Leave Your Lover

Chapter Nine

"Won't you come home? I cooked your favorite." She lovingly said over the phone. She was hoping with crossed fingers that CJ will come home.

Today's his birthday. Naglunch silang magkakasama kila Nay Kamil kaninang umaga but she was hoping he would spend the night with her.

He heard him sighed on the other end of the line.

"I'll spend the night with Maine. Sorry Carson."

She was somehow expecting that but damn! It still hurts.

"Pero bukas ka pa sa kanya." Pabulong na lang iyong lumabas sa bibig niya. She tried collecting herself together, she doesn't want to break down but she can't help the tears from falling, she tried to keep her voice from cracking.

"Carson, I spend the day with you. Besides, it's my birthday, can't I make my own arrangements?" His voice was irritated. Ni hindi nito hinintay ang sagot niya. He just hang up the phone and she'll bet her life that he turns it off right after their conversation.

She let herself succumb in so much pain and give herself a good cry.

Nang matapos siyang umiyak doon niya lang napagtanto na napakadami niyang niluto. She get some microwavable tub on the cupboard and fill each container some crab meat pasta that she cooks. Naglagay din siya ng chocolate mousse sa mas maliit na container.

She filled five tubs in total. Ipinamigay niya iyon sa mga kapit bahay sa katabing unit. Everyone thanked her genuinely. Medyo naging okay siya kahit na papaano.

Walang tao sa ibang unit kaya may natira pang isang tub ng pasta at mousse sa mga kamay niya. Doon niya lang napansin si Vancouver Ledesma na nakatayo sa tapat ng elevator door.

Kilala niya ang lalaki. Kaklase niya ito sa P.E noong college. His family owns the building at hindi iilang beses niyang nakasabay sa elevator na may kasamang iba't ibang babae.

"Baka pwedeng akin na lang iyan. Wala ka na naman atang pagbibigyan." Nanigas siya sa kinatatayuan ng magsalita ito at harangin siya. Malagkit na malagkit ang tingin sa pasta, takam na takam.

They were never close. She can't even call him an aquintance because they are practically invisible for each other. Kilala niya lang talaga ito dahil galing ito sa sikat na Political Clan sa bansa and well because he literally owns the building where she lives.

"Nakita ko namimigay ka sa mga kapitbahay. Baka may pasobra ka para sa may ari ng building." Hindi nito nilubayan ng tingin ang pasta niya.

"Akin ito." Niyakap niya ang container. She felt funny. Hindi niya naiwasan ang hindi matawa ng ngumuso ito. Parang masamang masama ang loob.

"Nagtitinda ka ba niyan? Baka puwedeng pabili ako?" Ang hagalpak ng tawa niya. Hindi na niya napigilan. He suddenly looked amused pero hindi pa rin natinag ang titig sa luto niya. He was eyeing the delicious meal in her hands as if it'll disappear if he blinks.

Doon niya napansin ang case ng beer na dala dala nito. Smirnoff mule iyon, bigla siyang nakaramdam ng uhaw.

"What about we trade? My pasta for your beer? What do you say?"

His face lit up. Noon lang siya nito tiningnan. Para ngang napililitan pa dahil natatakam talaga sa pagkain na nasa kamay niya.

"What about we drink together?"

She was appalled. Hindi niya inaasahan na aanyayahan siya nitong uminom. Nag dalawang isip siya pero ng tingnan niya ang pinto ng unit kung saan siya nakatira, naalala niya kung gaano kalungkot ang mag isa at ang masasakit na ala-ala.

"You got chips in there?"

Vancouver looked amused but he manage to smile at her. Para bang hindi ito makapaniwala na mas pinipili niyang sumama sa unit nito kaysa mag stay sa kanya dahil hindi naman sila gaanong magkakilala.