Wedding Ditcher

FIVE

It's been three days since I've had a long conversation with him. I've been avoiding him since then. I just can't talk to him. I feel like it's not right, na parang may mangyayari sa oras na mas makipag-usap ako sa kanya.

Lagi na lang siya ang lumalapit sa'kin at ako naman 'tong hindi siya pinapansin.

He tries to open up conversations, pero ako 'tong laging sumasagot ng isa o dalawang salita lamang.

I just feel like I'll lose myself once I'll do it.

"Heto pa." nilatag ni Maddy sa aking mesa ang mga papeles na dala niya.

Napahilamos ako sa mukha ko. "Andami."

"Stressed ka? Kung inatupag mo lang sana ito pagkatapos mong mag Boracay, 'di sana ganito ka dami ang mga gawain mo."

Is it really work or is it something else? "Not now Maddy."

"Need help?" she offered.

"Yes please."

Pwede ring siya na gumawa nito, nakakatamad tingnan 'tong malabundok na papeles. Pero syempre 'di pwede yun, lagot ako kay papa pag nagkataon.

Maddy helped me with all the things I needed. I'm glad she does her job well. Unlike others na porket kaibigan abusado na. Well Maddy owes me something. Besides kahit nung college pa lang, napakasipag na nito sa pag-aaral.

You can't blame her, she was pressured by her family. We were different.

I was always a happy go lucky person noon pa lang. Papa didn't pressure me with school knowing na dapat high ang academics ako dahil sa kompanya namin.

As for Maddy, her life was manipulated. Her Daddy always decides for her, she can't decide for herself. She had to do this and that. She didn't have freedom.

Like water, putting too much pressure leads to escape.

Habang inaatupag ko itong mga papeles, biglang tumunog ang phone ko. An unregistered number. I picked it up and answered. "Hello?"

"Nag lunch ka na? Sabay tayo."

Boses ng lalake. "Sino 'to?"

"It's Kief, didn't you recognize my voice?"

Nalaglag ang panga ko. Ang kapal nga naman. "Hatinggabi." hingang malalim. "Kung wala kang magawa sa buhay mo, h'wag ako ang istorbohin mo dahil busy ako!"

Agad kong pinatay ang tawag. Walang hiya yung Kief na yun. Lunch niya mukha niya.

Ngayon ko lang napagtanto. That was the longest conversation we had after three days of ignoring him. My words weren't minimal, just great Ever.

"O bakit badtrip ka?" kakapasok lang ni Maddy galing tanghalian, pina-una ko na siya kasi 'di pa ako gutom at gusto ko munang tapusin 'to. "Can you keep your phone? Hindi ka matatapos niyan kapag distracted ka."

"Ngayon ko nga lang 'to tiningnan e! Nagkataon lang na pagpasok mo nakatingin ako sa phone ko kasi may tumawag. Pero kanina hindi ko kailan man nahawakan ang phone ko, ngayon lang." walang hintong sabi ko.

"Okay chill, sabi mo e." oo nga, why did I even explain it?

Twenty minutes pa nga lang ang nakalipas may tumawag na naman. Distorbo talaga 'to si Kieffer kahit kailan!

Without looking at my phone to see if who's the caller, which is I know already, pagalit ko itong sinagot.

"Ano?!" I seethed.