Almost Perfect

CHAPTER 18

Kilala niya ba si Mommy? Close sila ni Cindy? Bakit doon siya mag di-dinner? Bakit hindi niya sinagot ang mga tanong ni Cindy?

"Arrghhhh!" kumuha ako ng unan at pinagbabato sa kama. I'm waiting for his calls pero walang dumadating! Nakakainis!

"Teka lang!" nagmamadali akong bumaba sa kama.

"What?" tanong ko kay Grace.

"Boyfriend mo. Nasa labas." lumabas ako ng kwarto. Tumingin ako sa wall clock. It's almost 12 PM.

I opened the door.

"Why?" I asked him.

"Can I come?" umiling ako. Lumabas ako at hinila siya pa elevator. Sa parking lot kami mag uusap. I don't want to disturb Grace.

"Explain."

"Yssa is my friend."

"Yssa? You mean, Cindy?" he nodded.

"Kahapon, nag punta akong office. Hinahanap kasi yung documents, tapos kelangan din ako sa isang meeting. She's an architect kaya nandoon din siya. We know each other since we were young. I'm close with her Mother and Father too. Tapos, pinilit niya akong pumunta sa kanila. Yung Mommy niya raw yung nag invite sakin for dinner, so I can't say no." he sounds guilty.

"You two are friends?"

"Yeah." tumango siya.

"Okay."

"Ikaw?" tanong niya… kumunot ang noo ko.

"Explain." he said.

"Wait." pumunta siya sa kotse at may kinuha. Pagbalik niya, may dala siyang leather jacket. Isinuot niya sakin. Manipis kasi yung damit ko pero hindi naman ako nilalamig. Tama lang.

"Now, explain." he waited for me to talk.

"She's my step sister. That was my Mom." he is just looking at me.

"Are you okay with it?" maingat niyang tanong.

"Okay with what? You being friends with Cindy?" I asked, tumango naman siya.

"Yeah. Of course why not? They treat me like a family naman, It's just me. I can't fully accept it. But I'm trying, really." he hugged me.

"Everything will be fine." he comforted me.

"You two are just friends right?"

"Of course! We know each other since then! It's like she's my little sister. Don't worry." I hugged him back.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

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"Hey, it's already a week." I tried to talk to Grace while she's watching a kdrama.

"So?" she raised a brow.

"I can move out to Janine's house. For a week maybe?"

"Tapos? Babalik ka naman dito? Pinapahirapan mo lang sarili mo." she said without even looking at me.

"It's fine. After ko kina Janine, I can stay in my Mom's house." I don't want to be a burden to anybody.

"You can stay here you know. Hindi naman kita pinapalayas or what. Okay lang naman na nandito ka sa condo, mas mabuti nga kasi may kasama ako like, duh! It's so lonely here alone!"

"Really? Are you serious?" I asked again, baka mamaya na mali lang ako nang pagkakaintindi.

"Syempre!" I hugged her from the back.