Arra
Para akong kinakabahan na ewan.
I can't really describe how it feels. Like I told Pong, it wasn't really jealousy but maybe anxiety because of the uncertainty?
I didn't know how Jennifer being here would come into play. My overthinking mind is stressing over it but then... this Pong. I knew him. He's not some random guy I just met and don't know how he'd react to things.
At the very least, I knew Pong would be straight with me so I held on to that.
I sent a message to him that I was on my way and in about twenty minutes, I arrived at their venue.
Pong was waiting for me at the entrance. "Hi! Nahirapan ka kumuha ng cab?"
"No, mabilis lang. Tapos na ba kayo? I can wait naman. There's a nearby coffee shop where I can eat first. Gutom na din kasi ako."
"Ah okay. Sige tara na. Magpapaalam lang ako. Would you mind joining me?"
I nodded. I took his hand and we walked in.
Pong introduced me to his colleagues, reminding me that one of them was in the welcome dinner for him that we attended before. Finally, he went, "Arra, Jen. She's the one I told you that just moved to the Manila office."
I shook her hand. She seemed to be studying my face, "You look familiar. I think I've met you through Paolo previously?"
I smiled. "Maybe through photos. Our families are very close and I'm often in their family pictures."
Pong and I shared a smile. "Yeah. We've known each other for ages." He added, "We'll go ahead guys. Arra and I have plans."
"Awww, stay!"
"Next time, we need to eat proper food," he explained. "Ayokong nagugutom 'to eh."
I was touched because I knew it was an honest statement and he didn't just say that for show, and because he didn't feel shy about that declaration.
I breathed a sigh of relief when we left. I don't do very well around new people so even if they were pleasant, I was glad we were out. Pong rubbed my arms, "You okay?"
I nodded. "Will you really feed me?"
"Of course! There's a good place here. Tara."
I won't pretend that I was completely comfortable with Jen being there. Thankfully, they didn't work close together. I knew I didn't want to burden Pong with it so we agreed to talk about it once, get ground rules up and then that's it.
Unfair din naman sa kanya to make him adjust when it was a work situation he had no control over.
We agreed that work is work. Walang issue yun sa akin if for some reason he needed to touch base with Jen, but hanggang dun lang. He even clarified it further, "I might have to say hi and hello ha? Pero no personal talk."
But I felt that was wrong. "No. Parang hindi naman realistic yan. Interact normally. Hayaan mo na ako. Basta if I'm not okay I'll tell you."
"Sige ha."
"Yes. Basta akin lang yan puso mo, okay na ako."
We were both shocked at what I said but I didn't take it back.
"YOU WIN THE CHEESINESS CONTEST TODAY!" He declared laughing.
"I hate you."
"No you don't."
I rolled my eyes. "I don't hate you."
"I know."
I made a face.
"Sa'yo lang naman talaga puso ng saging ko."
"PONG!"
He cupped my face and we rubbed noses. "Sa'yo lang yung puso ko. Alam mo naman yun eh."
I smiled. "You're not taking the cheesiness trophy from me today."
"Share?"
"Fine. Ten gold coins for you."
When he pulled back, I studied his face and against the backdrop of the full moon, a voice in my head told me...
HIM.
For always.
HIM.
