Anna
Seeing Marco in Brussels took its toll on me. I never had been the overly dramatic, confrontational type so that conversation weighed on me.
I called in a sick day to sulk.
Mahal ko pa din. Nakakainis.
Almost four months separated, I still loved him. I'm overdue with moving on, I think.
I honestly didn't think I'd see him, but sure, I HAD hoped I'd bump into him and he'd see how much more beautiful I am these days and he'd regret leaving me and grovel at my feet.
I didn't want him to see me at that party with Sam and I sure didn't want to see him with Natalia.
Sam is a friend I met during that trip for the seminar. He's a funny guy and I thought okay let's hang out while I'm here, but nothing more. When he invited me to the house party, I agreed because there was nothing better to do anyway.
Malay ko ba na ang liit ng mundo dun. Iisa lang yata ang may house party nung gabi na yun.
I was honestly so thankful when Marco offered me a ride back at the hotel because I still get anxious with late night commutes, no matter where I was. But, although there was a part of me that was thrilled that he looked sad and wanted me back, I realized, I didn't want to see the guy hurt.
Ayokong malungkot siya. Hindi ako ready na balikan siya, but I don't want him to still be hurting.
But he deserves it!
Pero pa din. Wag ka na malungkot.
Bwiset na puso 'to.
I took the velvet box he handed me on my last day there. He insisted on bringing me to the airport, helped me with my luggage and all.
"Kahit hindi mo ako kausapin. Okay lang. I'll just help. I want to help."
"Kaya ko mag-isa."
"I know. But please let me do this?"
I agreed just to end the conversation already. Just before I went in the gates, he handed me a box.
"Advanced happy birthday," he said, shyly. "You probably have to open it because security might check."
My eyes widened when I saw them. The emeralds I had been eyeing on our last trip! He got the entire set - a pair of earrings, the ring and a pendant. I was giddy - deep inside. So sue me, I loved jewelry, okay?
When I looked at him, I had to fix my face to look like I didn't care.
"I can't take these." I said to him, though my mind screamed: Please insist for me to keep it!
"No, no. Sayo talaga yan. I was just waiting for the right time to give it to you. Please take it."
Yes! "Marco this doesn't change anything."
"I know. I have a long way to go to prove myself to you. This is not part of that. Gift lang talaga for your birthday. I know how much you wanted it," he said.
I just nodded, holding on tightly his gift. "I should go."
"Ingat ka."
"Thank you."
I willed myself not to look back while I was walking in. But as I was going for the checkin counters I was trying to glance if he was still somewhere in the periphery.
He was.
Bawal kiligin. Bawal umasa. Umayos ka Anna.
*
This day has been tiring.
I've been in meetings since 9am, a working lunch, a quick bathroom break to freshen up and then a 4 hour meeting. When I strolled back to my office, I just plopped down my chair and lay my head for a bit.
Cara, Marco's former secretary who was now assigned to me strolled in. "Good evening, Ma'am."
"Why are you still here? Sabi ko naman sayo you don't need to wait for me if I'm late. Sige na, go home. Baka gabihin ka pa."
"Yes po. Iiwan ko lang itong gifts."
Gifts?
She placed a beautiful arrangement of Ecuadorian roses I favored plus a box of chocolates. I swooned. "Wow! Who's this from? A supplier?"
"Here's the card po, Ma'am."
For you. From your secret admirer.
The typed message on the card made me frown. It also came with a small, circular glass box. Opening it, I found vegetables that looked like small cabbages.
When I got home, I asked my cook what it was.
"Brussel sprouts? That's weird. Why would you send someone Brussel sprouts?"
*
Philip
"Hindi ka pa ba kuntento sa isang sapak, Pare?"
"Kahit sapakin mo pa ako ulit, liligawan ko ulit. Ang tanong nalang kung tutulungan mo akong maayos kami."
I looked at my friend from the across the table. Marco and I had been friends since we were eight year old kids throwing mud at a common monster tree at the playground. We were brothers.
And even when I was pissed off at him recently and ended up punching him before he could get a word out, it was inevitable that we would eventually make peace because that's what brothers do.
He's a great guy, not perfect, but great. If he were asking this for any other girl, I would be on board. But this was Anna.
"Maghanap ka nalang ng iba. Huwag mo na guluhin si Anna."
"I tried, Pare -"
"Naghanap ka nga ng ibang babae? Eh sira ulo ka-"
"Hinde! I meant, sinubukan kong wag na guluhin pinsan mo! Ang gulo mo kausap eh."
"Ako pa ha? Ako pa magulo? Bakit ba kasi ako kinakausap mo? May sariling utak naman yung pinsan ko na yun," I said to him.
"I know that. But, I have a lot to make up for. Marami pa akong kailangan bawiin when it comes to Anna. I... I'm honestly clueless how, but alam ko lang I need to start with her family. Kayo yung pinaka-important sa kanya. I need to show her na important din kayo sa akin. So here I am asking for your forgiveness, and permission to support my ligaw kay Anna. I'm starting with you tutal magkakilala na tayo and importante ka din sa akin."
"Kadiri, Pare. Tigilan mo nga yan. Hindi ko kailangan na bolahin mo ako."
Marco chuckled. "Ano na? Payag ka?"
"Medyo. Oo. Pero kapag iniwan mo ulit at pinaiyak mo, kakalimutan ko talagang halos kapatid na kita."
Marco rolled his eyes. "Kaninong action movie mo ninakaw yang dialogue mo?"
I laughed. Brothers. "Funny. I thought that was something Anna would say."
"So, sino sa palagay mo dapat kausapin ko next?"
"Tita Beth. Humanda ka. May dalang itak yun."
