Fallback Girl (Chat MD Series #3)

Day 37.2

(Phone conversation | Hannah and Zig)

MON AT 08:16 PM

Call started.

Hannah :
I'm not coming, Zig.

Zig :
(Sighs) I know.

Hannah :
Then, what?

Zig :
(Low voice) I'm dining with Mama and Henny.

Hannah :
Huh? Ano'ng ginagawa nila kasama mo?

Zig :
Kasama rin sa dinner sina Dad at Mommy.

(Long pause)

Zig :
I told them you couldn't come dahil nasa overnight ka. Kasama ang crew. Tinawagan ko na sina Deo at Diane.

Hannah :
Uh... Why are they with you? May nangyari ba kay Mama? O kay Henny?

Zig :
Wala naman. Hindi ka raw dumadalaw sa inyo.

Hannah :
(Sighs) Dumadalaw ka kay Mama?

Zig :
Of course. Magagalit si Papa kung hindi. Alam mo namang bilin niya 'yun. (Sighs) Bakit hindi ka nagpapakita sa kanila?

Hannah :
I don't feel like seeing them.

Zig :
Mama mo 'yun. Ilang beses na kitang pinagsabihan. She's not even in good health to argue with you.

Hannah :
I know, okay. I'm sorry. Kaso kasi si Henny... lagi niyang 'kong sinisisi tuwing nagkikita kami.

Zig :
She's just mad that you get to live independently.

Hannah :
She should have runaway, too.

Zig :
All I'm saying is, Mama's worried and now they're asking me about you.

Hannah :
She's just worried na baka nakikipag-usap ako kay Tita Laika para makita si Papa sa ospital. Ayaw niya lang mainsulto.

Zig :
Kailangan n'yong pag-usapan 'yan. Not mere assumptions.

Hannah :
Sina Tita Ritz at Daddy? Bakit kasama rin?

Zig :
Anniversary nila today.

Hannah :
I forgot! What should I do?

Zig :
I gave them a gift. Sabi ko, galing sa'yo. (Sighs) They just like to show-off being okay even if they're not. Don't worry too much about it.

Hannah :
Are you... (swallows) okay? Alone?

Zig :
(Exhales heavily) You know how I am on days like this.

Hannah :
I... (Pause)

Zig :
You're still mad. You're excused, Hannah.

(Long silence)

Zig :
I'm just letting you know in case they call you.

Hannah :
Uh...

Zig :
I bought a pair of bracelets as gift for their anniversary. Sa paboritong jeweller ni Mommy galing. If they asked, they cost you your entire quarter salary.

Hannah :
Gano'n kamahal?! I told you not to buy—

Zig :
Expensive ka magregalo, Hannah. Last year, you bought them an Asian trip.

Hannah :
Nagpapasikat lang ako no'n.

Zig :
Nagpapasikat ka uli ngayon.

Hannah :
Ugh. Then?

Zig :
May overnight ka sa station. May editing. Hindi mo maiwan. Nagkita tayo kanina para iabot ko 'yung regalo at 'yung roses.

Hannah :
Okay.

Zig :
At dadalaw tayo this coming Sunday sa inyo.

Hannah :
I don't want to see you, yet. Or them.

(Long pause)

Zig :
Make an excuse by Saturday. Just sound like you want to see them, too. For now.

Hannah :
Okay. And?

(Long pause)

Zig :
Are you okay? Are you eating on time? Are you sleeping well?

(Long silence)

Hannah :
Have you been worried like that, too, no'ng iba ang kasama mo?

(Long silence)

Hannah :
(Sighs) I don't want to get angry tonight. I don't want to burden you, too. You're already being punished in that dinner.

Zig :
Don't overwork even if you're mad. And...

(Long silence)

Zig :
Nothing. (Sighs)

(Silence)

Hannah :
Ibaba na natin.

Zig :
Yes.

Call ended.