love?

dumiretso ang binata at humalik sa noo ng dalaga.

hey... you're back

still busy?

kinda... konti na lang matatapos na

ok.

he sat on the table and caressed her hair

gusto mo sa bahay ko na tapusin? uwi na tayo?

that's fine. you can finish it here tapos magdinner na tayo bago tayo umuwi

ok. sa nuvali tayo o sa condo mo?

sa condo po. gusto mo ba sa nuvali?

hmmm... nandun kasi yung ironman pillow nakalimutan ko idala kahapon

the ironman body pillow that jay always use if he needs to get out of bed earlier than her. he would always place it for her to hug so she will not feel his absence.

sabay naman tayo gigising. but if you would like i'll ask kuya eric to get it.

wag na po. pag sabay tayong gigising hindi ko na kailangan si ironman.

hmmm ang french fries ko bolera na talaga. i love you

she stood up and placed herself in between his thighs then wrapped her hands over his shoulders

and i love you.

she gave him a peck on his lips and smiled. he pulled her closer and hugged her waist

sarap naman. isa pa nga

mamaya na baka may bigla na naman pumasok sa pinto

sandali lang, ila-lock ko

then he wiggled his eyebrows. she pinched his side but smiled nonetheless

ikaw! ang harot mo!

hirap kaya magpigil. nakakagigil ka kasi

sige na tapusin ko na to then we can go. susunduin ba tayo ni kuya eric?

hindi na. i'll drive us home

ok. ay by the way i got you sandwich baka hindi ka nakakain kanina sa meeting mo. gusto mo i-reheat ko?

hindi na. i'm good kainin ko na lang mamaya before we go. i'll just go to leo's office for a bit. ok lang?

go lang.

by the way, how's lunch?

i enjoyed it. as usual je and nuel were great company tapos nandun pa si cleng, ang kulit din pareho kami

great to hear. finish your work. if you're done and i'm not yet here call me, ok?

opo. take your time. maaga pa naman.

he kissed her again on her lips then proceeded to the door. before he closed it —

i love you

i love you

she smiled. this will do. two things she realized after meeting bianca, jay's ex-girlfriend during lunch, she never doubted her love and she's willing to fight for that love if deemed necessary.

she heard her phone vibrated. she picked up thinking it could probably be jay.

yes nuggets? miss mo ko agad?

"ayyy iba!!! aheemmm!!! tingin-tingin din sa caller id pag may time. o baka naman exclusive na ang number mo to receive calls from his number only???"

paaattttyyyyyy!!!! sorry naman kala ko kasi si nuggets.

"obvious naman noh! anyway, i just called to check you out. i heard from alex, ginugulo ka na naman daw ni luke. what did he do this time?"

accidentally kasi nagkita-kita kami sa isang resto. siguro from there sinundan nya kami ni jay nung umuwi kami, sa bahay kasi niya kami natulog that night —

"ops! wait lang! hold that thought"

hah? bakit?

"kikiligin lang ako! ——- ok na go on"

baliw ka talaga. anyway, yun nga when i left his place to go to my house nasundan nya ko—

"wait so you mean alam na niya na ang bahay mo? maine—"

i know.

"does richard know?"

he does. although, i don't want him to worry

"maine you should let him know the possible implications. you know luke."

hey, wag ka naman masyado mag-alala besides i'm staying at jay's place after it happened ayaw nya akong iwan. ngayon nga sinama pa ko sa opisina nya eh

"that's good to hear. pero teka di ba sabi mo alam nya rin ang bahay ni richard?"

we're staying at his condo. hindi alam yun ni luke.

"for now. but still we need to be sure. maine kilala mo si lukas, he's not going to make it easy for you"

alam ko... but i just don't want jay to panic, especially now

"especially now ....??? teka lang ramdam ko na may ngiti sa two words na yun.... hhmmmm"

iihhhhh!!!! yun... now... basta yun na yun!

"ay sandali naman tayo sa yun na yun noh! ano nah?"

paaattt!!!! alam mo na kasi yun!

"ay sorry wala akong alam. ako ngayon si val. si val si val si val. si val na walang malay."

kainis toh!

"ako pa ang nakakainis ngayon? bakla lang ako pero hindi ako asyumera!"

eh yun. basta he knows

"he knows what? who knows what? ano bah?!"

gusto pa kasi detalyado. oo na. jay knows i love him there! happy?!

—

pat?

—

pat? hello?!

—

pat? are you still there? huy pat

"aaahhhhhhh!!!!!!"

araaayy! pat ano ba ang sakit sa tenga! makasigaw!

"eh bakit sa kinilig ako eh! nahulog pa nga ako sa wheelchair!"

sige pa mang-asar ka pa!

"hindi kita inaasar. all the more i want to say finally! it's about time! kasi pag talagang di ka pa natauhan aagawin ko na talaga sayo si richard!"

baliw! mahal ako nun

"ay oh! ang taray sa pag-claim ng mahal! pero kidding aside, i'm so happy for you..."

i know. ako din naman. sobrang saya ko na kaya ko ng sabihin sa kanya. takot lang talaga ako nun kasi nakita ko how broken he was when his dad had an affair.

"ok stop na tayo dyan sa topic na yan. ang mahalaga you're both happy. you deserve each other."

thank you pat. for now isa lang ang alam ko. i'm willing to take a risk. i'm willing to gamble everything para sa kanya.

"don't worry. i know you'll both win this game. nasabi mo na ba kay alex?"

hindi pa. but i'll call her soon.

"baka mapauwi ng di oras yun para manlibre ng buong baranggay"

napaka-bully nyo talaga sa akin

"eh kasi naman oh ang yummy-yummy, ang effort-effort, ang hot-hot na gusto mo pang ipamigay sa iba"

ayok—

"ok na! wag ka ng magrason. kwento ka na lang."

wala pa naman. mga two days pa lang naman.

"so magaling ba?"

HOOOYYYY!!!!

"mag-alaga kasi yun! ano ba iniisip mo?"

aahhh... oo naman. SOBRANG GALING

"ay punyeta!"

mag-alaga! sobrang galing mag-alaga! ano ba!

"malaki ba?"

AANNNOOO?!

"malaki ba ang bank account. alam mo na para hindi ka magutom. ang takaw mo pa naman!"

malaki naman talaga!

"NO SHIT!!!"

yung bank account! syempre siya kaya may-ari ng kumpanya! multiple pa!

"AANNNGG HARRROOOTTT!!!"

multiple bank account kasi! ano ba iniisip mo?!

"masarap?"

ANG HALAY MO!

"masarap ba magluto? ikaw pabibo ka eh!"

SSOOBBBRAA!!!

"NAPAKA-HAROT!!!"

sobrang sarap magluto! ano ba! lalo na yung breakfast

"AY KINGINA!!!! hanggang dinner ba ito?!"

pati meryenda at midnight snack

"JUSKOLORD NICOMAINE!"

hinihintay ko nga yung pa-buffet eh!

"HOOYYYY!!!! baka naman pag umuwi kami ni alex kasing laki na ng pakwan ang tiyan mo!"

hala! pagkain kaya pinag-uusapan? kunsabagay... sa sarap ba naman magpakain ni jay busog kaya ako palagi

"HHOOOHHH!!!! HANG HINIT!!!!"

baliw! sige na baka kung saan pa mapunta ang usapan na to.

"ay oh! tapos biglang magbaba-bye?! hustisya muna sa imahinasyon kong marupok oh!"

hahaha! ewan ko sayo. sige na tatapusin ko pa tong manuscript ko. MAGDIDINNER pa kami.

"ang lalandi!!!! pero carry lang. go ka lang ng go. KUMAIN KA PA NG KUMAIN! ang saya mo eh noh?"

sobrang happy. i love him pat.

"gaga! matagal na in-denial ka lang! kung bakit ba kasi pinatagal pa eh di sana matagal nyo ng
na-experience ang pag-BUFFET at malamang nga naka-ilang FOOD FEST na kayo eh"

iiihhhhh!!! ayaw ko ng madalas na buffet

"nag-iinarte ka pa?! bawal tumanggi sa grasya!"

mas gusto ko kaya ang full course degustation menu...

"pa-sosyal! mas masarap ang FAST FOOD!"

ano ka ba mas masarap yung course by course. amouse bouche then appetizer then soup then first course then MAIN COURSE and finally DESSERT!

"PUNYETA TALAGA NICOMAINE!!!"

yung after pa ng dessert may petit fours with coffee and tea...

"JUSKO! ilabas nyo po ang kaibigan ko!"

ay wait lang nasabi ko ba sayo.... may kasamang WINE PAIRING... mind you EVERY COURSE...

"AYAWAN NA TALAGA! MAY NANALO NA!"

and with that she smiled. oh yes buffet and fast food are good but set dinners? ohhhh they're always GREAT!!! 😉

                           *****************