up? Where in The Fort will you be?)

"Sa Globe Tower."

"Okay...I'll be there at 4:30pm..."

"Eh work mo ya?...diba out nyo is at 5pm pa?"

"Don't worry...I have client call also in Makati..."

"Sure ka?"

"Yes"

And so they discussed other details about their work and their clients. They talked about other things as well such as their recent musical favourites.

"...'RENT' man gihapon..."  (,.....still RENT) he said

"So, sin-o ka, si Mark or si Roger?" (so, who are you...Mark or Roger?)

"Angel!" he smacked his lips at her and chuckled

"Ay! Ka-sexy!"

They laughed and joked around; talking a little more about musicals. When Maine shifted her head on her pillow (they both were now lying in their bed with their phone propped up on phone stands – hers a real phone stand, while he had to stack some books to create his 'stand'), she noticed that it was now past 1am.

"Uhmm....Rj..." she softly spoke...

"Yes, Ga?"

"It's past 1am na...sleep na ta...."

"Hu-o no?" he said as he glanced at his bedside clock as well. Part of him didn't want the call to end yet but his body was now telling him that he needed to rest. He gave in and said, "Goodnight, Pangga....I love you...."

"Goodnight, Pangga...see you later..." she smiled.

He held the phone close to his lips and blew a kiss. She did the same.