Richard

I was so happy at sa wakas nakaakyat na ako sa bahay nila Dei. Her parents are polite. Though hindi pa ako nakapagpaalam sa parents niya na liligawan ko si Dei. May bisita rin kase sila. That Ivan. Actually, naiinis ako when I saw him. Akala ko manliligaw ni Dei. Looks like her Dad just wanted to play Cupid kay Dei and that Ivan. Buti na lang I came. Muntik na akong maunahan.

As soon as I arrive sa bahay, I was greeted with bad news.

Janeth.

She was here. Hindi ko alam kung bakit. We parted ways long time ago. Ano kaya ang sadya niya sa akin?

"RJ, hi! I was waiting for you."

"Janeth... sorry, I did'nt know you'll drop by."

"It was sudden. Mama wanted us to go back here for good."

"What? So you'll be permanently staying na sa Pilipinas?"

"Yeah. And guess what, we can see each other frequently. Magkakasama na tayo palagi. I missed you, babe. I mean, RJ."

"I have work, Janeth. Hindi ako pwede umabsent."

"Okay lang. Coz, magkakasama pa rin tayo palagi. I was hired by your brother Uno and Tito Rick sa company ninyo. Sa Finance Department."

"Really? That's... crazy. I mean, good. Lagi na kita makikita."

"I'd love that, RJ. Na miss kita, sobra. Don't you miss me?"

"I do.. it's jist that sobrang busy ko sa work. Kaya I moved on easily."

"Ah ok. I know naman na you don't think of me na because I hurt you. This time, I swear, hindi na ako aalis. And I'll make up to you."

"No need na, Jan. I'm okay na rin. Let's just be friends."

"Is that what you really want? Don't you remember our happy moments?"

"Janeth, please. Let it go! I'm happy na with my life. I don't want another complication. Let's just be friends."

"Okay. But at least, let me make up to you. Please."

"You don't have to, actually. Okay na sa akin yun. I've moved on."

"Basta."

"Bahala ka. Basta sa akin. Let's just be friends."

"By the way, how was Jerald and Sam? Si Valeen and Patty? I missed them. Can I see them?"

"Okay naman sila. Si Jerald and Sam also works for our company. Valeen is graduating from college and Patty is working as a consultant sa isang fashion magazine. They're still together if you will ask. Going strong sila."

"So you mean to say, tayo lang dalawa ang naghiwalay?"

"Well, yes. But it's okay."

"Are you dating someone?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Wala lang. I just want to know."

"It's non of your business. Basta."

Janeth just rolled her eyes at me. Alam ko, may iniisip siya and I don't think maganda yun. I won't let her ruin what I have with Dei. I simply won't.

••••••••

The rest of the week was a busy one. Deadline para sa blueprint ng building na tinatayo ng company for our client. Kaya hindi ko natetext si Dei. Hindi rin ako nakakasama kay Jerald sa pagsundo kay Val dahil tinatapos ko ang trabaho ko that was assigned to me. I missed Dei. And I am thinking kamusta na siya. Halos gabi na ako nakakauwi dahil sa daming trabaho. Kaya wala na akong time para silipin siya kung nakadungaw ba siya sa bintana ng kwarto niya. Janeth was also annoying din kase pinipilit niya akong laging samahan siya sa dinner at mga escapades niya. I can't say no rin kase my Mom would insist na intindihin ko at samahan si Janeth. She likes her daw to be my wife in the future. Close kase si Janeth kay Mom. I feel that I am betraying Dei kahit di pa kami. And I'm so sad about it.  Gusto kong ipakita kay Dei that I like her a lot. Pero hindi sumasangayon ang panahon. Paang binabantayan ni Janeth and Mom ang mga ginagawa ko para hindi ko makita si Dei. And sad to say, I'm letting them do this to me.

•••••••••

It's been a week since the last time na nakita ko si Dei. Hindi siya nagtetext. Alam kong hindi siya mag-initiate ng text because knowing Dei, mahiyain yun. And that's what I like about her. Hindi siya yun tipo ng babae na naghahabol sa lalaki. I ask Val about her pero sabi ni Val, lagi daw nagmamadali umuwi kase maaga sinusundo ng driver niya. Iyon lang yun mga small information that I get from Val. I don't want to further ask kase they will tease me. Hindi pa naman nila alam ang intention ko kay Dei kase I wanted to be discreet about it. Kahit gusto ko ipagsigawan, ayoko ko kaseng may ibang nakikialam sa relationship ko.

Janeth called me na samahan ko siya sa Robinsons Magnolia this Saturday. Actually balak kong dalawin si Dei kaya lang Mom and Dad insisted na samahan ko si Janeth. Bibili daw ng dress for our big event. Actually the Company sponsored a big event. Ang mga babae talaga ay maarte. So habang bumibili siya, nagstay muna ako sa isang Cafè dahil ayokong mainip. Matagal kase mamili yun babaeng yun. When she finished buying her dress, nagdecide kami to eat sa isang resto. She was so annoying. Kung makaasta, akala mo girlfriend ko. Her gestures are beyond friends. Napaka-clingy. I don't want to be rude.

While eating I got a text message from Dei. Nagulat ako talaga. She was asking me if I can accompany her sa mall. That was a first. Hindi talaga siya nag-initiate ng meeting. As much as I want, hindi pwede. Kasama ko ngayon itong babaeng ito. So I told her a lie. Sinabi ko na lang na nasa Laguna ako with Uno. I just hope she believes me. Nakokonsensiya ako kase first time niyang nag-initiate ng meeting tapos nagsinungaling pa ako sa kanya. Kahit hindi niya alam, nasasaktan ako for her.

When the project is done, I'll make it up to her. And I promise, I'll do everything para makabawi sa mga pagkukulang ko.

I missed her so much. I can't wait to see her. I think I love her na. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

My Dei, please forgive me.

A/N No proofread. Please bear with me for the wrong grammar and typo error.