Cliche (Candy Stories #5)

Chapter 13 part 3

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"Opo, Auntie. Pauwi na rin," sabi ni Maxwell. Kausap niya si Auntie Mona sa phone. "Nabili ko na po. Sige po."

Nagkatinginan kami nang ibaba niya ang phone.

"Hinahanap ka na sa inyo?" tanong ko.

"Oo. Kailangan ko nang umuwi."

Napatango ako. Nagtaka siguro sina Auntie na hindi siya agad nakabalik sa kanila. Ubos na namin ang cake at tinulungan na rin ako ni Maxwell na iayos ang mga canned goods na pinamili ko. I shouldn't keep him.

Isa na lang ang kailangan ko pang tiyempuhan: 'yong gift.

"Uhm. . ." I should do this. Inabot ko ang plastic bag na nasa mesa rin at hinawakan ang headset na nasa loob niyon. Hindi ko mailabas agad. "Uhm. . . This is not expensive at hindi rin properly gift-wrapped. . . 'tapos mabilisan ko lang din 'tong binili, but I thought it's better than nothing for your birthday so. . ." Pikit-mata kong hinugot ang headset sa plastic at in-offer 'yon kay Maxwell. "This is for you. I hope it's okay."

Nagmulat ako nang kunin niya sa kamay ko ang regalo. Nakatagpo ko ang mga mata niya.

"Thank you, Aurora," aniya. He smiled gently at me.

"I would've gotten you something else. . . if only I remembered it days before."

"This is good," sabi lang niya na nakatingin na sa regalo. "Puwede kong buksan na?"

Tumango ako. There's nothing else to see because the headset's on display. Pinanood ko siyang maingat na buksan ang packaging niyon at kunin ang headset sa loob. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita kong may naka-emboss na design sa headband niyon: I ♥ U.

It didn't take long bago natuon doon ang mga mata ni Maxwell. Lumapad at naging makulit ang ngiti niya.

"Pa'no basahin 'to? I heart you o I love you?" tanong niyang nanunukso.

Umiling ako. I didn't know about that. I didn't see it. If I'd seen that, I wouldn't buy that. Pero walang lumalabas na salita sa bibig ko. Hu-hu-hu-hu. Iling lang ako nang iling.

"Is it up to me to interpret it?" aniya.

Umiiling pa rin ako. Hu-hu. "H-hindi ko naman 'yan alam. . ." I whined. "That's not a confession. . . Hindi pa 'ko magko-confess sa 'yo."

He chuckled and I don't know what I said anymore. Nag-deny ako, 'di ba? Ano'ng sinabi ko? Hu-hu. Bakit may dalang amnesia 'yong ngiti niya? Hu-hu.

"Thank you for the gift," nangungulit pa rin ang tinig na sabi niya. "May sagot ako rito."

"I don't want to know. . ." I still whined.

"Gusto kitang sagutin."

" 'Wag mo 'kong sagutin. . ." pilit ko.

He was laughing softly and it was good and it was sunshine pushing the dark away. It was soft, it was fluffy, it was making my heart flutter. He's so warm and so perfect, I was smiling, too. Like I'm an idiot. Like I'm his idiot.

"My answer should be in symbols, too," sabi niya.

I pouted, but that's just because there's no way to stop him from saying what he wanted to say. Itinaas niya ang kamay niya sa tapat namin at ikinuyom.

"That's your answer? A rock?" ani ko.

Umiling siya habang malaki ang ngiti. Mula sa pagkakakuyom ay itinaas niya ang hintuturo niya. I automatically counted in my head: one. 'Tapos, itinaas niya ang isa pa niyang daliri: two.

Two? Too? Hu-hu.

"'Yan ang sagot mo? Two? I mean, dalawa?" I asked in a whiny voice.

He chuckled.

"Scissor ang sagot mo?" Hu-hu-hu.

"Peace, Aurora," he said playfully.

"Peace?" Hu-hu.

"Puwede ring—"

"No!" putol ko sa kanya. "Peace! Peace is good."

He chuckled before gently patting my head. "Thank you sa gift. I'm happy."

How should I tell him I'm happy, too? He makes me happy, it's making me anxious. Because happy things make sad things, too.

"Umuwi ka na. . ." sabi ko sa kanya. "Ihahatid na kita sa labas."

"Okay."

Tumayo kami at lumabas sa kusina.

That night, I watched him hailed a tricycle to go home. We greeted each other for Christmas and New Year through phone calls. Nasa ospital kaming pamilya no'n.

The past year turned over to a new one and my fears were realized. Happy things make way for the sad ones. #407h / 05152020++