Taped-Up Heart

IV. Stating Facts

Chapter Four

Stating Facts

"Mama, have you seen a small box? Tamang size lang laki niya? Baka naman may nakikita ka or nakukuha from my bag?" I asked my mom.

I've been looking for it everywhere!

Nasaan na ba kasi 'yun?!

"No. I didn't see any box. Saan mo ba nilagay?" she asked.

"Nasa bag ko," I said. Hanggang ngayon hindi ko pa rin talaga makita 'yung gift ko para kay Duane. Saan bang lupalop ng mundo napunta 'yun? I need it now! "Hindi mo ba talaga nakikita? Or nakukuha?" I asked again.

"No. I haven't seen it, besides kagabi ka lang naman umuwi dito," she said.

"Okay, thanks," I dismissed before heading upstairs again. For sure, mapapagalitan pa ako ni mom dahil bihira ako umuwi dito sa bahay namin. Wala sa condo, wala rin dito sa bahay. Wala rin sa mga bag ko...

Don't tell me na nakay Tiunggo 'yun? Baka kasi mag-tampo na talaga sa akin si Duane kapag hindi ko nahanap or naibigay 'yung gift ko sa kanya!

Should I buy him a new gift na lang kaya? Pero, sayang naman 'yung gift kong 'yun sa kanya. Sayang naman 'yung nagastos ko. Ang mahal din kaya nun!

At matapos ang ilang minuto ng pag-aalinlangan ko, hindi bukal sa kalooban kong tinawagan ang unknown number na nasa phone ko. After two rings, he already answered my call. "Hello? Asia?" he answered like he wasn't sure if it was me calling him.

"Tiu," I called. "Can I ask you something?" I said.

I badly needed to find that gift. I chose it myself. I bought it because I knew that Duane would love it. Dahil kung wala lang naman sa akin iyon, wala akong balak na tawagan 'tong Tiu na 'to!

God, even dialling his number ay labas sa ilong ko!

"Sure, what is it?" he asked casually.

"That night... you know," I rolled my eyes.

"What night? Care to elaborate?"

I didn't mind his question and diverted the topic to the box. "Did I forget something? A box? A small blue box to be exact? Baka may naiwanan lang ako."

Hindi kaagad siya nakasagot. "Hello?" I called out. Ilang minuto na ang nakalipas pero hindi pa rin siya sumasagot, baka mamaya nakatulog na pala siya! Or tinulugan niya sadya ako!

Knowing that guy!

Walang manners ang unggoy na 'yun, e!

"Hey..." he said.

"Ano? May naiwanan ba ako?"

"Yup," he said. Halos mapa-yes na ako sa tuwa nang marinig ko ang sinabi niya. Thank God! Buti na lang talaga nasa kanya 'yun. I thought I've already lost it. Sayang talaga 'yun. Ang mahal naman kasi noon!

"When can we meet? I need that box immediately," I said. "I really need it, today. Are you busy? May ginagawa ka ba?" I asked, my fingers were already crossed. One hour na lang kasi ang meron ako at susunduin na ako ni Duane dito sa bahay. "Tiu? Hello?"

"Hey, sure, sure. Where do you want to meet? I'm free at the moment," he said.

"Sa 7/11 near my condo na lang, okay lang?" I said. Bibili rin kasi ako ng gatorade na ibibigay ko kay Duane kasi may laro sila ngayon against SFA.

"Okay," he said. "Be there in a few minutes," then he ended the call.

Nagpanic tuloy kaagad ako. Now na? Agad-agad? Hindi na tuloy ako nag-abala pang magbihis. I immediately drove off to the said place. Good thing hindi traffic at hindi rin naman ganoon kalayo 'yun sa bahay namin.

After minutes of driving, I finally arrived at the destination. I was about to enter the store when somebody called me.

Lumingon ako at nakita ko siya sa loob ng kotse niya. Range Rover. Kaagad siyang bumaba. "Asia, here..." he said before handing me a paper bag.

Halos maluha na ako nang makita kong nandoon pa nga ang gift ko. Sobrang special kasi talaga nito for me kasi nga pinag-ipunan ko talaga 'to. I prepared money for my birthday gift for Duane. Sobra. Tinipid ko ang sarili ko mabili ko lang 'to. Yes, we were somehow rich, but not as rich as Duane's family.

Nagulat ako sa sunod kong ginawa... maging siya.

What... the... hell, Asia?

I hugged him! I just frigging hugged him! Oh, my god! Asia naman! Ano'ng ginagawa mo?! Bakit ko siya niyapos?!

"Hala! I'm s–sorry! I didn't mean to—I was just really happy na na sa 'yo pala 'tong box na 'to..." I explained. Hindi ko na maintindihan. Nahihiya ako, sobra! "I'm sorry, n-natuwa lang talaga ako na---"

Ngumiti siya ng tipid. His hands were inside his pockets. Typical popormahin ng mga f—boys sa school namin. "It's alright, no need to explain yourself to me. You can hug me whenever you want and whenever you feel like it," he said, very confident.

Napataas ang kilay ko. "Ang kapal!"

Akala niya naman gusto ko siyang i-hug?!

Over my dead body!

Tumawa siya. "Typical Asia."

"Are you stereotyping me?" I asked him.

He shook his head, suppressing his laugh. "No... just stating facts."

I rolled my eyes at him. He smiled again, iyong tipo ng ngiti na sincere na. Ngayon ko lang nakita 'yang ngiti niyang 'yan. Mas guwapo siya kapag sincere iyong smile niya. Kainis. "You look even cuter with your pajamas on," he said.

Natigilan ako. Oh, god! Nakakahiya! Nakapambahay pa nga pala ako! At ni hindi ko sure kung may muta ba ako or what! I was about to turn my back on him when he stopped me.

"Wag ka nang mahiya, nakita na nga kitang suot ang t-shirt at boxer shorts ko. So, no biggie, really, Asia," he even teased.

Napatawa ako bigla sa accent niya. Marunong naman palang mag-Tagalog ang tiunggong 'to! Sobrang cute lang niyang umimik ng Tagalog, parang si Duane.

Speaking of Duane...

"I've got to go," I said. Bigla kong naalala na may lakad pa nga pala ako. Super makakalimutin ko na talaga these past few days! "By the way, thank you nga pala ulit for this," I said showing him the paper bag.

I was about to go when he stopped me from doing so. "Not so fast, Asia."

My forehead creased. "What?"

Ano nanaman ba ang kailangan niya?

I was shocked ng bigla niyang kuhanin ang paper bag mula sa akin ng walang kahirap-hirap.

"Hey! Akin 'yan!" I said as I tried to get it from him. Pero ang gago, mas itinaas niya pa ito. At dahil mukhang may lahi ng mga higante itong Tiu na 'to, hindi ko maabot. I was already tiptoeing! Yet, I couldn't get it from him! Ang annoying niya!

"Ano ba! Give it back to me!" I hissed. "Akin naman 'yan, e! Hindi 'yan sa 'yo!"

Naka-smirk lang siya habang pinapanood akong mahirapan sa pagtiad at pag-agaw ng paper bag sa kaniya. "Sure."

"That's mine, you monkey!"

"In one condition, Asia."

I stopped. Umayos ako ng tayo at hinarap na siya. Ano nanamang condition nito?! "Ano?" I asked.

Ano nanaman ba ang trip nito?

"Have dinner with me."