All This Time

Somewhere Only We Know

"Uhm, sige MengMeng, una na ako. Gabi na din. Yaya Pepe, thank you po. Una na po ako."

We were standing by our front door when he waved to Yaya Pepe who was taking the two sets of coffee cups from the dining table. "Balik ka, iho ha!" She smiled sweetly at him before she disappeared to the kitchen. RJ just nodded and smiled at her like a little boy would to his grandma. I clutched my overjoyed heart. He was still that little boy from my childhood.

We walked out of the house and leisurely took the few steps to our gate. It was almost 10 at night and the only sound we could hear were crickets and maybe our heartbeats. I couldn't find a reason why, but I found myself nervous all of a sudden. It seemed he was too, because he kept on unconsciously scratching his nape. I felt that we both wanted to say something, but walked the rest of the driveway in silence.

I opened the gate and he stepped out first. I quickly debated if I should stay inside or step out with him, but decided on the latter.

"So, I'll see you tomorrow?" He said almost shyly.

"Yeah," I said.

"Pero, are you feeling better na? You still look pale. I mean, are you well enough to go back to work tomorrow? You can take another day off to rest. I can cover for you again tomorrow, just leave me an email like you did this morning. I'll handle everything, then dalhan na lang ulit kita ng dinner bukas?"

I had to laugh. He said all that in one breath, like he'd been holding it for the last half hour.

"RJ, ano ka ba? Okay na ko. I slept all day and got all the rest I needed. Besides, never pa akong nag-absent sa office ng more than half a day. Today was a first na they didn't see me there at all. So yeah, I'll see you tomorrow, sa office."

"Are you sure?" His worried face was almost too funny.

"Yes. I'm sure."

We both looked down at my right hand when we both seemed to have felt the tingle after I unconsciously reached for his arm. I immediately pulled it back.

He smiled wildly at me while I awkwardly waved my hand at him.

"Sige na, it's really late. Maaga pa tayo bukas. Malayo pa ang uuwian mo, unlike noon na isang tumbling lang," I said.

"Halos isang tumbling pa rin naman. Yun nga lang, hindi na katapat na bahay. Katapat na village na lang. Hahahahah"

His hearty laugh made my heart swell and we stood there under the single lamp post, just smiling at each other like idiots. I had to break the eye contact or we'd end up standing there all night.

"Sige, RJ, pasok na ko. Medyo malamok na." I pretended to kill a non-existent mosquito on my right leg.

"Ah... sige, MengMeng. Pasok ka na. Baka magtaka na din si Yaya Pepe na ang tagal mo dito sa labas. I'll go ahead na rin." He fiddled with his keys, but didn't move toward the driver's side of his car.

I stepped back closer to our gate in an attempt to end the night. But he stepped forward and suddenly pulled me in a tender embrace.

"I'm so glad we finally got to talk." He whispered in my ear, with his one hand gently cradling the back of my head and his other, firmly planted around my back. There was nothing I could do but let my arms embrace him back and rest my cheek in the crook of his neck. "Me too, RJ. Thank you for visiting me."

"O! Andyan pa pala kayo!" Yaya Pepe appeared at the gate with a trash bag in hand. I suddenly felt conscious so I stepped away from RJ, albeit hesitantly, as his hand didn't want to let go of my arm.

"Paalis na din po, Ya." RJ grinned at her and walked towards the driver's side of his car. Before he jumped in, he smiled, waved at me and mouthed 'goodnight.' His eyes were shining like he was about to cry.