Not His Type

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Since Karina and Zues are back and we wouldn't want to invade their personal space, we're now on our way to my condo. They insisted na mag-stay ako pero ang sabi ko ay its about time na ipagkatiwala ko na si Karina kay Zues. As usual, Zues almost cried when I said that to him. Siguro nga I have to accept the fact na siya ang tamang lalaki para sa kapatid ko. I can finally tell to myself that he is what my sister needs.

"So, ano? Jobless ka na ngayon? " I jokingly said to Zade.

He's driving my car at ewan ko sa kanya kung paano siya uuwi. Yes, medyo okay na kami. He's not that annoying as before, in fact, I hate to admit it, he's kind of sweet, ewwwww.

"Hindi ko pa ba nasasabi sayo?" He asked.

He made me wonder. Wala nga ako masyadong alam tungkol sa kanya. I don't know what's his job abroad. I don't know what he's up to everyday.

"Ano nga?"

"Meron lang akong aasikasuhin dito sa Pilipinas then I'll go back abroad." He said.

Hindi ko pinakita na nagulat ako sa sinabi niya. Why did it not occur to me na nagbabakasyon lang pala siya dito sa Pilipinas? Maybe Zues just needed someone to look for his business here kaya nag-stay si Zade.

"Ohhh, so kailan ka aalis?" Tanong ko, getting myself ready if its anytime soon.

"It depends."

"Depends on what?"

"Depends on if you'll come with me." Sagot niya.

Tumango-tango nalang ako dahil wala na akong masabi. Wala akong planong pumuntang abroad kaya naman wala akong nasagot sa kanya. Then my ego kicked in, bakit kailangan ikaw ang mag-adjust for him. But my other self replied, hindi pa naman siya officially nagtatanong sowhy do you have to decide now.

We stayed silent hanggang makarating kami sa condo. Hindi ko alam kung paano naging awkward yung atmosphere. But one thing is clear right now in my mind, I'm curious about him. I hope he noticed na kaya ako nagtatanong sa kanya dahil wala siyang sinasabing mga bagay na tungkol sa kanya. And I don't like that. I don't like asking. I want him to tell me himself. Gusto kong maramdaman na I'm allowed to know those things. I want him to be clear with what he wants from me.

After bringing my stuff inside the condo, nagpaalam na siyang umalis kaya naman sinamahan ko siya hanggang sa main door.

"Ingat." Sabi ko.

"Here." Then he gave me a box.

Okay kalma, hindi yan engagement ring. Kalma, hindi pa siya lumuluhod. What the hell, Kashmere? Kailan ka pa naging assumera. Oh my god, this guy is so not good for you. You're changing and you know that its not for the better!!

"What's this?" I calmly asked, trying to hide my inner thoughts na malapit nang kumawala.

"Open it."  Binuksan ko iyon and it was a card with a folded paper inside. Tinignan ko agad siya nang marealize ko kung ano iyon. "Its a key card to my condo. The passcode is also written there. We might not see each other as often as before so just go there if you need something."

"Tch, I can just call you. Di ko kailangan 'to." Sabi ko.

"I want you to feel how serious I am with you, Kashmere. I want you to feel how welcomed you are in my life because that's what you deserve." He said kaya naman di ko na napigilang hindi mapangiti. He makes me happy and I can't deny that. If having someone like this in your life can bring this much happiness, alam ko na kung bakit masaya si Karina kay Zues.

"Well then, don't ever regret giving this to me."

He patted my head before leaving. Damn, this guy is making me go crazy. Who would have thought na siya lang pala ang makakatapat ko. Who would have thought that he's actually going to like someone like me, who proclaimed at the very start na hindi ko siya magugustuhan. Syempre, in the end, kinain ko din yung sinabi ko.

I woke up with a cold air surrounding my entire bedroom. Its a cold weather for a cold day like today. I checked my phone and read a text from Karina. She's on her way to pick me up. Its Dad's death anniversary afterall. We have always conquered this day with just the two of us but I think this year will be different.

"Zues and Zade will follow." Sabi niya nang makasakay ako sa kotse.

It really is different now. Noon, halos walang imik kaming dalawa ni Karina pero ngayon, hindi masyadong mabigat ang atmosphere.

"Sandra texted me if they can come."

"Sabihin mo ayoko."

"Nasabi ko na sa kanila." Then both of us stayed silent. "Ayaw mo ba talaga makita si Mom?"

"Why are you even calling her that?" Parang gusto kong ipaalala sa kanya kung anong ginawa ng babaeng iyon sa'min. But today is not the day to bring the past up.

"Kashmere, meet her. Kahit isang beses lang."

"Karina, can we not talk about her? Let's respect this day." Sabi ko and that made her silent. This day is the only day where the strong Kashmere Costello doesn't exist in the world. This is the day where I need comfort the most. Because this was the day where I was left alone, crying.

We arrived at the cemetery. There were fresh flowers in front of Dad's grave so someone must have visited him earlier. We prayed and minutes after, dumating na rin si Zade and Zues. The both of them payed their respects kaya naman lumayo muna kami ni Karina ng onti. Zade standing in front of my father made me a little bit happy.

"Zade is a good guy." She said while looking at our topic.

"Hmm." Tanging nasagot ko.

"I'm happy that you're finally able to open up to someone other than me and Natalia. And I know you, he must've gained your trust so much." Tumango naman ako.

Actually, ako mismo hindi ko alam kung bakit pinagkakatiwalaan ko si Zade. There's something in him, something na hindi ko pa nakikita sa ibang tao.

He lacked normal human emotions, but I can see that he's really trying to learn. Ever since I met him, he actually never disrespected me. I was always the one provoking him and every time he gets provoked, hindi naman siya nagagalit. He just keeps silent for a few hours and then talk to me like he's the one apologizing for it. Zade is actually a very understanding guy, yun siguro yung nakita ko sa kanya.

Pagkatapos nila ay lumapit silang dalawa sa'min. I was shocked with what happened next dahil gusto daw makausap ni Karina si Zade in private. They started waking away habang kami ni Zues ay naiwan sa harap ng puntod ni Dad. I have no idea kung anong paguusapan nila but I have a hunch na magiging tungkol iyon sa'kin.

"So in the end, Zade lost to you, huh." Zues jokingly said.

"Can't believe he actually fell for me. Kahit ako natawa." Sabi ko.

"What a twist of fate." Nakangiting sagot niya. Yeah, it really was a weird twist of fate.

Zues asked if he could go back to Zade's car first dahil may kukunin lang daw siya. Pumayag naman ako dahil balak ko ding sundan ang dalawa. Yep, I'm going to eavesdrop. Buti nalang at may puno na malaki sa may tabi nila kaya hindi nila ako nakitang lumapit. I hid behind the tree.

"That's all. I know you're busy and it shouldn't even be your responsibility." Rinig kong sabi ni Karina.

"I'm never busy when it comes to her. If its about Kashmere, I'll treat it with utmost importance." Sagot ni Zade sa kanya which made me blush. I AM their topic. Mabilis akong bumalik sa dati naming pwesto dahil ayokong makita nila ang mukha ko ngayon. Ugh, why did he have to say those words? Ano bang pinagusapan nila?

The four of us decided na sabay nang uuwi si Zues at Karina and they will use Karina's car. Habang kaming dalawa ni Zade ay malamang gagamitin ang kotse niya. Nasa utak ko parin ang sinabi niya kay Karina kaya hindi ako makaharap sa kanya ng normal.

"Anything wrong?" He asked.

"Wala. I'm.. just hungry." Then he laughed. Obviously, I can't tell him that he's the reason why I'm so weird today.