The Second Time Around

Prologue

"Den!" Sigaw ni Kyle sabay kalabog ng pintuan sa labas ng aking kwarto

"We're getting late. 2:00 PM ang flight mo. For pete's sake, it's already 11:30! What's taking you so long?" Sigaw ulit ni Kyle.

Ngumisi lang ako then put my pumps on. Excited na akong umuwi sa Pilipinas, though a half of me doesn't want to be there. Every corner of that place reminds me of him. I'm gonna miss New York. Three long years na simula noong umalis ako. I thought for awhile, siguro okay na ako. Everything will run smooth for sure.

"I'm done!" Sigaw ko pabalik at hinablot na ang bag ko. Naibaba na ni Kyle ang mga maleta sa kanyang sasakyan which is parked sa basement ng unit ko. Kyle and I were friends simula ng bata pa kami, sa Pilipinas. His parents and mine are very good friends. We grew together, but then, they migrated here in New York for good, so we separated. Their house here in New York, ay may kalayuan sa paaralang pinapasukan niya so he bought a unit and fortunately, we were neighbors, we even studied on the same school and believe it or not, we were classmates on all subjects because we took up the same course. Upon graduating, we applied in different law firms and again we got hired on the same company. Same positions, and his desk is only few meters away. He's my buddy, my panyo, my shoulder to cry on, my adviser, my mentor my downfall, my everything. When I need him, he try every way he can to attend to me.

Lumabas na ako ng kwarto at tumambad kaagad sa akin ang galit niyang ekspresyon at naka kunot na nuo. Tsk. Even with that mad face, ang gwapo niya pa rin. His fair skin complexion, bumagay lang sa foreign features niya. His perfectly defined jaw, ang matangos niyang ilong, ang malalim niyang mga mata, his perfectly curved brows, a dimple on his right cheek, and his pink, thin lips plus the messy hair. He's wearing a blue v-neck shirt and a faded maong pants then a Topsiders. Perfect. Everything about him, is perfect. Exemption sa pagiging play boy niya.

"What?" Utas niya sa isang iritadong tono ng mapansin ang pagka tunganga kosa kanya.

Nagkibit ako ng balikat at tumalikod at nauna na sa pag labas ng unit ko. Gosh. I look back, I'm gonna miss every detail of this place. I'm gonna miss the high buildings, the noisy streets, night life and the city lights. Bumuntong hininga ako at dumiretso na palabas.

"C'mon Kyle!" Tawag ko ng namalayang hindi siya naka sunod. Something's weird about him lately. Parang... Ah basta! Ewan ko.

Nang maka pasok na kami sa elevator pababa sa Lower ground, ay tahimik siya. 'Di ako sanay, though he is cold at times pero madalas siyang nangungulit. Is there something wrong? Bumuntong hininga ako at tinignan siya. Napansin niya ang pagtingin ko sa kanya, the reason why he did the same.

"What's wrong?" Tanong ko sa nag-aalalang tono.

"Nothing" sagot niya at nag-iwas ng tingin.

"No. There's something wrong. What is it?" Pangungulit ko, alam kung mayroong kulang eh. Alam na alam ko. May gusto siyang sabihin, pero ayaw niyang sabihin. Maybe because, he doesn't have the guts? He's shy or something? Umiling siya at 'di na ulit tumingin sa akin.

Tumunog na ang elevator, hudyat na nasa tamang floor na kami. Nauna siyang lumabas at linakad ang distansya patungo sa kanyang sasakyan, pinatunog niya ito then opened the door at the front seat then leaving the door open at pumanhik na para maka punta sa driver's seat. There is something bothering him. I know it.

Pagkapasok ko sa Honda Civic niyang sasakyan, agad kung ni-lock ang door, put my seatbelts on at tumingin ulit sa kanya.

"Kyle, tell me. What's wrong?" Tanong ko ulit. Umuling siya at pinaandar na ang sasakyan. Ng backing siya at agad na pinaharurut na ang sasakyan palabas ng basement.

"Kyle!" Napa sigaw na ako dulot ng irritasyon dahil hanggang ngayon, 'di niya pa sinasagot ang tanong ko.

Kumunot ang noo niya at mas lalong umiba ang expression niya. Tinignan niya ako saglit at bumaling ulit sa daanan.

"Are you ready?" Tanong niya sa isang malamig na tono.

Napakunot ang noo ko. Ano'ng ibig niyang sabihin? I was kind of puzzled.

"Ready? What do you mean?" I asked still having the same expression

"Ready to meet your Ex Lover"