After weeks of a grueling work schedule pati meetings with Attorney Salazar, I was looking forward to enjoying a relaxing weekend.
Even Nel was telling me, no, she pleaded na I should go out, go to a Spa, see a movie, go to a bar (but not hookup with anyone) and take things easy.
"You work too hard, babe." Sabi niya one night after I got home.
She just woke up and looked so cozy in her hoodie and fleece-lined pants.
Sobrang lamig daw dahil the weather was hitting the negative numbers.
She even told me na she went to work one day when it was -30 Celsius.
I told her I worry dahil baka magkasakit siya.
"Nag-aalala din ako sa'yo. Masyado kang subsob sa work. Baka ikaw naman ang magkasakit. Wala pa naman ako diyan para alagaan ka."
Hearing those words warmed my heart dahil alam ko na iyon talaga ang gagawin niya.
When I sprained my ankle dati, siya ang umako ng mga gawaing bahay.
She even went with me sa clinic for my check up hanggang sa tanggalin ang cast sa paa ko.
"I can't wait for you to take care of me."
"How many days do we have left?"
Imbes na sumagot, hinarap ko ang laptop sa kalendaryo.
"One month na lang pala." Nakangiting sabi niya.
"Ready ka na ba?"
"I am. Ikaw? Are you ready for me?" Kumindat siya at hindi nakaligtas sakin ang pilyang ngiti niya.
"Get your mind off the gutter. Ang dumi ng utak mo."
"Bakit? Don't you miss it?"
"Miss what?"
"You know what I mean?"
"I try not to think about it." Pag-amin ko.
"Besides, kung sex ang iisipin ko, what am I going to do about it eh you don't want me to go to bars and hookup with anyone." I teased.
"You can." I sensed her annoyance kaya lalo ko siyang tinukso.
Masarap kasi asarin si Nel dahil madaling mapikon.
"Di nga. Papayag ka?"
"You're a grown woman, Lise. Isa pa, I'm not there. Kung anuman ang gawin mo, if you don't want me to know, pwedeng-pwede. Hindi naman kita mapipigil eh." Sumeryoso na ang itsura at tono niya.
"Eh bakit nanlalaki ang butas ng ilong mo?"
"Seryoso ako pero ikaw, ang ilong ko ang pinagdidiskitahan mo." Kunyari ay naiinis na sabi niya.
"Sa palagay mo, gagawin ko iyon? Yung pumunta sa isang bar para makipaghook up?"
"A part of me hopes na hindi mo iyon gagawin."
"Eh ikaw? Baka mamaya may ginagawa ka diyan na hindi ko alam."
"Lise, you're the only one I want. I'm waiting for you because you're worth it."
Ang haba-haba ng buhok ko dahil sa sinabi niya.
"Baby, I feel the same way."
Inangat niya ang kamay niya to touch my face on the screen.
I did the same thing hoping na kahit sa virtual na paraan, maramdaman niya how sincere I am.
"So, anong plano nga pala pag-uwi mo?"
"Susunduin ako ng family ko sa airport pero as soon as I arrive, I will text you so you know I'm here."
"Kelan tayo magkikita?"
"Gusto kitang makita agad."
"Ako din naman pero you have to spend time with your family first. For sure nabitin ang mga iyon during your last visit."
"I know. Si Nanay nga eh araw-araw na lang binabanggit ang pag-uwi ko."
"Let me know kung kelan tayo magmimeet. Gusto ko sanang magrequest ng leave kahit pa unpaid pero bago lang ako sa work and for sure hindi ako papayagan."
"Oo nga eh. It would have been nice if we can spend a lot of time with each other pero naiintindihan ko naman."
"I'm free at night pati weekends."
"Pero di ba uuwi din si Dan sa March? You have to talk to him tungkol sa annulment ng kasal ninyo di ba?"
"Oo. Attorney Salazar told me not to worry about it. Kung kukuha din daw ng abogado si Dan, mas magiging madali ang proseso."
"Do you think he will?"
"I don't know. He's still very stubborn about it."
"Naiintindihan ko kung bakit ayaw ka niyang pakawalan."
"You do?"
"Oo. If I were in his shoes, ipupukpok ko ang ulo ko sa pader dahil hindi ko inalagaan ang pinakamahalagang tao sa buhay ko."
"Pinukpok mo ba ang ulo mo sa pader nung bigla mo na lang akong iniwan?"
"Hindi lang pinukpok sa pader. Pinasagasaan ko din sa pison ang puso ko tapos binuhusan ng muriatic acid hanggang sa matunaw."
"OA na."
Tumawa si Nel.
"It was a mistake to leave pero I sacrifice my love for your happiness. Ayokong makagulo sa inyong dalawa. I don't want you to feel torn between us. I thought kapag umalis ako at iwanan kita, hindi ka na kailangang mamili."
"Was it because you were afraid I wouldn't choose you?"
"Yes."
I admired her honesty.
"Alam ko na I don't stand a chance, legally or otherwise."
"What about your family? Hindi ba sila magtataka kung bakit lagi kang aalis?"
"Hindi naman siguro. Sinabi ko na din naman na I want to go out and see places as much as I can. Hindi ko kasi nagawa iyon the last time. Isa pa, hindi din makapagleave si Ate at Kuya so you'll be my tour guide."
"Marunong ka pa bang magcommute?"
"I know how to read?"
"It's not the same. Marami ng nabago."
"Don't worry. Di ba sabi nga, kung gusto may paraan. Kung ayaw may dahilan."
"Be careful kapag umaalis ka on your own. For sure hindi ka na sanay sa kalakaran dito sa Pinas. You've seen it the last time you were here."
"Babe, don't worry too much okay? Marami namang paraan to get around. Ang mahalaga, we'll have fun kapag umuwi ako."
"I'm sure we will. Ang totoo nga, hindi na ako makahintay na makita kang muli. I miss you so much. Kung pwede ko lang hilahin ang araw para nandito ka na agad, ginawa ko na."
"I miss you too. In 31 days, I'll be there."
"Those 31 days felt like an eternity."
Hinaplos ko ang mukha niya sa monitor.
Sana nga dumating na siya.
Para naman mabawasan ang pangungulila na nararamdaman ko dahil gusto ko na siyang makasama.
BINABASA MO ANG
6ix Days (Lesbian Story)
RomansaSix Days. That's all it took for the past to catch up with Chanel. But unlike her nineteen-year-old gullible self, she knew she had to turn her back on the past if she wanted a better future. Along came Maricar--a newcomer to Canada whose presence i...
