SEÑORITA SERIES 3: JENNY (PUBLISH UNDER IMMAC PPH)

J-33

J-33

SHE keeps on making a make face while looking at her textbook.

"You should eat Jen," ani Cole at naglapag ng pizza sa harapan niya. Hindi siya nagtanghalian kanina at iba ang naging lunch niya, si Cole.

Natawa siya sa sariling kapilyahan.

"Why are you smiling so evil, huh?"

"Wala," tanggi niya at kumuha ng isang slice ng pizza.

"Did you contact Gabby?" Umiling siya.

"Gusto ko i-cancel iyong tutorial session, tutal nandito naman ako at wala sa Cebu. Sayang lang ang bayad ko."

"I'll call her," presinta nito.

"Ako na."

Kumikit-balikat balikat naman ito.

"Wala ka bang pasok?"

"I have many things to do at the hospital Jen, but I absent."

She frowned.

"Dahil ba sa akin?"

Tumango ito.

"I was so worried about you."

Napangiti siya. He really gives her a goosebumps.

"Akala ko nga aawayin mo ako," hindi makatingin niyang sabi at itinabi ang kanyang textbook.

Kasalukuyan silang nasa study room at sinamahan siya nitong mag-aral.

Tinodo nito ang bigat ng katawan sa pagsandal sa upuan.

"You know what Jen, I know your attitude. I know what are those things that you'd like and don't when it comes of the people around you. Kahit hindi ganoon katagal ang pananatili ko sa poder ni Don Miguel, hindi ko nakita o narinig man lang na sinagot mo ng pabalang ang Lolo Miguel mo. Well yes, you reason out every time you don't want to do some things that he favored but I know you're a good girl. Pinalaki ka ng maayos ni Don Miguel."

He paused.

"That's why when my mother-in-law told me those bad things that you did, I doubted her. Hindi ako agad nagbentang at napatunayan ko iyon nang makausap ko si Mang Elias."

"Salamat," aniya at napayuko. Speechless siya at tanging iyon lang ang na sagot niya.

"You had a lot of respect on your elders and I was just really curious and wondering on the second time that we met until today, you never showed me the look of respect for an old guy like me. I mean yes you do but the way you treated me back there until today, it made me curious."

Napalunok siya at napayuko. Napainom din siya ng juice. Feeling niya kasi bumara ang dough sa lalamunan niya.

"Kasi..." she exhaled. "...wala lang," aniya pa.

Seryoso namang tumitig si Cole sa kanya. Mga titig na ayaw kumawala. Mga titig nitong kay lagkit na nakikita niya lamang sa tuwing nagtatalik silang dalawa.

Bigla uminit ang batok niya at nagsitayuan ang pino niyang balahibo.

Umayos si Cole sa pag-upo at hinila ang kamay niya. Diretso siya napaupo sa kadungan nito kaya agad niyang na-itukod ang kanyang mga palad sa dibdib nito.

"Tell me Jen, why?" mahinang wika nito at isinukbit ang ilang hibla ng buhok nito sa likod ng kanyang tainga.

Biglang bumigat ang kanyang paghinga. Yumuko siya. Ayaw niyang tingnan sa mga mata si Cole.

"I'll be honest, I don't see you as an old guy, uncle or brother, that's why I just treated you like we're just on the same age."

He brushes his knuckles on her rossy left cheek.

"You see me as what?"

Inangat ni Cole ang kanyang mukha.

"As a..." Napalunok siyang muli.

"As a man," kapos hininga niyang dugtong.

Bigla naman siyang hinagkan ni Cole at hindi siya tumutol nang sakupin nito ang kanyang mga labi.

Ngunit bigla itong natigilan at tinapos ang halikan nilang dalawa.

"Excuse me," anito at bigla siyang iniwan. Lumabas ito ng study room.

She sighed heavily.

Inakyat niya ang mga nita niya sa sofa at niyakap ang kanyang mga tuhod. Agad nangilid ang mga luha niya sa mga mata. She's hurt.

"Why can't you love me back Cole?" anas niya at tuluyang napaluha.

HE WAS tossing his car key while entering in the hospital lobby. He was not on himself right now. Bigla siyang umalis ng bahay at dinala siya ng mga paa niya sa ospital. He's frustrated, at mababaliw siya kapag inisip niya pa ang nararamdaman niya kay Jenny. Hindi niya alam.

"Cole!"

He just walk straight, not listening to his surroundings.

"Cole!" anito at tinapik ang kanyang balikat. Doon lamang siya natauhan.

"Clayd? What's wrong?"

"Sira ka ba? I've been calling you and you just passed by like you never saw me," kunot-noong sagot ni Clayd sa kanya.

He massage his temple.

"Really? Sorry, I am just preoccupied right now. Why? Do you need something?"

Umiling-iling naman si Clayd sa kanya.

"I think we need to talk."

Siya naman ang kumunot ang noo.

"What for?"

"Well, I'm not going to spoil myself here. You must spill it."

Nagsalubong ang kanyang mga kilay.

"Coffee?" alok nito.

"Sure," sang-ayon niya at inakbayan naman siya ni Clayd.

They went to the canteen and ordered their favorite coffee. Double Espresso for him and Café Latte for Clayd.

Umuna si Clayd sa mesa, sa pinakadulo kung saan wala masiyadong umuupo. Sumunod din naman siya agad sa kaibigan.

"Now talk," Clayd said as he smells the aroma of his favorite coffee.

"Don't force me to tell a story Clayd," aniya at humigop ng kape.

"Bakit? Hindi ka ba magkukuwento? You're not yourself. Ikaw na rin ang may sabing you're just preoccupied. Come on, tell me what's bothering you."

Marahas siyang napabuga ng hangin.

"It was Jenny," pag-amin.

"What's wrong with your wifey? Did she gave you a hard time?"

Bumuntong-hininga siyang muli.

"I'm really confused Clayd. You know, ang tagal kong hindi nagkaroon ng karelasyon. I've been very loyal to my late wife Felicity and when Jenny came to my life, everything change like I was starting to feel fire here in my chest. I've got too excited. I don't know, it was a mix emotions. But I can't deny the fact that I see Felicity on Jenny's attitude."

Uminom ulit ng kape si Clayd.

"You know what my friend, you're just in denial. You're just reasoning out para itago ang nararamdaman mo kay Jenny. You're just using Felicity as an alibi. Come on Cole, hindi na tayo mga bata para magkunwari sa sarili nating nararamdaman. Five years nang patay si Felicity and I know, she wants you to be happy. You don't have to hesitate and doubt your feelings."

He massage his temple. Clayd was right, he's not getting any younger to feel confused of this kind of matter.

"Tell me Cole, did Jenny told you that she loves you?"

Umiling siya. Hindi nga ba?

"Did you used her?" Kumunot naman ang kanyang noo.

"I mean, ilang beses bang may nangyari sa inyong dalawa? Don't tell me it's just one night because I won't never ever believe you," anito pa habang nakangisi.

Tinawanan niya lang ang kaibigan at tumango.