Knock. Knock. It's Love.

Chapter 5 - Pasaway

Denise POV

It's been a very tiring two days with the three rabbits around.

Thanks God, weekend na at makakauwi na ako sa bahay namin.

Those adult-acting-like-a-kid never failed to give me a headache.

Maaga kasi ako nagising at nakapag-prepare. Kaya after ko magluto ng breakfast ay hinintay ko lang na magising 'yung tatlo para makapagpaalam na ring umuwi.
Aba. Nagtalo-talo pa kanina kung sino ang maghahatid sa akin.
Kaya 'yun. Nilayasan ko na pare-pareho nung mga nag-unahang maligo.

My phone rang.

Luke is calling.

"O?" Ako

"Anong O? Nasaan ka? Diba sinabi kong ihahatid kita?" Luke

"I did not remember that I agree." Ako

"Denise-"

"Wait. May incoming call ako. Wait lang."

I hold Luke call.

Si Jacob ang tumatawag.

"Bakit?" Ako

"Bakit ka dyan? Nakasakay ka na ba? Where are you? Hintayin mo ako." Jacob

"Hindi na. I'm already at the taxi. Okay na." Ako

"But-"

Another incoming call.
This time. It's from Troy.

"Sandali lang Jacob." Ako

I hold his call to answer the other.

"Denise. You stubborn. Sinabi nang ihahatid ka eh." Troy

"I'm not a stubborn. Hindi naman ako pumayag magpahatid ah."

"Kahit pa. Asan ka?" Troy

"I'm already along the way. Hello. 30 minutes na kaya nung nakaalis ako." Ako

"I'm asking where exactly you are? Bumaba ka na dyan then wait for me. Okay?" Troy

"Teka nga. Asan ka ba?" Ako

"Nasa unit pa." Troy

I roll my eyeballs in annoyance.

"Sila Luke at Jacob?" Ako

"Uh. Nandito pa din." Troy

"I-loud speaker mo 'yang phone mo." Ako

"Bakit?" Troy

"Just do it." Ako

Sandaling natahimik sa kabilang linya.

"Okay na? Naririnig ninyo akong tatlo?" Ako

"Oo/Yes/Yeah." Luke/Troy/Jacob

"Oh good. Now. Listen to me. Wag nga kayong mga isip-bata okay? Hindi ako pumayag magpahatid sa kahit sino sa inyo kasi ayoko kayong magtalo. C'mon guys. Give me a break. Wala na munang tatawag sa akin after this okay?"

Silence.

"Understood?" Ako

"Galit ka?" Luke

"Ihahatid ka lang naman sana." Jacob

"Sorry Denise." Troy

"I'm not mad. Thanks for the offer. And, apology accepted. Don't worry mga kuya, I'm perfectly fine." Ako

Silence.

"Sigi na. I'll hang up. Ingat na lang tayo lahat. And see you on Monday." Ako

"Okay. See you." Troy

"Ingat Denise." Luke

"Ingat din sila sayo." Jacob

Naiiling na inend ko na ang tawag.

And who said that they're going to follow my request upon not calling me?
Syempre, hindi gagawin 'yon ng tatlo.
Dahil wala pang 10 minutes na nakauwi ako, hindi pa man ako nakakapagpahinga ay magkakasunod silang tumawag with the same question.

'Nakauwi ka na? Are you safe?'

See? Mga pasaway talaga eh.

***

Mabilis na lumipas ang araw, ang here I am, preparing my things because it's already Monday.

"Ma? Pa? I'm heading to work." Ako

My parents were both in the kitchen kaya medyo nilakasan ko ang boses ko.

"O? Siya. Ingat ka." Mama

I kiss her on the cheeks.

"Gusto mo bang ihatid na kita anak?" Papa

"Thanks but no thanks Pa. I'm bringing my car." Ako

Yep. I have my own car.
Hindi ko lang ito nadala last week dahil nga nasa out of town business trip ako na all expense ng company.

"Okay. Take care hija." Papa

"You too Pa. Don't work so hard. Hindi naman po natin kailangan maging sobrang yaman." Ako

"Ikaw talagang bata ka." Papa

The three of us laugh.

"I love you both." Ako

Again. I kissed them on their cheeks.

"Mas mahal ka namin anak." Mama

"See you later." Ako

Then I went outside.

I am about to ride the car when my phone rang.

Faith is calling.

"Yes? Good morning." Ako

"Good morning Besh. You at work?" Faith

"Not yet. I'm about to go. Napatawag ka?" Ako

"I just want to remind you the contest this Wednesday. Hindi ka pwedeng mawala okay?" Faith

"Of course I remember. Ipaalala mo ba naman sa akin simula pa last month. Makalimutan ko pa ba?" Ako

Faith laugh.

"I love you Besh. So? See you on Wednesday?" Faith

"Yeah. See you." Ako

"Yung pasalubong ko wag mong kalimutan." Faith

"Pasalubong ka dyan? Wala." Ako

"Haha. Kuripot ka talaga ever. Sigi na. Take care. And, ikamusta mo ako sa mga alaga mo ha?" Faith

I laugh.

May idea naman siguro kayo sa 'alaga' na tinutukoy niya.

"Loka." Ako

"You can bring them on Wednesday if you want?" Faith

"Oh please. I want peace." Ako

"Just kidding. Sigi na. Ingat ka sa pag-drive." Faith

"I will. Thanks. See you then." Ako

Oh. You may be wondering who is Faith?
Well, she's my girl Bestfriend.

Faith Rosal.
25 years old. A secondary teacher.
We've been friends and classmate in high school.
Although we took different course when in college, we are on the same organization club.
The Campus Publication.
We are both editors back then.
Siya sa News at Sports stories.
While I'm into Opinion, Literary at Feature articles.

At 'yung contest na tinutukoy niya?
It's all about their school slogan and poster competition kung saan isa ako sa invited judges niya.

Hindi na ako nakatanggi because she already decided it for me even before she told me about it.

Isa pang pasaway diba?

I wonder.
Lapitin ba ako nang may saltik?

Because my closest friends were all like that.
The Three Rabbits.
And a Smart-bratty teacher.

Nakangiting napailing-iling na lang ako bago sumakay na nang sasakyan.

***
credits sa pinagkunan ko ng mga pics. 😁