Love and Other Drugstories

Part 4

"Hoy Nicomaine, alam ko nasa DNA natin ang pagiging dyosa! Although mas exotic ang beauty ko sa yo. Pero di ibig sabihin pati ang asset kong kissable at pouty lips kakabugin mo! Aba'y kahapon pa humahaba nguso mo ah, mas mahaba pa sa listahan ng mga lalaking pinaiyak ko! Umayos ka nga dyan!"

Ate Kai is at it again. I scowled to show I'm not in the mood.

"Aba at sinisimangutan pa ko nito. Hoy Nicomaine pinapaalala ko lang sa yo magkasama na tayo mula pagkabata hanggang sa madiscover natin kung ano ang purpose ng panty! Kilalang-kilala kita mula ulo hanggang talampakan, ultimo nunal mo sa tonsils! Kaya alam ko kung bakit ka nagkakaganyan! Is there a letter R? Is there a letter I?"

"Ate Kai naman eh!"

"Ritemed! Ritemed ang ibig kong sabihin! Kasi paubos na yung stocks natin kailangan mo na umorder! Wala naman akong sinabing Richard kung makapag-react ka naman dyan daig mo pa si Matti pag nagta-tantrums!"

I stomped my feet, crossed my arms, scrunched my eyebrows, pouted my lips, tears threatening to fall.

Yeah, I guess I looked like my toddler nephew Matti.

"Anyway vajayjay, punta na kong coffee shop para bumili ng breakfast natin. Café Americano lang ba papabili mo?"

"No, I don't want Café Americano. Green tea latte na lang uli."

She looked at me, teasing me, mocking me without saying anything. She's really good at it because she's succeeding.

Thank God she left after a few minutes. I can return to my miserable, wallowing self.

Bwisit ka, Richard.

I remember how giddy I was when I saw him yesterday. I felt like a lovesick teenager whenever I saw my crush. I can feel the butterflies fluttering in my stomach.

But the butterflies were immediately replaced by wild bees when I saw the last item written on his list: pregnancy test kit.

There's no wedding ring, so I assumed he's single. Unless he removed it. But I can now confirm that he has a girlfriend.

Lakas ng loob ng tukmol hingin number ko at mag-offer na ihatid ako eh may girlfriend na pala.

Eh para kanino pa ba yung binili nyang pregnany test kit. Syempre sa girlfriend nya.

So, it's either nabutas ang condom na ginamit nya, or sobrang powerful ng sperm cells nya.

I chuckled then smiled bitterly. Eh bakit ba ko nagseselos? I'm trying to cheer myself but, what the heck! I can still feel the pain gripping my heart.

I can't help but envy the girl Richard chose to love.

Lucky girl.

~~~

"Yung kamalasan na na-attract ko, lumipat na sa yo Pokerson! Law of Attraction pa more! Hahaha!"

I can still remember how Jerald and Mark laughed their asses off when I told them what happened on the "pregnancy test incident" yesterday.

I wanted to kick myself for being careless, for not taking even a peek to know what's written on Mark's list.

Eh malay ko ba. Ang nasa isip ko lang kasi nun makita agad si Maine.

I wanted to go see her after that to explain, but I was so embarrassed. Also, I think it will be better if I'll let her simmer down first.

But I can't wait any longer. I will go see her today to clear the air between us.

I am about to go outside when I heard Jerald and Derrick talking. Arguing, to be more accurate.

"Hoy Monasterio, may babaeng tawag nang tawag dito, hinahanap ka. Julie daw. Baka isa sa mga inutangan mo."

"Hayaan mo yun. Isa lang yun sa mga babaeng habol nang habol sa kin di ko naman type. Ay sorry, di mo nga pala alam feeling nang hinahabol ng mga girls."

"Whew! Pokerson, bakit biglang humangin dito sa loob kahit tirik na tirik araw sa labas? Naka-centralized aircon na ba tayo? Biglang lumamig eh."

I intervened before they start to throw knives at each other.

"Kids, punta lang ako sa drugstore sa kanto. Behave while I'm away ok? Kung magpapatayan kayo, just make sure lang na wag kayo mag-iiwan ng kalat."

"Uy, sama ko! Sabi sa kin nung isang guard, chikababes daw yung isang pharmacist dun. Yung Maine daw. Tamang-tama may icoconsult ako."

No.

NO WAY.

I know how Derrick flirts with women and there is absolutely NO WAY he will go near MY Maine.

"Derrick, baka gusto mo tumulong maglinis ng CR habang andito ka. Nung isang linggo pa dapat turn mo. Alalahanin mo wala tayong kasambahay dito. Isa pa, di ka bisita. May papabili ka ba? Ako na lang bibili."

Derrick scratched his head. He knew he'll never win in any argument with me. I can see Jerald giving me the thumbs up sign.

He told me the name of the product he wanted to buy. It sounded so foreign.

"What?! Di ko maintindihan. Isulat mo na nga lang."

I watched as he scribbled the name on a piece of paper. I checked and read it aloud when he gave it to me.

Mahirap na, baka pumalpak na naman ako. At hindi ang mokong na to ang sisira sa mga plano ko.

"Para saan ba to?"

"Wala. Food supplement daw. Nirecommend ng kakilala ko, yan daw tine-take nya."

~~~

I saw Maine the moment I arrived in the drugstore. I think she's alone, so she has no choice. After all, I'm still their loyal customer.

"Yes?"

"Hi Maine. Pwede ba kitang makausap? May gusto lang sana ako i-explain."

I saw her eyebrows furrowed.

"Sorry Richard pero nasa duty pa ko. If that is not related to my job as a pharmacist, then I'm sorry but I can't deal with you right now."

She was about to walk away when I remembered the piece of paper from Derrick. I can use it to buy my time.

"Wait! Here. May bibilhin ako."

I gave her the list.

I saw her eyebrows creased again, deeper this time. Then she looked at me. Then returned her gaze on the paper.

Shit, ano na naman to?! Kingina ka Derrick!

I was about to tell her that it's not mine when she looked at me again, worry evident on her face.

But I was more surprised when she unlocked the door on the front counter, then pulled to open it.

"Come inside, Richard. We need to talk."

I have no idea what just happened. But the beautiful lady invited me to go inside. Who am I to say no?

Kaya ayun, pinasok ko sya. Este, pumasok ako sa loob ng drugstore nila.

A/N:

Thanks for reading!

Unbeta'ed & not proofread.