Playful Melodies Book 2: Precious Miracles

Kabanata 4

Kabanata 4

Baby

I think any normal person would think the same. Ang laman ng maliit na box na iyon na pag-mamay-ari ni Basty ay… singsing?

More specifically, a wedding ring?

Napailing ako sa isip. Surely, it’s not. He’s in a rush but he can’t be that desperate. Umiling ulit ako sa pangalawang naisip. Macy, please be reminded that he is already planning to buy a house for the both of you for Pete’s sake! Kaya hindi iyon imposible. Kaya bakit mas nagugulat pa ako na may dala siyang singsing?

“Ma’am Macy, ayos lang po kayo?”

“Ma’am, dumudugo.” Tinuro ng kasambahay ang aking binti.

Hindi ko na alam ang uunanahin. Firstly, the fact that Basty has a wedding ring in his pocket. Secondly, my friend is here with a guy friend that I haven’t even seen before. And third, ang bubog na pumasok pala sa balat ko.

Nagmura si Basty at pumikit ako nang naramdaman ang sakit sa bandang tuhod ko. Sa liit ay halos hindi ko na napansin. Hindi na nagdalawang isip si Basty na buhatin ako at ipaupo doon sa kitchen stool. I don’t think he’s hurt too because he’s wearing long pants.

Mabilis silang umaksyon dahil hindi ko namalayan na nasa lamesa na ang first aid kit. The maids are cleaning the shattered pieces of the plate that I dropped while Basty is attending to me.

“Oopsie, I shouldn’t have done that,” sabi ng kaibigan kong hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko alam ang sadya. Well, it’s me, obviously. But what’s up exactly? Sino tong kasama niyang lalaki? Mukhang parehas kami ng iniisip ni Basty.

Maliit lamang ang sugat pero mukhang malalim.

“Ako na bahala diyan, Basty.” Tinapik ni Viv si Basty na ngayon ay nakasimangot na.

Kumunot ang noo ni Basty sa kanya, mukhang ayaw pumayag na hindi siya ang gumamot sa akin.

“Come on, I study in med-school,” she told him and slightly pushed him away from me.

Nakita ko ang pag-igting ng panga niya, for some reason.

Humingi ng paumanhin si Vivien sa akin dahil sa panggugulat at pinakilala sa amin ang lalaking kasama. I was already thinking that he might be her new boyfriend but I don’t know why I’m slightly surprised.

Nakaangat ang aking binti dahil ginagamot iyon ni Vivien. The two boys are beside us, awkwardly watching.

“Mace, Basty, this is Troy, boyfriend ko. We’re classmates in med-school. He’s from Pangasinan. Troy, these are my friends, si Macy at Basty.”

Nagtinginan kami ni Basty. I know he’s thinking about his friend, Yohan. Then again, maybe he moved on already. Well, that’s what I think.

Ngayong malapitan ko nang nakikita si Troy ay alam kong ang mga lalaking tulad niya ang tipo ni Vivien. Gwapo, matangkad, the bad boy type.

Tinanong ko si Viv gamit ang mata kung seryoso ba iyan o isa lamang fling o kung ano man. Nakuha niya ang gusto kong sabihin pero ngumuso lamang siya.

“Anyway, do you live here, Basty?” pag-iba ng topic ni Vivien, mukhang naghahanap ng sagot kung bakit narito si Basty. “Or is this some kind of trial run? You know, before the wedding. Do you need to live together for a few days?” Tumawa siya pero hindi ako natawa.

I will deal with Basty later and with whatever he has inside his pockets. I am still mad at him.

“Whatever. Kailan pa kayo nakarating ng Pilipinas? You didn’t call.”