A/N:
#SLEDerpHerp 😊
*****
E
"So galing ka dun kahapon? Kaya ba ang tagal mo daw nakabalik sabi nitong si Dave?" Sheldon asked. Andito kami ngayon sa resto niya for lunch and a few bottles of beer.
"I-I just went there to see if she's doing okay." sagot ko.
"Hindi ba nagtaka si Liz?" tanong nanaman niya. Umiling ako saka muling uminom sa bote.
"Buti dude mabilis utak ko. Kahit wala siyang sinasabi saken napagtakpan ko agad siya kay Liz." sabi naman ni Dave. Napailing si Sheldon as he downs his beer.
"Tangina after how many years tsaka mo naisipang icheck kung okay na siya? What for Elmo? Para kapag nakita mong okay na siya di ka makonsensya sa pag-iwan mo?"
"Hindi. Hindi sa ganun."
"Maybe he wants to see if she's with some other guy na din." ani Dave.
"What for? He's getting married. He doesn't have to check on his ex. Tsaka he should've done that nung bagong break pa lang sila. Not after 4 years."
"It's just that... Kahapon ko lang din naman narinig uli yung pangalan niya." sabi ko.
"Kanino?"
"Yung caterer namin. They're good friends, I think." sagot ko. Nagkatinginan silang dalawa saka pa sabay na lumingon sa akin. "What?"
"Dude hindi kaya..." Dave started.
"Ano?"
"Hindi kaya kailangan mo muna siyang makausap before you and Liz finally settle down? I mean, wala naman kayong proper closure na dalawa diba?"
"I don't think so. It's been years na nga diba? Baka test lang to kung talagang seryoso akong magpakasal kay Liz."
"And what's the result? Seryoso nga ba?" Dave asked. Hindi ako nakasagot at nagbukas na lang ng bagong bote ng beer.
"Patay tayo diyan." ani Sheldon. "Better hurry up, buddy. Time's running out." he added.
Pagkatapos namin sa resto ni Sheldon ay umuwi na ako. I've had enough of their sermons for today at ayoko rin na ma-corrupt nila ang utak ko. Seeing Julie yesterday was just nothing. I just wanted to make sure that she's okay. At mukhang okay na nga siya. I think she has a new boyfriend na din. Gwapo lang ng 2 paligo sa akin.
I was surprised to see my brother's car, parked outside my house. Ever since he died ay madalang na bumisita sa akin si Ate Iara. She and their son Theo went to live in Singapore after kuya's first year death anniversary. Dun din kasi ang work ni Ate Iara. Kaya nakakagulat na andito sila.
"Is that you, Moe?" I heard Ate Iara's familiar voice.
"Yeah." sagot ko naman. She went out of the kitchen saka ngumiti sa akin and gave me a tight hug. "Good to see you ate. Kamusta? Kailan kayo dumating?" I asked.
"We arrived last night lang. Nagleave lang ako for a month kasi aasikasuhin ko yung 5th death anniversary ni Eli." she said.
"Oo nga pala. 5 years na pala." sabi ko. "Si Theo?"
"Ninong!!!" narinig kong sigaw ng isang bata. I looked at where his voice comes from and grinned when I found him running towards me. He gave me a crushing hug and I kissed him on his hair.
"You look taller than the last time I saw you!" sabi ko na tinawanan niya lang. "How old are you buddy?"
"I'm 7 ninong." he replied.
