I Got A Plan

'Prancia'

I've been thinking about the reasons on why she'll use that surname instead of her husband. Pero wala akong maisip eh. Kaya tumungo nalang ako sa mga kaibigan ko na naroon sa Tom's World.

Don't ask about why a bunch of adult guys will be hanging around at Tom's World. Kasi kahit sinong tanungin mo ay wala namang age limit dito. So shut up nalang ha? Cause we'll be playing all we want.

"Uy! Andito ka na pala Nick," tawag nila. "Ano? Chicks ba nakasayaw mo?"

"Mas malala pa pre."

"Bakit pre? Senior citizen? Naku, kung minamalas ka nga namn eh," sabi ni Jun-jun sabay tapik sa balikat ko.

"Gago! Hindi, noh!" sagot ko.

"Brahkraugh"—crunch—"Baklash," sabi ni Chan-chan habang punong-puno pa yung bibig ng pagkain.

Biglang lumapit sakin si Timothy at bumulong, "Tol, baka naman naka-wampayb ka diyan? Libre na dis."

Ewan ko kung paano pero kapag talaga katarantaduhan eh kahit pabulong pa yan ay maririnig at maririnig yan ng mga gago.

"Libre na dis! Wampayb! Wampayb!" sabay-sabay nilang chant.

"Mga tarantado! Si Jessa yung nakasayaw ko!" sigaw ko habang natatawa sa mga tropa ko.

"Bakla na si Jessa?" tanong ni Tristan.

"Ewan ko sa inyo," tumalikod na lamang ako at tumungo sa basketball-shooting arcade. Habang sila halakhak pa nang halakhak.

"Pre, binibiro ka lang naman naman ng mga yun eh," sabi ni JR.

"Alam ko," I said, honestly. At thankful ako dun, kasi kahit papano, nabawasan yung stress sakin.

Nakatapos na ako ng mga ilang rounds nang bigla akong tinawag ni Jun-jun.

"Pre, yung wampayb mo, nasa labas," ngisi nito. "Hinahanap fafa niya."

"Tumigil ka nga," sabi ko sabay punta doon sasinasabi niya.

Nakita ko yung lalaki, nakatayo dun sa entrance.

"Uhmm, are you Nick? Nick Campbell?" tanong nito. "I am Jason. Jason Slapearth."

We shook hands.

"Ah, yes," sagot ko. "Slapearth? As in Hampaslupa?"

"Duh. Mas sosyal yung Slapearth so, please refrain from calling me by my actual Surname," he raised his brow.

O-kay?

"So Jason, do I know you? I mean, aside from your name?"

"Nope, you don't," sabi niya. "Pero ikaw, kilala ko. At yung kaibigan ko kilalang-kilala mo."

'Kilala niya raw ako? Okay. Now that's kind of creepy.'

"Sinong kaibigan?" I asked.

"Si Jessa. Jessa Prancia."

I stood frozen in shock. Not because some random gay knows her, but because he was also using the surname 'Prancia', as he was introducing Jessa to me.

What's the deal with it? Is she ashamed of her husband?

"Oo, kilala ko siya. At alam ko rin na kasal na siya at may dalawa nang anak," I said, almost grudgingly.

"Nope. All of that, was a lie," he said as he crossed his arms.

Wait! Ano raw? Lie? As in kasinungalingan? Or lie down? I think the former yung ibig sabihin niya.

Well, I guess.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"She did that because she doesn't want you to meddle sa sitwasyon niya. Kasi alam niyang you'll do anything for her. Because you're stupid and stubborn and a persistent pain in the ass."

"Thanks! I get that a lot."

"So ayun nga, itinago niya ang katotohanan sayo."

"Ang katotohanan na ano?"

"Mas gusto ko sana na sa kanya mismo ito manggaling, pero hindi ko na mapigilan ang sarili ko. Nasasaktan ang kaibigan ko at hopefully, ikaw ang makakatulong sa kanya."

"Why? What's wrong? Anong nasasaktan? Sabihin mo na kasi sakin!" I pleaded.

He sighed. Then he began telling me everything.

Yup. He just told me everything.

That's it.

(It's because someone out there is too lazy to retype the very reason for this whole mess. That's right guys. Blame the author. I just hope that you've been following this since the very beginning.)

So anyways, I learned the truth.

I was glad. Angry? Nope. Never. Because I understand her. I just hope I'm not yet too late.

"So yung fiancé niya ay yung Canadian Chess Grandmaster na hambog?" I asked again.

"Yes," he replied. "So what are you planning to do?"

"Isn't it obvious? Of course I gotta talk to Jessa first," I answered. "Speaking of which, wala nga pala akong number niya. Pahingi naman oh, itetext ko lang siya."

He handed me his phone and I got her number then texted her.

"Anyways, thank you for telling me," pahabol ko.

He nodded and smiled.

After that, I went to the park and waited.

***Jessa's POV***

Well, he's there already. Waiting for me. I gotta get myself ready.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

I stepped out of the car and went to sit next to him. Naghihintay ng mga sasabihin niyang masasakit na salita dahil sa mga ginawa ko.

Alas, he never did. He just smiled like he just got the grandest prize.

"Why are you smiling? Aren't you gonna yell at me for not telling you everything? For lying to you?" I asked, suspicious.

"Nope." he said it as a matter of fact.

"Why?"

"Cause if I were you, I'll probably end up doing the same."

I averted my gaze from him. He's been like this all along. So understanding. And straightforward. Never ceasing to amaze me. And also, to annoy.

"Thank you," I said, gratefully. Cause I really am.

"No problem. I know you've had it rough, so I'll keep it as simple as possible."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, we got a lot of things to do."

"For what?"

"Do you love me?" he asked, suddenly serious.

"Why? I was asking you a question and you'd be answering me also with one?" I crossed my arms and raised a brow.

"Do you? Or do you not?" he insisted.

"Haist. Fine. Of course I do. I still do you dum—"

He kissed me. Damn I've been longing for that! I want to take him all in. Gosh! For years! I can't believe how I managed to live without this man. I'm really proud of myself.

He pulled away.

"Hold your horses, babe," he said almost teasingly.

"You haven't answered me yet," I said.

"Oh? What else? Of course that's because..."

"What? Because what?"

He stands up and walked along the meadows, looking at the place where we used to be, well... Happy and with nothing else to worry about.

When we were still kids.

I followed him. Soon, I was standing next to him.

He turned and faced me, then he hugged me so tight yet it made me comfortable. It made me feel secure.

"I'll get you back, babe," he said as he kissed my forhead. "And after that, I ain't letting you go, ever again."

I won't. If you could get me back, I won't.

I'll stay.

"But how?" I really wanna know.

"Do you trust me?"

"Of course I do. But please tell me you have a plan."

"I have a plan." he smiled.

"And what would be this plan of yours?"

"Probably something stupid." he winked, and I saw his eyes glittered mischievously.

I know that look. He's off to something.

He's gonna lay down some schemes.

###