05

"What did you said?"

Isla asked calmly. We're here now at the cafe, killing some time. Sinabi ko rin sa kanya ang gusto ni lola. She wanted me to find a boyfriend and try to be in a relationship.

I sighed.

"Ano pa nga ba. Edi sinabi ko sa kanya na ayaw ko."

"And?"

"She told me na hindi porket nangyari kila mommy eh mangyayari din sa akin." I said.

"Tama naman. Asther why don't you try–"

"No. Ayaw ko. Ayokong pumasok sa isang bagay na pagsisisihan ko lang din bandang huli. Isla you were there. You saw what happened to me when my parents got separated. You saw how it affected me. Ayoko na ulit pagdaan yung hirap na yun." I said.

She sighed and hold my hand. She caressed it lightly and give me an encouraging smile.

"Sabi nga ni lola. Hindi porket nangyari kila tita ay mangyayari din sa'yo. Iba-iba tayo ng kapalaran. And we are the ones whose going to choose our fate. Kung papasok ka sa isang relasyon, ikaw yung mag de'decide kung patatagalin mo ba, seseryosohin mo ba. Kaya malaki ang chance na hindi mangyari sa'yo ang nangyari sa relationship ng parents mo." She said.

I didn't responded. My principles are clear, my mind is set, my beliefs aren't adjustable . And I don't want to keep on explaining myself to anyone. I understand their point pero mas naiintindihan ko ang sarili ko. Relationship isn't my thing, at kung pipilitin ko baka masaktan lang ako sa huli or worse makapanakit ako ng inosenteng tao.

Isla felt my discomfort over this topic. Alam din kasi nito na sa lahat, ang pinaka-ayaw ko ay ang pag-usapan ang nasirang relasyon ng nga magulang ko. So she smiled and smoothly changed the topic. Kaya pinagkakatiwalaan ko si Isla eh alam niya kung kailan magsasalita at kung kailan dapat manahimik.

"Here's your frappe madam"

"Aww thank you. Paano mo nalaman na nandito kami?" Isla asked.

"Ako pa ba hon? Shempre stalker mo ako" He said and then leaned on and kissed Isla. "Hi Asther. Kumusta?"

"Hello Iñigo, eto third wheel niyo." I said chuckling.

Both of them laughed at my sentiment. After that pinabayaan ko nalang sila na mag-usap. Kahit palagi akong third wheel sa dalawa na 'to, ni minsan hindi sila pumapayag na ma out of place ako. They always include me on their conversation even though it doesn't concern me.

I looked at them. Isla's talking about her niece while Iñigo's just staring at her and listening intently. Even if I have different perspective towards a relationship bilib pa rin ako sa dalawang 'to. I mean they've been in a relationship for almost four years now. And looking at them right now, so in love with each other. And knowing how sweet they are to each other, parang bagong magka'relasyon pa lang. I really hope they'll last.

"Huy Asther nakikinig ka ba?"

I was awoken from my reverie when Isla called my name. I wasn't aware na tinititigan ko na silang dalawa. Kaya ngumiti nalang ako para itago yung hiya na nararamdaman ko.

"Ano yun?" I asked.

"Ang sabi ko parang nakita ko si Psyche kahapon sa village." She said.

"Psyche? Yung manliligaw niya dati?" Iñigo asked.

Isla nodded and gave me a cocky smile.

"Oh tapos?" I asked hiding my nervousness. Really, I didn't know why I felt uneasy all of a sudden.

"Wala lang sinabi ko lang sa'yo. Baka lang gusto mong malaman." She said.

"Pake'alam ko naman sa kanya–"

I wasn't able to finish my sentence when I saw him walking towards our table. What the hell! Why is he here?

I was about to talk again when he stopped beside me. Isla and Iñigo looked up at him while I'm here refusing to even glance at him. Hindi ko talaga alam kung bakit kinakabahan ako. Baka dahil may long quiz bukas? Ahh oo tama. Dahil sa quiz ito.

"Psyche! Uy kumusta ka na? Kailan ka pa nakabalik?" Isla said.

"Uhm hi Isla." He said.

"Si Iñigo nga pala, boyfriend ko."

"Iñigo, pare." He said and offered a hand shake.

"Psyche." He said as he offered a hand shake as well. "Uhm Rielle?"

Rielle. I haven't heard that for years. Simula noong umalis siya hindi ko na narinig ang parte na yan ng pangalan ko. Siya lang din naman ang tumatawag sa akin niyan. I looked up at him, raised my brows and pressed my lips together.

"Hmm"

"Hi. Pwede umupo dito?" He asked as he pointed the vacant chair next to me. I looked at Isla and then looked back at him and nodded.

Umusog ako ng konti para hindi maglapit ang mga braso namin. I really am uncomfortable and I don't know why! We we're silent for a few minutes until Isla spoke on my behalf. She sensed my awkwardness kaya siya na ang kumausap kay Psyche. And I thanked the heavens when she maneuvered the conversation smoothly.

"Uhm nung thursday pa ako nakabalik." Psyche said.

"Ahh Valentine's day yun diba?" Isla asked.

"Yes. Bumalik lang ako para I check yung bahay ni lola dito. Tapos babalik din akong Manila bukas, may pasok pa kasi sa monday eh"

"Ahh diba March ang graduation mo?" Isla asked.

"Oo, June kasi nag simula yung pasok kaya ayun. Kayo? Sa May pa diba?" He asked and Isla nodded. "Diba Rielle?"

"Ha... uhm... Oo" I said slightly creasing my forehead.

"Kumusta ka na? Hindi na kita nakita simula nung–"

"Okay lang, eto medyo busy sa school... Uhm Isla tara na, may pasok pa tayo." I said as I stood up.

"Ha... sige wait lang" she said. Inayos na rin niya ang gamit niya.

"Rielle, can we..." I looked at him with questioning eyes. "Can I invite you for dinner... later? Catch up lang sana."

"Uhm" I looked at Isla, asking for answers. Pero she only smiled at me mockingly. Nauna na din sila ni Iñigo saying na hihintayin nalang nila ako sa labas.

"I just really wanted us to talk before I go back to Manila tomorrow." He said.

"Talk about?" I asked.

"Things. What happened before and what could happen now." He slowly said. "Please Rielle? I don't want to scam you again that's why I'm asking you nicely now."

I chuckled remembering what he did before.

"Hanggang five pa yung class ko–"

"It's okay. I can wait naman... Uhm sa labas ng school mo? Like before?"

"Okay sige." I said.

His eyes widened. "Really?"

"Yep"

He smiled widely. "Thank you."

I smiled genuinely. Tama din siguro na mag-usap kami. I mean, we don't have any hang-ups pero that time, when I left him, I felt like something was wrong. Siguro I'm just looking for, I don't know closure?

Kapal ng mukaha no nanghihingi ng closure eh hindi naman naging kami. Pero hindi ko alam, kasi naman araw-araw siya naghihintay sa akin noon. Sunod ng sunod kahit saan ako pumunta. Kaya siguro nanibago lang ako noong umalis na siya papuntang Manila.

And this dinner isn't harmful at all. Baka nga maging magkaibigan ulit kami dahil dito eh. At sabi nga niya, catch up lang. So I assumed he wanted our friendship back.

***

:)