One Great Love (COMPLETED)

42 : After Quite a Long Time

ANDRES

7:39 in the morning. I went commuting going to work. And by commuting, I booked an Angkas. Late na akong nagising, at kung magmamaneho pa ako papuntang Makati, ay, good luck naman sa akin. 7:30 AM pa lang nasa loob na kami ng Makati.

My ears are both busy listening to Carly Rae Jepsen as I made my way to the line to the elevator. Slightly moving my head to the pop tune when I felt some finger pocking my shoulder. I removed my right earbud and turned.

Si Jay.

"Good morning," He smiled.

Mabilis akong ngumiti pero agad ko ding binawi. Pero napa-isip ako kung bakit ko ginawa kaya ngumiti ulit ako.

"Good morning din,"

Umusad ng kaunti ang pila.

"Available ka ba this Thursday night?"

"Thursday?" Bahagya ulit umusad. "Wala pa naman akong gagawin sa Thursday."

"Great!" It seems good news sa kanya na bakante ako ng araw na 'yon as his grin went wide. "Birthday ko kasi 'yon. I'm inviting you to dinner. Kasama ng mga friends ko dito sa office."

Sumiksik na kami sa loob ng elevator at nasa likuran niya ako.

"H-Hindi ba nakakahiya?" Medyo mahina ko nang tanong. "Hindi naman nila ako kilala."

"Don't be silly." Gaya ko, mahina na lang din ang naging sagot niya dahil kami lang ang nag-uusap sa loob. "They're cool people. I'm sure makakapalagayan mo sila agad ng loob."

I pressed my lips together and carefully reached for the floor buttons.

"Napindot ko na kanina pa." Sagot naman ng nasa harap ko kaya napatigil ako.

"S-Salamat,"

Tumunog ang elevator at bumungad ang sa floor nila Jay.

"Dito na ako," Anito at sumabay na sa mga lumabas. Lumingon pa ito ulit bago kami nagtanguan at nagsara ang elevator.

The whole time gave me so much sweat. Sa loob ng jacket ko, pinapawisan ang kili-kili ko at mga palad ko. That because of Jay, after that night I had at our library, damn. It's never the same anymore. Also, that night was where I got another information regarding their family.

"Anak, ito pa lang asawa ng boss namin, isang Nepomuceno. Hanapin mo siya sa Facebook..."

Gracia Nepomuceno – Matias. Kapatid siya ng Lolo Bo ni Jay. Hindi pa nga lang malinaw kung anak nga ba siya ni Juan Pablo o anak ito ng isa sa mga kapatid niya. Pero unti-unti, nabubuo ko na ang puzzle. Unti-unti, sumisilay ang pag-asa.

Hiniling ko kay Papa na sa darating na weekend, bibisitahin ko ang ginang. And browsing through her Facebook profile, she loves pastries. I will be making her varieties of baked goods before meeting her.

The elevator doors opened to our floor and made my way out of the almost empty elevator. I've got more investigations to do, preparations to do, but for now, I need to work my ass off.

JAY

I can't believe that time has passed and I'm about to turn a year older. On Thursday, I will be turning 26. I didn't plan anything but since kinakantyawan ako ng mga kaibigan ko, I have decided to treat them dinner after work. A few drinks din siguro but not too much dahil hindi naman Friday pumatak ang birthday ko.

I also thought of inviting Andres along with us. He's remained one of the friends I still got a connection with even after college. We might have started kind of rough, as I don't know much about him and we sort of clash sometimes, but it has made a strong foundation of the relationship we have now.