Chapter 10

Love

After having dinner at the restaurant Kalyx invited me over to his place. At dahil maaga pa naman ay pumayag akong sumama sa condo niya.

And when we arrived there at first we only checked on his assignments. Nagpapatulong din kasi siya sa akin minsan. Although I know it na alam naman niya but sometimes ay medyo tinatamad lang din siya na mag-study. So I helped him and we studied together.

But then later on we were already kissing each other...

Tiningnan ko siya nang sandali kaming tumigil sa paghalik. But before I could speak he kissed me again. And I just let him. I let myself experience this kind of thing with him, too...

And we were already inside his bedroom. Hiniga na niya ako sa kama. And I can feel the softness of his bed on my back.

But my phone started ringing.

Kalyx kisses went down my neck...

"Kalyx..." I made him stop to pick up my phone.

Hindi pa rin siya tumigil pero naabot ko rin ang phone ko. At para akong nanigas at natulak ko si Kalyx when I saw that it was my mom calling.

"Kalyx, stop." Inalis ko rin ang kamay niya na nasa may legs ko na.

Natigil na rin siya at tiningnan na lang ako. Naupo na ako sa kama at agad kong nasagot ang tawag ni Mommy.

"Mom?"

"Rina, where are you? I went home early today so we could at least have dinner together. Pero hindi ka pa raw umuuwi sabi ni Linda." Tukoy ni Mommy sa kay Manang. "Do you still have class? It's getting late." Mommy said over the phone.

Nakagat ko naman ang labi ko. "Pauwi na po ako, Mommy..."

"Okay."

Pagkababa ko sa phone ko ay nagkatinginan kami ni Kalyx.

"I'm sorry... I have to go home now. Hinahanap na ako ni Mommy sa bahay." sabi ko.

Unti-unti namang tumango sa akin si Kalyx at naghanda na ihatid na lang ako sa mall na malapit lang dito sa condo niya at doon na ako susunduin ni Kuya Rex, ang driver namin.

Pagdating ko sa bahay ay sinalubong din ako ni Mommy. I made sure na inayos ko naman ang sarili ko kanina sa sasakyan habang pauwi ako dito sa amin. Medyo nagulo na naman kasi ang buhok ko kanina habang nandoon ako sa condo ni Kalyx...

"It's your birthday, Rina. Have you forgotten?" Mommy had to remind me.

My eyes grew a fraction wide. I almost forgot that it's my birthday today!

"Were you so busy with school?" Niyaya na rin ako ni Mommy sa dining area pagkatapos.

Sumunod naman ako. "Uh, medyo po..."

Tumango lang naman si Mommy.

At nakita ko nga na medyo marami kaming pagkain ngayon na nakahanda sa mesa. Pinahanda ni Mommy kanila Manang.

Busog pa ako ang I had early dinner with Kalyx. Pero sinabayan ko na rin si Mommy sa pagkain. She put on an effort to be home early today and to celebrate my birthday together.

I smiled. "Thank you, Mommy."

Nag-angat ng tingin sa akin si Mommy at bahagya lang akong nginitian.

Pagkatapos ay nagpatuloy lang din kami sa pagkain habang tinatanong naman ako ni Mommy ng about sa school ko.

At binigyan din ako ng gift ni Mommy. "Happy birthday, Rina." sabi niya sa akin after magbigay ng gift niya.

Tinanggap ko naman ang regalo ni Mommy na nasa loob pa ng isang gift paper bag.

"I was so busy lately with my cases and the law firm. Si Linda nga lang din ang nag-remind sa akin na birthday mo pala."

Ngumiti naman ako kay Mommy. "It's okay lang po. I understand, Mommy..." I said.

Tumango lang naman sa akin si Mommy pagkatapos.

I replied to Kalyx's message after having dinner with my mom and I was already inside my bedroom. Kailangan na rin magpahinga nang maaga ni Mommy dahil busy pa siya bukas sa law firm.

After I replied Kalyx called me instead.

"You're home now?"

"Yes." Inipit ko sa tainga at leeg ko ang phone ko para mabuksan ko na rin ang gift sa akin ni Mommy. I smiled when I saw that it was a designer bag.

"So it's actually your birthday today?" Kalyx asked from the other line.

"Uh, yes. Medyo nakalimutan ko nga rin..." Napailing ako sa sarili ko.

"I should've given you a birthday present too if only I've known..."

"No, it's okay. You already treat me to dinner today." I said.

"Just that. I'll give you something tomorrow then. Kahit late na."

Napangiti na lang ako sa sinabi niya. "It's fine, really."

And then I suddenly remembered our making out in his condo earlier...

Nakaramdam ako ng kahihiyan sa sarili ko kaya nagpaalam na rin muna ako sa kaniya sa tawag. "Uh, Kalyx, ibababa ko na itong tawag. Medyo antok na rin kasi ako..." I said.

"Oh, sure. Good night, then."

"Good night." And then I turned off the call.

Pabagsak akong napahiga sa kama ko at huminga ako pagkatapos.

At kinabukasan nga ay binigyan ako ng birthday gift ni Kalyx nang magkita kami sa university.

And Janine asked to talk to me again. Nagkita kami sa university lang din muli.

"I want to apologize to you, Rina..." She said.

Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa.

"Back in high school I already knew that you liked Ethan... I saw how you two were so close to each other. Mas close pa kayong dalawa..."

"And when Ethan told me that he liked you..."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa revelation niya ngayon sa akin. I didn't know that Ethan told her too that he liked me even before...

"I realized that you two liked each other... But I also like Ethan, Rina." Tinignan niya ako. I saw that tears shined in her eyes as well...

"I'm sorry, I was a bad friend to you. But I love him, Rina..." She said.

"That's why you told me too at that time that you like him?"

She looked away guiltily.

I sighed.

I guess, it's all right now...

We could all move on...

"I did liked Ethan, Janine... But then... you like him too so..." She loves him...

Nagkatinginan muli kami. "I'm sorry..." She apologized.

"It's all right now..." I said.

Tumango rin ako. Para kay Janine at para sa sarili ko na rin.