The Inverse

- 37

PAT'S POV

Yumakap sa 'kin si Agnes habang nasa likod ko siya at nagluluto ako. Pero nagulat ako nung bigla niya 'kong hinalikan somewhere below my jawline. Goodness Agnes. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero parang may kuryenteng dumaan sa katawan ko and I felt goosebumps. Then she planted another one on my neck. It felt ticklish and I think umakyat lahat ng dugo ko sa mukha kasi feeling ko sobra na akong namumula.

"Love!"saway ko sa kanya.

"What?"

"Stop that."

"Why?"

"Basta. Stop that."sabi ko sa kanya. Kaya Agnes playfully landed another one on my neck.

"Isa! Titigil ka o hindi?"sabi ko sa kanya at inamba ko sa kanya yung sandok. Natatawa naman siyang bumitaw at umatras. Tinaas niya rin yung kamay niya as an act of surrender. Pakakulit.

"Sorry. Di ko lang napigilan."sabi ni Agnes. "I'm looking at you cooking eh, and I had this urge to kiss you on the neck."sabi niya. "You look so beautiful kasi love. I can't resist you." I feel myself blush.

"Dun ka na nga Maristella. I'm almost done."sabi ko sa kanya. She just let out a laugh tapos umupo na rin siya sa mesa. We've been together for years now, but I guess hindi pa rin ako nasasanay sa mga paganyan niya. Everyday, Agnes will surprise me with little things. Minsan bigla siyang sumusulpot sa office. Tuwang-tuwa naman silang makita siya kasi they know her and they somehow enjoy her company.

Whenever we are alone, Agnes will just randomly kiss me or hug me or be touchy. Outside, the most that she would do is akbayan ako. She would never display affection even in front of our friends. And I am not complaining. I just want a lowkey relationship since we are both public figures now. We've both agreed na we can just build a world of our own together and that our relationship would be our mini escapade away from this crazy world and how this would be our sanctuary.

I prepared our lunch at nilagay ko na sa mesa. Every weekend, ako naman ang nagluluto para sa 'ming dalawa. Most of the time kasi si Agnes ang nag-aasikaso sa 'kin because of work. So kapag weekend, sinasabi ko sa kanya na siya naman ang dapat nagpapahinga. I know I should be resting too, but seeing Agnes happy is enough.

"Ang sarap mo talaga magluto love."sabi niya. I smiled. Palagi niya talaga akong binobola. "Love.."

"Hm?"

"Once narelease na natin yung album and tapos na tayo sa tour, pumunta tayo sa Japan?"sabi niya. I smiled. Matagal na namin talaga plano pumunta ng Japan but we were so busy with the band and my work kaya hindi kami natutuloy. But I guess, after all the hardwork, maganda nga sigurong umalis na muna kami for a vacation. I gave her a nod and ngumiti lang din siya. Kinuha niya na yung phone niya and nagstart na siyang mag-check ng schedule namin. She went rambling on about what requirements she needs to get for a visa, saan kaya magandang hotel magstay, saan may seat sale, at kung anu-ano pa. I held her hand to stop her.

"Love. Don't get too excited. Hindi pa nga tayo nagsisimulang magrecord ng album. Hindi pa nga tayo tapos magsulat. Relax. We still have time." She just nodded and smiled. Tinapos na namin yung kinakain namin and we decided to watch a movie. Humiga ako sa lap ni Agnes and while we were watching, she would play with my hair and give me a light head massage.

●●●●

AGNES'S POV

"Love. Nag-aaya sila Nicole to go out. Sama ba tayo?"sabi niya sa 'kin. Tumango lang ako tapos nag-ayos na kami. Mineet lang namin sila Nicole for a merienda date tapos nagkayayaan kaming pumunta ng Cartimar. Nag-ikot ikot kami ni Pat until we reached one petshop. I saw Pat's face light up as she looked at some of the birds on display. I can't help but smile. Mahilig talaga siya sa animals and I remember she told me na if hindi siya musician, siguro vet siya ngayon. Nakita ko na may nagustuhan siyang cockatiel and she was interacting with it.

"Cute."sabi ko sa kanya.

"Di ba?"sabi niya. I smiled.

"Hindi siya, ikaw."sabi ko sa kanya. She blushed tapos hinampas niya ako.

"Puro ka kalokohan."sabi niya.

"But, cute din siya."sabi ko. I saw her look at the cockatiel again and I can tell that Pat fell in love with her.

"Love, magbaby na kaya tayo?"sabi ko sa kanya.

"Gagu. Ay sorry!"sabi niya nung narealize niyang medyo malakas yung sinabi niya.

"Huy."sabi ko sa kanya. Natawa tuloy ako.

"I meant siya. Let's get Zapdos."sabi ko sa kanya.

"Zapdos?"nagtatakang tanong niya.

"Eh kasi yellow siya eh."sagot ko. Napangiti na lang siya.

"Ang bilis mo naman. Napangalanan mo na agad siya."sabi ni Pat. "Do you think we should get Zapdos?" I nodded.

"Eh kaso walang mag-aalaga sa kanya when we're on tour. Kawawa naman siya."sagot niya then she pouted.

Hay Patricia. Why are you so cute?

●●●●

PAT'S POV

"Go na. Let's buy Zapdos."sabi ni Agnes then she gave me a reassuring smile pero I'm still worried paano si Zapdos when we're away.

"Let me think about it first."sagot ko sa kanya. She just nodded tapos umalis din siya para magtingin nung ibang pets na nakadisplay. I looked at Zapdos. She's so pretty. And naming her already made me feel attached. Si Agnes naman kasi binigyan siya agad ng pangalan.

"So?"sabi ni Agnes after ilang minutes.

"I like Zapdos... but wag na siguro love. Kawawa lang kasi siya kung maiiwan siya sa condo when we're away." I mean, I really want to take her home but I'm scared na mapabayaan siya.

"Sure ka?"sabi niya. I hesitated but I just nodded.

"Yes, sure. Alis na tayo."sabi ko sa kanya as I took Agnes by the hand and led her outside.

"Wait love. May naiwan ako."sabi niya tapos bumalik siya sa loob nung shop. Paglabas niya dala-dala niya na si Zapdos.

"Hala! You bought her?"sabi ko sa kanya habang kinukuha ko sa kanya yung cage.

"We can't leave our baby behind."sabi niya sa 'kin. Niyakap ko si Agnes pero bumitaw din ako agad kasi nasa labas nga pala kami.

"Paano pag wala tayo?"sabi ko. I frowned. Kawawa naman ang baby ko.

"We'll make it work. Okay? Don't worry love. We'll be the best parents for Zapdos."sabi niya. I smiled. Mineet namin ulit sila Nicole then we bid our farewells. Pagbalik namin sa condo, hinanapan lang namin ni Agnes ng magandang pwesto si Zapdos. Ayaw niya sa cage niya kaya hinayaan lang namin siyang nakalabas. Nag-cr lang ako pagbalik ko, nakita ko na Agnes was talking to Zapdos. We're starting our own family. I can't help but smile. Who would have thought that we'd be like this after a couple of years. We used to sleep in two different rooms before. But as we stayed in the relationship, we've decided to stay in one room at ginawa na lang namin studio yung room ko. Every month, we would take photos together and post it there to remind us how far we have already made it. Ang tagal na namin ni Agnes. And I'll forever be thankful for all those years. Now, we are preparing for our future together. Excited na ako.

Parang kahapon lang, I wasn't even sure how I feel for Agnes. I'm not even sure kung gusto ko ba talaga siya, but now here we are. Having her as my girlfriend is probably one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life. I wonder kung nasaan na kami if I didn't say something during that ride home. What would life be without Agnes beside me?