Tumakbo agad sila Yna at Yssa sa sala para ituloy ang pagpapractice. Natira kami nila Ms. Eli at Yvan.
“Ayos yung tugtog mo kanina ah..” sabi bigla ni Yvan. Natigil ko ang pagsubo ko ng tinapay. I blushed. Napatingin ako kay Ms. Eli, nainom sya ng coffee pero she’s eyeing me. Tumayo ang mga balahibo ko. Alam nya. Alam nya. Magagalit sya sakin. I closed my eyes to calm myself. She won’t let me talk to Yvan again. Sshhhh.. I exhaled silently. Think positive, Maria. My hands were wet. I’m very nervous. Someone cleared his throat. I opened my eyes. “Puntahan ko na po yung dalawa dun, baka kung ano na pong ginagalaw.” Yvan said smiling. Ms. Eli nodded. I forced a smile. I don’t want him to go. I don’t want him to leave my side.
“Mabuti pa nga.” I whispered. He smiled at me. A smile with thousands words. It’ll be fine. Everything’s gonna be okay. I’m here for you. As he descends from the kitchen, bumalik lahat ng kaba ko. I’m sure Ms. Eli will force me to tell her that I have feelings for Yvan. I can feel it.
“About the room, Maria…” Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. A sudden relief that she didn’t start the conversation about Yvan.
“I—uh—Yes, Ms. Eli.. I haven’t change my mind..”
“And privacy you needed?” Her tone was flat and low. She’s definitely upset about what I wanted to do.
“Yes.” I said, and think of another word, “Please..” I stared at her. And the staring competition starts again. I can’t look away. I want it. I want a room. I can see her eyes turning from black. Like, all of the sudden, there are clouds forming inside her iris. Drip.. drip.. drip… it’s so silent I can hear the drops of water from the faucet. Drip.. drip.. drip.. drip.. my eyes are starting to go watery. I have to blink, but I can’t.
A miracle happened.
Ms. Eli smiled and looked away first.
"Very well, Maria. Nakapagdesisyon ka na, I see.” Tumayo sya bigla at lumapit sa lababo. “Maybe, you’re right.. tama ka sa lahat ng sinabi mo. Malaki ka na, alam mo na ang mga dapat mong gawin. Sorry for treating you like a child, dear.” She said in lonely voice. I stand swiftly and hugged her from the back.
“You know how much I love you, thank you very much, Ms. Eli.. for everything.” I felt her body relaxing and I kinda hear a small laugh coming from her.
“And I know you want someone to help you, right?” I nodded. She tapped my shoulders, “Then, ask him.”
***
4 days.. Oh my gosh. I waited 4 days for Saturday to come. Apat na araw lang yun pero it felt like months. Monday kasi nung pumayag si Ms. Eli na magkaroon nako ng sariling kwarto. May pasok kasi si Yvan kaya hindi nya pa ako matulungan. Sabi nya Saturday na lang daw at sakto pang magmamarketing si Ms. Eli. Hindi ko sure kung sinasadya nya ba talaga or Saturday lang talaga ang free day nya.
Nung sinabi ko kay Yvan yun, parang pakipot pa sya. Sabi nya, madami daw syang gagawin and he also said that we needed more than a day to finish my room. Nung sinabi kong, “Di na lang kita aabalahin, sa iba na lang ako magpapatulong..” Bigla syang nabigla. I know his game. I’m playing it also. Unahan na lang kaming sumuko.
“AH! Hindi! Ako na lang pala ang tutulong sa’yo. Basta sa Saturday na lang para free day natin parehas. Diba? Ayos ba sa’yo yun?” Nilingon ko sya na abot langit ang ngiti ko. Kita nyo? Una syang sumuko sa larong inumpisahan nya. I won.
***
“Nandito na ba lahat sa list ang kailangan mo?” Tanong ni Ms. Eli while checking the list I gave her this morning para makabili na sya sa market ng kakailanganin ko sa kwarto.
