Chapter 7: Give Me a Chance

She stared at me for the longest time before she spoke.

"I don't know if I want to believe in Fate, Prince. It's almost saying that humans are incapable of having choices."

It was my turn to stare at her. Grabe, na-iin-love na talaga ako sa batang 'to. One minute she's naive, the next minute, you'll see a more introspective side.

"Choice mo pa rin if you will accept me," I said tentatively, "all I'm asking is a chance."

She grinned at me and lifted our joined hands from the table, "Sige, I'll take that chance."

I had this vague notion na sinasadya niyang testingin ako. I gently shook my head in wonder. Hay Aya, just wait and see. I'll make you fall for me.

Nag-ring yung cellphone ko and I pulled it out of my jeans pocket to check the caller ID. Unknown number.

"Goddess, I'll just take this call, ha" I said as I swiped the screen. Aya just turned her gaze back to the book.

"Hello?"

"Hi sweetheart, nagpalit ka pala ng number. Why didn't you tell me? Nagtatampo na tuloy ako" I went rigid as I heard that familiar voice.

"Mel, where did you get this number?" I asked in an exasperated tone. The other line was quiet for awhile.

"Galit ka pa rin?" Basag ang boses niya at halatang umiiyak, "Prince I already said sorry a million times! Ano bang gusto mo lumuhod ako sa harap mo? Luluhod ako, please lang bumalik ka na sa'kin...".

Shit ang sakit ng ulo ko bigla. I stood up and went out of the restaurant, "Mel, we're done. Ayoko na. I already moved on."

"Hindi mo 'ko pwedeng iwan! Prince mahal pa rin kita. Wag mo naman 'tong gawin sa'kin..." humahagulhol siya.

"I'm sorry, Mel."

"May iba ba?" Matalim ang boses niya. Fuck, I thought we were already finished. Nakapagpalit na ako ng number three times. I've unfriended and blocked her on my FB pero persistent pa rin siya. She even comes to the dorm and I've told my landlady to say na lumipat na ako.

"Bakit hindi ka makasagot? May iba ka na ba? Sino siya? Kilala ko?" This is one of the reasons why I broke up with her. Selosa. Paranoid. Nakakasakal.

"Prince ikaw lang talaga ang mahal ko... I'll do anything to win you back, sweetheart."

"Mel, I'm sorry. Don't call this number again. Patahimikin mo na ako."

 "Whoever she is, I'll make her life a living hell!" In-off ko ang cellphone ko para di na siya ulit makatawag.

I've broken up with Melanie more times than I can count for the past two years of our relationship. We were blockmates in FA and we were doing pretty well during our freshman year. She's very sweet, maalaga pero may pagka-domineering and aggressive. She's very liberated and adventurous, especially sa sex. Nung una, I found yung pagkaselosa niya as cute pero as time went by, lahat na pinagseselosan niya. Simpleng may kumausap lang sa akin inaaway niya at pinapahiya. It escalated further when I shifted to Engineering. She was deeply hurt dahil hindi ko man lang daw siya kinonsult about my decision. I tried to make things work pero nakakasawa ang every week halos nag-aaway kami at every other month ay break kami.

We've not been together for the past six months. Akala ko tapos na pero eto na naman siya.

"Hey," I felt Aya tap my shoulder, "It's already 2:15 and I have a class for 2:30PM. Una na 'ko or sasabay ka?" She handed me my backpack.

"O, ba't ikaw pa nagdala nito?" I took my bag from her.

"Alangan namang iwan ko dun, baka mawala." She smiled sweetly, "Ano, tara?"

Hay, buti pa si Aya sobrang nakaka-relax kasama. I put my arm around her shoulders and carried her bag as we went together to the parking lot.

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"Prince, these are my bestfriends Sab and Kiko", pakilala ko sa mga kaibigan ko. Si Sab ay halatang nagpipigil ng kanyang kilig. Lagot, aasarin na naman ako nito mamaya.

Nakangiting kinamayan ni Prince si Kiko at Sab.  

"It's nice to meet you guys,"

"Nice to meet you too!" may pagka-kitikiti 'ata 'tong si Sab nung past-life niya at patuloy akong sinisiko kahit nakaharap pa si Prince.

"Hanggang what time pa yung class niyo?"

"Hanggang 4PM lang," sagot ni Kiko.

"Gusto ninyong manood ng movie after?" Tumalon na naman yung puso ko. Nakangiti siya sa akin at parang sinasabing 'Sige na, please?'

"Sure, saan ba?" si Sab ang sumagot. Hala, mukhang may plano na naman 'tong si Sab. Naririnig ko na naman ang pagkanta niya ng 'Summer Lovin'' sa utak ko. Nyaah!

"Trinoma tayo, kung okay lang sa inyo."

"Sure. Libre mo?" Paktay, si Kiko mukhang balak din pag-tripan si Prince. Ang hilig pa naman sa libre nitong si Kiko.

"Okay. Basta mga 4:15 na lang tayo kita sa parking."

"Uy, ano  ba kayo!" Saway ko kay Kiko, "nakakahiya naman kay Prince!"

"It's okay Goddess, ako naman nagyaya eh."

"No, kahit na" I frowned, "Nood tayo pero KKB." Loko-loko talaga 'tong dalawang barkada ko.

"Basta kita na lang tayo mamaya, okay? Bye, Goddess." Nagulat ako ng hi-nug niya ako bago tumalikod. Tumili naman si Sab at nagtakip ng tenga si Kiko. Para akong estatwa na nakatanga sa likod niyang papaalis.

"Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!" Ang laki ng ngiti ni Sab at niyakap ako. "Ano yung may pa-hug-hug pa? What the hell Aya?!" Niyuyugyog niya yung mga braso ko.

"Teka lang Sab, naalog utak ko."

"Yikes Aya, close na kayo kaagad? Grabe ang bilis naman ng kamandag ni Prince" Kiko frowned thoughfully.    

"Teka lang Kiks ha, hindi pa rin kasi napo-process ng utak ko." I grinned sheepishly, "Pero he asked me earlier kung pwede ba daw siyang manligaw."

"WHAAT?! Kaloka-much!" She hugged me really, really tight, "Dali sagutin mo na para mawala na yang NBSB status mo!"

"Sab naman, grabe kahapon ko pa nga lang nakilala yun, boyfriend agad?" I frowned at her, "Di ba pwedeng makilala ko muna? Baka mamaya hindi ko pala siya gusto pero naaliw ako tapos sinagot ko na agad-agad."

"Hay nako, umandar na naman ang pagka-dalagang Pilipina," Sab snorted. 

"Pasok na tayo, andiyan na si Prof." Hinila ni Kiko ang braso namin ni Sab.

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Saktong 4:15PM ay nasa parking lot na kami. Sa likod nakaupo si Sab at Kiko at si Prince naman ang nasa passenger side ko.

"Matagal na ba kayong magkakakilala?" Tanong ni Prince.

"Yep, since elem classmates na kaming tatlo. Kami ni Aya since first grade, then si Kiko nag-transfer nung grade three." Sab answered.

"Ang saya naman, so all throughout highschool classmates din kayo?"

"Minsan di kami magkaka-section. Si Aya kasi laging nasa Normal Math at Advanced English eh baliktad naman yung sa akin" sabi naman ni Kiko.

"Nahirapan ako sa Math eh" I admitted, "Pero okay lang kasi andiyan naman si Kiko para mag-explain."

"Pag nahirapan ka, I offer my services," sabi ni Prince. Uy eto na naman siya. Lahat 'ata ng problema ko gusto akong tulungan. Ang sweet niya. Kakaasar kasi nakikita kong malapad ang ngiti ni Sab sa backseat at hindi ako maka-react ng maayos.

"Tulungan ka daw o, Aya." Sab was grinning from ear to ear.

"Thanks. Pag naloka ako sa problem-solving ite-text kita."

"Sure, anytime." 

"So Prince, tell us about yourself." Hala, nagsimula na ang Spanish Inquisition ni Sab.

"What do you want to know?"

"Ilang taon ka na? San ka nakatira? Ilan na ang naging girlfriends mo at bakit gusto mo itong aming si Aya?" Napatapak ako sa brakes ng di sinasadya sa rapid-fire na mga tanong ni Sab. Buti na lang walang nakatutok na sasakyan sa likod namin.

"Sab! Ano ba yan?!" Alam kong pulang-pula ako at tawa naman nang tawa yung tatlo. "Nakakaloka..." I murmured.

"Okay lang yun Goddess," he winked at me, "basta wag ka bigla-biglang mag-brake. Nakakatakot."

"Oo nga Aya, hindi mo pa nga sinasagot si Prince mababangga na tayo agad," Sab replied with a huge grin. "Sige ka baka mamatay kang NBSB."

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that." I muttered and threw her a deathglare.

"To answer your questions, I'm twenty years old, I live in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, I had five girlfriends and I like Aya because she's sweet and I find her interesting." 'Takte, namula na naman ako.

"Sab, please naman no more questions!" I pleaded. "Gusto ko makarating ng Trinoma in one piece."   

"Uy super affected..."

"Sab, wag makulit..." Kiko frowned, "Mamaya na. I-hold mo muna yan pag di na tayo delikado. Baka mamaya topakin yang si Aya mag-beast mode bigla."

"Beast-mode?" Takang tanong ni Prince.

"Haha, expression lang namin yun pag sobrang nagagalit." Kiko explained. "Mamaya may lilipad na bagay-bagay kapag nagwala si Aya". Huhuhu, sige ilaglag niyo pa ko!

"Wow, katakot ka pala magalit Goddess."

"Naku nung grade five, naasar siya sa akin kasi sinabihan kong dinaya niya ako sa Tekken kaya hineadlock ako" Bwisit ka Kiko, akala ko si Sab lang manglalaglag sa akin, pati pala ikaw! Napakabait niyong mga kaibigan! Natatawa lang si Prince sa amin.

"Guys tama na sabi!" I groaned. Buti na lang nakarating na kami ng Trinoma at mabilis naman kaming nakapag-park.

Bumili muna kami ng ticket at napilit din ako ni Prince na ilibre.Naisipan naming tumambay muna sa Gelatissimo habang naghihintay.

"Anong gusto mong flavor?" Tanong sa akin ni Prince.

"Mint Chocolate" 

"Sige, gamitin natin yung free dito sa ticket, sa akin Hazelnut."

"Uy, masarap yun! Penge ako ha?" Gusto kong makalimutan yung awkward moment kagaya kanina sa sasakyan.

"Ako yung Lemon Sorbet" Sabi ni Kiko.

"Kaloka ka Kiks, gusto mo talaga ng maasim?" Sab said with a frown. "Yung kahati sa akin ha, White Hazelnut."

Umupo na kami at patuloy pa rin sa pang-ho-hot seat si Sab.

"Prince, feel mo how many years bago kayo ikasal ni Aya?" nagulat si Prince at napatawa. "Wow. kasal agad?"

Muntik na akong ma-choke sa kutsarita. Sinamaan ko ng tingin si Sab, "Oi Sab, below the belt na yan ha!"

"Just asking. Malay mo lang naman."

"Hindi ko pa naiisip yan. I just want to get to know her first." 

"Ayun! Yun ang safe na answer! 'Kaw kasi Sab, kung anu-anong tinatanong mo. Mamaya imbis na maging okay sila, ma-badtrip si Aya at mag-walk-out." Kinotongan siya ni Kiko.

"Aray naman, di ka talaga gentleman Kiko!"

"Di ka rin naman kasi gentle no"

 Tumunog yung cellphone ko at nakita kong tumatawag si Kuya Adam. Nag-excuse muna ako sa kanila.

"Hi Kuya!"

"Diosa kasama mo ba si Prince? Hindi ko makontak yung phone niya."

"Andito po kami sa Trinoma with Sab and Kiko. Manonood kami ng 6PM na movie."

"Ah, okay. Uwi ka kaagad after ha. Saka sabihan mo rin yung sa bahay niyo kung asan ka." Hay naku si Kuya Adam, sobra talaga mag-alala. Ang sarap talaga i-kiss.

"Sige po Kuya. I love you po!"

"Bye baby girl. Sabihan mo si Prince, hindi ko siya matawagan, may kanina pa hanap ng hanap sa kanya dito sa tambayan."

"Okay po." I heard the line disconnect and I went inside the ice cream parlor. 

"Goddess, tunaw na yung ice cream mo." Prince held the cup to me.

"Okay lang, nilalamig na rin ako eh" I replied as I took the cup from him, "Di ka daw matawagan ni Kuya Adam. May naghahanap daw sayo sa tambayan."

"Oo nga pala, naka-off yung phone ko." He took his phone from his jeans pocket and turned it on. A barrage of message notifications met him.

"Wow, hindi masyadong in-demand" Sab commented. I noticed a scowl on his face when he scrolled the messages.

"Kailangan mo na ba umuwi?" I asked. He shook his head, "Wala 'to." He put his phone inside his pocket without bothering to read the texts. "Mamaya ko na re-replyan."

"Uy 5:45 na, pila na tayo." Tumayo na kami at lumabas. Hinawakan ni Prince yung kamay ko at napatingin ako sa kanya.

"Nilalamig ka?" Tumango lang ako. He put his arm around my shoulders and I immediately felt warm.

"Thank you" I told him. He just smiled and patted my head. "Pababayaan ko ba yung Goddess ko?"

"Sira," pero napangiti ako. 

He was a gentleman during the movie. Nakaakbay lang siya pero he made no other move or said anything. Parang malalim yung iniisip niya. We had dinner at Fish and Co. at nag-insist ako sa KKB with a threat na hindi na kami ulit lalabas pag binayaran niya yung bill. Iiling-iling lang siya sa akin at sinabing kakaiba daw talaga ako. All throughout the meal nag-vi-vibrate yung phone niya at may tumatawag pero hindi niya sinasagot.

Una ko siyang hinatid pabalik sa dorm. 

"Tawagan mo ko pag nakauwi ka na, okay?" he said to me and I nodded.

"Mabait siya pero parang may something dun sa tumatawag sa kanya." Sab opened the conversation as soon as I started driving. I had the same foreboding feeling and I'm glad that she decided to open that topic up.

"Oo nga eh. Hindi tumitigil yung phone niya during the movie at pati nung dinner" Nakakunot-noong obserbasyon ni Kiko.

"Baka may girlfriend yun?" Nakakalokong tawa ni Sab, "Loko Aya, imbestigahan na natin."

"Sige Sab, gawin natin yan ha. Gusto ko muna siya makilala para naman walang sisihan."

"Korak!"

"Thanks guys, buti sumama kayo kasi gusto ko rin makuha yung opinion niyo eh." I looked fondly at the two of them.

"Hus, wala yun Aya. Akala ko nga ayaw mo kaming kasama eh, pero buti na lang hindi pala." Sab grinned at me.

"Trust me Sab, sobrang thankful ako. Hindi pa rin talaga ako sanay na makipag-meet sa ibang tao"

"Pero Aya, di pwede forever ganyan ha. Kailangan mo rin matuto to be on your own. Andito lang kami to support you pero we cannot make your choices."

"Alam ko naman yun. Pero thanks talaga sa inyo."

I realized that probably this aint too bad after all. Siguro nga kailangan ko rin naman ang maka-discover ng bagong mga bagay at makipag-meet sa ibang tao.

Life is about taking chances, right?

-End Chapter 7-

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