Reporting For Love

Chapter Ten

CHAPTER 10

SHE was so tired. Pakiramdam ni Macy ay magko-collapse siya anytime. Dapat kasi kanina ay uuwi na siya after leaving the network but she decided na makipagkita na lamang kay Gilbert- to get things done and over with. Naisip kasi niya, bakit pa niya patatagalin ang isang kumplikadong sitwasyon? The sooner it is over, the better.

Ang original plan niya ay magsabi sa nobyo na nakikipagkalas na siya at hihingi ng tawad. She was already rehearsing her lines in her mind. Kung kinakailangan niyang lumuhod para lang mapatawad ni Gilbert at mapalaya, gagawin niya. She'll do anything for her freedom.

Pero nang magkita sila ni Gilbert sa MARIO'S Restaurant ay agad siya nitong hinila sa pinaka-kubling bahagi ng restaurant at niyakap. Akala niya ay kung ano ang gagawin ng lalake, pero siya ang nagulat nang makita niya itong umiiyak.

“What's going on?”

“I'm sorry Macy. I am so sorry.”

“Bakit? Anong nangyari?” malakas ang kabog sa dibdib ng dalaga.

“I.... I did something terrible... I mean...” Her boyfriend looked like a total mess. She can't help but think- biktima ba ito ng bagyo?

Pinaupo niya si Gilbert at tinawag ang waiter. Mabilis na umorder ng dalawang sandwich, kape at bottled water. Nang makaalis ang waiter ay saka niya binalingan ang lalake.

“Now tell me what happened.”

“I... naka-buntis ako.” Gilbert turned pale, na para bang may binitawan itong bomba.

“Naka-ano ka?” Macy wanted to make sure she heard it right. Nakabuntis ba talaga si Gilbert? Her well-mannered, gentleman boyfriend- cheated on her? Gustong matawa ng dalaga dahil parang kinakampihan pa siya ng pagkakataon!

“I had a one-night stand. I swear it was just... just sex, you know.”

Guess what, Gilbert. Ako rin! Gustong idugtong yun ni Macy. Pero mas pinili niyang huwag nang magkomento. What his now-ex-boyfriend doesn't know, won't hurt him.

“Kanino?” At least she wanted to know- kung sino ang involved- out of curiosity.

“Some girl I met in a conference that I attended three or four months ago. Taga-Leyte. Her name is Pinky.”

“So she's in Manila right now?” Nagtataka siguro si Gilbert kung bakit nakapa-kalmado niya. Pero hindi na siya nag-attempt na magpaliwanag. Of course bad trip siya na nakipag-one-night stand pala ang nobyo niya, at kung hindi pa nabuntis, hindi pa sana niya malalaman! All the while she thought faithful ito sa kanya!

At least ako, kagabi lang natukso. Samantalang siya, ilang buwan na palang nagtaksil!

“Yes nandito siya to tell me about the baby.” Napahilamos ng mukha si Gilbert, obviously ay litong-lito. “Macy, I'm so sorry. Hindi ko alam kung papano aayusin ang gusot na ito.”