➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶
MACKENNA

"PLEASE, FREY, STOP stalking him anymore."

Freya glared at me. "I'm no stalker, missy," she said as she continued scrolling to Scout's Facebook account.

"Pfft. No stalker daw."

Hindi ko alam kung papaano niya nahanap 'yong Facebook ni Scout. Kung sabagay, hindi naman gano'n kahirap hanapin 'yung Facebook ni Scout lalo pa't sinabi ko rin kay Frey na girlfriend ni Scout 'yung pinsan ni Ryder. Facebook friends na kasi si Freya at Ryder kaya madali at mabilis niyang nahanap 'yung account ni Scout.

"Oh my gosh, look!" Frey suddenly squealed. We were having breakfast, pero ako lang talaga 'yung kumakain dahil si Freya kanina pa busy sa cellphone niya simula pag-gising niya. Ni hindi pa niya nababawasan 'yung pancake at bacon na nasa plato niya.

"What?" I lazily said, acting as if I'm uninterested in what she's going to show me, but deep inside I'm actually a bit curious about what she saw, which made her squeal in excitement.

Mabilis hinarap ni Freya sa'kin 'yung cellphone niya at mabilis din nanlaki 'yung mga mata ko nang makita ko 'yung picture ni Scout na topless, kita ang abs at naka-boxer shorts lang habang nasa isang parang photoshoot! Seryoso 'yung mukha niya habang diretsong nakatingin sa camera at sa bawat segundong nakatitig ako sa mga mata niya pakiramdam ko matutunaw ako.

"He really is big!"

Mabilis kong iniwas 'yung mga mata ko. Pakiramdam ko ang laki ng nagawa kong kasalanan. Pero... hindi ko rin maitatanggi na ang hot niya sa picture na 'yon.

"Stop acting as if you haven't seen his whole naked body. You're not as innocent as you think you are." Freya snickered because of my action. She is giggling as she continues stalking Scout's account.

"Whatever. He's not even that hot." I rolled my eyes before grabbing my plate and going to the kitchen to put my dirty plate in the sink. Also, para makalayo na rin sa tukso. Heto naman kasing si Freya lahat na yata ng picture ni Scout gusto niyang makita!

"Oh, really? He's not hot?" Freya said with a teasing tone in her voice. She follows me in the kitchen and used Saran wrap to cover her untouched food.

I nod nonchalantly. "Yup," I said as I started washing the dishes.

Alam kong alam niya na nagsisinungaling ako, pero syempre hindi pa rin ako aamin na hot naman talaga si Scout.

"I think there's something wrong with your eyes, missy."

"My eyes are perfectly fine, Frey."

"No, I don't think so." She immediately disagrees.

"We had a one-night stand, and it was utterly dark at that time, so I really can't agree with you. Who knows? That picture might be photoshopped." I shrugged.

"So let me get this straight..." sabi niya at saka niya ako iniharap sakaniya pagkatapos kong hugasan 'yung mga plato. She stares at me intently. "If, and only if, you see Scout's body again—"

"That's impossible." I cut her off.

"Shush! I'm not done talking. And no, I don't think that's impossible. There is always a chance that you'll see him again."

"I still think it's impossible, but go on." I crossed my arms against my chest.

"As I was saying, if you see his body in flesh, again, will you agree that he is hot? You will admit that he has killer abs and a sexy face."

"Okay, if that will make you at peace." I agree. Pero alam ko namang malabong mangyari 'yung sinasabi ni Freya. It's been months since the last time I saw him. Kung talagang gusto niya akong makita, matagal na siyang nagpakita sa'kin. It's so easy for him to see me again. He's a pilot.

Dahil kay Freya, sobrang distracted ko buong araw. Balak ko pa namang puntahan si Sav ngayon, but I don't think that's a good idea at all. She knows me better than anyone, and she can easily tell that something is bothering me, and I don't want to get roasted about Scout again. Freya is enough for the day.

Frey and I just hang out in my apartment. I don't have work today, so I just plan to stay home and relax. Pero dahil si freya ang kasama ko, hindi madaling makapag-relax dahil wala siyang tigil sa pagtatanong sa'kin ng kung ano-ano.

We were watching a movie when we heard a soft knock at the door.

"I'll get it. That might be the pizza delivery." She volunteer.

Hinihintay kong bumalik si Freya dala ang pizza, pero limang minuto na ang nagdaan at hindi pa rin siya bumabalik. I got curious what's taking her so long so I got up from the couch and decided to check on her.

"Frey! What's taking you—"

Agad akong napatigil sa paglalakad nang makita ko 'yung lalaking kausap ni Freya. He's definitely not the delivery guy that we were waiting for.

"See? I told you it's not impossible to see him again." Freya said, smiling wildly as if she just won a lottery. Hindi ako makapag salita. Para akong naestatwa sa kinatatayuan ko habang nakatitig ako pabalik kay Scout na nakatayo sa tapat ng pintuan ng apartment ko.

He looks so hot wearing that white button-up dress shirt that he rolled the sleeves up, black pants, and his infamously messy hair that he effortlessly did.

He's looking at me. Intensely and intently. As if he's peering into my soul. He's smiling, and I can see a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. While I, on the other hand, am still in shock. Unable to move a muscle. Unable to utter a single word.

Why is he here? Nakakabasa ba siya ng isip at bigla nalang siyang nandito. Parang kanina lang pinag-uusapan naming siya ni Freya tapos ngayon biglang nandito na siya. Is he a psychic or what?

"Well, I guess my presence doesn't need to be here anymore." Freya announced when silence enveloped us.

"It was nice to finally meet you, First Officer Scout Wilder Fernandez." Freya said to Scout. But before she left us, she stopped in front of me and whispered. "Now tell me honestly if he really is not a hottie."

Freya winked at me before finally leaving. Hindi ko alam kung mas naging panatag ba ako na umalis na si Frey dahil sa walang tigil niyang pang-aasar o mas lalo akong kakabahan dahil naiwan kaming dalawa ni Scout ngayon.

"Hi." he mutters.

I cleared my throat and was relieved that I was able to say a word. "Hi."

"What are you doing here?"

"Kumusta ka?"

Sabay naming sabi. Unconsciously and nervously, napahawak ako sa tiyan ko na para bang ang baby ko ang tanging lakas ko ngayon dahil kaharap ko ang tatay niya.

"Ang sakit naman no'n." Pabirong sabi ni Scout. "Wala muna bang how are you pabalik diyan?"

I heaved a sigh. "How are you?"

"Okay lang. Ikaw? Kumusta ka?"

"I'm good, I guess."

Panandalian kaming natahimik ulit. Hindi ko alam kung iimbitahan ko ba siya papasok sa loob ng apartment ko. It's not like he hasn't been inside my apartment, but I still feel uncomfortable seeing Scout and Freya in one room because I'm scared of what Frey might say to Scout.

"Puwede mo na akong tanungin kung bakit ako nandito." Pagputol niya sa katahimikan.

"Why... are you here?" I am fidgeting. Hindi ako mapakali dahil sa kaba. Alam ba niyang buntis ako kaya siya bumalik? No. That's impossible. Bukod tanging ako, ang OB-GYNE ko at si Freya lang ang may alam.

"Bumalik ako para sa'yo." Hindi ko maipaliwanag, pero parang umikot 'yung tiyan ko dahil sa sagot niya. Anong ibig-sabihin niya na bumalik siya para sa'kin.

"I came back for you, Mackenna... And I really hope that I'm not too late."

"I-I don't understand..."

"Gusto kita."

"Paano si Stella? Lolokohin mo na naman ba ako na wala kang girlfriend. Not again, Scout. You can't fool me again. You're just wasting your time." Umiiling na sabi ko. Pakiramdam ko ay maiiyak ako. Damn these hormones! Ang bilis kong maging emosyonal.

"Wala na kami ni Stella. Matagal na." Mariin niyang sabi. Is he telling the truth? Then what about the pictures that I saw on Facebook na magkasama pa rin silang dalawa.

"You're lying..."

"Hindi ako nagsisinungaling. Totoong wala na kami ni Stella. Kahit tanungin mo pa si Cap."

"Who's Cap? Another secret girlfriend of yours?" I sarcastically said, rolling my eyes at him.

"Nagseselos ka ba?"

I scoffed. "Asa,"

Tumawa si Scout dahil sa isinagot ko. Isa kasi 'yang "Asa" sa mga salitang tinuro niya sa'kin noon.

"Pero seryoso ako Mackenna. Walang kami ni Stella. Hindi ko nga alam kung naging mag-girlfriend/boyfriend kami dahil wala naman kaming napag-usapang label. Hindi rin naging malinaw ang relasyon naming dalawa sa simula palang."

I honestly don't know how to respond to him. Should I give him a chance? Is it even worth trying? But we have a baby... and I plan on telling him sooner or later about our baby. Wala naman akong planong itago sakaniya ang ipinagbubuntis ko. Pero natatakot ako kung ano ang magiging rekasyon niya.

Is he going to accept the baby?

But, regardless of what he chooses, I'm keeping the baby.

Hindi ko namalayang nakalapit na sa'kin si Scout. He's just a foot away from me. Naamoy ko na naman ang familiar na scent niya.

"Please, just give me a chance, Mackenna. Ipapakita ko sa'yo na gusto talaga kita." Pagmamakaawa niya. Biglang nanlambot 'yung tuhod ko nang marahan niyang haplusin 'yung pisngi ko. I feel like my heart is about to explode.

Marahan kong tinapik 'yung kamay niya paalis sa pisngi ko. His touch makes me weak, and I can't be weak at this moment.

"I..." I sigh, "I will think about it."

Bakas sa mukha niya na hindi 'yon ang gusto niyang sagot na makuha mula sa'kin, pero pilit pa rin siyang ngumiti.

"That's more than enough for me. Salamat."

Nagpaalam na rin si Scout pagkatapos no'n. Ang daming tanong ang tumatakbo sa isipan ko pero hindi ko siyang magawang tanungin.

Does that mean he will be staying here in Brooklyn for good? Did he sacrifice his life in the Philippines to be with me? Papaano na ang trabaho niya? Babalik ba siya ulit bukas? Kailan siya ulit magpapakita sa'kin?

Sobrang dami kong tanong.

"Where's Scout? Did he left already?" bumalik lang ako sa reyalidad nang marinig ko si Frey na magsalita sa likuran ko.

"H-ha?"

"Oh my gosh! You let him leave?!" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Freya at tango lang ang tanging naisagot ko.

"You didn't really invite him inside? Did you push him away? Are you going to tell him about the baby?"

"No. No and yes." Naglakad na ako pabalik sa sala at sinundan ako ni Frey. Nakapatay na 'yung movie na pinapanood naming dalawa kanina.

I took a seat on the couch. I'm still trying to process the fact that Scout is back in Brooklyn.

"How is this possible?" I just blurted it out.

Freya chuckled. "That's why, babe, you should believe me when I say that nothing is impossible."

"So... what did he say to you?" she asked.

"As if you hadn't been listening in on our conversation." I replied which made Freya laugh.

"I will neither deny nor admit anything. Plus, even if I eavesdrop on your conversation, I really can't understand everything that you guys said. You were talking in Tagalog. It's just so unfair. I hate my mom for not teaching me how to speak Tagalog."

"What if he doesn't want the baby? He only said that he likes me. And he doesn't know that I'm pregnant right now."

"You will never know the answers to your questions until you say anything to him, babe."

Frey's right... Bago pa magsisi nang todo si Scout sa pagbalik dito, habang maaga pa, kailangan ko nang sabihin sakaniya ang tungkol sa baby. Para may pagkakataon pa siyang bumalik sa Pilipinas bago mahuli ang lahat.

W H A T Y A S E Y