Chapter 39 : Uncertainty

Chal Raed's POV

It's getting dark when we finally arrived. I told her to take a rest first, but she insisted to have a walk near the seashore. She really loves the sea breeze when evening comes.

She's now in her violet dress. I bought it the first time we went together sa A mall, kasabay no'ng damit na ibinigay ko sa kanya sa bar. She thought it was for me, but it's really for her.

She's gracefully walking in the sand while extending her arms, savoring the fresh air and the beautiful scenery.

"Ang sarap lang tumira rito," she suddenly uttered. Humarap siya sa'kin at dahil medyo may kalayuan siya ay dahan-dahan siyang lumapit. Suddenly, I feel like everything moves slowly. It may be very cliche and cheesy, but it's indeed happening now. I feel like I came back to the time where I first felt this weird feeling, well I always feel this every time I saw her. "Oy," she poked me in my arm.

"Oh?" the only word I uttered. It seems like I'd spaced out. I just can't help myself but to remember how I first met her, how our first interaction happened, all those good memories I've had with her. Do I seem so in love?

"Okay ka lang ba? Hindi pa nga ako nagtatanong mukhag tense na tense ka na," she said, trying to hide her laughter.

"Hindi ako natetense, iniisip lang kita," I replied.

She gasped and said, "magkasama na tayo't lahat-lahat, iniisip mo pa rin ako? Mamaya magsawa ka na sa'kin."

"Never will it happen," I made sure. "And, you don't care if I always think of you. I'm gonna do it whenever I want to. Kung minu-minuto ko mang gawin 'yan, you can't do anything about it. And, don't complain, that's no use."

"Edi wala ka ring pakialam kung iisipin kita?"

And that left me no words to utter. Hindi ko alam kung nagbibiro ba siya or she's being serious. I don't know if she's now starting to like me back and she's slowly confessing through asking me in such weird way or she's just going with the flow.

Damn!

It's really hard to know what she really meant with her words. Ganyan ba mag confess ang mga babae?! Paligoy-ligoy?

"Chal Raed, okay ka lang ba talaga?" I came back to reality after hearing her spoke again, "napapatitig ka na lang sa'kin bigla, huwag ka ngang ganyan, ayokong pagsawaan mo 'ko," and there she goes again!

I stopped walking. I took a deep breath, then I mutter, "Maundy, if ever you're falling for me now, please do inform me because I don't want to misunderstood your words. Tell me if you're just joking or you really are being serious," I added, but she just stared at me for a second.

She then started walking again and I followed her too soon, "a-ano bang pinagsasabi mo?" she asked.

I stopped walking and she turned her back to face me, "bigla-bigla ka na lang kasing nagbibitaw ng salita na may ibang kahulugan para sa'kin," I replied, honestly. "Like, I shouldn't care if you'll think of me, why? Why do you need to think of me?" I asked, but she remained silent. "Kasi ako, I think of you and will always do because I want to and I love you," no reaction again, she's just quietly staring at me, "then now, you're saying ayaw mo na pagsawaan kita, why? Kung mangyayari ba 'yan masasaktan ka?"

After a minute of silence, she said, "Chal Raed, hindi ko alam," her brows are now knitted, "hindi ko alam kung ba't kita iisipin, basta gusto ko lang. Hindi ko alam kung ba't ayaw kong pagsawaan mo 'ko kasi...gusto kong gustuhin mo lang ako. Hindi ko alam ang rason kung bakit, okay?"

I smiled as I pulled her closer to me. I touched her face, then I wiped her tears that had suddenly flow. "Whatever the reason behind your words, swear, it makes me feel so glad," I whispered. I hugged her, then I uttered again, "sorry for asking you those questions. I'm sorry if it seems like I am pressuring you."

She lightly punched my arm, "ano ba, okay lang. Huwag ka ng mag sorry," she said.

"Basta, Mon, always bear in your mind that I am more than willing to wait for you. It may be months, years, decade, or century, hihintayin kita. You don't have to worry for I won't ever feel repugnance towards you. Ever since I know you, God knows how I want you to be my first and last," I said, sincerely. Then, I slowly felt her arms embracing me back, and this is one of the best feeling I've ever felt! My heart is palpitating so damn fast!

"Hintayin mo lang ako, hintayin mo lang 'yong sagot ko. Hindi pa rin ako sigurado, pero sinasabi ko sa'yo, Baklush ka, ang laki ng pag-asa mo sa'kin," she said as she let out a sweet laugh.

Kumalas ako sa pagkakayapak sa kanya, pero hawak-hawak ko 'yong kamay niya, "let's continue walking," sabi ko.

"Holding each others hand? Tayo na ba?" she asked, grinning.

"Gusto mo ba?"

"Baliw, kakasabi ko ngang 'di pa ako sigurado, eh."

I pat her head, "I'm just joking," I muttered. But, honestly, I hoped that she said yes when I asked her about it. But again, I'm willing to wait for her answer.

"Psh, parehong-pareho kayo ni Spade, walang sense of humor," she uttered and I just chuckled. It runs in our blood, we always scored zero when it comes to joking.

I suddenly looked at her, but her eyes are glued at the views. I was about to let go of her hand and just walk together without having skin ship, pero bigla siyang umakbay sa'kin. "Ano nga bang klaseng magic 'yong mga sinabi sa'kin ni Spade kanina, ha? Meeting for one week sa Canada pala, ha."

Natawa naman ako ng bahagya. Si Spade talaga. "Actually, I really did ask for his help. Sinabi kong gumawa siya ng white lies to make my plan successful. Hindi ko naman inaasahang gano'n 'yong sasabihin niya," I shook my head in disbelief, then I continued, "one week na meeting? Like hello, nakakapagod nga 'yong dalawang oras lang, one whole week pa kaya?" she giggled, "but then again, I owe him one. Hindi naman talaga ako nagpunta sa Canada, I went to your house and ask for your brothers' permission again to have a moment with you somewhere here in the Philippines for one week and they said yes. Then, I stayed in your place for about 3 hours kasi nagchikahan pa kami, after that I talked to Paps, nagpaalam akong maglileave muna for one week and too much fortune for me because he said yes," I explained.

She stopped walking and faced me, "iba ka rin, eh, 'no," nakangiti pang sabi niya.

"Masaya ka ba?" tanong ko naman.

"Aba, sino bang hindi?"

"Thank you."

"Para saan?"

"Dahil masaya ka, it makes me happy, too, so, thank you."

Oh, how astonishing that sweetest smile of her. Iyan 'yong gusto kong laging nakikita, eh.

She suddenly held my hand and grabbed me through my room. We run with a smile on our lips and I don't really want to end this moment—if only I could.

"Sobrang dilim na talaga, maligo ka na at sunduin mo 'ko para kumain, ha," she slowly pushed me inside my room.

"Wait, Maundy," she looked at me with a question mark on his face, "wala, you can go now." Arg! Hina mo, Raed.

"You sure?"

"Yup. Take a shower now and I'll just fetch you later, okay?" she nodded and waved at me. As she started walking I had decided to close the door. "I love you, Maundy, that's what I wanted to say."

Maundy's POV

Inalis ko na 'yong tenga ko sa may pintuan ng room niya nang marinig ko ang mga yabag ng paa niyang papalayo. Napapikit na lang ako habang nag-uumpisa na akong maglakad muli.

'I love you, Maundy, that's what I wanted to say.'

Haaay! Pang ilang I love you na ba 'yon, Maundy? Kailan mo ba sasagutin? Eh, ano naman kasi ang isasagot ko, self? Thank you for loving me? Hindi naman yata akma 'yon. Haaay!

Matapos kong maligo ay naupo muna ako sa may kama at binuksan ang cellphone ko habang 'di pa dumadating si Chal Raed. Sakto namang ang daming chat ng mga Bruha sa GC namin.

Rosas: Feel ko naghahoneymoon na sila!!! Bongga, Day! Sana lima agad labas!

Joy: Gaga! Twin muna. Mamatay naman kakairi si Monay niyan.

Rosas: Nako, si Monay pa, kahit sampung anak pa ii-iri niya 'yan nang sabay.

Clarice: Legendary!

Rosas: Pakening! 'Yong best friend pa ba natin? Wala ba kayong bilib sa kanya? Kahit bente ka sanggol kaya niyang iiri nang bente segundo lang.

Huta! Mukhang aning-aning talaga 'tong mga 'to! Palibhasa hindi nag kukuwento ng mga buhay pag-ibig nila! Hindi sana sila magkaroon ng happy ending. HAHAHAHA! Makisali na ngalang sa usapan nila, tagal ni Chal Raed maligo, eh, limang beses kasi siyang mag sabon at mag shampoo, kaya kapag tumabi ka sa kanya ang sarap lang hindi kumawala. Harot!

Monay over sa ganda: So isang segundo, isang sanggol ang maiiri ko?

Rosas: Nadali mo 'ko riyan!

Joy: MONAAAAANG!!

Rosas: Hoy! Pakening, ikaw pala 'yan, Monay?!

Clarice: Video call nga, kakapagod mag type mga, Day.

At dahil dakila nga kaming mga tamad, eh agad kaming nag video call. "MONAAANG!" parang kinikilig na ewan na sigaw ni Rosas.

"ANO?!" syempre sumigaw na rin ako.

"ANO? KAMUSTA? MAGKASAMA KAYO? TAPOS NA? WALANG VIDEO?" sunod-sunod pa niyang tanong habang sumisigaw pa rin.

"HUTA! KUNG ANU-ANO PINAG-IISIP MO! NANDITO KAMI PARA ANO..." para ano nga ba? Nyeta, ano nga ba kasing ginagawa namin dito?

"ANO?!" natinag ako sa sigaw na 'yon ni Rosas.

"PARA GUMAWA NG GOOD MEMORIES HINDI 'YONG GANO'N!" sagot ko.

"ANONG GANO'N?!" sabay na sigaw ng tatlo. Huta! Ang ingay ng mga tahong na 'to.

"Pwede bang huwag tayong magsigawan, ha? Kalma tayo, okay?" mahinahon ko pang sabi at agad naman silang tumango. "Iyon na nga, andito kami para gumawa ng new memories, makilala 'yong isa't isa at para siguraduhin ko na rin 'yong nararamdaman ko."

"OH MY GOSH!"

"Ikalma mo 'yang lemonsito mo, Joy," natatawang sabi ko.

"Che, akala mo singlaki ng pakwan sa'yo, eh, singlaki lang naman 'yan ng cherry," sagot naman nito. Harsh amp! Hahaha.

"Huwag kang tatawa-tawa riyan, Clarice, singlaki lang ng paminta 'yang sa'yo," sabi ko pa habang 'di maitago 'yong tawa ko.

"Ang sama mo!" naiiyak kunyaring aniya. Hindi tuloy kami magkandahumayaw sa kakatawa.

"So, 'yon na nga, Monay, ibig sabihin may feelings ka for him?" biglang seryosong tanong ni Joy.

"Magsisinungaling ako kapag sasabihin kong wala, pero hindi pa nga ako sure," sagot ko naman.

"Okay lang 'yan, Monay, ang importante meron! Yiiieee, ito na ang simula ng panibago mong love life, so happy for you, Maundy," masaya talagang sabi ni Rosas kaya 'di ko maiwasang mapangiti.

Nag-usap pa kami ng ilang minuto haggang sa narinig kong may kumatok. Binuksan ko 'yon agad at—

Hooooh! I need air!

Sinong may sabing mag gan'to 'to?! Huta! Ang sarap niyang ilagay sa maleta tapos hindi na palalabasin nang 'di makita ng iba! HAHAHAHA! Ibang klase nga naman si Chal Raed, Mother Earth!