Chapter 35

Nagpasalamat ako kay Austin Archangel nang ihatid niya ako sa bahay. He just nodded at me. Dumiretso na ako sa loob. Nakita ko si Mama na nasa may dining area at nagbabasa ng kung ano sa laptop niya. Napa-tingin siya sa gawi ko bago ko pa man matawag ang pangalan niya para sabihin na naka-uwi na ako.

"How was the dinner?" Mama asked.

"It was okay," I replied. I did what Austin Archangel asked me—I stayed away from politics, ate my food, and complimented Cohen when I did not know what to answer.

"What did they ask?"

"My opinion on oil crisis."

"Your opinion on what?" tanong ni Mama na naka-kunot ang noo.

"Austin Archangel's dad asked me kung ano ang opinion ko sa oil crisis sa middle east. I wanted to talk about the power struggle that we talked about last year, but Austin Archangel said that I should stay away from politics, so I just complimented Cohen's haircut."

Naka-kunot ang noo ni Mama.

"Austin told you not to talk about politics?"

"Yes."

"But he's from a political clan."

"Yes."

Hindi na nagsalita pa si Mama. Nagsabi ako na aakyat na ako para makapagpalit na ako ng damit. Pagdating ko sa kwarto ay naligo na ako. It had been a long day, so I took a long shower. After that, I blow-dried my hair. I went to the Instagram to look at pretty pictures. Nakita ko na mayroong IG story si Dominic na naglalaro siya ng basketball. Halos puro iyon lang ang laman ng IG story niya at kung hindi iyon, kung anu-anong bagay na pinapadala sa kanya ng mga sponsor niya.

After I finished drying my hair, I read my script. Makikipagmeeting na ako sa kaibigan ni Kaleigh. I remembered everything about the script, but I just wanted to be sure. This was my first baby. This was the first script that I finished that I was actually proud of. I was also proud of the other two, but those were written when I still was not sure of what I was doing. Itong script na 'to... I poured everything in. I researched and spent sleepless nights writing and revising.

I was on page 11 reading when my phone vibrated.

'Good night.'

'Good night.'

I saw that Austin Archangel read my message. Ibinalik ko iyong atensyon ko sa bina-basa ko. At 11PM, I decided that I needed sleep.

The next morning, I did my usual routine. After that, I went to the coffee shop as discussed by Kaleigh and me. Nandoon iyong kaibigan niya na si Georgina or George, as she prefers to be called. Nag-usap lang kami tungkol sa kung ano ang vision ko sa script. I told her everything I thought of while I was writing the script, the inspiration and the consideration. After that, she told me about what she envisions for the script... and her vision's better. Sinabi niya rin iyong mga ibang bagay na hindi pwedeng mangyari dahil sa limitation ng filmography as compared to writing. I completely understood.

"So... think about it and we'll discuss again," sabi ni George.

"Agreed," I replied.

Nang matapos ang meeting namin ay nagpaalam na sila para umalis. Kinuha ko iyong cellphone ko para magtext kay Kuya Robert na sunduin ako, pero bago pa man ako makapagtext ay nakita ko na mayroong text sa akin si Austin Archangel. He was asking kung nasaan ako and I told him about my location. And then he asked kung pwede ba niya akong puntahan dito. I told him sa bahay na lang, but he asked kung pwede ba na dito na lang dahil malapit lang naman siya.

I ordered another coffee while I was waiting. Naubos na iyong kape ko kanina habang nag-uusap kami ni George. While I was in line, nakita ko na pumasok sa coffee shop si Austin Archangel. He was wearing a brown khaki shorts, white Ralph Lauren polo shirt, and brown Birkenstock sandals. Kahit na kaka-pasok niya pa lang sa pinto ay naamoy ko na agad iyong Tom Ford.

Lumapit siya sa akin nang makita niya ako.

"Hi," I said.

"Hi," he replied.

"The table's there," sabi ko sabay turo sa may upuan kung saan naka-patong iyong tote bag ko. Iniwan ko iyon doon. Dala ko naman iyong cellphone at wallet ko.

"What do you want? I'll buy."

"Iced coffee," I replied tapos ay bumalik na ako sa may pwesto.

I fixed my things while I was waiting. Ipinasok ko sa tote bag ko iyong notebook, ballpen, at tatlong scratch paper na naiwan ni George. She was a messy person. Pareho sila ni Serj. Ganoon ba talaga kapag director? If so, malabong maging director ako. I hated being disorganized.

Nang matapos ako sa pag-aayos ng gamit ko ay naka-pila pa rin si Austin Archangel. Inilabas ko iyong cellphone ko at nagtext ako kay Kuya Robert na kasama ko si Austin Archangel. He asked me kung hindi na ba niya ako susunduin. Hindi agad ako nakapagreply.

"Ihahatid mo ba ako pauwi?" tanong ko nang bumalik siya na mayroong dalang iced chocolate at iced americano.

His forehead creased a little. "If you want," he replied.

"I can ask Kuya Robert kung may pupuntahan ka."

"No, I'll drive you home," sabi niya at saka inilagay sa harapan ko iyong inumin ko. Naupo siya sa harap ko. I thanked him for my drink and began to stir it. I was quietly sipping my drink. He was staring at my face. Before, I used to ask him kung bakit naka-tingin siya sa akin palagi... but I was already getting used to it. Ganoon siguro kapag nililigawan—laging tinititigan.

"About last night..." biglang sabi niya matapos ang isang minutong tahimik lang siya. Tumingin ako sa kanya habang hawak ko pa rin iyong paper straw. "I shouldn't have told you about what you can and can't say in front of my parents."

"I appreciated the guidelines," I said. Had he not told me about them, I would have discussed with his father the oil crisis in the middle east in detail. Baka umabot kami roon hanggang madaling araw sa dami ng gusto kong sabihin.

"But it wasn't my place to police what you can and can't say."

"Why?" I asked. Kahit sila Mama at Ate Gina ay sinasabi sa akin kung ano ang pwede at hindi ko pwedeng gawin at sabihin. Why was it different now? I appreciated every little help.

"Because I told you I like you for who you are and then I tried to change you."

"Just because you told me that I couldn't talk about politics?"

"Yes."

"I don't even like politics," I said. It's messy and quite frankly, it felt like a whole game of charade. I was not fan of the theatrics.

"But you should still have the option to comment on it if you like."

"I have nothing nice to say about politics."

"I understand," he replied.

"You said your family's important and you wanted last night to go well... If I said something unpleasant about politics, your parents would not think favorably of me?"

Tumingin siya sa akin. Ang lalim ng hininga niya. "Not really... but there's a whole thing going on with the family right now. I'd rather not go in detail."

I nodded. "I understand."

"Still, I just want to apologize."

"Apology not needed, but accepted."

"Thank you," he replied. "Also... Cohen said thanks."

"For what?"

"The compliments."

"Oh."

Austin Archangel smiled a little. "He thought he looked particularly good last night."

"He always does look good," I said. Cohen looks like the epitome of a good guy—iyon bang unang tingin mo pa lang ay parang hindi kayang gumawa ng masama. But also, he still looked a little bit young. In a few years, he'd definitely look better. Kamukha niya si Psalm.

Naka-tingin na lang siyang muli sa akin.

Tumingin lang din ako sa kanya.

"Karaminah Viel," pagtawag niya.

"Austin Archangel," paggaya ko.

"I know I already told you about this, but if I accept the offer, I will be leaving in two weeks."

I nodded. "Sa Japan, 'di ba?"

"Yes."

"Congratulations," I said because that was really an achievement. From being a collegiate player, magiging professional player na siya. That's something to be proud of lalo na at alam ko na passion niya ang paglalaro ng basketball.

"Thank you," he replied with a small smile on his face.

"Hindi ka ba masaya?" I asked because if I were in his position, I would be over the moon. Alam ko na passion niya ang basketball dahil kita ko iyon tuwing may game—kung paano siya magfocus at kung paano niya ibigay ang lahat. I thought he'd have a bigger smile.

"Masaya," he replied.

"Then why the small smile?"

Tumingin siya.

I just quietly waited.

"I will leave in two weeks," was his reply.

"Yes, and so?"

"Won't you miss me?" tanong niya habang naka-tingin sa mga mata ko. Bahagyang kumunot ang noo ko. Napaawang ang labi ko. Austin Archangel did not break the stare.

Hindi ako makapagsalita dahil hindi ko alam kung ano ang salitang dapat kong sabihin. Would I miss him? I think I would... but I would also be busy once the shooting starts and the semester begins, so hindi ko sigurado kung maiisip ko pa ba siya.

Hindi ako makapagdesisyon kaya hindi na lang ako nagsalita.

"Because I will definitely miss you."

Ngumiti siya nang maliit.

"Will you accept the offer?" I asked, instead.

"I'd be crazy not to," he replied.

"Definitely," I said.

"It's a great opportunity."

"You're correct."

"I really want to take it."

"As you should."

Nagbuntung-hininga siya. "But I'll still miss you."

I blinked.

Hindi na naman ako nakapagsalita.

"Hindi ka pa naman aalis agad," sabi ko maka-lipas ang sampung segundo. Inabot ko iyong baso ng inumin ko at hinawakan iyon. I began to stir the drink hanggang sa malusaw iyong yelo sa loob ng baso.

"Two weeks will fly by quickly."

"You should make a schedule para magawa mo lahat ng dapat mong gawin," sabi ko sa kanya. Kung aalis na siya in two weeks, marami siyang dapat gawin. He needed to be organized about it.

"What's your schedule?" he asked.

"Why?"

"I need to spend more time with you... if that's okay?"

My lips parted a little. "Dahil... nililigawan mo ako?"

"Yes," he quickly replied.

"Kapag ba nasa Japan ka na, hindi mo na ako liligawan?"

"I'll still court you, but since I'm in another country, that will require you to reply to my messages... and I'm guessing FaceTime at night?"

"Okay," I said. "We should make a schedule."

"Really?"

"Yes. Hanggang ano'ng oras ba ang training mo doon?"

"I don't know yet."

"Kapag alam mo na, sabihin mo sa akin para gagawa ako ng schedule. Ayos lang ba 'yon?"

"Yes," he replied quickly. "You'll really make time for me?"

I nodded. "Yes."

Napa-ngiti siya. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," I said.

"But... will you be busy for the next two weeks?"

"Yes."

"Oh."

"Makikipagkita lang ako kay George."

"George?" he asked.

I nodded. "Iyong gagawa ng short film."

"Right..." he said, slowly nodding his head like he's thinking. "How about at night?"

"Basta nasa bahay na ako ng 11PM."

"Of course," he said. "But can you free a day? I'll take you somewhere."

I nodded. "Okay. Sabihin ko sa 'yo kapag pwede ako."

"Thank you," he said. "Will you still go somewhere or will I drive you home?"

"Bahay na."

Tumayo na kami at sinabi sa akin ni Austin Archangel na may mga kailangan pa siyang ayusin na forms at iyong sa visa niya. Marami pala siyang kailangang gawin bago siya umalis—may mga endorsement shoots pa pala siya na kailangang gawin para sa ilang brands. He seemed to be very busy for the next two weeks.

"Are you sure na aalis pa tayo?" I asked nang maka-rating kami sa harap ng bahay.

"Yeah... why?"

"Parang kulang pa iyong two weeks sa dami ng gagawin mo."

"I'll make time," he said, looking at me.

"Hindi ka mapapagod?" I asked because just listening to all he needed to finish bago siya umalis, parang napagod na ako. Sa iba-ibang lugar pa siya pupunta. Nakakapagod pa naman umikot sa Maynila. The traffic was already stressing me.

"Seeing you will be my reward for the day."

Hindi ako nakapagsalita.

What would I even say to that?

Austin Archangel smiled. He stared at me, and then tousled my hair. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" he asked and I nodded. "Good night," he continued before I got out of his car and walked towards the house. 

**

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