My Greatest What If - Moira Gokongwei (Published)

Chapter 3

H'wag mo na akong ihatid. Masyado kasing out of the way," I told Gio who continued to frown. "Pasensya ka na kasi biglaan 'yung pagpapaalam ko. Ano kasi, medyo naalala ko na may gagawin pa pala ako," I alibied but her frown deepened. "Totoo nga."

"Moira, walang nag-text sa'yo kasi hindi mo naman tiningnan 'yung telepono mo. Wala rin akong narinig na nag-ring kaya walang tumatawag. O kung naka-vibrate man 'yun, eh 'di, sana ay kinuha mo na sa bulsa mo. Come on, what is it? Is it something I said? May nasabi ba ako na ikina-offend mo?" she asked and I immediately shook my head.

We were done with our meal and were just talking but I was still so hungry that I was tempted to eat the embroidered table napkin on my lap.

"Ano ka ba, not everything is about you," I tried to joke doing a quick calculation of the money inside my pocket.

Bili na lang ako ng tinapay. May nakita ako d'un sa dinaanan ng jeep kanina. Ano ba naman itong pagkain ng mga mayayaman, hanggang lalamunan ko lang. Ni hindi man lang nakarating sa bituka ko.

"Ano ang totoong rason?"

"May kailangan lang talaga akong gawin."

Kailangan ko nang kumain at baka mawalan ako ng malay-tao rito. Kumakalam na ang sikmura ko!

"Hayaan mo akong ihatid ka. Ang sabi mo nga kanina ay malayo ito sa bahay mo at apat na sakay pa bago ka makarating sa inyo."

"Hindi na nga, ano ba 'yan." 

Pupurnadahin mo pa ang pagtitinapay ko, eh!

"Moira..."

"Okay lang ako. Sanay naman akong walang naghahatid sa akin. Malaki na ako, ano. Kayang-kaya ko nang umuwing mag-isa. O, sige na, mauna na ako sa'yo, ha. Text-text na lang."

I stood up but she grabbed my hand.

"Wait," she said. "Umupo ka muna. " She inclined her head and a waiter magically appeared.

Ay, s'ya na talaga, I thought as I took my seat and watched as she signed something the waiter handed her. Soshyal.

"Hindi mo naman ako kailangang ihatid sa sakayan, Gio," I protested as she rose to her feet and offered me her arm. "Tsaka anong kadramahan ito? Prom ba?"

She dramatically sighed before she offered her hand.

"O, ano 'yan?" I asked.

"Kamay?" she said. "Ayaw mo 'ka mo na pormal kaya ganito na lang."

"Nalilito na ako sa'yo, ha," I said before I took her hand.

"Bakit ang lamig mo? Is that the reason why you want to leave dahil nilalamig ka?"

"Hindi. May kailangan lang talaga akong gawin."

We walked quietly towards the door. I smiled at the liveried man who bowed deeply before opening the door for us.

"Moira, your hands are so cold. Are you ill?" she asked taking both my hands in hers. Bakit maputla ka? May sakit ka ba?"

"Wala."

She felt my forehead.

"Bakit pinagpapawisan ka? Wait, I'll call our family doctor." She let one of my hands go and took her phone out of her pocket.

"Gio, h'wag na..." I protested weakly.

"Hello, Doc. Yes, Dad is well. I have a question, a friend of mine is not feeling well. Nilalamig po s'ya pero pinagpapawisan—"

Susmaryusep naman!

"Symptoms? Parang namumutla po, eh. Okay, I'll take her to the hospital—"