Love in Bangketa

41

Third year of college. I didn't expect I'd come this far. From someone inconsistent in studying, this was an achievement.

But, it's not an achievement that I had to work all-day long, dahil nakakapagod, my god!

"You can certainly do it, Elisa! Stop with the kaba, it will not do you any good," I said over the phone while talking to Elisa as she planned to apply to a company today.

"Hay, Xynnah! Sobrang nakaka nervous kaya! My g! Hindi lang naman 'to basta-bastang company 'no! Si Daddy kasi, napaka ano! I told him not to refer me to his friend, but, look?! I'm so stressed!"

I laughed. "If you don't want to apply there, then simply get your shits up and leave that place,"

"As if gano'n lang 'yon kadali 'no," I couldn't see her, but I could imagine her rolling her eyes at me. "Xynnah..."

"Hmm?"

Elisa sighed. "Have you already talked to him?"

I bit my lower lip and whispered. "Nope. Ilang weeks na..."

Just a month na lang, Max and I will be celebrating our 3rd year anniversary, pero it has been three weeks, to be exact, at wala pa akong nakukuhang balita tungkol sa kaniya.

I tried to reach Aezy na rin. I asked her if Tito Gerard knew about Max's whereabouts. I couldn't help, but overthink, even though Max told me before that I mustn't.

Max... Where are you?

"Maybe, Max was just busy, Xynnah,"

"Busy? For... three weeks straight? He's just busy? Ano bang ginagawa niya no'n para mawalan ng time sa'kin?" I couldn't stop myself from combusting.

Hindi naman ako nagdedemand nang sobra sa time ni Max. Alam niya 'yon. Hindi rin naman ako masiyadong naghihigpit. It's just that... kung ganito katagal siyang hindi magpaparamdaman... he should have told me, right?

It's not that hard to text me... to call me... kahit isang minuto lang.

"Chill. Why don't you just visit him para malaman mo ano ginagawa niya?"

I have thought about that idea, too. Pero, hindi ko na lang basta-basta pwedeng iwan lahat ng mga naka atas sa'kin dito. "That was my plan, as well. I'll... check my schedule,"

"Osya, Xynnah. I'll be heading out na, I was being called. Love ya! Please, don't overthink na, alright? Byers!"

"Ace that shit, Elisa. Mwa!" I bid goodbye to Elisa and continued my paperwork. Isang taon na lang... I'll be graduating as well. Ngayon pa lang, nagi-isip na ako kung saan ako pwedeng makapag apply once I graduated. I think... applying to CBR Corporation would be a good choice?

I was busy looking at my laptop when the bell of the coffee shop rang, signifying that someone has entered the shop, and my gaze landed on whoever entered. It was Yuan, holding the keys to his car.

Nagtago ako nang mabuti. Simula nang mag second and third year ako, hindi na kami masiyado nagkakaroon ng same class. Dati, halos buong araw, ngayon, mayroon pa naman pero isa na lang.

"Why do you think you're doing, Xynnah?" He laughed.

"Nothing. May nahulog lang na ballpen kaya kinuha ko. Why are you here?" I replied as I sat properly. I just didn't want to be bothered by him.

"Paga-ari mo ba 'tong coffee shop? No, right?"

"I was nicely asking you, but you used your stupidity to answer me. What an asshole," I rolled my eyes.

Pinitik niya ang noo ko. "Silly. Inuunahan lang kita sa pambabara mo, pero ako pa yung nabara. Probably, if I answered your question, babalikan mo ako ng pamimilosopo. Labo mo rin, e 'no?" Umiling ito at pumunta na sa counter para mag order.

I checked my phone to see the time. I only have an hour and a half para matapos ang tatlong paperwork ko. I spent my time crying over Max dahil namimiss ko na siya. Hay. My dorky little boy, where are you now, love?

"You looked stressed. Have you been doing fine?" He sat on the chair right in front of me, while sipping on his frappe.

"Nakalimutan ko lang mag make-up," I lied.

He raised an eyebrow na para bang hindi naniniwala sa sinasabi ko. "I don't think so? You still look great tho, even without make-up. But, seeing you right now... Meh. You look devastated,"

"Umalis ka sa harapan ko habang mabait pa 'ko sa'yo, Yuan,"

He grinned. "All jokes aside. How have you been nga? You okay? Ilang linggo ka nang mukhang malungkot. Go, tell me your problems,"

"Why would I? You're not a friend,"

He scoffed. "We already follow each other on Facebook, now, you still have the guts to tell me that we aren't friends yet? 'Nu 'yon? Pa free follow back?"

I just shrugged. Hindi ko na siya pinansin kaya tumingin siya sa kung anong ginagawa ko. "Marketing?" Aniya.

"Tumingin ka na nga magtatanong ka pa,"

"Is this the reason why you're looking stressed right now? Proofread on Finance. Tally rea--"

"Ang ingay mo! Mas lalo akong nas-stress sa'yo,"

Hindi na siya umimik. Akala ko titigil na talaga siya, but no. Nagulat na lang ako nang ilabas nito ang dala niyang laptop at humiram ng libro ko.

"What for?"

"I'm gonna help you finish what you're doing,"

"I can handle i--"

"No, you can't. Tapos na ako riyan. Let me help you, Xynnah," Yuan placed his hand on the table.

"Thanks, but no thanks, Yua--" Bigla niyang sinara ang laptop ko na kinagalit ko lalo. Pinalo ko siya sa braso niya na kinatawa niya lang.

"Ang sama talaga ng ugali mo, punyeta ka!"

"Ayaw mo kasing ibigay libro mo! Dali na! Bigay mo na!"

Kaya napabigay ako nang wala sa oras. Now I know why a lot of girls were simping for him. He has got that looks, wit, and productivity. Dagdag mo pang mayaman ito. I sighed and just continued my work.

"Si Prof. Guibano yung sa Marketing niyo, 'di ba? Make an advance reading with the next lesson. It'll help you, a lot,"

Pinasa niya sa'kin ang ginawa niya. Hindi ko na tinignan pa 'yon dahil alam ko namang maganda yung ginagawa niya. Nakakagroup ko siya noong first year pa lang naman ako, and I am quite impressed with his works.

"Lilibre na lang kita ng lunch next week. Sagot ko na buong week mong lunch,"

Kakatapos niya lang din matapos ang frappe niya. Kumuha siya ng tissue at pinangpunas sa bibig niya. "Thanks, but no thanks,"

"Edi 'wag," Nilagay ko ang laptop ko sa bag.

"Eto... since tinulungan naman kita... Yung pambayad mo na lang sa'kin... is.... drum rolls, please," Aniya. Pero, hindi ako nag drum roll. Kapal niya.

Siya na ang nag drum roll dahil hindi ko siya pinansin. "Utang mo sa'kin na kwentuhan mo 'ko,"

"Bakit kita kukwentuhan? Si Charo ka ba?"

"Look, Xynnah, worried lang ako sa kalagayan mo. Perhaps, you wanna open up something? Life? Lovelife? Or whatsoever?"

I bit my lip. Is asking a favor... can be considered as payback? "Yuan,"

"Yep?"

"Drive me to Malate. And, I'll tell you everything,"

His smile widened. "Sure. No problem, miss,"

I miss you, Max. Kung walang gagawa ng paraan sa'ting dalawa, edi ako ang hahanap ng paraan.