Chapter 34 : Last Free Lunch

Maundy's POV

Matapos ang may kahabaang rebelasyon ay bumalik na kami sa reyalidad, balik trabaho na. Iyong dalawa ay pinalayas na ni Chal Raed na walang ibang ginawa kun'di ang asarin ang Kuya nila. Ang cute nga nilang tatlo, eh, sa sobrang cute ang sarap tirisin nang sabay-sabay. Charot!

Napatingin ako sa hawak-hawak kong bouquet ng red tulips. Grabe ang ganda talaga, pero mas maganda ako.

'Buti na lang tumaliwas ang Cupid's arrow at sa iba tumama.'

"Ay, huta!" naalala ko na naman, tsk. Ewan ko ba ba't bigla kong nasabi 'yan. Huta talaga! Napatingin pa ako kay Chal Raed no'n.

Kaloka lang, Mother Earth!

Sino ba si Cupid na 'yan at hindi ako sinabihan na may tinamaan na pala siya? Bigla-biglang bumulong sa'kin na sabihin 'yon, eh 'di ko naman alam sino 'yong tinamaan niya—

"Hindi nga ba? Ay, Mighad! I'm crazy, I'm crazy, I'm pretty!"

"As always."

"J-Jazz!" gulat ko pang sabi. Mighad! Paano bang nakarating 'to rito nang walang ingay? Nakakaloka.

"Nagulat ba kita?" tanong niya at umiling na lang ako. "You're spacing out kaya siguro 'di mo napansing pumasok ako," aniya.

"Kaya pala," sagot ko naman agad.

"Ano bang iniisip mo?"

"Kung sino si Kupido."

"Huh?"

"Wala, sabi ko gusto mo ba nito?" tapos ay itinaas ko 'yong hawak kong boquet.

"No, it's all yours," sagot niya. Nako! Baka nahihiya lang 'to. Sige na nga, 'di ko na pipilitin, akin na lang 'to lahat. "So, is there any progress?" tanong niya.

"Saan?"

"Status niyo ni Chal Raed."

"Liligawan niya raw ako—ay mali, nililigawan niya na pala ako."

"That's good," nakangiting sagot niya. "I bet you guys will ended up being a lover, you're both perfect for each other and I'm being honest," dagdag pa niya.

"Hindi ko alam," sagot ko naman. "Hindi ko pa nakita sa salamin na magkasama kami kaya 'di ko alam kung talaga bang bagay kami."

Sa buong buhay ko ba naman hindi ko inaasahan na magkakagusto sa akin ang isang baklush! Like, Mighad! Anong kapangyarihan meron ako para mapa straight ang baling meter stick? Huta! Nanghingi lang ako ng tubig nahulog na siya agad sa'kin? Charot! Pero seryoso, hindi ko talaga inaasahang siya pala 'yon kasi babaeng-babae siya no'n tsaka hindi ko naman siya masyadong binigyan ng atensyon nang mga panahong 'yon kasi nasa isip ko pa rin 'yong manyak na lalaking 'yon. Ginawa ko lang 'yong flying kiss kasi akala ko 'yon na 'yong una at huling pagkikita namin, tsaka para bang gift ko na rin. Tapos, siya pala 'yong magiging temporary boss ko? W-Wow, nakakaloka lang!

"Basta, Mon, I'll be your number one fan and I will always support you," nakangiting sabi ni Jazz. "Sige, ha, I have something to say to Chal Raed," tumayo na siya at muling nagpaalam sa'kin saka siya dumiretso sa opisina ni Chal Raed.

Kung magiging lalaki na ulit si Jazz, sobrang swerte ng babaeng magugustuhan niya. Ang bait-bait niya kasi at over din sa understanding. Basta, pang boyfriend material din siya. Naisip ko lang na kung napalalaki ko nga si Chal Raed—napalalaki ko nga ba? Binihag ko lang naman, ha, napalalaki ko na rin ba? Ay ewan, kayo na ang humusga—pero, 'yon nga naisip ko na, hindi rin imposibleng maging lalaki na si Jazz. Aha! Ma chika nga si Rosas!

Jazz's POV

"Hey," I uttered as I went inside his office.

"Jazz," he called me with happiness on his face. I've never seen Chal Raed this happy these past few months, kaya masaya ako sa nangyayari sa buhay niya.

"You're happy, ha," I sat down in the couch, "so, what's the reason behind this happiness?" kahit alam ko na naman. Wala lang, gusto ko lang marinig mula mismo sa kaniya 'yong sagot.

"Alam mo na. I'm finally courting her and I'm planning to make it legalized," he answered.

"What does it mean?"

"I need to ask for her brothers permission."

"Oh, are you sure they're gonna give you their permission to court their unica hija" he didn't give me an answer, instead he stood up and look outside the window, "Maundy, told me before that her brothers were very strict when it comes to her suitors," I added. I'm certain that he feels now the tension.

"Can you help me?" he asked without giving me a glance.

"I wanted to help, but I'll be gone for a month," and that makes him look at me, "iyan talaga 'yong ipinunta ko rito. I wanted to tell you that I had filed a leave to have some peace of mind," I added.

"Ano? Could you please state the reason why," he said with knitted brows, he's really serious, no doubt, I have no time for jokes. Tsk. Sarap pa naman sana niyang barahin ngayon.

"It's because..." I paused and give him a smile, "...I don't understand my feelings. I feel like, if I'm going to stay here and witness you and her in one frame, I'm just torturing myself. Kaya kapag malayo na ako and I don't see the both of you for the mean time, mapapanatag na ako."

He stared at me for a long time, trying to absorb what I've just uttered. He went back to his swivel chair and he's still remained silent, he then broke the silence after a minute, "Jazz, so you like her?" his voice's somehow sounds very concerned and curious.

"I am almost there," I answered. "But, I don't want it to happen. I know from the very first place that I shouldn't let myself ended up falling for her because she's my best friend's everything. I'll be honest, I feel something different when I'm with her and I know that this isn't good, that's why I need to make an end for this. Ayokong ipagpatuloy 'to because I don't want to be your rival."

"Jazz, I really am not expecting this," he said as he's shaking his head. He's indeed surprised of my confession, who wouldn't be? All this time I am just showing friendliness to her, nothing more. I am just pretending that I only look for her as a friend so no one will give malicious meaning on my doings. So, my revelation really startled him. "I don't even know if I need to apologize or what," he uttered again.

"You don't have to apologize. It's my own fault that's why I'm in this situation, so I need to be responsible for this. Kaya nga ako maglileave, 'di ba? To forget and to start for a new chapter, kahit one month lang, I think it's more than enough."

"I don't know if that's the best thing for you to do, but your decision has been settled. So, as your best friend, I am giving you my whole support and understanding, Jazz."

I smiled, then I said, "Raed, if ever you'll win her heart, please do always take care of it, never let her feel the sadness and pain. Be the best man every girls have been dreaming of." I stood up and extended my hand, "promise?"

"I promise," he said as he accepted my hand and we did a handshake.

I was about to go out and leave, but I faced him again, "Chal Raed, can I request one thing?"

"Spill it."

"Can I have a lunch with her before I leave? I promise, kakain lang kami 'di ko siya aagawin sa'yo."

"Crazy," he said, hiding his laughter. "Sure, you can, Jazz," he added.

"Thank you!"

"Wait, kailan ka ba aalis?"

"Tonight," and my answer almost let my best friend be in tears, "don't cry, Darling, I'll be back after a month, just bear the longing," I pulled some joke, but he didn't even draw a curve on his lips.

"Can we have some bonding first before you leave? Kahit one day lang."

"Nah, everything has been settled, Raed. I already have my plane ticket with me, hindi na 'to pwedeng mabago."

"Alright. But, Jazz, I just wanted to say, thank you. You shouldn't be doing this, you should fight for your feelings kasi wala pa namang nagmamay-ari sa kanya, but you've chosen to stay away. This is a total selflessness, Jazz."

"Raed, this is maturity," I replied. He laughs as I give him my smirk. "Let's end this and go face your paperwork."

"Alright. See you then after a month, Darling."

And I left his room with a smile on my lups and it gets widen as I look at this lady smiling at me.

Maundy's POV

"Hey, Mon," bati sa'kin ni Jazz nang makalabas siya sa opisina ni Chal Raed at saka ito naupo sa harapan ko. "Got a lot of works to do?" tanong pa niya.

"Kanina, pero ngayon medyo konti na lang," sagot ko.

Napangiti siya at bahagyang ginulo 'yong buhok ko, "let's have lunch later," aniya.

"Sige, libre mo, ha?"

"As always."

"Charot! Libre kita ngayon," nagulat siya at napahawak pa sa noo ko, "wala akong sakit, ano ba, gusto kitang ilibre, bawal ba?"

"Hindi naman. But, Maundy doesn't know what libre is, hindi siya marunong niyan."

"Well, ngayon natuto na. Tsaka, huwag ka ngang magreklamo riyan, pasalamat ka at ikaw ang unang ililibre ng ubod sa gandang si Maundy."

"Ow, I'm very honored!"

"Congrats! First, second, third, or with honor lang?"

"Baliw!" aniya at muli na namang ginulo ang buhok ko! Pasalamat ka at pang huli na 'to sa ngayon kaya pinagbibigyan kita. "So, seeya later, Mon," tumayo na siya at kumaway sa'kin saka siya tuluyang umalis.

Haaay! Last libre, last lunch, tapos after a month ko pa 'to muling mararanasan!

Kung bakit ba kasi ang ganda ko? Kung bakit pa kasi malapit na niya akong magustuhan at kinakailangan niyang magpakalayo muna para makalimutan 'yong nararamdaman niya?

Haaay! Mother Earth, minsan nakakainis din 'yong ganda ko. Dalawang bakla pa talaga 'yong nalinlang nito! Good bye free lunch tuloy ako. Huhuhu!

Kung hindi lang kasi bukas 'yong bintana ng opisina ni Chal Raed ay 'di ko talaga maririnig 'yong usapan sa loob dahil soundproof ito, kaya lang sa kasamaang palad ay super duper bukas nito kaya ayon, ang tsismosang si Maundy ay nakinig naman nang bonggang-bongga, Day! Kaya nga naisipan kong ako naman ang mang-libre ngayon, parang pa thank you ko na rin sa kabaitang ipinakita niya.

Haaaay! Mamimiss ko si Jazz, promise! Lalo na 'yong libre niya, charot! Pero, wala na akong makakachika nito, hindi naman masyadong dumadalaw si Klarina dahil busy na sa pagrampa sa stage. Haaay! Grabe lang, pababawasan ko na 'tong ganda ko nang wala na akong mabihag pa.

Kaya sa mga nagbabasa riyan, binibenta ko na 'tong sobra-sobra kong ganda, 100 pesos per gramo lang naman, eh, may sobra akong sampung kilong ganda, feel ko ito na 'yong ikakayaman ko!

Haaaay!!