Someone You Loved (COMPLETED)

5 - Meeting the "Friend"

Still on Zoe's POV

The old woman's house is situated in the middle part of the village but not that far from the shore. The moment we arrived, I noticed that everyone greets him, and RJ, being the ever gentleman, has his arms on my shoulders if not on my waist kasi inaalalayan nya ako, and he introduces me to them pag may nagtatanong.

The people here are friendly. Well, maliban sa iilang kabataang nahuli kong umiirap. I'm not offended. I often get that kind of reception from teenagers and whoever likes this guy. Naaaliw lang talaga ako. How can they afford to maliciously like someone who's going to be a priest? Gosh. I'm no threat to them. Si Lord ang karibal nila.

"Bakit ka natatawa?"

"Wala."

"Akin na yang kamay mo. We'll be walking on that footbridge. Magshortcut na tayo ha? Gutom na kasi ako."

"Oo kasi if we pass that area," I pointed to the road with lots of people, "we might be stuck in there. Gosh RJ, are you even a celebrity?"

"Sus. Tara na. Kung ano ano nang iniisip mo. Gutom lang yan."

"Mabuti nalang pinauna mo na yung mga gamit natin kay Yong."

"Eh crush ka ata non eh. Hindi na nga nagbyahe. Nagpresenta pang maghanda ng hapunan natin."

"Hindi naman siguro nakapagtataka na crush ako ng bata noh! Dapat sanay ka na dyan."

"Naks... ang hangin ah. Huwag mong masyadong inienjoy baka makapag-asawa ka dito at di ka na makauwi. Your boyfriend will kill me."

"Ako na mismo ang papatay sayo."

"Ikalimang utos."

"Thou shall not kill."

"Uy alam na alam."

"Memorize ko ang ten commandments noh!"

He chuckled, "I can see that."

When we were still in college and we became together, RJ influenced me to hear mass regularly. At kahit nung wala na kami, when I finally stopped being bitter and found a new face of friendship with him, I find myself interested in knowing and learning about my faith. It's fun talking about it with him. Namamangha rin ako sa mga shini-share nya sa akin especially the things he share from his theology class.

"RJ, your phone is ringing."

"I'll just call back to whoever is calling."

"Baka kasi importante. Di tumitigil oh."

"Mas importanteng hindi tayo mahulog dito." Hinigpitan nya ang hawak sa kamay ko. Nauuna kasi sya. We're walking on a three-bamboo footbridge.

"Right."

//

"Brother! Akala ko kinuyog ka na eh. Ang tagal nyo kasing dumating."

"Inenjoy nya pa kasi yung meet and greet with his fans."

"Sabi ko na eh! Naku napakabilis ng balita. Pagkarating ko nga dito kanina, tinanong agad ako kung dadalaw ka dito. Yung mga tsismosang nagtatrabaho sa ospital na mga taga dito siguro ang nagpakalat ng balita."

"Syempre oo sinagot mo anoh?"

"Bawal kasi magsinungaling. Diba bad yun?"

"Wala naman akong sinabi na magsinungaling ka hehe... ano ba niluto mo?"