The Sweetest Downfall (Published Under KPNY Self-Publishing & Printing)

CHAPTER 29: Mansari

Jillian

December 16

I can't believe it. Tristan and I were official for a month. I never thought that loving him and to be loved by him was a magical feeling. We‟re not the typical type of couple the others see. We fight, argue into small things, but at the end of the day, it's the love that stays. Corny, yet true.

Third day of holiday break, it's Christmas season and the vacation‟s almost three weeks until next year.

First thing in the morning, I scrolled my phone to see if he remembered our FIRST MONTHSARY, but there's no message. I don't want to ruin the morning. Baka naman tulog pa. Kaya hinayaan ko na lang. Maaga akong nagising, dahil siguro excited ako for our first monthsary but looks like the other party wasn‟t. Tinext ko na lang din siya kasi baka ganoon din ang iniisip niya, na  baka nakalimutan ko.

To: 0917 654 3210

Happy first monthsary, babe! I love you! :*

After that, I prepared myself for a jog, gawain ko „to kapag bakasyon. I dressed up on my running suit and went outside my room. Si Mama lang ang gising pa. She's preparing for breakfast, papasok kasi sa office si Papa.

Weird, shes smiling from ear to ear in this early. "Good morning, Ma. Jogging lang po."

"Good morning din, 'nak. Sige, ingat."

Before I take the first lap on the quadrangle in the court, I checked my phone. No text message. Little by little, I am becoming mad. Hindi ba importante sa kanya 'yung fact na naka-isang buwan na kami? The date was 16, to be marked. But seems he doesn‟t mind at all. Ganyan ba talaga ang mga lalaki? Konti lang ang nagpapahalaga sa monthsary. Bilang na bilang.

Okay, I was being melodramatic here. Malay ko naman kung baka tulog pa nga. „Yan lang ang tumatakbo sa isip ko the whole time I was jogging. Parang hindi ko nga naramdaman ang pagod for almost an hour.

Nakauwi na ako sa amin pero wala pa ring text si Tristan. Was I expecting too much? Sabi nga nila, expectations lead to disappointments. Tears started to fall. Syempre inagapan ko na agad, baka sabihin pa ni Mama ang arte ko 'pag nakita niyang umiiyak ako. Blame me, pero babae rin ako. At hindi maaalis sa isang babae na mag-expect from her boyfriend na i-greet siya sa first monthsary nila. I'm not demanding for surprises. What matters to me is the fact that he remembers it.

Hours passed. Dumating ang tanghali, kumain ako kahit wala akong gana. Nakapamalengke na si Mama, nakapaglaro na ng Dota si Arkin sa computer shop. Nakipagtsismisan na 'yung katulong ng kapitbahay namin sa katulong sa kabilang bahay, nakapag-deliver na ng tubig 'yung water boy, ni hi, ni hoy, wala.

Still no sign of Tristan. 6 P.M. na, at alam kong wala ng pag-asa. Magaling din! Ni isang text hindi makatitikim sa'kin 'yang si Tristan, akala niya, ha! Manigas siya!

Busy akong nagbabad ng sarili ko sa laptop, pero nakatulala lang naman ako sa harap no'n. This is crazy. That guy! I‟m gonna punch him hard 'pag nakita ko siya. Suddenly, Mom knocked on the door of my room.

"Jillian, pakidala naman nito kina Aling Edna. Ito 'yung order niya sa'kin, eh. Hindi ko kasi maiwan „yung niluluto ko. Si Arkin, may ginagawa."

"Yes, Ma. Wait lang po, I'll be there in five minutes." Syempre nagayos muna ako, nagsuklay at nagpulbo, nakakahiya naman kung mukha akong zombie na lalabas ng bahay.

Mom handed me the order. I find it weird, ang liit kasi, ano kayang laman nito? Nasa box lang siya na parang package?

I was drown on my own thought at hindi ko namalayan na nasa tapat na ako ng bahay nila Aling Edna. I was about to pressed the doorbell when a note beside it was posted.