The next morning he didn't hear her sing.
Sana hindi ko na lang sinabi..
/
That morning, instead of knocking on her door he went straight to Jani's unit. Jani let him in the moment he saw it was him who's knocking.
"Coffee?", he asked.
"Hindi na sir... Ah, gusto ko lang pong malaman niyo na gusto ko si Dei"
Jani just stared at his eyes.
"Sigurado ka na ba diyan?"
"Hindi ko kayang hindi siya makita o makausap. Gusto ko lagi kong naririnig boses niya. Kung hindi ko po siya gusto hindi ko na alam.. ", he answered.
"Gusto ko si Dei"
"Richard, sorry kung minamadali kita. Maine wasn't born disabled. Something happened terribly that caused her wheelchair bound. That's the reason why she chose to stay at that unit alone closing all her doors to everyone. Sometimes, even me. Nagulat nga ako na ilang araw lang she let you in agad. Alam ko na in your little ways, napapangiti mo siya, at sobrang nagpapasalamat ako sa'yo. Uli.... ulila na kami ni Dei, kaya sana naintindihan mo kung bakit ako protective sa kanya.", Jani said with a cracking voice.
"I understand, sir. I promised not to hurt her intentionally"
"Just.. Just don't give her false hopes Richard. Kung hanggang kaibigan lang ang kaya mong ibigay, ayos lang. Just make sure to make your intentions clean and clear"
"Yes, sir"
"Masiyadong pormal. Kuya na lang", Jani said smiling.
"Thanks, kuya"
"Anytime"
"Ahhh.. Kuya, ah ipapaalam ko sana si Dei"
"Saan?"
/
That night he got home early then went to knock on her door after changing his clothes.
"Dei, si Richard to"
"Open!", he heard her say.
"Sige, buksan ko na ha?", he said. He roamed her eyes over her unit and did not see her around.
"Ahm, nasaan ka?"
"Nasa room, wait lang", he heard her say.
Then his eyes locked to a frame hanging on one of the corners of her wall. He was stunned.
(see picture above)
Ang ganda...
"Sorry nag-"
He turned to her and saw her looking at him, no, looking at the photo at his back.
"Ma... Matagal na yan", she stammered then rolled her wheelchair on the kitchen.
"Deiii..."
He followed her and saw her wiping her eyes.
"Sorry"
"Bakit ka nag-sosorry?"
"Sorry kasi hindi ko alam kung bakit ka umiiyak? Sorry, hindi ko alam ang kwento mo, sorry kung nasasaktan ka pa rin hanggang ngayon, sorry kung wala ako nung mga panahong kailangan mo ng makakasama", he sincerely said squatting infront of her to look at her eyes.
"Bakit ang bait mo sa akin?", she answered, tears keep rolling down her face.
"Wag ka ng umiyak.. Ayokong umiiyak ka"
"Bakit nga? Naaawa ka ba sa akin?"
"Hindi. Dei, hindi ko din alam. Basta ang alam ko gusto ko 'tong ginagawa ko"
"Wala ka bang joke?"
He chuckled.
"Gusto mo talaga ha?", he answered while wiping her tears.
"Hmmmm..wag na lang yata", she answered chuckling.
"Wala ng bawian.. O? Anong Dei ang kanta ni Bruno Mars?"
"Ano?"
"Girl, you're amazing.. Just DEI way you are", he sang as he caressed her cheek.
"O? Umiiyak ka na naman.. Oyyyy", he said, panicking wiping her tears.
"Ang bait mo kasi... Naalala ko lang yung sa adobo.. Sorry talaga"
"Wala na 'yon.. Ok lang, naintindihan ko"
"Nagtampo ka eh"
"Paano mo naman nasabi?"
"Di ka kaya agad kumatok kinabukasan"
"Hindi ba— teka, inaantay mo katok ko?"
"Ha? Wa.. Ha.."
"Luh. Luh. Luh!", he teased.
She hit his arm.
"Kainis to! Hindi noh? Ano lang"
"Ano?", he said, his smile reaching his eyes.
"Tsk. Oo na nga!", she answered pursing her lips for a smile, looking away.
"Anong oo?"
"Ewan ko sa'yo! Diyan ka na nga", she said rolling her wheelchair away from him.
His smile not leaving his face, his heart singing happy notes.
"Tungkol 'don sa adobo.. Gusto mo matikman?"
She stopped then turned to him smiling.
"Talaga? Dadalhan mo uli ako?"
"Ano kasi, uhm.. Hindi eh, ano.. Ok lang ba kung sama kita sa bahay namin sa linggo, magluluto uli si Mama ng adobo"
"Hmmmm", she answered biting her lip.
"Pinaalam na kita kay Kuya"
