Stonehearts 7: Ruby

Six

I was still groggy when I hit snooze on my alarm the following morning. Bryce did surprise me with that text. It was very forward yet passive. I don't know if I would be doing myself a huge favor if I go, because damn it I really, really want to say yes to that invitation.

But what about moving on?

I thought about consulting Aly with this. Pero alam kong isa lang ang sasabihin niya. Masasampal na niya talaga ako kapag nagpatuloy pa ko sa kahibangan ko na ito.

I grudgingly left my bed and took a slightly longer time in the shower than my normal routine. I was kinda hoping that the cold morning water may straighten my thinking.

It was already seven in the morning when I hurry downstairs. Mom already made me toasts and a freshly cup of brewed coffee which is set beside my packed lunch.

She was by the stove, casually talking to dad on her phone.

"Good morning, daddy!" I cheerfully greeted, sneaking behind mom. "Or should I say good evening?" I continued, seeing that it's already dark in the US.

Dad let out a laugh but was cut short when he started coughing. My mom handed me her phone and I readied myself to give dad some lecturing.

"Daddy, I told you. You should stop with the smoking," I did my best scowling face in the hopes of scaring him.

"You know, when you do that face, my love, it looks like I'm staring at my own reflection." Well, I am the spitting image of my dad.

I giggle with his reply, but I quickly recovered my footing, "But, I'm serious daddy. Medyo lumalala na 'yang ubo mo. Wala ka pa man din kasama diyan."

"I'm okay, my love. Ubo lang ito."

Muli akong napa-iling. "Mommy, pagsabihan mo nga itong best friend mo. Napaka-tigas ng ulo." Sabay abot ko kay mom ng phone.

I sat by the dining table and helped myself with my breakfast.

"Nang mag-asawa nga kami hindi ko siya napahinto manigarilyo, ngayon pa kayang balik best friends kami?" I heard my mom saying followed by another round of their laughter.

My mom set her phone down by the divider on top of the kitchen sink and continued talking to my dad about an article she read. I silently watched them in amusement. I still find it incredible that even after all the divorce drama, they still ended up with no bad blood towards each other.

They are really just meant to be best friends. Swerte lang daw talaga sila dahil nagkaroon sila ng anak.

I was in my car, headed towards the office, when I remembered about the text that bombarded my thoughts last night.

Taking advantage over the red stop light, I reached for my phone and read Bryce's message again.

"Re-reply-an ko ba?"

I was still contemplating when the light turned green. I guess, I still have the 10-minute drive to the office for me to think this one through.

When I reached my usual parking, I fished my phone out and started typing my reply.

Me: Hi, Bryce. Really sorry for replying just now. But anyway, is it okay if I ask what our agenda might be?

Reply bubbles immediately appeared on my screen, telling me that he had been anticipating my text.

Bryce: I kind of need your help with something.

Me: Something?

Bryce: I can explain more if we meet?

I looked at my screen. Bakit at saan niya kailangan ng tulong ko? I feel something bad about this. Pero, shit. Ang rupok ko pagdating sa taong ito.

Me: Okay then. What time do you suggest?

Bryce: Does lunch sound good? We can eat at the Japanese restaurant near your office.

Me: Okay. See you.

Bryce: Thanks, Rubs. See you.

Do I say, 'you're welcome'?

My phone and I got into a staring contest before I dropped it back inside my bag and let my head fall on my steering wheel.

"Ruby Carianne, hindi ka na talaga natuto!" sambit ko.

Aly's really going to kill me for this.

I stayed inside my car for a moment before I mustered enough strength to go to the office.

Good thing, I got very busy with all the projects I was assigned with. With Kuya Marcus still hospitalized, some of us we're re-assigned and transferred to other projects.

Though the Architecture department took the most blow, other sectors weren't actually safe from the sudden event. My team isn't an exception.

Ngayon ko lang napagtanto na kung hindi dahil dito, hindi kami ulit magkikita ni Bryce. Siguro hanggang ngayon, hinahangaan ko pa rin siya sa malayo. Hindi ko nga lang masabi kung may naidulot ba sa'king maganda ang lahat. Ever since our 're-meeting' – as he would term it – I've been crying a lot.

My thoughts were disturbed when my phone lit up, displaying Bryce's name again.

Bryce: Already here, Rubs. See you.

I checked my watch and it's still ten minutes to twelve. I stretched my limbs and decided to call it an early lunch.

Nagulat naman ang mga katrabaho ko nang sinabing kong hindi ako sasabay sa kanila. Naisip ko rin na sayang ang pinabaon ni mommy kaso hindi ko talaga matanggihan ang isag pagkakataon na 'to.

Alam kong malaki ang chance na iiyak nanaman ako at masasaktan, pero hindi ko rin maintidihan ang sarili ko kung bakit sige pa rin ako nang sige.

The restaurant was jampacked when I arrived. I surveyed the place and saw Bryce waving at me when he spotted me by the entrance.

Ngayon at nangyayari na nga ito, bigla akong kinabahan. I didn't really give this moment much of a thought except now. We're meeting, and about to discuss a non-work-related topic.

Dumagundong ang puso ko sa dibdib ko habang namamawis ang mga palad ko. I knew I was walking my normal pace, but it felt like an eternity when I reached the table he reserved.

"Hello." he greeted, one of his dimples taking surface. I gulped and forced myself not to concentrate there.

"Hi." I croaked.

His smile widened before he stood up and pulled a chair for me.

"Gusto mo bang mag-order na muna tayo?" tanong niya pero umiling ako.

Hindi ko na kayang patagalin pa ito. My anxiety is fast consuming my insides, making my stomach knot.

"What is it that you wanted help with, Bryce?"

He scratched the back of his head, his face a shade of light pink. He looked away, staring at something before he cleared his throat.

"Last time, when we had the talk about my personal life. It's really cool how you got around everything I said to you. Na-realize ko na magaling kang mag-advice. And. . ahhh. ."

Please, don't tell me this is what I think it is. I closed my eyes briefly. I should have listened on the Aly on my shoulder when it shouted for me not to meet him.

"And I-I need your help. . sa sitwasyon namin ni Aya. I don't know anything about this because I never felt this way towards any woman beside her. That is. . kung okay lang sa'yo?"

Help. 

He needed my help.

But what about me? Who's going to help me when I begin to sink deeper into this crazy unreciprocated attraction?