When the Ex Returns

Chapter 11: Fooled Again

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*** Fooled Again ***

MAS NAUUNANG UMALIS sa akin ng bahay si Alfred pero nagawa pa rin niyang magluto ng breakfast for us. He even left a note sa fridge saying na he prepared breakfast para hindi na raw ako kumain sa labas. I really don’t mind bringing food with me sa work pero hindi ako sanay. With Beth around, baka pagtawanan ako nun. But still, these simple gestures of his are really sweet and thoughtful. 

One way or another, I need to keep my promise to him. Kelangan ko talagang magtipid. Hindi na ako pwede gastos nalang ng gastos. May goal na kami ngayon. As a good housewife (to-be), kelangan ko alalayan ang partner ko. But, how can I dare do this?

Kahit hindi ko narinig na tumunog ang Blackberry ko, nagbi-blink na siya ng red ng makita ko. That means something is going on right there. As I checked it, I got one new message.

Are you free for lunch? I’m just nearby.

Hindi man naka-save ang number, alam ko na kung kanino ito nanggaling. Naaalala ko ang last three digits. Tas isa pa, sinadya ko talaga na hindi ito i-save kasi baka mabasa ni Alfred. Mahilig pa naman yun makialam ng cellphone.

Deep inside, I know na hindi ako dapat pumayag sa mga ganitong proposals ni Vic. May hidden agenda na naman ito for sure. With what Alfred told me last night, I don’t really mind na kung ano man ang mangyari sa akin after that one-night stand (if it is what it was). I know, paiikutin lang ako nito. I should learn my lesson.

Pero, how can I refuse this lunch offer? Hindi naman ako gagastos kung papayag ako diba? At least, I’ll save Alfred the trouble from shedding some cash today.

Please, Vic. No more fooling around this time. - ANA

Reply ko naman sa kanya. Actually, pa-hard-to-get style ko lang yun. Gusto ko naman talaga kumain sa labas. Who can resist that? I just sent that text message para hindi na niya ako gaguhin this time. And that would ward him off from doing something else other than what he is just proposing.

Yes. I promise. - VIC

Matipid naman niyang sagot. With that, I want to believe na this time seryoso na siya at hindi na niya ako lolokuhin o gagamitan ng ano pang mag technique para hindi niya masabi kung ano talaga ang gusto ko malaman from him.

I’m free by 11:30. Let’s meet up sa MTS. I can’t be gone for long. - ANA

Sure, Ana. I’m just nearby. - VIC

Hindi ko maintindihan but I am having some reservations sa lunch date nato. I know that this is just a friendly date and I am not looking forward na sabihin niya sa akin kung ano talaga ang nangyari ng gabing iyon. I couldn’t care less anymore. Ang kinakabahan ko lang talaga ay ang fact na third time na kaming magkikita ni Vic but I haven’t said a word to Alfred. Not that he has something to worry about (other than what happened that night), pero parang feel ko na obligasyon ng isang matapat na partner na sabihin ang meet-ups mo with your ex. Pero, sa kabilang sulok naman ng utak ko, there is a voice telling me that I shouldn’t say a word na lang. I have kept it na naman for quite some time without Alfred noticing, I should leave it as it is. At isa pa, magiging dahilan lang ng away kung may malaman siyang ganun. At gaya na nga ng earlier argument, wala naman something between me and Vic. I don’t feel anything for him na naman. That’s for sure.

Dahil sa tug-of-war ng utak at puso ko, I decided to follow my mind. I do believe na mataas naman ang IQ ko kaysa sa EQ kaya mas dependable ang utak ko. Hindi naman siguro ako mabubuko ni Alfred. And I swear, huli na talaga to. Wala ng pang-apat. Sabihin man niya kung ano nangyari ng gabing yun o hindi, wala ng next time.