The (not so) Sweet Serendipity

49.2

After helping out with putting away the dishes from lunch, I found Richard just seated on the couch. I sighed. We have to talk about this. So tumabi lang ako sakanya, pretending to watch whatever was on TV.

I tried to look at him through side glance, nakatingin lang rin siya directly sa TV. We stayed like that for a while. I didn't really know what to say yet so I just waited. And then he exhaled.

"So two weeks?" I look at him but he still wasn't looking at me. So I look back on the TV.

"Yup." I look at him again, wala, he's still not looking at me, so I asked him. "What time dating mo sa Friday?"

"Morning."

"Like what time?"

"First flight out of here. So dating ko dun 5:40? Mga ganun." Para kaming mga ewan nag uusap pero derecho ang tingin.

"Ahh."

"Sayo?"

"Gabi. Wala naman akong gagawin the whole day kasi hindi nako papasok sa office. I'll pick you up ha."

"Okay."

Ugh, hindi ko na kaya. I moved closer to him, grabbed his arm and put on my cutest pouting face on. "Chard."

He just raised his eyebrow. "Chard naman eh. Huwag ka na galit, please."

"Hindi ako galit."

"Huwag ka na tampo?"

"Kasi naman, sana sinabi mo agad."

"Pag sinabi ko ba agad, hindi ka magtatampo? Magtatampo ka pa rin eitherway diba?"

No answer...

I grabbed his face with both my hands and forced him to look at me. Ang arte ayaw ako tignan sa mata. "Huy." I give his whole face a light shake. "Huy, grabe naman. Sorry na. Bati na tayo. Please."

He closed his eyes. "Menggay naman kasi eh."

Nakapikit lang siya. "Bakit ayaw mo kong tignan?"

Still with his eyes closed, "Kasi hindi kita matitiis." Napasmile nako dito.

"Sus. Bati na tayo. Alis na ulit ako bukas o, tapos inaaway mo ko."

He suddenly dropped his head on my shoulder. "Ang pangit kasi ng timing eh, kailan pupunta ako, aalis ka tapos kayo lang dalawa nung ex mo dun magkasama."

I rubbed his back habang nagrarant siya nang parang bata.

"Two weeks lang naman. Tsaka maiiwan naman si Elmo dun if that makes you feel better. Professional working relationship lang ang meron kami. Huwag ka na magselos dun."

"Hindi ko mapigilan hindi magselos eh." Nakatago pa rin mukha niya sa shoulder ko as if nahihiya siya sa mga sinasabi niya. "Kasi naman, I saw how he looks at you, he still has feelings for you Meng, paano kung he takes advantage of you sa trip niyo kasi siya lang makakasama mo."

"Chard, hindi naman ganun si Elmo."

"O, kakampihan mo pa."

"Chard."

"Hindi mo lang alam Meng. Lalaki ako kaya alam ko how he thinks."

"Siguro naman yung ring on my finger is enough na diba?"

"Still."

"Suot ko naman 'to dun eh. Kung gusto mo 24/7 pa."

"Dapat lang."