It Was Always You (The Navalta Series # 1)

Chapter 6

Natigil ako sa pag-iisip nang marinig kong tumunog ang cellphone ko. Si Jigs. Nakaramdaman ako ng kaba at paniguradong nabalitaan na nito ang pag-alok ng kuya niya ng kasal sa akin. I pressed the answer button.

"What's up, Sister-in-law?" natatawang niyang pagbati pagkatapos kong masagot ang tawag niya.

"Alam mo ikaw, epal ka rin e no? Sister-in-law ka diyan. I am not marrying your brother." Padabog kong sagot sa kaniya. I heard him laughed so hard on the other line. "Where are you now, Jigs?"

"Andito ako kay Kuya. Dumaan ako saglit bago umuwi kasi miss na daw niya ako. He just tolde me now." Still, he is laughing. "Teka, labas lang ako para hindi maki-tsismis na usapan natin si Kuya."

"Okay, dito na ako sa terrace. So tell me? How do you really feel sa inaalok na kasal sa'yo ni Kuya." tanong niya na tila seryuso na siya. He knows my feelings with Ryu, noon. He was the witness. Kaya alam ko na nage-gets niya ako.

"I honestly don't know how to feel or what I am feeling. I was shocked, honestly. Out of the blue, after 6 years, ngayon lang ulit kami nagkausap ng ganito. You know that, even when both of our families are having lunch or dinner, hindi na kami nag-uusap. I don't even know what came into his mind when he told Ianna's parents about that."

"Didn't you like him 6 years ago?" he asked seriously.

Natahimik ako sa tanong niya. Alam kong alam niya ang dating nararamdaman ko kay Ryu. "But that was 6 years ago, Jigs! I don't even know why I am thinking about this too much. I said no, but he came here and I can't stop thinking about it."

"Look, Ky, I'm fine with whatever decision you both are making. But I don't want you to say yes just because you pity him or he is desperate. And you know how many girls would die to get married to him. I know, Kuya. I know you'll be in good hands if you say yes. But I know the past as well and I don't want to see you getting hurt again. So, I am not going to force you to decide right away. If you say no or if you say yes later, it's up to you. You will both benefit from it anyway, both our families but keep in mind, no one is forcing you." payo ng kaibigan ko sa akin.

"Everything's a blur now. I know no one's pressuring me and I know hindi naman ako pipilitin ni Ryu to say yes right away. I know how desperate he is to get away of The Valencias and I don't know why I am confused and why am I Iike this now." ani ko sa kaibigan.

"Our parents will be back after 3 months, they're still in Dubai and I don't know if Ianna's parents already contacted them and told them whatever Kuya said to them. Kuya didn't say anything to them, he only told me and Rav. Your feelings are understandable. Sleep it off tonight. You're going to be okay. Call me if you need anything." taos-pusong sabi ni Jigs.

"It's a good thing they're not here though. Oh well, I guess I have to rest my mind and forget about this for awhile. Thanks, Jigs." pasalamat ko.

"Anytime, sister-in-law." muli niyang tukso. "Shut up." I said at nakitawa na rin ako sa kanya. "I'm going to hang up now. Pupuntahan ko pa si Alexa, date night e."

"You're still going out with that girl? Oh, come on, Jigs, I'm hanging up. Bye." pandidiri ko sa sabi ni Jigs. Alexa is his current girlfriend, they have been going out for awhile but I never liked her. Parang higad makatapik kay Jigs, di naman kagandahan. My friend deserves a good girl not someone like her. Ugh. Alam kong hindi naman din seryuso sa kanya si Jigs but still, she does not deserve Jigs.

"Oh, well. She likes me, and I am currently available. So, whatever. Okay, bye." He laughed.

Binalik ko sa bulsa ko ang cellphone at tumayo sa kinauupuan. Sobra akong confused ngayon at di ko alam kung bakit. Diretso naman ang sagot ko kay Ryu na ayaw ko pero bakit hindi siya mawala sa isip ko.

Pumasok na ako sa loob at sinara ang pinto ng terrace at ni-lock na rin ito. I turned off the lights from the kitchen and the living room and went straight to my bedroom.

Nagquick shower lang ako para makatulog na rin at may pasok pa ako bukas. Nagbihis ako ng pangtulog ko at agad na humiga sa kama. I turned on my moon lamp na nasa bedside table ko.

Ilang minuto lang ay nakaramdam na ako ng antok. Humiga ako ng maayos at maya maya ay nakatulog na din.

Inabot ng waiter ang pasta na inorder namin ni Ryu and we both eat silently. Hindi ko siya tinitingnan or kinikibo basta ako ay kumakain lang. Nakikita ko sa gilid ng mga mata ko na siya ay nakatitig at ngumingiti sa akin. After we ate our pasta, sinerve na rin ang desserts na inorder namin.

Gustong-gusto ko ang Frozen Brazo nila. Masarap siya at hindi masyadong matamis. Sakto lang ang tamis at hindi nakakaumay. "Gusto mong tikman?" tanong ko kay Ryu.

"No, I'm okay. You want to try their brownie?" balik tanong niya sa akin habang inaabot ang brownie.

"No, it's fine. You know I'm not a fan of brownies." I answered.

"Alright, then." sagot niya at patuloy na rin siyang kumain. We finished the food at around 8:30pm.

Tinawag ni Ryu ang waiter for the bill at nang maibigay sa kanya ay dumukot din siya ng pera at nagbayad. Kinuha iyon ng waiter at maya maya ay bumalik sa amin para maibigay ang sukli.

"Tonight's on me, Ky. It's my way of celebrating with you." Sabi niya nang makita akong kumuha ng wallet sa bag. I stared at him and he insisted that he pays for the food.

"Alright then, next time, it will be my treat." I said.

"Ah, so may next date pa tayo. I like that, tell me when and I'll make myself available for you." Nakangiting sagot niya.

Date? Date ba ito ngayon? Oh my God. Is he kidding me? "Date mo mukha mo." sabay irap sa kanya.

Tumawa siya nang malakas. "You ready to go?" he asked.

"Okay, let's go. May pasok pa tayo bukas." Tumayo kami at dumiretso sa labas. "Thank you for dining, Maam, Sir." sabi ng babaeng concierge nang makalabas na kami.

Dumiretso kami sa elevator para bumaba sa parking.

Nang makarating kami sa kotse niya, pinagbuksan ulit ako ni Ryu ng pinto at pumasok na ako roon.

Pumasok na rin siya at pinaandar ang kotse. Ryu also lives around Makati with Jigs and Rav, at Park Central Towers while I live at The Estate Makati with my roommate and friend Cece.

Una akong hinatid ni Ryu. Dumiretso siya sa basement ng condo para magpark. "Di mo na ako kailangan ihatid sa taas, I can manage."

"Ihahatid kita." si Ryu at lumabas ng sasakyan at pinagbuksan ako ng pinto. Bumaba ako ng kotse at dumiretso kami sa elevator. Pinindot ko ang 8th floor kung saan ang unit ko. When we got out of the elevator, agad kami dumiretso sa unit ko.

Nasa labas kami ng pinto, dala dala ko ang bulaklak na bigay niya. "Thank you for the celebration. I appreciate it. Sige na, umuwi ka na rin at papasok na rin ako. Thank you again." pasasalamat ko kay Ryu.

"My pleasure, baby. You are welcome. Congratulations again. Bye, lock your doors." at bigla niya akong hinalikan sa pisngi na abot tenga ang ngiti niya. Nagulat ako sa ginawa niya at bigla akong pumasok sa pinto ng condo namin.