Chapter 52
I'm feeling giddy the night before James' birthday. When I got back from Makati, I went to Town Square and bought some ingredients for the cookies I prepared. Two years ago, ito ang rinegalo ko sa kaniya. Pero last year, naghati kami ni Cyrus sa gift namin sa kaniya na Nike Fly Knit Air Max. Six months before his last birthday, he kept on advertising his strong desire of having that kind of shoes—which was Cyrus' favorite. Kaya sinabihan ko si Cy na ibili namin siya ng ganoon para naman makatulog na siya sa gabi.
But anyway, I've decided to give him cookies again this time. Sinabi niya din naman sa akin na igawa ko daw siya ng ganoon. Hindi naman dahil sa tinitipid ko siya pero . . . Oo sige na, nagtitipid na ako. But I'll still give him a hoodie which I bought from Glamour Kills, para hindi masyadong halata.
When I was done, I cleaned the kitchen and took a rest. Akala ko after kong makapagpahinga, aantukin na agad ako, pero hindi din naman. Kaya naglinis muna ako ng unit ko para naman maging productive ako.
Kinuha na ni Ran ang mga gamit niya sa kabilang kuwarto, kaya linipat ko na doon ang mga bookshelves ko. I also put there the posters and the albums I bought from Glamour Kills and online. But the physical weariness didn't make me any sleepier at all. End game? My body's exhausted but my mind's still out there wandering. I just thought that maybe this is my mind's way of distracting me from the thoughts of whatever I heard last night.
"I gave you love more than what I should have given without receiving something in return. But I wouldn't take it back. So, keep the change."
After saying those words, he left with a smile. And the same exact curve drawn on his face is what keeps on haunting me. When will that guy wake up? When will he realize the damage I caused him?
Putting my slippers on, I went out of my room and walked going to the fridge. Kumuha ako ng tubig na malamig at ininom ko ito without thinking about the brain freeze. The backlash arrived on the latter part.
Umupo muna ako sa dining are at nagmukmok. Matagal akong nakatitig sa bintana bago ako nakaisip ng ideya.
Kinuha ko ang phone ko at tinawagan ko si Van. I bet she's still awake because I've seen the light coming from her unit when I was sitting at the veranda.
Three rings did it. Medyo husky ang boses niya kaya hindi ko mapigilang hindi humagikgik.
"Hey," she greeted. "Can't sleep?"
I nodded as though she's seeing me. "Can I come over?" I asked.
She practically yelled over the phone after that. What's with her resonance?
"Sure. Wait lang. May susundo sa'yo," aniya. Naputol na ang tawag. I took this chance to have my clothes changed. Nagsuot ako ng sweatshirt since malamig sa unit niya. Dagdag pa ang malamig na simoy ng hangin dahil magpa-Pasko na.
Five minutes after, I heard a knock on my door. Nang buksan ko ito, bumungad sa akin ang isang matangkad at chinitong lalaki. Si Ran. I literally have a frog prince waiting at my front door now.
"Hi, Keroro!" I beamed. Ngumiti ako nang malapad. Hindi niya ako pinansin at tumalikod lang siya. Snob mode on its critical level, I see that.
Disappointed, I locked the door and followed him. "Brazo de Mercedes ba 'yan?" tanong ko habang sinusubukan kong agawin mula sa kaniya ang box na hawak niya. He's so tall he could make fun of the chase. Annoying, bro, really.
"Ang sungit naman nito," I hissed under my breath. He knocked at Van's door and it was immediately opened.
"Pasok kayo sa loob." She led the way, we followed. "Sayang at wala si Clyde, mayroon kasi silang flight bukas ng maaga papuntang Davao. Alam mo na, work," kuwento niya. I heard that one. Sinabi ni Cyrus na mayroong sinu-shoot ang mga taga-IFFA na short film tapos kalahati ng movie sa Mindanao ite-take.
