The Girl With The Green Dress

7th #TGWTGD

Why is Kaia like that? Hindi ba niya naiisip na pwedeng may punto ako? Na baka tama nga ako at si Azurin ang may pinaplano?

Can she open her eyes... for me?

But fuck! I don't have the right to complain to all of these. Ako lang naman ang pumipilit na pumasok sa mundo niya.

But then...

Maybe she's right. Did I feel so entitled? Did I assume too much?

What if Azurin's trying to get to know Kaia without any malice? What if... he just wants to genuinely know Kaia?

Do I have to stop now?

I like her so much. I am going crazy right now!

They say that when people don't like someone since their birth, they surely will fall hard when they do.

So this is the feeling, huh?

Sa gabing yo'n, nagvideocall ulit si Ate Emma sa akin via messenger. But this time, with Mom.

"Hey..." Ngiti ang bungad ko sa kanila.

Kumunot ang noo ni Ate, waring may maling nakita sa akin pero wala naman siyang sinabi.

"Hi, baby boy." ani Ate.

"Hi, anak." ani Mommy.

"Where's Dad?" I asked.

"He's in our room. He went for a meeting and it lasted for about three hours so he's resting now." Paliwanag ni Mommy.

"Okay. So would you tell me ladies what's with the call?" Ngumisi ako.

Tumawa silang dalawa.
"Well, anak, the annual celebration of the company will be next week. And you know your father wants it to be extravagant."

"Yeah, Mom, I know. Is there something wrong with the preparation?"

"Wala, anak. Everything is fine. Yung pinatahi nga palang suit na para sayo ay narito na. You might want to check it."

"Okay, Mom. Maybe on Wednesday, we have no class so I'll go home."

Simula noong tumuntong ako sa kolehiyo, bumukod ako sa kanila dahil kailangan kong mas mapalapit sa unibersidad na papasukan ko. Laguna's my hometown. Maging si Vincent, Colin at Finn. And the university's in Manila. Gusto ni Mommy na sa Makati ako kumuha ng condo unit kaya iyon ang sinunod ko kahit kailangan ko pa magcommute Makati hanggang Maynila.

Noong nalaman nilang nahihirapan ako sa pagcommute, Dad wanted to give me a car. I don't want it but he insisted. So I have no choice but to take it, but not that easy.

Nagtrabaho ako sa company ni Daddy bilang kabayaran noon. Buong first year ko iyon kaya pahirapan ako sa pagkakasya ng schedule ko. Ayaw ni Mommy at ni Ate noong ginawa ko pero wala rin naman silang nagawa dahil iyon ang gusto ko.

"Okay, if that's what you want." ani Mommy.

Natahimik kami saglit.

"Okay, Mom, what is it? We are not really talking about the upcoming event? Ate? What?"

Mommy laughed shyly that's why I already know it's about what Ate told me.

"Anak, can you meet Louiella? Please. I want to help Romana. And Louiella is so kind. You will like her, I promise."

Talagang maaasahan itong si Ate. Hindi niya pa sinasabi kay Mommy ang tungkol sa sinabi ko sa kan'ya.

"Mom, I will meet her, okay? If my schedule fits."

Masayang napapalakpak si Mommy. Napatingin ako kay Ate. Hindi niya pa ba sinasabi kay Mommy na payag ako?

"Don't worry, I'll plan it. Thank you very much. I'll just go check your Dad. I love you."

"Love you too, Mom."

Ngumiti siya sa akin bago na siya nawala sa screen. When I heard the door closed, Ate began to talk.

"What's with the fake smile? May nangyari?"

I did not even notice that it was a fake one.

"Walang nangyari. I'm just tired." I smirked.

She raised an eyebrow.

"Tired of what?"

"Nevermind," ngumisi pa ako.

"Oh, come on, brother. Tell me."

Wala na akong nagawa dahil kukulitin lang ako nito kaya naikwento ko na.

She wanted to go to the campus and punch Azurin's face when she heard about it. But then, I also told her my what-ifs about it. That maybe, Azurin is really genuine.

Natahimik naman kami nang matapos siyang magrant tungkol doon.

"Why didn't you tell Mom that I agree to meet Louielle?" Nang naalala ko ay naitanong ko rin.

"Iniisip ko kasi na baka nagkakamabutihan na kayo ni Kaia. Ang akala ko, sasabihin mo na ngayon na bawal talaga kasi kayo na." She pouted.

Ngumisi na lamang ako.

Nagpaalam na rin ako para makapagpahinga. She's from work pero gusto niya pang magkwento ako tungkol kay Kaia. Buti ay napilit ko na sa ibang araw na lang.

Kinabukasan ay naging malupit ang tadhana sa akin. Sabay na nagpark ang kotse ko at ang kotse ni Azurin at naroon si Kaia.

Nakita ko pa kung paano pagbuksan siya ng pinto ni Azurun. Azurin smirked at me. I saw Kaia looking at me. It looked like she's weighing my reaction, but I avoided it because maybe I'm just hallucinating.

Maybe I really am. Because why would she, right?

Nilagpasan ko na lang sila.

Dumiretso ako sa room at nakita ko kung paano ako pinagtinginan ng mga kaklase ko. For the first time since I was waiting for Kaia everyday, I went to the room earlier than Vince, Finn and Colin.

Pumikit na lang muna ako para sandaling umidlip.

Hindi ko alam kung ilang minuto akong nakapikit nang may tumapik sa akin.

Vincent, Colin and Finn are staring at me while taking their seats.

"Akala namin maaabutan ka na naman namin doon na naghihintay." Si Vincent.

"Wala na akong hihintayin kasi pagdating ko kanina, kasabay ko sila."

Natahimik sila.

"So you will stop now?" ani Finn kalaunan.

"Maybe. Maybe not." Sabi ko, bahagyang tulala.

Wala silang nasabi.

"The annual celebration's next week. I'll go home in Laguna this Wednesday since wala tayong pasok. Dumating na yung suit ko, I'll check it." Sabi ko nang matigil sa pagkatulala.

"'Yong sa akin din sabi ni Mommy, binabalak ko sana sa Linggo ko na titignan pero sabay na lang ako sa'yo." Si Finn.

"Ako noong isang linggo pa, sabay din ako." Si Colin.

"Ako kahapon lang. Ano? Sabay sabay na lang tayo umuwi sa Wednesday?" Si Vincent.

Ngumisi ako sa kanila at umiling.

"Iniisip nyo bang brokenhearted ako kaya sasamahan n'yo ako?" Tanong ko.

Kunwari pa silang nagulat. Natawa ako.

"Assuming, dude? Para sabay sabay lang tayo." sabi ni Vincent kaya nagtawanan na lang kami.

At least I got to see her today kahit na ganoon.