The END of LOVE (On Hold)

Chapter 2: Caroline

2

Hapon na at uwian. Yan lang naman ang hinihintay ko eh. Kakapagod kaya makasama ang lalaki na yun. Nakakabanas.

I went out the time strikes 5:30pm. Para hindi halata na sa oras lang ako nakatingin. I took my phone and my headphones out of my back and stuck it in my ears. I am a music lover. I love walking outside the office and to the house while listening to the music.

I remember the song Just a kiss by Lady Antebellum. Para akong timang na naka-smile habang naglalakad habang pinakikinggan ang kanta. Buti na lang, hindi ganoon ka layo ang bahay namin sa office ko kaya palagi ako naglalakad, morning and afternoon.

When I came across a shop, a boutique, I saw a beautiful casual black dress. I love dresses, really. Kung doon lang sana ako sa lolo ko (side ng mama ko) nakatira, I’m sure puno na naman ang cabinet ko ng mga dress. I am not a fashionista but I love to change clothes.

Ilang oras ko din tinitigan ang dress, I want to buy this, little black dress. Yan ang nasa isip ko habang tinitigan ko ang dress. Pero wala pa akong pera eh. Sa susunod na lang. Babalikan kita. I smile while thinking the though. I want to be independent sa lolo ko, kasi lolo’s girl ako, kaya lahat ng luho ko binibigay niya.

But one fine day, I’ve an article. It says being independent will lead to adventures. Kaya naisip ko, ba’t di ko i-try? Nung una ayaw ni lolo pero wala syang magagawa, mahal nya ako eh.

When I arrived at the house, I found my friend Marie na naka-upo sa sofa while watching TV.

“Hi, Mars!” sabay kiss sa cheeks.

“Hi, want some chips?” Sabi niya.

“No thanks, I need to take shower. I still need to go to the shop. You know business as usual.” 

My brothers business, isang maliit lang na coffee shop. Tuwing gabi ako pumupunta kasi si Chris ang nagbabantay pag-umaga. Chris is my baby brother but not as young as you think. He is 21 years old. Tatlo kaming magkakapatid. Kuya Timothy is 25 years old. Magkasama sa condo si Kuya Tim at si Chris.

“Yayaman ka talaga nyan. Pero teka nga, ikaw na lang ang wala pang boyfriend na pinapakilala sa amin hah. When will you introduce him to us?” Haayy, pressure again.

“I still need to find him. Might be, his waiting for me at the shop. So, I need to refresh’ in up. Bye, see ya later.” and winked at her.

“Sige na, matagal ka pa naman matapos maligo”

I went up to take a bath. Since matagal pa ako matutulog, kaya pati buhok ko binasa ko na. I get dress and apply a very light make up, went down and hailed a cab. Malayo ng kaunti ang coffee shop ko sa bahay.

Nung makarating ako, I saw a familiar face. The face that I hated a while age. The guy who told me about being “old-maid-virgin”.

Yes you are right, ang pangahas na lalaki. Pumunta sa coffee shop. Tiyak may kailangan ito.

“Hey, what are you doing here?” I ask him huskily.

“What a greeting. Is that the way you greet your friend and your customer?” he said while it sound sarcasm.

“I know libre lang yang kape mo. Eh, hindi ka naman nagbabayad ng kape tuwing nandito ka ah.”

“Ngayon magbabayad na ako. You see I brought my girlfriend with para ipakilala sa’yo.” Nakaka-inis talaga.

“Para ilibre mo rin ng kape” bulong nyang sabi.

Ang hayop talaga ng taong ito. Libre na nga sya ng kape, dinadagdagan pa.

“Ewan ko sa’yo” tinalikuran sya sabay irap.

“Hoy, loko lang yun noh. Pero, ipapakilala ko talaga sya sa’yo. Nag-CR pa kasi sya.” Habang naka-titig sya sa akin at parang nakatawa ng hindi ko maintindihan.

“Ok, just call me when she’s already here” at tinalikoran ko na sya.

Pumunta ako ng counter to check if everything is fine. When a girl went out of our bathroom. She’s very pretty but I feel uncomfortable seeing her. It’s as if hindi lang sya pretty and brain. Cool, that’s the right term. Ang angas nya, para syang si Angelina Jolie sa Tomb Raider.

Habang titig na titig ako sa kanya, nakatawa na pala si Iñigo. Kanina pa pala nya ako tinitignan.

Lumapit sya sa akin, sabay sabing, “Laway mo tumutulo! Baka na totomboy ka na sa girlfriend ko hah.” Nakangisi syang habang nakatitig sa girlfriend nya.

“Huuwaatt? She’s your girlfriend? Duling ba sya o bulag? Baka naman chaperon ka lng nya.” Gulat na gulat kong sabi.

“She really is my girlfriend. Halika, I’ll introduce you to her.” Kinaladkad nya ako papunta sa table ng girlfriend nya.

“Hey button” sabi ni Iñigo sabay halik sa girl.

“Hi cassanova, is she your friend? The one that you’re talking about?” Wow, yun lang ang masasabi ko. Sobrang hot nya pag nagsasalita.

Teka, erase, erase. Ba’t ba yun ang naiisip ko. Tomboy na ba ako, hindi noh.!

“Yeah, Steff meet Caroline, button she’s Steffanie.” pagpapakilala nya.

“Hi Steffanie, nice to meet you.” sabay lahad ng kamay sa akin. “Know what, Raphael told me a lot about you” ang witty nyang magsalita.

“Really? Ano naman ang pinagsasabi ng mokong na to.” Nakataas ang aking kilay habang tinitignan si Iñigo.

“He said that you like to travel. You have a strong personality. That you like to watch actions movies and love stories. And that you are searching for the one you love and you are still a virgin” ang amo ng mukha niya. Siguro kung naging lalaki lng ako, ay wait! Ano ang sabi nya, paki-rewind nga Miss Author,

And that you are searching for the one you love and you are still a virgin..

A virgin..

A virgin..

A virgin.. (paulit-ulit Author.? Sirang plaka ang peg.?)

(Sabi mo rewind.. :P)

Ang walang hiya, pinagkakalat talaga na ganoon pa ako.? Grrr, kung di lang maganda ang kasama nya, tinamaan na to sa’kin.

Tinignan ko ng masama, as in masama. Yung tingin na parang espada na unti unti syang tinutusok. Nag-iwas sya ng tingin, guilty much.

“You know what, you only need a make over. Kulang ka lang ng salon and... relax"

"You're pretty, it’s just that you don’t know how to be a lady.” parang tinamaan ako doon ah. Hindi nga ako nag-aayos kasi wala naman akong boyfriend, eh bakit pa.