Yo te Cielo

Capítulo 23

The following weeks were a bit hectic for Miho as she has already additional classes for the Japanese Proficiency exam review. Buti na lang at pang-N5 lamang ang ituturo niya. It's the lowest among all levels, which means it will be a lot easier to teach.

There were also a few meetings that she attended. Usapang team building na hindi naman siya sobrang interesadong puntahan. She would most probably force herself to go just for the sake of attendance. Bago palang siya kaya dapat siyang matutong makisama; one way to do so, is to attend the said activity. Napili rin siyang maging judge sa darating na Japanese speech contest sa eskwelahan kasama si Francis at dalawa pa sa kanilang department. Kapag tapos na ang initial evaluation kailangan pa nilang tulungan mag-edit ang mga short-listed.

Despite being busy at work, Pat and her had been spending their time together during lunch and after their classes. Madalas siyang ihatid nito bago ito umuwi. Pakiramdam nga niya na sagabal siya sa oras nito dahil andami na naman nitong inaasikaso. Recently, a Filipino restaurant owner commissioned him to do some paintings; Ito ngayon ang tinatapos nito kapag hindi ito nagttrabaho o tuwing hindi siya nito kasama.

Miho was also able to meet Paulo once. Dumaan kasi ito sa apartment niya para magbigay ng pasalubong na mga tsokolate galing sa Kuya nitong kadarating lang galing Australia. Nagpakwento ito sa mga nangyari sa kanya kaya nabanggit na rin niya ang tungkol kay Ria at kay Kath.

"'Pag nakita ko yung Ria na 'yon, humanda siya sa'kin! Kakalbuhin ko siya! Ba't di mo agad sinabi sa'kin? Kung nanduon ako, papaluin ko ng takong ng sapatos ko yung pagmumukha niya!" Pagalit na sabi ni Paulo habang niyuyugyog nito ang balikat niya. "tapos, may Kath pa? Nako! Subukan lang no'n!"

Then she mentioned to him that Pat and her officially became a couple after what had happened that evening. Wala namang bakas ng pagkagulat sa mukha ng kaibigan niya sa narinig. He said he was already expecting it to happen. Sa takbo palang kasi ng kwento niya raw ay naka-kutob na ito agad.

"Tinanong ko siya tungkol sa sinabi niyang 'girlfriend', tapos tinanong naman niya ko ng 'Don't you want to make it official?', ayon. Sinabi ko sa kanya na gusto ko na mas malinaw, na tipong alam ko kung saan ako lalagay." Her cheeks turned crimson as she narrated her story.

"Naisipan mo bang sabihin sa kanya na ayaw mo muna siya maging boyfriend? 'Di mo ba naisip sabihing 'I need time to think', ganern?" tanong ng kaibigan niya sa kanya. She shook her head in response.

Why would she even object if this is that one thing that would help stop her confusion? Papatagalin pa ba niya? Actions speak louder than words. It was so obvious that she liked him tooー For her, this is enough reason to skip the normal courting stage. Pero ngayon na binibilhan naman siya nito ng kung anu-ano, parang nagsisimula pa nga lang ito sa panliligaw sa kanya. She didn't want him to shower her with too much material things though, but he never listened to her. Padagdag ng pagdagdag ang mga damit niya. He had been buying her pretty barrettes and cute casual dresses that he wanted her to wear.

"Parang nanay mo si Pat ah! Dinadamitan ka na parang manika," Paulo commented with a laugh. "Sana mahalin ka rin niya gaya nung kay Goyong dati. Sorry.. Ang ibig kong sabihin, I just hope he'll do a good job of taking care of you, especially your feelings. Kung hindi kukurutin ko yung singit niya! 'Pag yang Kath o Ria na 'yan hinayaan niyang umepal na naman.." He made some slapping gestures in front of her.

She just smiled at him and gave a nod without saying anything. Hindi naman maikakailala na may mga naisip siyang negatibo pero sa lahat ng iniisip niya tungkol sa nangyari, iisa lang din naman ang nangibabawー she likes Pat but it doesn't mean that she'll forget about the General. She has been dwelling on the past for years and now was the only time that she has given herself a chance to try concentrating more on the present. Pat exists now, so does she.