Whys and Exs

Ika-apat

"Ellie, tulala ka nanaman jan. May shoot tayo mamaya huy, yung story line ha." Paalala sakin ni Jaquie

I nodded. Wala pako masimulan sa story na ginagawa ko. Puro drafts pero kulang palagi.

I decided na lumabas muna ng campus at magpunta sa Starbucks. I have to present the story line later, I only have few hours. Short story lang to pero di ko magawa, dammit Ellie!

I was drinking my frappe nang biglang may tumapik sa balikat ko, si Tita Jean.

"Hi Eli!! I miss you so much. Kamusta ka na?" Niyakap ako agad ni Tita.

"Okay naman po tita kayo po? Anong balita? Namiss ko din po kayo." Totoo naman, Tita Jean and I, we used to hang  out everytime na nandito siya sa manila. She treated me like her own child. Feel ko nga mas mahal niya pako kay Travis dati.

"Okay naman kami, iha." She smiled. "Birthday ko sa makalawa, punta ka sa bahay ha. Dinner tayo! Hindi pwedeng humindi." Napangiti nalang ako bilang sagot, siguro sasabihin ko nalang nagkasakit ako.

"I have to go na, Ellie! I'll see you ok? Aasahan kita." She kissed me then waved goodbye.

Napabuntong hininga nalang ako. Pano na to?

After a 2 hours, 2:30pm. natapos ko na yung short story, since 7 pm pa naman ang submission nito, I texted my bestfriend. "Hey E, where are you."

Nagreply siya agad,
"Driving. Where are you, and who's with you?"
"Tambayan. Sb. Im alone"
"Im on my way. :-)"

Iniisip ko padin yung nakita kong picture namin ni Travis, bakit kasi nasa kanya padin yun. Sana tinapon nalang niya, kagaya ng ginawa nya sa tatlong taon namin, tinapon niya.

Days feel like blur, It was Tita Jean's Birthday. Honestly, gusto ko talagang magdahilan. Hindi ko kasi alam pano. Pano ko haharapin si Travis ulit. Our last encounter, wasn't good... Pero I think, It will be rude of me kung last minute magccancel ako. I wore a black high waisted pants, with a crop halter top and a army green bomber jacket at sinuot ko na yung vans ko. Simpleng dinner lang naman yun, so I think this will do.

From: E
Where you at? The Palace tonight. Hatid kita pwamis.

To: E
Stop the baby talking, E. Para kang gago. Im on my way to Travis' house.

Hindi na nagreply si E, siguro nagulat yun or baka busy mambabae.

Andun kaya yung bagong girlfriend ni Travis. What does she look like kaya? Does Tita Jean shops with her? Hangs out with her?

I sighed deeply. Eh ano naman, Ellie kung oo. Ex ka na. Ekis ka na, that means tapos na.

Nang makalabas ako ng uber, dala ko yung gift, bag at wine. Kabang kaba ko, feeling ko lalabas yung mga kalamnan ko.

Sabi ko sa sarili ko, hindi na ko ulit aapak sa bahay na ito. Pero nabusog lang ako.

Nagdoorbell ako, while i was fishing for my phone, shit. Di ko makita! Naiwan ko ba sa UBER. Ellie, naman!!!!

"What's wrong?" I knew that voice... "Nothing.. Im just looking for my phone." I tried to stay calm and tadaaah!! Andito lang pala. "All good. I already found it." I smiled a bit. He was looking at me, I can see in his eyes, may sinasabi yung mga mata nya. He sighed.. "Let's go inside, Mum is waiting for you." I nodded.

The dinner went well, kwentuhan about sa course ko, sa buhay, pati sila mama kinamusta nila. Aaminin ko, namiss ko to. Sobrang namiss ko sila. Sa sobrang enjoy sa pagkkwentuhan namin, 11pm na pala. "Tita, i have to go na po. 11 na po pala hehe. Thank you po sa dinner!" I smiled. "Nako iha, wag ka na umuwi. It's late. Dun ka na sa guest room. Ipinahanda ko na." Uhm.... wait ano daw? "Uhm, sige po."