The Perfect Timing

Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

"Bes, do you wanna go for a break or something? Para kasing hindi ka makapag-focus dyan sa binabasa mo. You keep checking on your phone. May problema ba?" Nagulat ako nung nagsalita si Juls. It's a Saturday night and we're studying for our finals on Monday. Magkatabi kami ngayon sa study table dito sa room ko. She's right. Kanina pa ako ako hindi mapakali.

"Sorry, bes. I'm just worried coz it's 9pm na, hindi pa din nagrereply si Luke," I looked at my best friend hopelessly. Ang last text nya was kagabi pa. Last kaming nag-usap sa phone was Thursday night pa. Last kaming nagkita was three weeks ago pa. I feel like I'm going crazy or something kasi hindi ko sya nakikita and madalas nakakausap. I tried calling him naman but he wasn't answering so I figured baka he's busy or baka may ginagawa syang importante or something, so I'm just waiting for him to call me back or text me.

"Hindi nagrereply or ayaw mag-reply? Bes, I know you're smart enough to know the difference," she turned to me as she rested her body on the swivel chair beside me. Matagal akong hindi nakasagot habang tinititigan sya.

"Hindi naman siguro. Baka busy lang sya," I stared at my phone. "Or maybe I'm just a clingy girlfriend. Tsaka hindi naman ganun si Luke," I sighed.

"You are a bit clingy bes. But I think you have the right to be, you're his girlfriend. I know mahirap ngang makapagkita kayo because of your studies and his work, even talking on the phone is hard because both of you are busy, lalo na sya, but think about this bes," I looked at her, "Hindi naman ganun kahirap magreply and magkamustahan through text ah? It doesn't even take you a minute to do it, right? So why can't he do so?"

Natahimik ako sa sinabi ni Julia. She has a point. But there's still a part of me that doesn't want to believe her.

"Bes, I'm not saying this to make you feel bad or siraan si Luke or anything. Luke is a nice guy, I'm a witness to your relationship. But sometimes, Max, people change. I'm saying these things to you now, because ayaw kitang masaktan. You're my best friend and I love you and I'll do everything to protect you from any harm in this world," tumayo sya and lumapit sakin. She stroked my head and hugged me while I hugged her waist.

"Bes naman eh. You know I love you so much as well. But you're making me cry with your spontaneous speech," kinurot ko sya ng slight sa bewang nya. Pero sobrang na-touch ako sa speech ni Juls. I'm a cybaby pa naman.

"Aww! Paiiyakin mo naman ako sa pagkurot mo bes eh," she giggled. Natawa na din ako. We probably look like idiots right now, but I really don't care. This is what I love about our friendship. We can be dramatic and emotional for a moment, then crazy and silly in an instant.

"Hay nako. Let's stop this drama before pa tayo maghagulgulan dito bes," natatawa na lang kaming humiwalay sa pagkakayakap sa isa't-isa. "You know what, I'll go down and get some ice cream because ice cream solves everything. Do you want anything else?" She really knows how to make me happy.

"No, thanks, bes," I smiled at her as she closed the door.

I looked at my phone again and saw no signs of him replying. I decided to turn it off. We'd both benefit from this. Kung ayaw nya akong kausap edi okay. I'd be able to focus on studying and not on waiting for his damn reply.

Lumingon ako sa pintuan nung narinig kong pumasok si Juls na may dalang ice cream and some chips.

"Oh? Antagal mo bes ah," natapos ko na kasi yung 2 pages nung inaaral ko tsaka lang sya nakabalik. "Teka, ba't ganyan itsura mo?" She looked anxious, namumula pati sya.

"U-Uh. A-Ano... K-Kasi... Ang hirap hanapin nung ice cream nyo then kumuha pa a-ako ng chips," she quickly put those things on the table and starts biting on her nails once she sat down.