Ideal Love

Chapter VII

Everything went smoothly after that. Nasanay na sila ni Sam na gumising na may nakatowel na hunk na lalaking nagtitimpla ng kape at umuwi ng may poging naka-apron sa kusina. He really did everything for them. Mukhang hindi ito napapagod sa pagtatrabaho.Kasi pag-uwi nito ng bahay laging areglado. Hindi nauubusan ng laman ang ref nila at hindi rin nito nakakalimutan ilabas ang mga damit nilang ipapalaundry. Kristoff made sure na hindi siya pabigat sa dalawa.In fact, he is really a great help.

Napalapit na rin ito sa kanila ni Sam.Minsan naiilang pa rin siya, the way he looked at her pero dinadaan na lang niya ito sa biro. Punong puno lagi ng tawanan ang bahay nila pag-uuwi sila ng hapon. They all have stories to share each day. Namalayan na lang nila naka-isang buwan na pala ito sa kanila.

“Welcome ladies,” bati nito pag-uwi nila ng hapon. “You better change clothes at aalis tayo,” he announced.

“Bakit? Anong meron?” halos sabay nilang sabi ni Sam.

“Idedate ko kayo. Treat ko, monthsary nating tatlo,” Aiah’s heart always melted when she saw him looking at her with that smile on his lips.

“Nako Krisanto, napakadaya mo talaga, may date ako ngayon!” Sam said irritatingly. “Lalamangan nyo na naman akong dalwa, for I know you plan to date my bestfriend alone,” natatawang sabi nito.

“Hala, may date ka ba? E di magdouble date tayo. Sasama kami ni Aiah. Medyo nabuburo na rin kami magdinner dito,” he suggested then winked at her best friend.

“Double date?” reklamo niya.

“Nako ang ale, allergic sa word na date. Magdate kayo ni Sam. Ako na lang makikipagdate dun sa suitor nya.” Natatawang sabi nito. “Pogi ba  yun Sam?”

“Funny,”

“Good idea, let’s have a double date. Para din makilala nyo si Luis my Labs,”

“Luis my labs?” tanong niya. “Boyfriend mo na siya? Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa akin?”

“Loka ka talaga, alangan naman makipagdate ako lagi sa isang tao ng ganun lang,” Sam answered.

“So paano? Kilos kilos na at gagabihin tayo masyado. Tawagan mo si Luis kung payag siya,” he said.

“Di aangal yun at gulpi yun sa akin, o tara best, magpapaganda pa tayo at may date ka pa,” hinila na siya nito papunta sa kwarto niya.

Sam’s with Luis in his car. At siya, syempre hindi pumayag si Kristoff na hindi rin sila magdala ng car. So she’s with him. Ayaw sana niya pumayag pero obvious na obvious na naman siya pagnagtatanggi pa siya. Eto na naman po kami ng kumakabog kong puso..

He drove smoothly. Inayos pa nito ang seatbelt niya. At alam ninyo na ulit ang nangyari. He was so closed that she could not almost breathe because she knows her traitor heart would again fail her. “T-thanks,” she managed to say.

“Relax ka lang Aiah, I won’t do anything you won’t like,” nakangiti ito sa kaniya. Mukhang nahalata na naman nitong uneasy siya. While driving, nagkaroon siya ng chance na titigan ito sa malapitan. He possessed a face that everyone would love to stare.

“Anong iniisip mo?” he asked.

“Uhm, wala.”

“Wala eh makatingin ka diyan,” natatawang sabi nito. “Buti pa si Sam ano? Masaya siya. Tayo kaya kelan?

“Anong tayo?” singhal niya dito.

“OA ka minsan. Tayo, ikaw kelan ka sasaya? Ako, kelan kaya?”

“Masaya naman ako. I’m surrounded by people who love me,” sagot niya.

“Include me in the list,”

“What list?”

“Wala. Eto na pala tayo. Wait,” ito ulit ang nagtanggal ng seatbelt niya.

Luis was a nice guy. Magaan ang pakiramdam nila dito. He also laughs  with Kris’ jokes. Nagkasundo agad ang dalawang lalaki. Masaya silang nagdinner. Maaga silang nakakain kaya naisipan din ni Sam na magbar sila. Game naman ang dalawang lalaki. Siya lang ang hesitant. Pero siyempre dahil democratic country ito at majority always wins, she has no choice but to join them.

They ordered beer at wine naman si Sam. Siya, saling ket-ket kaya pineapple juice lang. When the beat started to be slow, Luis asked Sam to dance. Naiwan silang dalwa sa table.

“I’ll just use the powder room,” she excused herself. Ngumiti lang ulit ito. Although sanay na siya sa presence nito, still it’s not that easy to be alone with him.

Papabalik na siya sa table nila ng mapansin niyang may dalawang babaeng tumabi kay Kris. He seems not to care pero napansin niyang hindi ito komportable, and when he saw her coming, he immediately rose from his seat and excuse himself. “Sorry girls but like what I’ve told you I’m with someone,” he walked towards her and continue “Babe ang tagal mo, I was about to follow you. Ok ka lang ba?” he said and grabbed her in her waist and kissed her gently on her cheek.” Napaatras naman ang dalawang babaeng umaaligid dito.

 “Sige pogi, next time if you’re free ha? Please join us,” iyon lang at umalis na ang mga ito. At siya? Nabato balani muli. She froze as if time had paused. With the dim light, she could see his longing face.

“Why did you do that?” tanong niya. She tried to compose herself and free herself without offending him.

“Because I want to,” sagot naman nito. He was still close to her and she could almost inhale all of his masculine scent. Ang bango po Lord..

“Hindi mo na dapat ginawa yun just to get away with them. Di ba gusto mong magkagirlfriend?” she sounds annoyed. Baka makahalata ito.

“Galit ka ba?” sinundan siya nito sa upuan. Hindi na niya ito pinansin. She tried to look for Sam pero wala na ang mga ito sa dance floor.

“Asan sila?”

“Dumating daw ang kuya ni Sam from Japan kasama ang mga pamangkin niya. Sinamahan siya ni Luis sumundo sa airport,”

“Bakit hindi mo agad sinabi? Ano pa ang ginagawa natin dito?” singhal niya.

“I tried kaya lang nabadtrip ka na sa akin. Gusto mo na ba umuwi?” para na naman itong maamong tupa. She can see loneliness in his eyes.

“Yes please?”

“Pwedeng favor?” pagsusumamo naman nito

“What?”

“Please dance with me,” parang nagmamakaawa ang mga mata nito. Ang inis niya kanina ay unti-unting napalitan ng kung anumang damdamin. Napangiti ito ng Inilahad niya ang kamay dito. He led her to the dance floor. And yes, she allowed herself to follow the beat, not only of the music but of her heart as well.

Sabi nga ng isang philosopher, memento mori. Seize the day while you live. Kaysaya!

Hindi niya alam kung ilang sweet songs ang pumainlanlang na kasayaw niya ito. Mali. Kayakap pala. He was so close to her. So close that he won’t let anyone go near her. It’s as if she was his and he was hers. The two of them, their hearts and the music.

“Thank you so much Aiah, you don’t know how much you made me happy tonight. I’m so sorry if you felt I used you to get away with the gir—“

“Thanks din. Sorry din sa reaction ko,” putol niya dito. They’re home already. “Good night na Kristoff, medyo na pagod ako,” tatalikod na sana siya ng bigla na naman siya nitong kabigin at yakapin ng mahigpit. This time alam niya hindi na friendly hug yon.  It was so tight..

“  Kristoff,”

“Konti lang please? Let me hug you tight. Baka kasi bukas malayo ka na naman sakin,” he whispered. So she let him. Hindi naman ito mukhang nagte-take advantage. And it’s so good to feel the warmth of his embrace.

Maya-maya’s kumalas na ito sa pagkakayakap sa kaniya. He stared at her and so she did.

“Thanks again Aiah,” ngumiti lang siya at dumiretso na sa kaniyang kwarto