The One...That Got Away Nga Lang!

Chap 17. The End is the Beginning is the End

 Author's Note: Chapter title taken from a song by Smashing Pumpkins.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Everything is going well. Kahit hindi defined kung anong meron samin nung batang nagmemenopause, hindi ko maiwasang isiping mas masaya ako ngayon kumpara nung mga panahong nasa “defined relationships” ako. Ang weird lang kasi, kung kailan walang label saka naman sobrang ok. We’re not friends, that I’m sure of. Hindi rin kami lovers or something. Hmmm… parang dun ata kami sa something :)

Last week, I invited her to accompany me to watch a play. I’ve noticed na hindi niya masyadong trip ang mga ganung bagay. Bawas points para sakin pero ok lang kasi si Kate naman yun. As long as kasama ko siya at nag eenjoy siya at ako, ok na yun.

One thing I’ve learned about her though, she loves food.  Hindi pihikan. Willing to try anything. Bawi na sa bawas points previously. It doesn’t matter sa kanya kung restaurant, fast food, street food, or whatever basta malinis at masarap. Dagdag mo pa yung fact na we can talk about a lot of things kahit na habang kumakain kami. Yung iba kasi kapag kainan na, galit galit muna.

Hindi rin siya mapili sa mga lugar na pupuntahan. Sabi niya as long as kasama niya ako, kahit saan pa yan. That thought made me smile. Sa previous dates ko kasi, major concern ang lugar kung saan pupunta. Pero sa batang nagmemenopause, kahit ata tumambay lang kami sa may tindahan or sa harap ng gate nila sobrang ok na sa kanya. Basta nga daw magkasama kami :)

I think I’m starting to fall in love with her.

We went out on several dates, we hung out kung saan saan, we shared hugs and several kisses sa cheeks, we talk about a lot of things but we never did discuss the story of us. Or kung ano nga ba definition ng “us”. I think, it’s about time na i-open up ko sa kanya ang topic na ito. I’d like to know kung ano nga ba kami. I already know that I don’t want to be friends with her.  I just hope she feels the same way too.

Go out with me. Please. Nagdi-date na pala kami so, useless ang statement na ito. Plus, it will not define kung ano nga ba ang meron samin ngayon. 

Are you my girlfriend? Para naman akong may amnesia nito at hindi ko siya matandaan o makilala man lang. Hindi kaya mainis siya? Assuming pa masyado kasi implied agad na girlfriend ko siya.

Be my girlfriend.Demanding lang ang peg? Utusera lang? Para ko na ring sinabing I command you to be my girlfriend. Wala kang choice. Hahahahaha

Will you be my girlfriend?  Pwede na siguro ito. Sounds polite. Hindi assuming. Sakto lang na naghihintay ng Yes or No.

Sa kakapractice ko ng lines para sa batang nagmemenopause, hindi ko napansing kanina pa pala nagriring ang cellphone ko. Walang tingin tingin sa caller ID na sinagot ko ang tawag.

“Hello!” high pitched kong bati sa  phone.

“Hi Jackie! I missed you. Remember me?” at dun nawala yung pagkahyper ko. Hindi si Kate ang nasa kabilang linya.

”.......”

”Hey. Are you still there?” sabi nung nasa kabilang linya ng wala pa rin siyang narinig mula sakin.

“Hi Mitch. Napatawag ka. I haven’t heard from you in a while” – ako

“I just missed you. You broke my heart kaya kinailangan ko ng time for healing” tatawa tawang sagot niya.

“………..” shoot. Can somebody just kill me now? Please?

“I’m just pulling your leg, kiddo. I’m ok now. I don’t hate you or anything. I just missed your company. Baka nakakalimutan mo, may mga utang kang dates with me. Remember? Hindi porke’t we are not dating exclusively now ay pwede mo ng i-ditch ang mga lakad na yun. Don’t worry, friendly hang out lang naman ang mga yun” – Mitch

“Yeah. Yeah. Hindi ko nakakalimutan. Basta wala ng chorva ha. FRIENDLY hang out lang. I don’t want to get into any trouble.” – ako

“Meaning? You’re pursuing someone? Ouch! Napalitan na agad ako?” biro niya sakin.

“Napalitan? Hindi ka nga nagrant man lang ng visa to enter my heart.” Ganting biro ko sa kanya.

“I know. Kaya nga we remain friends di ba? So who’s the lucky bitch that was able to replace HER?” – Mitch

 “The bitch is HER. Wala pang pumapalit.” Nakangiti kong sagot sa phone.

“Oh. At nagkaroon ng katuparan ang love story niyo. Good for you then.” – Mitch

“Yeah. Thanks Mitch. So paano ba yan? I gotta hang up. I’ve got tons of shit to do” sagot ko sa kanya. Kailangan ko pa magpractice para sa speech ko sa batang nagmemenopause.

“Ok. Don’t forget our friendly hang out this week. Can’t wait to see you.” – Mitch

“Me too. Bye.” – ako

I suddenly remember yung uncomfortable feeling na nadama ko nung nag agree ako not to cancel the dates with Mitch after matapos ng exclusively dating stage namin. I have this nagging feeling that something bad is going to happen. What was I thinking nung mga panahong yun at pumayag ako sa set up na ganito?!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mitch and I decided to go out for lunch and spend the whole afternoon bowling. I missed hanging out with her. Not really her, but more of the company (her company). We catch up on what’s been happening in our lives. I found out that her family will be migrating to Canada asap. She was joking that it was really my fault. She decided to move to Canada because I broke her heart. Yeah right. Hahahaha

We were having a lot of fun. I told her that I plan to ask Kate to be my girlfriend soon. She was ecstatic about it that she even suggested a few ideas.

Our so called “date” ended with the two of us hugging each other. She was hugging me for good luck. I’ll surely miss the company of this girl. And that’s when the shit happened.

“Jackie?”

I jumped and turned around to see the Oh! So glorious, smirking Giselle.

And then I knew, I’m so gonna be dead. Soon. 

************************************************************************************** 

                                                                                                        17 January 2014

To Whom This May Concern,

For the reader(s) of The One... That Got Away Nga Lang!, please excuse chenelynboomboom (yours truly) for I won't be updating this story for the next several weeks. I'll be busy roaming the streets of Manila to finish my research. :)

Thank you for your kind consideration.

Respectfully yours,

(signed)

chenelynboomboom

P.S.

Kung may libreng oras, I'll try na magsingit ng chappy for update. Chos! :)