Laura
I was having a great time with Ethan.
After that blind date, we had been seeing each other regularly - minsan for lunch when he would have these sweet notes for me along with food he prepared for us, or after work when we'd grab a quick bite together before heading our separate ways.
Once in awhile, I would agree for him to bring me home, pero madalas ayaw ko pa din.
"Why? Ayaw mo kay Ethan?" Mina asked.
"We're okay naman as friends but I'm just not sure about anything more," I told Mina.
Which was a lie.
Kasi gusto ko na si Ethan. Mabilis ako, oo. Gusto lang naman, hindi mahal. Gusto ko na pero alam mo yun? I'm holding myself back.
"Hay nako, Laura. What will it take for you to get over Benjie?"
Ugh. I hate it when Mina mentions my ex but she is correct. Kailan nga ba?
"What's wrong?" Ethan asked that night at dinner.
"Wala. Ano... may namention lang si Mina kanina and it bugged me."
"About what? Pwede mo bang i-share?"
I looked at him. More than these dates, Ethan has been a really good friend and I wanted to share it with him so... "I was engaged before."
His eyes widened. "Kaya ang tindi ng hinanakit mo kay Destiny!!!"
"Can you keep it down?" I asked, embarrassed.
"Sorry."
"Anyway, that's how I met Mina... at a Bridal Fair. Kukunin sana namin siyang coordinator." I looked around at the restaurant where we were at. "Do you mind if we continue this at my place? Ayokong magkwento dito eh."
"Sige. Gusto mo bili tayo ng beer and pulutan?"
I raised my eyebrows. "Bakit kailangan ng beer?"
"Ganun sa pelikula eh," he shrugged, and I had to laugh.
We ended up buying a few cans and some snacks and once we were in, I continued, "So, yun nga. Engaged ako dati."
"Matagal mo ba siyang boyfriend?"
I nodded.
"And? What happened?"
"I... Ewan ko. When he asked palang, may doubts na ako. The more the preparations continued, the more doubts I had about it. Pero illogical kasi gusto ko naman siya, we planned this pero ewan ko..."
When he stayed silent, I continued.
"One day, when we were fixing requirements for the license, I just said, I can't do it. I broke up with him."
"Wait. Ha? Ikaw yung nag-end ng relationship?"
"Yes," I said, not quite meeting his eyes.
Ethan had a strange, puzzled look. "Hindi ko gets."
"Ang alin?"
"If you were the one who broke it off... bakit ikaw yung bitter kay destiny? Kapal mo ha. Dapat si destiny ang galit sa'yo."
"Yan talaga ang concern mo?"
He chuckled. "Okay, so you were the one who broke it off. It didn't feel right. What did Mina say that bothered you?"
