"Well, I really just came here to give that and I really just wanted to see you today."sabi ni Agnes.
"So, ayun. I guess I'll be going."dagdag niya tapos kumaway na siya sa 'kin. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako biglang nagpanic nung nagsimula na maglakad si Agnes papunta sa pinto.
"Ah..Agnes!"
"Hm?"
"Kumain ka na muna. Kakarating mo lang eh and hindi ka pa kumain or at least coffee. You should drink coffee bago ka bumyahe ulit."
"Namiss mo lang coffee ko eh."pang-aasar ni Agnes then she gave me a playful nudge.
"Well, oo."
"Sige, I'll make you coffee today."
"Hindi na, ikaw yung guest ko eh."sabi ko sa kanya.
"Ang arte mo. Ako na."sabi niya kaya natawa ako tapos naglakad kami papunta sa kusina.
Habang nagre-ready si Agnes nung coffee, hinain ko naman yung ibang pagkain na natira. Buti na lang din at marami pang pagkain. Otherwise, wala siyang inabutan.
Nagkwentuhan lang din kami ni Agnes at kinwento din niya yung tungkol sa project. In fairness naman the project is doing well, maganda yung concept nung movie, pero may ilang days pa sila into the shoot and nakapagstart na si Agnes magscore. May draft na siya and pinakita niya sa 'kin yung ilang photos and inaantay na lang niya yung actual movie para mailapat.
"Alam mo, we might hate the director for what he's trying to make me do, pero it was a nice exercise for me. Kasi habang nasa shoot kami, I can already hear the music playing in my head."sabi ni Agnes.
"Well that's nice, at least it was helpful and okay na rin yun para at least medyo mabilis natin matapos yung project."sabi ko sa kanya then she took a sip from her coffee.
"Agnes, I'm sorry. Hindi ikaw dapat yung andyan eh. Ako dapat yung gumagawa ng project na yan."dagdag ko.
"No, it's okay."sabi niya tapos binaba niya yung coffee niya. "I mean, imagine nandun ka sa Sagada on your birthday and no one's going to celebrate with you. Ang lungkot naman nun. At least you're here with your family and you're enjoying your birthday. And I'm enjoying the project anyway."sagot niya tapos tinuloy lang niya yung pagkain.
Habang kumakain, kinuha niya yung laptop niya sa kotse at pinarinig sa 'kin yung composition niya. May mga ilang portions lang akong pinabago pero overall okay naman. Iba talaga yung talent ni Agnes and I don't know why I'm still surprised until now.
"Well I'm done with my coffee and done eating as well. Paano? I need to go."sabi ni Agnes habang nililigpit niya yung gamit niya.
"Alam mo nagpapagod ka lang kasi eh pwede namang di ka na pumunta dito."sagot ko.
"Ano ka ba, I really just wanted to visit you and I'm okay. And I wanted to do this kaya it's okay."sabi niya.
"Pwede ka naman kasi magvideo call na lang."
"Yeah, but I wanted to be with you tonight." Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero I felt myself blush. Sa alak ba 'to?
"Pero tingnan mo nagpapagod ka lang. You're here just for a few minutes and then babalik ka na ng Sagada. Ang haba-haba ng byahe, anong oras ka pa umalis dun, tapos anong oras ka pa makakarating dun, tapo--"
"Wifey."sabi ni Agnes tapos hinawakan niya yung kamay ko.
"I wanted to do this okay?" She smiled.
"And I didn't come all the way here para makita kang nakasimangot, so smile. I came here for that. Wag mo naman yun sa 'kin ipagkait."sagot ni Agnes sabay ngumiti din siya. I sighed.
"Sige na, smile."sabi niya tapos hinawakan niya yung dalawang gilid ng bibig ko to make me smile. Tinapik ko yung kamay niya at iniwas ko yung mukha ko. I glared at her.
"Alam ko na, para worth it naman pagpunta ko dito. Let's take a picture."sabi niya tapos nilabas niya yung phone niya.
"Ayoko nga ang haggard ko na."
"Arte mo wala namang pinagbago. Dali na."
"Fine fine."sagot ko tapos tumabi ako sa kanya.
"Ano ba naman yan nakasimangot ka pa rin? Smile! Come on wifey, smile!" Nagulat ako nung bigla siyang umakbay sa 'kin.
"O don't look at me strangely,"sabi ni Agnes tapos nagkatinginan kaming dalawa. She was wearing this smile and I was caught off-guard on how pretty she looked. "Smile!"dagdag niya. Hindi ko na napigilang mapangiti.
"Marunong ka naman pala ngumiti eh. Anyway, I really need to go. Kasi pag di pa ako umalis ngayon baka di na ako makaalis nyan."sabi ni Agnes then she smiled at me habang kinukuha niya yung gamit niya. I frowned at the thought na aalis na siya. Somehow I wanted her here.
"Well, bye wifey. Happy birthday."
Paalis na sana si Agnes when I did the craziest thing and held her hand.
"Aji, wait."
"Yes?"
"I... I want to be with you tonight too."sabi ko sa kanya. I don't know why I am saying this. But somehow tonight, I just need to.
"Can you please stay?"
