Maybe, Tomorrow

19: Inevitable

"Kailan ka pa naging bakla, Pokerson?" Natatawang tanong ni Joaqui kay Jay matapos ang kanilang meeting sa isang coffee shop.

"Gago! Hindi lang kasi ako sanay. Alam mo yun? Pakiramdam ko, parang nagbago na sya. Parang hindi na sya yung Maine na kilala ko before." Sagot ni Jay.

"Hindi ba mas okay nga yun? At least alam mong may nangyaring mabuti nung limang taon na magkahiwalay kayo."

Pinandilatan ng mata ni RJ ang kaibigan at binato ito ng nalukot na resibo sa mukha.

"Anong mabuti dun, Joaqs? Eh 'di ibig sabihin hindi na nya ako ganon kamahal?"

Joaqui laughed way too loud that he was able to get all the attention of the customers inside the coffeeshop.

"Ang ingay mo, punyeta!" RJ hissed.

"Kinginang yan. Naririnig mo ba ang sarili mo? You sounded like a girl ranting to her girlfriends about a boy. Susmaryosep, Richard. Hudapakaryu?"

Tiningnan ni RJ ang kaibigan nang masama habang iniinom ang kanyang lumalamig na kape.

"Ewan ko ah, kasi pakiramdam ko naman eh walang nagbago. Siya pa rin naman yun. Pero hindi naman kasi ako ang asawa, so I can only imagine the things that's going inside your head."

"Ewan ko, parang meron syang bakod na hindi ko matibag. I'm not saying na hindi yun tama, it's just that... the feeling is so foreign that I don't know how to react to it."

Joaqui chuckled then shook his head slowly.

"Kasi RJ, kahit naman ata ako magiging parang si Maine kung ganoon ang nangyari sa akin." He said.

"Ano, babalik na naman ba tayo sa kasalanang hindi ko ginawa?" RJ retorted.

"Woah, chill. Okay, real talk 'to ah? Alam nating hindi mo naman talaga ginawa yun and we have evidences to support that. Pero syempre, paano naman si Maine? Can what she went through? Jay, kahit hindi mo ginawa, naramdaman pa rin nya yung mga masasakit na bagay na naramdaman ng isang babae – asawa – na niloko ng kanyang asawa... Gets mo ba ako?"

RJ sighed.

"Kung kalian naman akala ko okay na, saka naman nagkaganito."

"Alam mo, sa palagay ko eh nago-overthink ka lang. Pwede ba? Huwag mo ng isipin. I-embrace mo nalang itong changes and think of it as a positive thing. Malay mo, it's for the better." Joaqui said before his phone beeped.

"Woops, sorry I have to go. Meron pa pala akong isang client meeting na, actually dapat ikaw ang umattend. Ayaw mo ba talagang sumama?" He asked as he stands up.

Umiling si RJ at tinignan ang kanyang relo.

"I have to meet someone and well... I'm running late. Kaya mo na yan, Joaqs. Ikaw pa ba?" RJ replied and laughed.

"Ayan ka eh, alam mo ikaw, magbalik-loob ka na nga sa firm. Nilalapit ko na nga sayo eh, kaunting effort naman from your side. Ano, ako nalang lagi?" Joaqs said and lifted his hand for a fist bump.

"Anong sa palagay mo ang ginawa natin kanina? Naglaro ng Monopoly? Sige na, balitaan mo ako mamaya kung anong nangyari sa meeting." RJ replied and responded to his fist bump.

"Okay, are you alright though? Do you want me to call Gab para may kausap ka?"

Lalong natawa si RJ sa sinabi ng kaibigan at napailing.

"Anong palagay mo sa akin, bata? Lumayas ka na nga sa harap ko. Parating na yung ka-meeting ko. Baka maabutan mo pa." He replied.

Joaqs and RJ shared a laugh before Joaqs finally walks towards the exit. As he approaches the door, a girl opened it and it took him about five second to figure who she was. He let out a soft gasp before finally helping her with the door.