#UM33
"No, Capri. Let me explain—"
"How can you explain this scenario? You both look like you just finished—"
"God..." Jace gasped lowly and washed his palm on his face in frustration.
"Oh my goodness, no, really! Capriana, I was about to sleep when Jace came over. Wala kaming ginawang dalawa, wala kaming relasyon o anumang iniisip mo! He's usually here everytime he has a photoshoot here, even Zac! We're all friends!"
Sobrang init ng pisngi ko sa hiya, kinuha ni Jace ang itim niyang t-shirt sa couch at sinuot iyon bago binalikan ang kanyang niluluto sa stove. Capriana was still in shock while alternately glancing at me and Jace, napailing ako at naupo. Pakiramdam ko ay pagod ako sa pagpapaliwanag, parang hindi naman siya naniniwala.
"Capriana, stop giving us that look. There's nothing in between us," matigas na ani Jace.
Nagtaas ng kamay si Capriana at natatalong umupo sa single couch, nagde-otso siya at sumandal.
"Alright, alright! I'm just bluffing, 'ya know! Masyado naman kayong defensive, I was just pretending to be shocked since it's been so long when I got surprised. Alam ko naman na walang namamagitan sa inyo kasi nakuwento ni Zac sa akin na siya iyong balak manligaw sayo at hindi naman ugali ni Jace manulot." Tumawa siya at nagkuway ng kamay sa hangin. "So, hi! Where's my confetti?"
Nagbuntong-hininga ako at nailing si Jace habang nililipat sa bowl ang niluto niyang pagkain. Ang daldal ni Capriana, hindi na talaga iyon nawala. Medyo kumalma na ako roon, mabuti naman at nagbibiro lang pala siya. Kinabahan talaga ako sa reaksyon niya, pakiramdam ko ay nagtaksil ako kung kanino.
Damn, I should move on and accept suitors without thinking of it. It's not like I promised something to secure myself from anything would come. Dapat nga nasubukan ko na, dapat hindi ako tumatanggi at nakikipagdate.
"Hindi ko alam na pupuntahan mo ako rito, hindi ako nakapaghanda ng confetti."
She rolled her eyes. "Well, I left Dia and Patch at the bar. I just really wanna catch up with you, if you don't want Patch around then there's nothing can stop me from seeing you here." Nilingon niya si Jace. "Kaya ikaw, Jace, bilisan mo riyan makikain at umalis ka na. May pag-uusapan kami ni Pal."
Jace rolled his eyes sluggishly as he started eating there.
"Just pretend that you didn't see me here."
"I'm not stupid to pretend like that, get out of here after eating!"
Tamad at sarkastikong tumango-tango na lang si Jace.
"I really like the climate here! Nakakaganda, e!" Capriana started telling her experiences in Canada. "Three days lang kami at pupunta naman sa Japan, we're just traveling because work was really stressing. Kumusta ka naman?"
"I'm doing good, too." I smiled.
"Good to hear that, Pal. Hindi mo pala tinuloy ang abogasya?"
"Yes but I'm a lawyer's assistant. It's enough for me to be in a firm."
It's really enough, I realized that I don't want to be a lawyer... well, for now. I don't know what would be my decision in the future years, I can always practice law someday.
"Right. Mabuti nga at pinakawalan ka rin ng Mommy mong istrikto, look at you now—you look so independent and professional. I told you, you'd really feel the freedom with Tito Prudence."
Tipid akong ngumiti at nagbaba ng tingin, inayos ko ang lamesita at niligpit ang mga gamit doon.
Pagtapos ni Jace kumain ay umalis na siya ng apartment ko, ilang minutong puro lang kami daldalan ni Capriana tungkol sa nakaraang apat na taong lumipas. Nakakatuwa na parang sobrang lapit nilang lahat na naiwan doon at hindi naman ako nakaramdam ng kakaibang pait sa kalooban habang pinapakinggan ang kuwento niya, nagbabakasyon sila kada Disyembre gaya ng nakasanayan nila at madalas daw akong hanapin ng lahat dahil iyon ang kanilang inaasahan.
