Yūgen

Something Borrowed - Reprise

Maine rummaged through her stuff, looking for the brooch she was planning to wear that night.

She has finally agreed to go out with Darren. The guy has been very persistent the past few months, but not to the point of being pushy. He, after all, still respects their friendship.

And tonight, they are going out.

***

Darren started dropping by her place when he knew she was back in the country.

"Napadaan lang." He would say. Bringing her stuff, "Mikmik. Wala niyan dun." He said with a chuckle. And she would find nothing wrong about it.

Or that one time, Darren dropped by again, that time with pastries, "Oh! Yung pastry shop sa Manila! Thank you!" Maine exclaimed.

Then, the flowers came.

During one of their 'regular' phone calls, she told Richard of their mutual friend's actions. He laughed. "Si Darren?" He said with a laugh. "Tuloy pa rin?"

"Yep." She replied with an awkward cackle.

"He's relentless." He remarked.

"Medyo." She replied. "Kaya inisip ko..."

Silence.

"Na lumabas with him? Single ka naman." He paused, adding – "Gusto mo ba?"

"I'm not sure... Pero," She replied as she tinkered with the items on her dresser.

"I mean, if you're ready... I don't think..." He paused again. Longer this time, hoping Maine would say something to help him out, but she didn't. "Uhm, I don't think I'm in the position to, uhm, have an opinion on this..."

Maine tried to digest what he said as she opened the drawer of her dresser. She pulled out her make-up brushes and, without anything to say, somehow just uttered "Well... Sabagay."

It was then that it dawned on her, maybe she could give it a try.

So, she did.

The next time she saw Darren, and he brought up the 'offer' – "Dinner, maybe? Not a date, Maine. Just two friends, going out."

She agreed, to Darren's excitement.

***

She opened the drawer to check on her other jewelry box to look for the brooch. She's not one to be this keen on wearing one, but her black turtleneck was just too... Sad. She thought, as she looked at her reflection in the mirror.

She opened the box and searched through the different trinkets and pieces in the box: her old Pandora bracelet, a few rings, another bracelet... Then, she paused. Realizing that the jewelry box on top of the dresser, where I have been sitting, has another compartment.

She put back the jewelry box inside the drawer, and pulled the bigger box towards her. She brought us out from the box, the only way to reach the opening to the hidden compartment.

She stared at the pieces as she pulled them out one by one. Some she has not used in years.

Then, she paused. Her gaze falling on me. A lone earring. Alone.

She pulled the box closer to her body. Touching the odd one.

"Lola." She mumbled as she picked me up. Then, brows furrowed. Wondering, probably, where the other half is.

She held me in her hand, and continued her search using her free hand. This time, for my pair. The missing one.

***

Richard sat in front of his laptop. The original plan was to review his work, but he ended up just staring back at the blinking cursor.

Saturday night and he is at home. He just didn't feel like going out tonight despite a few invitations from friends. Then, he remembered. So, he reached for his phone, checking on a message he has read quite a few times since he received it the other day.

I guess, tama ka. I accepted Darren's invite na. The message read.

He stared at the message for a few more seconds before he closed the message window. Then, he put the phone face down on the table; and went back to staring at the blinking cursor on his laptop screen.