(Phone conversation)

SAT AT 10:39 PM

Call started.

Jenessy :
MM?!

Marcus :
(low voice) (slow speech) Hello, Jen ko. (yawns)

Jenessy :
(Pouty voice) Sorry, na-miss ko yung mga tawag mo! Nasa school kasi ako kanina tapos pag-uwi ko, nakatulog ako sa pagod. Dumaan ka raw? Bakit hindi mo ko pinagising kay Nanay?

Marcus :
(Laughs a little) Ang daldal na ng Jen ko a. Na-miss mo ko?

Jenessy :
Hala... (clicks tongue)

Marcus :
I miss you...

(Silence)

Jenessy :
Nakauwi ka na? Nasa bahay ka na?

Marcus :
Opo. Nakahiga na nga.

Jenessy :
Buti naman. (Exhales) Kumain ka na?

Marcus :
Oo. Sinubuan ako ni Ash after namin umorder sa drive-thru. (Laughs)

Jenessy :
(Giggles) Anong kinain nyo?

Marcus :
Burger.

Jenessy :
Hala! Pero kumain kayo bago umalis kay Tito Ponce?

Marcus :
Opo, Jen ko. Don't worry.

Jenessy :
E kasi, hindi ka nakakakain nang maayos these days. (Pause) Lagi kang busy.

Marcus :
Yes. I'm always busy. (Sighs) I couldn't make it to your house today, too.

Jenessy :
(Whiny voice) Ano ka ba? Siyempre, graduating ka. May thesis kayong tini-test. May mga academic papers pa, may lab duties pa kayo... tapos, iisipin mo ko?

Marcus :
(Low voice) Don't you want me thinking about you?

Jenessy :
E... (Pouty voice) siyempre, gusto ko. (Lowers voice) But let me think about you, too... (Pauses) Can't I care about you, too?

Marcus :
(Chuckles a little) I like that so much. (Pause) Nanghihinayang lang ako sa araw.

Jenessy :
There'll be more days, right?

Marcus :
I just worry that it won't be enough.

(Silence)

Jenessy :
I will worry more if you're not healthy. I won't date you if you always make me worry.

Marcus :
(Chuckles) Are you serious?

Jenessy :
Oo kaya.

(Silence)

Marcus :
Hm.

Jenessy :
We both want to be doctors. There will be a lot of time... years, to be sacrificed for that to happen. I know all that. Don't be flustered just because you're going away... (rattles) I won't— I won't— (swallows) (almost whispers) I won't change... (breathes) So... you're worrying... f-for... uh... you're worrying for nothing.

(Silence)

Marcus :
(Sighs) I just... don't want to mess up. I already lost people.

Jenessy :
(Sighs) You won't mess up. (Lowers voice) Baka nakakalimutan mong... ako yung unang ano... (voice fades) Ano...

Marcus :
Hm? Unang ano, Jen ko?

Jenessy :
(Whispers) Nag-message...

Marcus :
Kasi..?

Jenessy :
Yun...

Marcus :
Ano yung yun?

Jenessy :
(Whiny voice) Alam mo naman e...

Marcus :
You haven't told me the details, yet...

Jenessy :
Hala... (inhales) late na o...

Marcus :
(Chuckles) You have to tell me one day how you came to me, Invisible Girl.

Jenessy :
I know... but...

(Silence)

Marcus :
(Yawns) Okay. I'll let this chance pass, too.

Jenessy :
Thank you...

Marcus :
(Exhales)

Jenessy :
Aren't you sleepy yet?

Marcus :
Let's talk a little more...

Jenessy :
Ng... tungkol saan..?

Marcus :
I left a box for you kanina. Binigay na ba ni Nanay?

Jenessy :
Oo. Pero... kagigising ko pa lang kaya di ko pa nabubuksan. (Pause) Para saan yun?

Marcus :
I wanted to date you today. But I had to be in Laguna for my thesis.

Jenessy :
A...

Marcus :
Today is our 100th day. So... (sighs)

(Silence)

Jenessy :
(Energetic voice) Happy 100th day, Marcus!

Marcus :
(Chuckles a little) Tss. (Pause) I was busy I haven't really had the time to go to you. Sorry.

Jenessy :
Sinusundo mo naman ako everyday. At hinahatid.

Marcus :
But I was always in a hurry.

Jenessy :
Well... (Swallows) Oo nga. Pati pagkain mo ng lunch, nagmamadali ka lagi.

Marcus :
Kaya nga...

Jenessy :
At minsan, natutulog ka na sa kotse.

Marcus :
(Sighs) It's because you're letting me sleep before I drive. Even though I wanted us to talk.

Jenessy :
It's because you won't rest unless I whine. And... (whiny voice) I talk to you when you sleep.

Marcus :
(Chuckles) I really need to date you. (Pause) The box is for tomorrow. Nagpaalam na ko kay Nanay.

Jenessy :
(Holds breath) Pumayag... siya?

Marcus :
Yes. I already told her my plan. (Yawns) Mahirap na sumablay.

Jenessy :
Okay... Bubuksan ko yung box maya-maya. (Pause) Tulog na tayo?

Marcus :
But... I want to hear you more. You have to tell me how your day had been.

Jenessy :
Pwede ko namang ikwento bukas, MM...

Marcus :
But I might stare at you tomorrow. Hindi ka makakapagkwento nang maayos pag ganun.

Jenessy :
(Inhales sharply) Hala ka...

Marcus :
(Gentle voice) How's your day, Jen?

(Silence)

Jenessy :
E... wala naman. (Pause) Wait... Uhm... (pause) after natin mag-usap nang madaling-araw, nung umalis kayo ni Ash, di na ko nakatulog. Inutusan ako ni Nanay mamalengke. Tapos, hinanap ka ni Ate Selda sa isdaan. Kailan daw kita bibitbitin. (Giggles a little) Isang beses ka pa lang niya nakita, hinahanap ka na.

Marcus :
Hm... (yawns)

Jenessy :
Tapos, as usual, naglinis ako ng bahay at nagluto. Nagsabi ako kay Ate Paula na hindi muna ako pupunta sa kanila kasi may schedule ako sa school kanina. Hiniram ng block namin yung lab 3 para sa activity namin sa parasitology na due sa Monday.

(Silence)

Jenessy :
Uhm... (pauses) ano pa ba? (Pause) Nakauwi ako rito ng mga bandang eight. Nag-dinner muna kami ni Helga sa labas. Nanlibre siya kasi kabibigay lang ng allowance niya tapos, nagki-crave siya sa fries. (Giggles a little) Napadaldal kami... kasi, alam mo naman yun. Makwento.

Jenessy :
Saka ano... (breathes) nagpapa-update siya sa tin at dun na rin sa mga bashers. Nagra-rant din siya dahil sa disciplinary action ni Dean at ng Mommy at Daddy niya. Kaya yun din... (Pause) di ko pa siya napagalitan sa ginawa niya kay Carmi.

Jenessy :
Nagtakaw din siya sa sundaes... (Pause) Uh... Pagkauwi ko, nag-aral pa ko nang kaunti. Hanggang makatulog ako. (Breathes) Natulugan ko yung ina-advance reading ko sana.

(Silence)

Jenessy :
Uhm... (long pause) Marcus? (Pause) (Whispers) Tulog ka na?

(Deep breathing on the line)

Jenessy :
(Whispers) Should I end the call?

(Deep breathing and grunting on the line)

Jenessy :
(Giggles) Sayang load mo... (Pause) But I'll listen to you sleeping a little more. Okay?

(Minutes of Marcus' breathing on the line)

Jenessy :
(Whispers) Ibababa ko na yung line a? (Pause) Goodnight, MM ko. Rest well...

(Deep breathing on the line)

Jenessy :
(Whispers) I love you... (Pause)

Call ended.