I'm Coming Back, Manila

8

"See, sinabi ko kasing uuwi na 'ko! Bakit ka pa sumunod dito?"

Napasabunot ako sa buhok ko at humingang malalim. Caeleb was sitting on the couch, looking worried and at the same time, frustrated.

"Can you please stop shouting?" Galit na sabi niya. "Kung hindi niya malalaman ngayon, kailan?" Dagdag niya.

"I don't know! Kaya nga humahanap ako ng perfect timing! Putcha!" I let out a heavy sighed again. "Sila na lang meron ako, Cae."

"You have me." Sagot niya sakin. Hindi ko alam kung ano dapat maramdaman. Pero ngayon, mas importante ang kaibigan ko sakin.

"Hindi ko kailangan ng ka-fuck buddy ngayon! Umalis ka na." Sabi ko habang nakaturo sa pinto.

Agad din naman siyang tumayo at lumabas ng unit ko. Pumasok ako sa kwarto ko para makapagisip isip ulit. Pakiramdam ko tuloy ang sama sama ko ng tao. Kinuha ko ang phone ko para magmessage sa group chat naming tatlo.

amanda.na: zoe, let's talk about this. let me explain my side.

elyannapangs: you should. ang dami niyang sinasabi kanina.

amanda.na: hays. my bad. sasabihin ko naman talaga dapat agad. but, i'm still finding the right time. i'm very sorry. wala namang romantic na nangyayari samin. 

After that, hindi na 'ko nakatanggap ng reply from them. I decided just to sleep to have a peaceful mind. Wala naman akong magagawa kung ayaw na nila sakin. I chose this, so I'll face my consequence.

The next day, I woke up early. I decided to go to Zoe's unit to talk to her. Kahit ayaw niya, kailangan eh. I took a bath and brush my teeth. I decided to wear simple outfit today. White shirt, denim shorts and white shoes.

When I arrived at her door. Sobrang kaba ko, hindi ko alam kung mapapatawad ba niya ko o ano. Kailangan ko lang iexplain at sabihin kung ano ba talaga namamagitan samin ni Caeleb. Nothing romantic. 

"Zoe," I knocked once. "Zoe, let's talk?"

Gladly, she opened the door. She faced me without any reactions from her face. She let me go inside her unit din. We sat on the couch quietly, hindi pa rin nagkikibuan. 

"Let me explain, Zoe." I held her hands. "It's not my intention to hurt you, okay? Sasabihin ko naman talaga sayo, pero natakot ako. There's nothing romantic happening between us, Zoe."

"But, I saw with my two eyes, Manila." Simple niyang sabi sakin.

"Nahihiya ako sabihin but.." I sighed. "Kaibigan kita at wala dapat akong tinatago sayo... Caeleb asked me to be his f.. fubu and me, as a stupid girl, I agreed. Hindi ko naman alam na type mo siya that time."