Send Me In Orbit

Dinner

"Ito Manang, pwede na ba 'to?" Leah had positioned her laptop on the bed and was now modeling clothes, trying to choose what to wear for her dinner with Clark.

Manang Tiffany frowned. "Ano ka? Madre?"

"Manang naman eh," Leah whined. She looked down at her dress. She was wearing a high necked cream colored long sleeved dress that fell to mid-calf.

"Wala nang makita sa katawan mo. Alam mo, belo na lang ang kulang."

Leah huffed and retreated back into the bathroom. She emerged a few minutes later, tugging down a dress that was far too short.

"Diyos ko." Manang Tiffany crossed herself. "Parang pinapamigay mo naman lahat diyan. Hoy, Leah! Bakit ka may damit na ganyan?"

Leah crossed her arms over chest. She was wearing a tight fitting dark red dress that had a low v-cut and came down to mid-thigh. She felt far too exposed.

"Binigay sa akin 'to ng kaibigan ko sa Dubai. Hindi ko pa nga sinusuot, di ko naman alam na ganito."

Manang Tiffany looked over her shoulder. "Magbihis ka na. Baka dumating pa si Tatang...diretsong ospital kami kapag nakita ka niya ng ganyan."

Leah ran back to the bathroom as fast as she could in the teeny tiny dress. When she came out again, Manang Tiffany sighed in relief.

"Hay salamat, may maayos kang damit."

Leah was wearing a black dress that fit Leah's body and hugged her curves in just the right way. The hemline fell to just below her knee with a small slit, and it was strapless with a scoop neck that accentuated her cleavage without showing it off.

"Pwede na 'to?" Leah asked anxiously.

Manang Tiffany grinned. "Naks, ang sexy ng kapatid ko. Gagapang pabalik sa 'yo si Clark, tingnan mo."

"Hindi, no." Leah sat down on the bed, careful not to wrinkle her dress. "Wala na kami, matagal na."

"Pero ang feelings, nawala ba?"

"Oo naman. Walang wala na." Leah fidgeted with her hands as she said the words. Even she didn't believe it. "Saka sila na talaga ni Angela. Kasama niya pa nga dito eh."

"Ha?!" Manang Tiffany frowned. "Eh bakit ka niya yinaya mag-date kung may girlfriend na siya?"

"Hindi 'to date, Manang. Dinner lang."

"Anong dinner lang? Hindi ka makikipag-dinner lang sa ex mo. Hindi ganoon 'yon. Sigurado ka ba diyan? Sinabi niya ba sa iyo na girlfriend niya si Angela?"

"Hindi...pero obvious naman, diba? Bakit niya kasama dito sa San Fo?"

"Hindi mo naman pala sigurado. Kung linawin mo kaya mamaya sa 'date' niyo?" Leah could hear the quotations in her sister's voice. "Mag-usap kayo."

"Ano pa ang gagawin namin? Alam mo, Manang, pakiramdam ko..." Leah played with a loose string on her comforter. "Pakiramdam ko hihingin niya na sa akin ang divorce."

"Ano ang gagawin mo kapag hiningi niya 'yon?" Manang Tiffany asked.

"Ano pa magagawa ko? Karapatan niya naman 'yon. Karapatan niya maging masaya," Leah said quietly.

Manang Tiffany sighed heavily. "Sige na, mag-ready ka na. Isa lang ang mapapayo ko sa iyo, Leah. Pakinggan mo siya. Bago ka mag-assume, bago ka mag-desisyon, pakinggan mo ang mga sasabihin ni Clark."

"Oo, Manang." Leah looked at the clock. "Naku, isang oras na lang! Sige, Manang. Bye!"

"Bye! Enjoy! Balitaan mo ako agad ah."