Ephemeral (On Going)

Chapter 16 - Greg

Reagan's POV*

Mas naging exciting ang trabaho ko sa New York magmula nu'ng nakatrabaho ko si Molly. I felt home na parang ang isang buong Pilipinas eh dala dala niya. Masaya pala talagang may makausap ka na kababayan sa ibang bansa.

To be honest, I felt friendly again when I met her. Nu'ng mga oras na katatapos lang namin sa shoot at inaantay ko siyang magbihis eh iba ang pakiramdam. Parang bumabalik na 'yung dating ako na hindi na masyadong distant sa ibang tao. Ang problema lang eh paminsan ay hindi ko napipigilang mailang at magbago ng mood. Ganito siguro ang paraan ng katawan ko para dumepensa. Kusa nang lumalayo sa mga tao para hindi na uli masaktan.

Our journey to Madame Tussaud's was crazy. Unang punta ko du'n eh puro about kay Anna lang. Ang mga kinuhanan ko ng litrato eh 'yung mga iniidolo lang ng ex fiancée ko kaya naman hindi ko gusto ang lugar. Pero du'n ko dinala si Molly dahil gusto kong mapalitan lahat ng mapapait na alaala ko sa New York. Ngayon, ang tingin ko nalang sa Madame Tissauds eh 'yung excitement ni Molly sa tuwing makikita niya ang mga paborito niya.

But one thing is still stuck in my mind. Oo, naloko kami nu'ng nagpahula kami. But it was almost accurate. Ano kaya 'yung naputol na sasabihin niya sana? Ephemeral? That my next love will end soon again? Na hindi na ako sasaya kailan man? Baka tama nga si Molly. Pero there's still hope, 'no? Nabasa lang ni Molly randomly ang word na 'yun. It can't be true.

Hindi kami magkikita ngayon. We're both busy working.

Maaga akong pumunta sa shoot. Nalulungkot nanaman kasi ako mag-isa sa hotel kaya inagahan ko nalang.

Tumatama sa mukha ko 'yung malamig na hangin. Sarado pa 'yung location ng shoot namin kaya nasa labas lang ako. Ilang oras akong mas maaga sa call time kaya pumunta nalang ako sa coffee shop na malapit.

Umupo ako at nagsimulang enjoy-in 'yung mainit na kape. I was looking outside staring at the shop on the other side of the street. Maya-maya, may bumati sa'kin.

"Reagan, is that you?" a familiar male asked.

"Greg?"

"Bro! How are you?" he asked excitedly.

"I'm doing good! How long have you been here?" I replied.

"I never left New York, bro. I was so sad when you left and never came back. I never heard a single word from you ever since you left to go back to the Philippines," he said.

Greg was my best pal here in New York. Sabay kaming nagtrabaho rito at iisang apartment lang din ang pinagstay-an namin. We treated each other as brothers.

"How are you and Anna?" he asked. Hindi ko pa pala nasasabi ang nangyari.

"Well, she cheated on me with my friend," I answered. I saw the shock in Greg's face. He knew how much I loved Anna and how much money I spent for my surprise for her.

"H-how?" he asked.

"Well, when I came back to the Philippines I caught them right at the time I came back from the airport," I replied. Greg shook his head. He stared at me for a while before tapping his hand on my back.

"I have something to tell you, brother."

Tiningnan ko lang siya at hinintay siyang magsalita.

"You're going to be the first one to know about this," he said. Confused, I tilted my head to one side.

"I-I like Coke zero," he said. I thought it was going to be more crazy. Something that's going to blow my mind but it's not. I shook my head and messed his hair up.

"Jackass."

Greg and I went to the bar that we used to go to. Dito kami tumatambay kapag walang work o kapag may bonus. Dito rin siya naghahanap ng guy friends niya na sinasabi niyang nakakatulong mag overcome sa insecurity niya since he gets to know what their insecurities are. It helps him think na everyone is different and that there's no need to feel insecure.

I told him about Molly.

"She seems nice," sabi niya sa'kin. I stared at him waiting to hear kung interesado ba siya after I showed him Molly's photo. He seems uninterested kay Molly. Thank God!

"Do you like her?" he asked. I shook my head and finished my beer.

"I don't. I see her as a colleague," I replied.

"That beautiful girl? Bro, stop fantasising about Anna! She's a bitch!"

"I forgot about Anna already, you jerk. I just don't get attracted to anyone anymore," I replied.

"I need to meet this girl. I don't care if you like her or not. I need to know her personally," bigla niyang sabi. I widened my eyes.

"What for?"

"I just want to!" He paid the bills before inviting me to walk with him.

Greg and I continued talking about stuff. Nag catch up lang kami sa buhay ng isa't isa. Hindi rin kasi kami madalas mag-usap nu'ng nasa Italy pa 'ko kaya for sure marami kaming na-miss na information tungkol sa isa't isa.

"Have you met a new pal in Italy?" tanong niya.

"No. No one can replace you," pang-aasar ko. I tickled him and he laughed hysterically.

"Stop, skank!"

"I really missed you, bro."

"I did too! I'm glad I'm now back in New York. It's nice to see you again and be with you again."

Mag gagabi na kaya inaya ko na siyang umuwi. Pinigilan niya 'ko at sinabing may gusto pa siyang puntahan.

"Let's go to a strip club!" Naglinaw ang mga mata niya pagsabi niya nu'n. A strip club? Really?

"Nah, I'm not in the mood," pagtatanggi ko.

"We meet once in a blue moon, bro! Let's have fun!" Tinapik niya 'ko nang malakas sabay thrust nang pabiro. Nakakagat labi pa. 'Tong kano na 'to talaga.

"You'll pay?" Biglang natanggal ang ngiti sa mga mata niya.

"Gago!" Natawa ako bigla sa sinabi niya.

"You sound funny! Ga-gow!" I laughed hysterically.

"Ok fine, I'll pay!"

"I can't believe you still remember that," sabi ko sa kanya.

"Of course I do, Gago!" Greg never fails to make me laugh. Isa siya sa mga nakatulong sa homesickness ko noon. At ngayon, mukhang naibabalik niya ang dating ako.