Luna Ville Series 2: Mystical Blue Cat (COMPLETE)

7th Chapter: Surreal

KATATAPOS lang magbigay ni Sley ng anti-rabies injection sa dalawang chihuahua na dinala sa kanyang animal clinic. Nakapagpaanak din siya ng shih tzu sa araw na iyon. Time flew fast for him that day. Needless to say, he had a busy day.

Dinampot niya ang cell phone. He was about to call Melou and Stein and invite them to join him for lunch, when he saw a paper bag on his table. Ibinaba niya ang cell phone, kinuha ang Tupperware sa loob ng paper bag at binuksan.

He laughed at what greeted him. Sa ibabaw ng kanin ay mayroong mga green peas. And those green peas formed the words, Marry me? <3.

Napangiti siya habang umiiling. "Ang kulit niya rin, 'no?"

Nagulat siya kanina sa mga sinabi ni Monina.

"Siguro nga, gentlemanly ka at mabait. Pero nakakasakit ka ng damdamin dahil kahit kabutihan ang ibinibigay mo sa isang tao, wala naman 'yong kalakip na pagmamahal. Para ka lang robot na naka-program tumulong."

How could she see through him with just one look? Nagkaroon siya ng ugnayan sa ilang mga babae sa nakalipas na limang taon, pero wala sa mga iyon ang nagtagal. Women walked out on him, saying his kindness alone would not satisfy them. Wala naman siyang magawa dahil wala na siyang ibang maibigay kundi kabutihan.

After Alyssa, it seemed that he could no longer open his heart to any woman.

And then there it was again, the sadness that squeezed his heart. Na-distract lang siya nang tumunog ang cell phone. "Hello—"

"Hi, Sley! This is Monina!" masigla at malakas na bati ng babae sa kabilang linya.

Napangiti siya. He could imagine the eager expression on her face upon hearing her cheerful voice. She looked like she was on the verge of jumping over him. And the thought that filled his senses calmed him. "Yes, Monina?" Dumako ang tingin niya sa wall clock. It was two in the afternoon. "Kumain ka na ba?"

"Yep! Kumain na ako sa Kahit Saan kanina. Nakasabay ko ro'n si Genna, and she gave me your number."

Kumunot ang noo ni Sley. "Wait. Bakit sa fast-food restaurant ka lang kumain? Why didn't you just cook?" Wala siyang cook sa bahay dahil sa labas siya nagla-lunch parati at sa gabi naman, kung hindi siya sa restaurant ni Alaude kumakain ay siya mismo ang nagluluto. Hindi kasi siya kumportable na may ibang taong pumapasok sa bahay niya, maliban sa mga kaibigan.

"Eh, iyon nga sana ang balak ko. Pero wala nang stock ang ref mo, eh," paliwanag ni Monina.

"Ah, right. Hindi pa nga pala ako nakapag-grocery. I'm sorry, Monina, pero puwede bang ikaw muna ang mag-grocery? Just go to Shop-o-pop. Don't worry, they'll put everything on my tab."

"Sure! Anyway, kumain ka na ba?"

Dumako ang tingin ni Sley sa lunch na inihanda ng babae para sa kanya. Napangiti siya. "Seriously, green peas lang ang ipapaulam mo sa 'kin?"

Narinig niya itong suminghap nang malakas. "Ay, nakalimutan kong ipagluto ka ng ulam!"

Natawa siya nang marahan. He could picture her biting her bottom lip and looking oh-so guilty. Cute. "I like green peas."

"Ows?"

Natawa uli siya. "Yes, I do."

"Okay. Eat well! Bye-bye!"

Napakurap si Sley nang busy tone na lang ang narinig. Ibinaba agad ni Monina ang telepono? Napailing na lang siya at sinimulan nang kumain. Pero nakakatatlong subo pa lang siya nang mag-ring uli ang phone. "Hel—"

"Masarap ba, Sley?" excited na tanong ni Monina sa kabilang linya.

"Ahm—"

"Hindi ka pa tapos kumain? Okay. Laters, bebeh! Bye!" She hung up again.

Bahagyang kumunot ang noo niya. She was acting strangely. Iiling-iling na ipinagpatuloy na lang niya ang pagkain, tiniis na kumain ng kanin na green peas lang ang ulam. Madali lang ang magpa-order ng lunch sa restaurant ni Alaude, but he did not want Monina's effort go to waste. Painom na siya ng tubig nang mag-ring uli ang telepono. "He—"

"Hello, Sley! Tapos ka nang kumain?"

"Yes—"

"Masarap?"

"Oo—"

"Thanks! Bye!" Monina hung up again.

Hinilot ni Sley ang sentido upang kalmahin ang sarili. Ayaw niyang mainis sa mababaw na dahilan. Napapikit na lang siya nang tumunog uli ang phone. He sighed before he took the call. "Ye—"

"Oops! Wrong number!" Busy tone.

Hindi niya alam kung matatawa o mapapakunot-noo na lang siya sa ginagawa ni Monina. Nang-aasar ba ang babae o sadyang makulit lang talaga?

Iniligpit na niya ang pinagkainan at handa na sanang magtrabaho uli dahil may pumasok na kliyente nang tumunog uli ang phone. He glared at the gadget. He did not know phones could be this annoying until a certain woman came along.

He excused himself from the client and took the call to scold Monina. Pinaistrikto niya ang boses para seryosuhin siya ng babae. "Monina, I'm busy—"

"Uwi ka nang maaga, Sley, ha? It's lonely here. I miss you," malambing na sabi nito.

Those words said in the sweetest way possible melted his irritation. Parang natunaw rin ang kanyang puso sa init na hatid ng paglalambing ni Monina. It was so mean of him to think that she was being annoying because of her constant calls when she was just missing him. Somehow, knowing that someone was lonely because of his absence made his heart swell. "I'm sorry," bulong niya.

"Hmm?"

Marahang umiling si Sley. "Wala. Uuwi ako nang maaga. Ipagluluto mo ba 'ko?" He heard her giggle. Ah, that cute, bubbly giggle of hers.

"I will, so you'd better go home early tonight. 'Wag kang masyadong pakapagod, ha? Bye."

"All right. Thank you. Bye." How ironic, just as soon as she hung up, he began to miss her voice when earlier, he was irritated like hell. Alam niya, ramdam niya, may nagbago na sa kanyang loob.

"Your wife?" nakangiting tanong ng matandang lalaking regular client niya na nagpapa-vaccine ng alagang bulldog.

"Ahm—"

"You're lucky to have someone who annoys you all day, yet gives you the sweetest serenity in the end," makahulugang sabi ng matandang lalaki.

Ngumiti lang siya. He suddenly wanted to see Monina.