Let Your Heart Decide - MikAsa x Alyden

Of missing key and spilled coffee

Ah shit, nasaan na ba yung susi ko? Nakakalat na lahat ng gamit ko sa sahig. Hindi ko pa rin makita ung susi ng condo. "Shit," muling sambit ko na may kasamang buntong hininga. Lagot na naman ako nito. I'm so tired from classes, gusto ko na makapasok sa condo. I was already imagining hot shower then diretso tulog na sa malambot na kama. But here I am, with all my things scattered on floor, looking for my key.

Mukha na siguro akong tanga. Napansin ko isang girl na lumabas sa kabilang unit na nakatingin sa akin. May halong pagtataka at pagkainis yata. Sino ba naman matutuwa na yung kapitbahay mo nakakalat ang gamit sa hallway?

Guess I don't have any choice. I got my phone and browsed through my contacts. I took a deep breathe before pressing the call button, my heart was pounding while it was ringing. "Hi, hello, Deanna?" unang bati ko sa kausap. "Yes, Ate Aly? Napatawag ka?" nagtatakang sagot ng aking kausap. "Hi Deans, busy ka ba? Sorry for bothering you, but I need to ask a favor," mabilis kong sabi sa kanya. "Kakatapos lang ng class ko, pauwi na rin later. Why?" sagot naman niya.

"Alam mo ba kung saan nakalagay yung spare key ng condo ni ate mo? Baka naman pwede mahiram?" nahihiyang tanong ko sa kanya. "Why? Where is your key?" tanong naman niya. "Hindi ko makita e. But I think naiwan ko lang sa loob. Wala yung isang bunch ng keys ko. Can you get the spare key and give it to me?" paliwanag ko sa kanya.

"Hay naku, Ate Aly, bakit mo nakalimutan? Lagot ka na naman kay Ate," I can hear the exasperation from her voice. "Please Deans? Also, pwede bang secret na lang natin to? Wag mo na lang sabihin kay Ate mo. Please?" pagmamakaawa ko sa kanya. "Fine, sige Ate. Uuwi na ako to get the keys then I'll bring it to you. Pasalamat ka parating na si Mang Rene, susunduin ako," sagot niya. "Thank you Deanna! I love you. I'll wait for you at the coffee shop sa baba ng condo. Libre kita ng dinner." I gathered my things na nakakalat sa sahig. That was a relief. Buti na lang pumayag si Deanna.

I headed to the coffeeshop and waited for Deanna. It took her around 2 hours bago dumating. Naki-upo lang ako sa coffeeshop kasi hindi na enough ang budget ko, and I also promised dinner for Deanna. Bigla tumunog ang phone ko, Deanne was calling. "Hi ate, are you in the coffee shop na?," tanong ni Deanna. "Yes, nasa loob ko." Sagot ko. "Uhm I will not get down the car na. Can you go out? Iabot ko na lang yung susi. Ipagdadrive pa kasi ni Mang Rene si Mama," sabi ni Deanna. "Yes, sure. Palabas na ko. Yung black Montero ba yan?" Nagmamadali akong lumabas. Just hearing Deanna talk about her Mama makes me nervous. Nagpanic ako. With a phone to my right ear, and eyes fixed outside looking for the car, I did not notice that someone near me. "Watch it!" I heard someone say. I also felt a few cold splashes sa braso ko. That's when I realized that I bumped into someone. And her coffee spilled all over her shirt. I froze. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko. I need to go to Deanna to get the key, but I cannot just leave the scene.

"Ay Miss sorry. Hindi ko sinasadya," I said as I gazed at her coffee-laden white shirt and finally met her eyes. Her eyes hinted a little of recognition. But before she says anything, nagsalita na ulit ako. "Miss I'm sorry. This my fault. But can I get back at you? Literally I'll be back in a minute. I just have to get something outside. Doon oh, sa black montero," I said as I pointed at the car honking outside. Hindi ko na rin siya nahintay sumagot at dali-dali na ako tumakbo palabas.

Deanna rolled down the window and gave me the keys. "Ate Aly, may utang ka sa akin ha? Next time na lang yung libre mong dinner. Kailangan ni Mama yung sasakyan e. Hindi ko to sasabihin kay Ate Den, but you owe me one. Hahaha," sabi niya. "Yes Deans, thank you. Ibabalik ko sayo tong spare key bukas. I can visit you at Ateneo after my class. Message na lang tayo. Thanks, sissy," I told her at umandar na rin sila.

I caught myself staring at the fleeing black car when I realized that I have to go back the cafe and face another predicament. I went back the cafe and looked around. Hindi ko na siya makita. I asked the barista kung saan pumunta yung natapunan ko ng kape. Yeah, they know kasi eksena yung nangyari. Anyway, he told me that she left already. Hindi man lang napansin. I asked the barista if she was a regular. He would not tell me her name but told me that she frequents the cafe. I thank the barista and left.

As I walk back to the condo, there was quite a wait sa elevator. And to my surprise, naghihintay din yung girl na natapunan ko ng kape. Nilapitan ko siya. "Hi Miss, i'm sorry about kanina," mahina kong bati sa kanya. Ayaw ko naman mag-eskandalo at marinig ng ibang naghihintay ng elevator. She looked at me. Hindi ko mabasa ang emotion niya. Pero napansin ko na may hawak na siyang bagong iced coffee. At kapansin-pansin din ang coffee stain sa damit niya. "Just forget about it," she said and returned her gaze sa elevator door.

May pagkamataray pala to. I really want to make up to her. "Buti na lang iced coffee yung order mo? Hehe" I said in an attempt to be funny and break the awkwardness. Sakto naman dumating na ang elevator at sumakay na siya kasabay ang iba pang naghihintay. It took a a second to realize na sasakay nga rin pala ako. Napansin kong 12th floor siya. Magka floor pala kami. The elevator ascended and eventually opened at 12th floor. Nauna ako nakalabas and waited for her. "Pareho pala tayo ng floor," sabi ko. But she just kept on walking. She stopped in front of unit 1209, fumbled for her keys and opened the door. Sa unit 1210 ako. That's when I realized na kaya pala familiar, siya din yung kaninang nakakita sa akin while I was sprawled on the floor while looking for the keys.

Speaking of keys, I used the spare key from Deanna and opened the unit. And the first thing I saw was my bunch of keys atop the kitchen counter. Naiwan ko nga. Inis and relieved at the same time. Relieved that I did not lose the key, inis becuase of all the hassle it caused.

The day was definitely tiring. I just had a quick bath, fixed my self, and settled on the bed. Hindi ako makatulog kahit sobrang pagod ung katawan ko. Naalala ko na naman ang nangyari sa coffee shop. Ano kaya pangalan ni Miss 1209? Matangkad siya, maputi, chinita, and definitely maganda. May pagka suplada nga lang. As I was reflecting what has happened, my phone rang.

Facetime from Den. I checked the time, it's 11:26pm na. So past 12midnight na sa Japan. I answered it. "Hi love! Bakit gising ka pa?," masayang bati ko sa kanya. Pero bakas sa mukha niya ang inis. Nagsasalubong ang kilay niya. Aaminin ko, I find her really cute pag naiinis. Pero natatakot din kasi ang taray niya. That's what makes her so adorable.

"NAWALA MO DAW YUNG SUSI NG CONDO?!" ang bungad niya sa akin. Wala hi, hello, o kamusta. "Hindi ko nawala, naiwan ko lang sa loob. How did you know?" tanong ko. "Mama called me. At nagtatanong kung bakit ka raw nakatira sa condo ko," I can feel her frustration over me. "Alam mo namang magagalit si Mama, bakit ka kasi nagpabaya," tuloy niya. Again, hearing about her Mama scares the hell out of me. "Sabi ni Deans hindi daw niya sasabihin sayo," mahina kong sagot. "Hindi nga si Deanna nag sabi sa akin. Si Mama! At nasermonan na naman ako. Please naman, Aly. Do your part," tuloy pa ni Den. "Sorry, love," yun na lang ang naisagot ko.

Kita ko sa video na nagpipigil lang siya. Parang ang dami niyang gustong sabihin, pero hindi niya magawa. "I'm sorry, nagmamadali kasi ako kanina umaga, ma-late na ko sa classes ko," paliwanag ko. She seemed not to be paying attention to my explanation. She just continued talking, "Sinabi daw ni Deans na binigay niya sayo ung spare key. Napagalitan kasi si Deans kasi late na siya nakauwi. Kailangan pa naman ni Mama si Mang Rene para mag drive. Kaya sinabi na niya yung reason kay Mama kung bakit siya na late. Agad naman tumawag si Mama sa akin para ako pagalitan. Ang galing no? Wala ako sa pinas pero ako pa rin ang napagalitan?" tuluy-tuloy na sabi ni Den.

"I'm sorry. Ano sabi mo kay Mama mo?" usisa ko. "I told her that it was just a temporary arrangement. A few days ka lang jan," sagot naman ni Den. I paused, trying to process everything. "So, aalis na ba ako dito?" marahan kong tanong.

Den sighed before answering. "That's not what I said! Syempre hindi kita papaalisin jan. Ano ka ba? What are you thinking?" ramdam kong naiinis na siya. "Alam naman ni Mama mo na tayo pa rin, diba?" I asked her. "Fuck naman, Aly. Ano gusto mo mangyari?" she said. Now I know she is pissed. But I dont get why. Oo, pumalpak ako. Oo, ako na naman ang may kasalanan. At oo, dagdag na naman to sa listahan ng Mama niya kung bakit hindi ako karapatdapat sa anak niya. But I just want some assurance na sana man lang ilaban niya ako sa pamilya niya. Hindi ako umimik. Hindi ko na alam ang sasabihin ko.

Den broke the short silence. "It's late na. May meeting pa ako bukas. Let's talk about this next time. But please, get your shit together. Wag mo na naman dagdagan ang mga problema ko." With that she ended the call. "I love you," sambit ko sa hangin.

I stared at the ceiling and eventually gazed through the room. This condo is not mine. Kay Den ito. Sa girlfriend ko. She's in Japan right now, working on some family business. And our last conversation is just another testament how her mom hates me. Takas lang na andito ko sa condo niya. Now i dont know if alam ba ng Mama niya na kami pa rin. With how she reacted, it seems na hindi.