Wrong

Chapter 4. Wrong

AFTER that call, Romano tried calling Nami again but she wasn't picking it up anymore. Nakonsensiya siya na nasigawan niya ito, pero hindi na kasi niya napigilan. He was offended that she's thinking he could be what he had to be.

Yes, he pretended to be gay, but that didn't mean that he must do what they do on bed, too. He had nothing against gay sex, but when he heard her talk about it as if he's doing it casually, he became angry. He was offended because he's straight. Never in his life he got confused with his identity.

He tried to dial her number again but she wasn't answering. He sighed and decided to call Glaze instead.

"What's up?"

She groaned to protest. "I told you, no phone call at night. I sleep early."

He apologized, then, he asked, "Where's your sister?"

"Huh? Why?"

"W-wala. I was just curious if you sleep on the same bed."

"Nasa kabilang kwarto siya. Tatlo na lang kasi kami rito sa dorm. Kasama ko si Claridad dito, si Kasey naman, solo niya ang kabilang kwarto hangga't wala pang boarders."

"Ah, ganoon ba? Sige, matulog ka na. I know you're tired."

"Sige. Ikaw rin."

"'Love you," he added.

She just said good night and ended the call.

Paano siya makakatulog kung hindi makakahingi ng paumanhin sa pagsigaw niya kanina?

Wait, she wanted him to call her Nami. Maybe, he'd start calling her that way so she would know he's sorry that he shouted at her.

Was that even a good reason?

Napasabunot siya bago hinubad ang suot na t-shirt. He would take a cold shower while thinking what to do.

PAKIRAMDAM ni Nami ay na-offend niya talaga si Romano nang nagdaang gabi. Hindi na kasi ito nag-text. Hinanap niya sa social media pero nalaman niyang walang itong account. Hindi kasi niya nahanap ang pangalan nito sa friend lists ni Glaze sa Facebook.

Lagpas isang linggo na mula nang makausap niya ito. Ayaw naman siyang magtanong kay Glaze dahil bukod sa magtaka ito kung bakit, nahihiya rin siya. She's mot sure why, but she's feeling that way.

"Kase, sama ka mamaya sa amin ni Romano, kakain Lang ng dinner sa C'est La Vie." Kalalabas lang niya ng kwarto at saktong papunta rin pala si Glaze sa kwarto niya para yayain siya.

"Sige!" medyo napalakas ang tinig na bulalas niya. Was she sounding excited? Maging siya ay nagulat sa sarili.

"Sasabihin ko na sa kaniyang pumayag ka. Wala nang bawian."

"Bakit sasabihin mo pa?" Did he ask for her? Did he want to see her?

"Well, he's the one who suggested to bring you along. Manlilibre raw kasi siya't isama na kita para masulit ang libre."

"Ah, ganoon ba?" Napatango siya kahit medyo nadismaya. Akala pa naman niya ay gusto siya nitong makita. After all, they're friends now, weren't they?

"Maliligo na ako, uuwi akong maaga mamaya kaya dapat nakabihis ka na para hindi tauo gabihin."

"Mga anong oras ba?"

"Alas sais daw tayong susunduin."

"Alright."

She shrugged and went back inside her room. She forgot that she's going to the groceries now and kept herself occupied thinking what to wear later.

Five o'clock.

Five thirty.

Six o'clock.

Wala pa rin si Glaze. Napalunok siya nang sabihan siya ng isang boarder na may naghahanap sa kakambal niya, iyong manliligaw raw. Alam na niya kaagad na si Romano iyon kaya nagmadali siyang bumaba.

Saglit siyang natigilan sa paglalakad nang maalalang ilang araw na pala ang nakalipas nang huli niya itong makausap. What if he's still thinking about what she said last time?

'Kainis namang bibig ito! Ba't wala kasing preno...

Tumikhim siya para kuhanin ang atensiyon nito. Nakayuko ito at may bina-browse sa cellphone. Nang makalapit siya ay napansin niyang mobile game iyon.

"Uh, w-wala pa si Glaze," panimula niya.

He just nodded once and his gazes went back on his cellphone. Nag-games. "Let's wait for her."

Napanguso siya. Mukhang na-offend nga niya nang husto.

Umupo siya sa katapat na upuan. Nasa sala sila at nakaupo ito sa pang-isahang sofa, siya'y nasa mahabang sofa. Sa ilang sandaling nakatitig siya rito ay hindi na ito nag-angat ng tingin. Malaya naman niyang natitigan ang bulto nito.

She realized he dyed his hair brown, like a dark chocolate in color, and it's now undercut. Mahaba-haba ang buhok nito nang huli silang magkita dalawa o tatlong linggo nang nakalipas kaya kapansin-pansin iyon.

"Nagpagupit ka pala?" pansin niya. Doon ito nag-angat ng tingin. She blinked twice. He looked more handsome now! Maaliwalas na ang mukha at hindi na magandang lalaki sa paningin niya. Guwapo. Yes, that's the right term to describe him. Handsome. Manly.

"Last week."

"Nagpakulay ka rin. Anong kulay iyan? Maganda." Tumikhim siya. "Baka maganda rin sa buhok ko," dagdag niya.

"Dark brown."

Hindi na siya nagsalita pa. Ang tipid nitong sumagot, eh. Though she also noticed his skin got tanned, hindi na niya isinatinig iyon.

Tumunog ang cellphone nito saka sinagot iyon. Ilang sandali pa ay natapos ang tawag.

"That's Glaze. She said she'll just go straight to the restaurant. Umalis na raw tayo."

"Sige, tara na." Tumayo siya matapos ayusin ang suot na gladiator sandals. She chose to partner her high-waisted plaid skirt with that pair of sandals. She's also wearing a spaghetti strapped white top, and she wore a headband with pearls design. Sinuot niya rin ang regalong relo sa kaniya ni Glaze noong nakaraang birthday nila.

Nakailang hakbang na siya nang hindi kaagad sumunod si Romano sa kaniya.

"Why?" she asked since she noticed he's staring at her, particularly at her body.

"Aren't you going to wear anything on top of your clothes?"

"Ha? Bakit? Pangit ba ang suot ko?"

Nag-iwas ito ng tingin. "It's cold outside. You should wear some jacket or what."

Pero parang hindi naman iyon ang gusto nitong sabihin. Pangit nga siguro't hindi lang nito masabi ng diretso.

She sighed.

"Wait for me, then."

"I'll wait in the car."

Nagmamadaling pumanhik siya. Magpapalit pa sana siya ng damit pero baka kasi maghintay pa ito ng matagal, o kaya si Glaze, baka mauna pa ito sa C'est La Vie kaysa sa kanila.

She just grabbed her black cardigan and didn't wear it yet. Mamaya na, pagkasakay sa sasakyan. Para hindi na maghintay pa ang lalaki.

He's already in the car when she went out. Pagkabukas niya ng pinto sa front seat ay hindi siya nito tinapunan ng tingin. Hindi tuloy niya malaman kung galit pa ba ito o baka pangit lang talaga ang suot niya. Wala sa sariling napayuko siya. Though she's wearing a sleeveless top, it's still decent. Hindi mababa ang neckline at sakto lang na nakahapit sa katawan niya.

Nagtatakang bumaling siya saglit dito matapos ayusin ang seatbelt. He's really looking straight ahead as he started the car engine.

What's wrong?