Rj
Four days na akong sinusungitan ni Kulas.
"Good Morning, Bes Nicolas! Bati na ba tayo today?" I asked via text.
"No."
Aba. "Ano ba kasing nangyari? Hindi ko naman alam kung anong ginawa ko? Sabihin mo kaya para masabi kong mali ka?"
"EWAN KO SA'YO!"
Hala. All caps na. Lagot. Galit na talaga ito. Kailangan ko i-on ang super charms ko. Meron pa naman yata akong natira kasi na-charm ko naman si Nic maging friend ko, baka mag-work to charm her into a good mood.
First, buy her favorite: Ramen.
Second, pick her up from work kasi for sure hindi makakakuha ng cab yun because rush hour and wala siyang car because coding.
"Sige na, please? Hatid na kita sa condo mo."
"Ayaw ko," she said, stomping and pouting at the sidewalk.
Ang cute, parang baby. "Halika ka na. Kanina ka pa naghihintay 'no? Gaano ka na katagal nagbu-book?"
She grudgingly admitted it was close to an hour.
"O see? Halika na. I have ramen for you!"
I saw her struggle. Ma-pride itong si Kulas pero kapag gutom tapos may ramen, may chance na bibigay yan.
"Favorite mo. Spicy pa. Nasa place ko! Iinitin nalang. Tara! Tapos tapusin na natin yung series na sinimulan natin last week?"
She pouted, frowned then started to walk away.
Saan pupunta 'to?
"Hoy. Saan ka ba nakapark? Bilisan mo, gutom na ako."
Success!
*
At my flat, I heated our food as she settled in my sofa, tinkering with the controls of the smart tv so we could start watching.
I saw her massaging her calves.
"Uy, kawawang Nicolas. Akin na nga yang mabahong paa mo, ako na mag massage."
"HINDI MABAHO YUNG FEET KO!" She protested.
"Hindi nga. In fairness sa'yo, wala kang kachichas. I'm amazed."
She was getting annoyed, we both knew how particular she was with her feet. "Wag na nga!" She said pulling away.
"Joke lang! Ito naman. Bakit ka ba kasi naka-heels?!" I asked, starting to massage her and looking at her footwear.
"Buong week kaya ako nakaheels. Hindi ka lang bumibisita kasi kaya hindi mo napansin," she grumbled.
"Whole week?! Eh di ba sabi mo dati you hate heels?"
"Yung date mo kasi naka-heels."
"Ano?"
"Wala."
The microwave pinged and I stood up to get our food before I asked, "Bakit ba ang init ng ulo mo sa akin?"
She gave me evil stares, took a sip of her ramen, before finally admitting, "Kasi nagdate ka lang kinalimutan mo na ako."
"Ayoooon! Selos ka? Uy! Si Kulas. Type mo ko."
"Ulul. Feelingero. Kapag naging busy ka kasi, wala na akong free ride on Thursday coding day!"
"Huuuuuuu kunyari pa ito eh. Kaya ba naka-red lipstick ka din ngayon?"
"ANO BA KASI!"
"OO NO?! Hahahahahahahahahaha! Yiheeee si Nicolas nagbibinata!"
She hit me to make me stop laughing but I wouldn't. Ang cute eh! She was so flustered she blushed pero hindi makapag-deny.
"Uuwi na nga ako!"
I pulled her in and hugged her. "Hindi na. Ito naman. Ano ka ba! Kahit anong mangyari, hindi kita iiwan 'no?"
"Ows! Eh hindi ka na nga nagpapakita sa office ngayon palang. Paano pa kapag kayo na?"
Manhid din ito eh. Ni hindi ko na nga tinetext yung dinate ko.
"Hay nako, Nicolas. Kung gusto mo, magpapatattoo pa ako. BK FOREVER!"
"Ang panget! Boogs and Kulas."
"Feeling mo. BK. Burger King. Peyborit ko yun eh."
"Leche."
She moved away again but siyempre I followed. "Joke lang! Sige na. BN. Boogs and Nicolas."
"Pangeeeeeetttt!"
"O sige na. I'll carve dun sa puno namin sa bahay. Rj + Nic Together forever and never to part, together forever..." I sang the Rick Astley song.
"Kasya yun sa puno niyo?"
"Oo, malaki yun eh. Acacia."
She laughed out loud then fell back on the couch. "Sorry sa pagsusungit, Boogs. Okay lang naman ako if you date. Nanibago lang ako."
I looked at her and tucked a strand behind her ear. "Sorry din. I didn't mean to disappear on you. That date made me think about some things and then work got in the way... basta. Hindi na. I'll always make time for you, okay?"
She nodded then settled into my arms as we watched this series.
Hindi ko pa sinabi sa kanya yung mga napag-isipan ko. Hindi ko din kasi alam kung ready na siya for it, but yung nagselos siya at hinanap niya ako... good sign na yun 'no?
Baka dapat planuhin ko na ang pag-amin. Crush ko din kasi si Nicolas.
