DIANE's POV
Friday ng tanghali. Tinawagan nya si Richard.
"Chard, remind lang kita about dun sa lakad natin later?"
"Anong lakad nga yun love? Sorry, nakalimutan ko, kindly refresh my memory. Marami kasi akong pasyente today." anito.
"Yung kila Sandy. Mamimigay tayo ng invitation, remember?" aniya.
"Shit, oo nga pala. Nakalimutan ko. What time ba tayo pupunta dun?"
"Dinner time yung sked ng get together eh. Sabi ni Sandz baka 6pm nandun na ang lahat."
"Except James, like what you've said?" si Richard na may tonong naninigurado.
"Except him, yeah. Sandy just confirmed to me yesterday that he won't be coming. Later tonight pa daw kasi ang byahe nun from Nueva Ecija paluwas dito sa Manila and he did confirm daw kay Dave na hindi sya makakapunta. And Chard, kahit naman dumating sya, okay lang naman eh. Baka nga abutan ko pa sya ng invitation sa kasal natin eh."
"I know, I trust you love. It's just that, well, it's a boy-thing you know?"
"You meant, jealous-thing, I supposed. Chard, ikaw na ang present and future ko. James is out of the picture now okay? He was just a part of my messy past..so please, stop being jealous po okay?"
"Right! I know and I so love you for that. Sorry love." anito.
"So pano? Susunduin mo na lang ako dito later?"
"Yeah, ika cancel ko na lang yung ibang appointments ko with some of my patients. See you love."
"Ha? Wait lang Chard, may mga appointments ka?"
"Oo eh. I've got until 7:30 appointments today."
Hindi sya umimik.
"...but of course I can cancel that love."
"Ako na lang kayang mag isa ang pumunta doon? Okay lang naman sakin eh. Ibibigay ko lang naman yung mga invitations and then I'll leave immediately. Nakakahiya naman sa mga pasyente mo. Naghintay sila para sa araw na to."
"How about ipapahatid na lang kita sa driver, and then I'll fetch you up at around 8:30?"
"That would be a good idea."
"Alright..see you later, love." ani Richard.
"See you, Chard."
Napapansin nya, pag kila Sandy ang punta, may mga dahilan si Richard para hindi makasama. Sa ibang lakad naman nila, laging free ito. Naiilang ba ito sa circle of friends ni James? Lalo na sa kalalakihan? Mamaya susunduin sya nito, titingnan nya kung magtatagal ito at makikipag usap kila Dave.
Alas singko ng hapon ay sinundo na sya sa mansiyon ng driver nila Richard.
Quarter to 6, just in time for dinner, ay nakarating na sya kila Sandy. Agad din namang nagpaalam ang driver dahil si Richard na nga ang susundo sa kanya mamaya.
Nandodoon na ang grupo. Kompleto na maliban kay James. Nakahinga sya ng maluwag. At least sigurado ng wala talaga ito.
"Ito na pala ang beautiful bride-to-be! Mag bridal shower na rin kaya tayo ngayon? Where's the groom, by the way?" si Marl na naakbayan ni Ryan sa sofa.
"Nasa hospital pa. May pasyente pa, pero susunduin nya ako later."
"Ah driver lang pala yung naghatid sayo? Kaya pala hindi tumuloy, akala ko si Doc yun at in-snob lang kami." si Lance.
"He's nice ha? Naka bonding namin sya sa hospital nung binisita namin yung Papa ni Di. Hindi sya snob, love. Panay nga ang dala nya saamin ng food." si Aileen.
BINABASA MO ANG
Last Clear Shot
ActionJames: I don't do romance...at all. It's something that does not exist in my dictionary. Diane: I've tried my best to understand your very unconventional concept of relationship. I'm sorry that I had to give up -- it was way beyond my limit and comp...