One Great Love (COMPLETED)

9: Slowly but Surely

JAY

I arrived at the restaurant where Cat was. Ten minutes late pa ako bilang naipit ako sa traffic. It was a resto in Ortigas area. Pumasok ako sa loob at hinanap ang aking girlfriend. And there at the farther corner, she was sitting talking to some of her friends whose back I can only see. She smiled when her eyes landed on me.

"Love," Salubong niya sa akin at humalik sa pisngi. I faced who she was having chitchat with. Familiar faces.

She's doing it again.

"I bet you know them. Renzel and Janice of the Elite Society Empire. We were talking about an exciting project. And I know you'd like it." Nakangiting sambit ni Catriona na akin na lamang tinanguan.

Tahimik ang buong biyahe namin patungo sa bahay nila. She was just staring outside, listening to the music from the radio. I, too, focused on my driving. She knew she did something I don't like.

"Okay, Love. Janice and Renzel reached me for the project and I thought it will be a good idea if it will be the two of us." She broke the ice.

Nakangising napa-iling na lang ako. Ang mga tingin ko'y diretso lamang sa daan. And in my peripheral, she's looking at me. Her worries are evident on her face.

"Love," Her palms reached for my cheek. "Sorry na, Love. I just wanted to help you."

Hininto 'ko ang sasakyan bilang nagpula na ang traffic light. I rest my elbow on the window while my hand were on my side forehead.

"How many times do we have to deal with this? How many times, Love?"

"Love naman. 'Wag ka nang magalit. Sinubukan 'ko lang naman, eh. And I wanted to us to work on a project. Maganda ang offer nila. It will help me gain more experience and—"

I faced her. "And what? To revive my career? Then the same bullshit will happen again?"

"No, Love. No."

I step on the gas and drove as the lights turned green.

I parked when we reached her house. Still, I wasn't talking to her. We stayed silent for a while before I went out the car and opened her door. She looked at me before getting out. I closed the door behind her as she reached for the gate.

"I'm sorry." I heard her say it.

My eyes went up to look at her lonesomeness. I was about to say a thing when their maid opened the gate for her. She didn't take another look at me and just went in. Masyado kasing matigas lalo na't pride 'ko ang naapakan dito. I would never use my girlfriend to get me a job. Kahit pa pagkukusa niya ito. It will look I was using her to get the fame I lost.

I sat in the car and turned the engine on and drove away.

Suddenly, I remembered what I should be doing tonight. I got my phone and dialed Andres' number while traffic is slowly moving along Quezon Avenue. But after a few more rings, it went unattended. Maybe I should just go directly to theirs.

ANDRES

Nagkalat ang mga binili 'kong ingredients sa lamesa. Ang dugyot na rin ng apron 'ko. Mula pag-uwi, nagsimula na akong magbake ng mga cupcakes namin. Nasa pangalawang variant pa rin ako bilang dalawang cupcake pan lang ang kasya sa aming oven. At dalawang cupcake pan lang din ang mayroon ako.

Katulong 'ko si Ningning na nagsasansan ng mga cupcake cups at taga-bilang 'ko din.

Sinira 'ko ang oven nang maisalang ang pangalawang batch. Ang mga kahon na paglalagyan ng tatlong pirasong cupcakes ay nakahanda na rin. May sampu na ngang nagawa si Ningning.