Mr. Rich meets Miss Nobody (COMPLETED)

21-The Price when you strive

Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.

-Maya Angelou

21-The Price when you Strive

Zachary:

"Zale? Where are you?" mahinang tanong ko agad sa babae nang sagutin niya ang tawag ko. It's been thirty minutes pero wala pa rin ito hanggang ngaron. Napagkasunduan naming sa mall na lang magkita dahil ayaw naman niyang sunduin ko ito sa bahay nila sa hindi ko maintindihang kadahilanan.

"I'm sorry, Zach. I slept late at night kaya late na rin akong nagising. Just wait me for fifteen minutes and I'll be there, okay?"

Nagtataka na ako kung bakit na late siya ngayon na hindi naman nangyayari noon. Siguro may nangyari lang importante sa kanila.

Bumuntong hininga muna ako bago sumagot.

"Okay... Just take care." Wika ko pa sa kanya saka ibinaba na iyong phone matapos niyang magpaalam.

"Zach, ikaw ba iyan?" napalingon ako sa likuran ko nang marinig ang boses na iyon at makita ang mommy ni Kaizer.

"Tita, how are you?" nakangiting bati ko naman agad dito at hinalikan ito sa pisngi.

"I'm good. What about you? Do you have an appointment here?" tanong pa niya sa akin.

"Gagala lang po kami ni Zale." Napapakamot sa batok na sagot ko dito.

"Oh. You're dating her?" nakangiti ring tanong niya sa akin.

Tumango ako. "Opo, tita."

"You're very lucky to have her, you know. She's very sweet and kind... and...a very charming girl."

 "I can't help but to agree..." Mas lalo pang lumaki ang ngiting nakaplaster sa mukha ko.

"And I hope that you'll last together." Pagkawika'y sinipat niya ang suot nitong wristwatch bago ulit ako binalingan. "I'm sorry I need to go. I'll probably be late too." Pagpapaalam pa niya sa akin not before telling me something. "By the way, I hope you would not mind but I'm asking an apology on behalf of my son for disturbing Zale last night. He's too drunk kaya kung sinu-sino na lang ang natawagan niya... I'm really sorry for it."

I did not respond. Nakamasid lang ako sa ina ni Kaizer bago ito naisipang tumalikod na dahil wala na rin naman siyang makuhang response mula sa akin.Naupo ako sa silya at pilit na pino-process ang sinabi ng ina ni Kaizer kanina.

Lumabas si Zale sa gabi para lang ipagmaneho si Kaizer? Bakit? Bakit siya pa ang nagawang tawagan ni Kaizer knowing that she's my girlfriend? Is he trying to provoke me? It's not that I'm insecure but I can't trust him.

We've been friends, best of friends and I know him well. He never dated a girl but only flings. And to think that he's actually hitting my girl makes my nerve to trample.

Nasa ganun akong pag-iisip nang dumating si Zale.

"Zach? Are you okay?" salubong na tanong nito sa akin. Pinilit kong maglabas ng matamis na ngiti at isinantabi lang muna ang mga agam-agam ko kanina.

"Yes, I'm okay." Nakita kong tumango siya bago umupo sa silyang katapat ko. "Did something happen last night?" I tried not to be obvious when I ask her the question. I know Zale wouldn't hide something from me. Nakita ko siyang uminom ng tubig bago naiilang na hinarap ako.

"Zach, please don't get mad at it but..." she stops waiting for my response so I nodded. "Kaizer's drunk last night and the waiter calls me because he can handle his self. I'm sorry about it, Zach." She says it with a sincere apology in her eyes and I tried not to freak-out, I calm myself instead.