The Ex-Marine

15

MABILIS ang mga sumunod na araw. Rexes head back to Manila the day before her enrollment, kailangan niya pang ipalinis iyong buong unit, she needed to restock and of course, get a good night sleep.

"Manang, kayo na ho dito ang bahala? Aalis lang po ako para mag grocery. Kapag tapos na ho kayo at hindi pa ako nakabalik, ilock niyo lang ho ang unit." She smiled, handed the housekeeper three blue bills. Malaki ang ibinigay niya dahil malaki ang condo unit niya, And she basically asked her to clean everything. Si Manang Thelma na rin kasi ang taga linis niya dito mula noon.

She was kind of excited about the new school year. Technically, the last school year for her. Siguro ay dahil iyon sa kanyang OJT, her excitement makes her not get much sleep at night. SVC is a big break.

Napabuntong hininga siya ng makahiga na. Her condo was her home too. Dito kasi, mag-isa siya. Minsan ay gusto niya ring mapag-isa at tahimik. It makes her focus more.

She missed her bed. Kahit iyong ceiling ng kanyang kwarto ay namiss niya. She loved looking in the map of constellations up in there. She's such a nerd, she loved the stars. In fact, she wanted to be an astronaut or a cosmonaut when she was younger. So when Leandro learned about this during freshmen year, ito ang ibinigay na birthday gift sa kanya.

Her phone rang, alerting that she has some messages on her messenger.

Uno Rivero: How was the travel back to Manila?

She couldn't help the smile on her face. This week, he had been all over her presence and her home. He's there on breakfast and dinner dahil tinutulungan nito ang kuya niya sa isang trabaho. She loved it, umagang umaga ay si Uno kaagad ang nakikita niya. Before she goes to bed, she gets to see Uno.

Rexes Di Marco: It was fine. Tiring, though.

Nagulat siya ng makita na tumatawag ito.

He's calling!

Ang unang narinig niya ng saguting ang tawag ay ang tunog ng aircon. He's in bed, probably. Rexes imagined him in his shorts and shirtless, flaunting his flat stomach and chest. Ang isang kamay niya ay ginagawa niyang unan habang hawak ang kanyang cellphone.

"I really don't like typing..." the first thing he said. Confirmed, he's in bed. Tunog nakahiga kasi siya.

She laughed, only a little--- parang Maria Clara. "Hmm. I already figured that out." Sa buong linggong pabalik balik si Uno sa kanilang bahay ay tuwing gabi, nakikipag-usap ito sa kanya through chat. Not that kind of conversations that make them stay up late--- mabilisan lang. He'd probably ask what she's doing and after few minutes, says good night.

He's been saying good night for the whole week, 7 nights straight.

Which, Rexes finds odd and... cheesy.

Also which, makes Rexes assume things.

"You cleaned your unit?" Tanong nito sa kanya.

"Hindi. Nag tawag nalang ako ng maintenance sa ilalim. I went out for grocery, had to re-stock para sa buong buwan."

"Why, you're not coming back anymore?"

Damn it. Kahit iyong mga casual lang na tanong, parang gusto niyang bigyan ng malisya.

"I am. Hindi lang sigurado kung kailan, but I have to get back yet. Sasama ang loob ni Mama kapag ganoon. Namili lang ako para pagbalik ko, wala na akong masyadong gagawin."