Chapter 12 | Wait

This was the longest working day we ever experienced. Typically, we'd close the store by six or seven of the evening but tonight, the clock struck at ten, almost eleven, when we decided to clean and leave.

Bitbit ang huling itim na plastic trash bag, tamad akong naglakad palabas ng kusina upang itapon ito sa tamang basurahan sa labas.

Tahimik na ang lugar, umuwi na rin ang mga kalalakihan at tanging kami na lamang ni Kurt ang naiwan sa gabing ito. Rinig mula sa yerong bubong ang bawat ritimong gawa ng ulan na mas nagpasimangot sa akin.

"Bakit ngayon ka pa bumuhos?" aking reklamo na tila ba naiintindihan ako ng ulan.

I groaned as I was nearing the front door but what shocked me was the man arranging the chairs, building a tower of it at the corner.

I literally stopped from working, it seemed like my body automatically shut down seeing him still here!

"Uh, bakit ka pa nandito?" masungit kong tanong.

His hair was a bit wet, I wasn't sure why, and he wore a different shirt from this morning. He seemed unbothered of my presence but I hated he had to witness me in this kind of state.

I hadn't combed my hair, it was still pulled together and banded plus I was holding a fucking garbage bag. Sinong hindi mahihiya kung ganito ang hitsura mo habang mukhang tao ang na sa harapan mo?

"Hindi ako sumabay kina Verge," he stated the obvious, "marami pang customers kanina kaya nanatili muna ako."

I wanted to chuckle, I wondered if he'd be this kind too if he wasn't attracted to me. I mean, hindi naman ako assuming o feelingerang palaka. He obviously showed signs, not just today but most of the time.

Hindi ako bulag para hindi iyon mapansin o manhid upang hindi maramdaman. Maybe I just found his signs unnecessary kaya hindi ko madalas pinapansin o pinapalaki pa.

Besides, if he was only attracted to me, it would eventually fade... like how it usually happen.

"Okay," tangi kong naging sagot.

His eyes went down at the garbage bag I held and asked, "Itatapon ba 'yan? Ako na, malakas ang ulan sa labas."

He was just acting kind, Mercian, nothing more. I didn't answer, I only glared at him as if we'd understand each other by staring.

He slowly walked toward me, every footstep seemed heavy. His face had no sign of weakness yet I noticed a part of him being hesitant for a second.

I unconsciously bit my inner lip as his hands finally grabbed the trash bag from me.

This shit was on the other level of awkwardness! Na saan ba kasi si Kurt?

Instead of going back, I watched him rushing his way toward the gray trash bin as the droplets of the rain soaked his shirt.

A part of me wanted to give him a towel to at least show gratitude but no. I was about to go inside the room when Kurt came, slightly yelling like a rat.

"Saan ka galing?" I asked him as he closed the used umbrella.

"Nagpa-load lang," he answered, "tapos ka na?"

"Aba, opo, tapos na po," I sarcastically answered, "nakahihiya naman kasi sa 'yo, tinulungan mo ako, 'no?"

Kurt teasingly smiled at me. He was about to say something when Marcus finally came back, "Oh! Marcus, nandito ka pa?"

"Oo, tumulong lang," he coldly answered.

Kurt saw how Marcus struggled wiping off the water on his face, he had nothing to use to dry himself.

My eyes darted at Kurt's lips that were now moving, secretly telling me to give Marcus a clean towel.

I aggressively swayed my head to disagree and mouthed, "I'm not doing it!"

I read his lips hissing, "Putanginang pride 'yan."

I was about to say something aloud when Marcus stole both of our attention. He wasn't attentive with the both of us and he obviously had no idea he caught our eyes.

He fucking lifted his shirt to dry his face, revealing his white skin and abs. Kurt almost drooled by the way. I didn't wait for any shits to happen, I went inside the room and harshly closed it as I entered.

My head hurt from what happened, itong si Kurt nagpahalata pang gandang ganda sa nakita. I stressfully opened my bag and took out my extra shirt and comb.

Hindi na ako nagsayang pa ng oras at pumasok na agad sa maliit na banyo sa kuwartong ito. I only washed my face and changed clothes to look at least human. It didn't take me a long time at the washroom, I was brushing my hair as I went out.

Kurt was there, obviously waiting for me. He immediately lifted his head when he noticed my presence.

"Kumusta?" panunukso ko, "busog ba?"

"Gaga ka talaga," he started, "iniwan mo 'ko roon!"

I let out a laugh, "E papasok naman na talaga ako. Isa pa, pinipilit mo 'kong kunan siya ng tuwalya."

"Siyempre para may magamit siya," he pointed out, "okay lang tumulong, Mercian, alam mo ba 'yon? Para kang laging galit kay Marcus, napaghahalataan ka tuloy."

"Napaghahalataang ano?" I asked him, "na may gusto sa kanya? Oh please, we both know that's not true."

"Talaga ba?" Kurt mocked me.

"Oo nga saka bakit mo ba 'yan pinipilit? Parang dati lang sinasabihan mo pa akong huwag muna muling mag-love life, focus on myself first at huwag munang magseryoso," I told him.

"Hindi ko naman pinipilit, Ian. Ang sa akin lang, let's be honest, girl," he laughed, "bakit ka ba galit kay Marcus?"

"Hindi ako galit, okay?" I clarified, "hindi lang talaga kami close tapos hindi pa ako sociable kaya gano'n," I added.

"O sige, since hindi ka naman galit kay BJ, sasabay tayo sa kanya sa pag-uwi," Kurt informed me, "siya ang nag-offer na ihatid tayo. Maulan kasi at kanina wala na akong nakitang bumabiyahe."

I let out a deep sigh and lightly slapped my forehead.

"Oh! Walang galit, 'di ba?" he reminded me.

"Wala, oo na! Tara na," yaya ko pa.

Nakasimangot akong lumabas kasama ang nanunuksong si Kurt. Bakit pakiramdam ko, pinagkaka-isahan nila ako? Hindi mapinta ang aking mukha nang lumapit kami sa naka-upong si Marcus. Kurt called him that made him stood up and face us.

"Thank you talaga sa offer!" Kurt happily said.

"No problem," Marcus told him, "wait for me here, kunin ko lang ang sasakyan."

"Sige, sure! Ingat," sagot ni Kurt.

Marcus once glared at me, waiting for me to say something. When he got nothing from me, he started walking away.

"Ang lamig naman no'n," parinig ni Kurt.

"Anong gusto mo, sabihan ko rin ng ingat? Ano ako, si John Lloyd?" pamimilosopo ko.

Kurt bursted out a loud laugh. I chuckled and added, "Kulang na lang magbigay ka ng Biogesic kay BJ para damang dama na."

"Pero in fairness kay BJ, ang sipag," he complimented.

"Malamang kailangan nila 'to," I hissed, "don't treat him like a saint, his abs aren't everything."

He shook my body and laughed, "Wow naman, Mercian Ara! Bakit ka ba ganyan, akala ko ba walang galit?"

"Hindi naman ako galit! Sinasabi ko lang ang totoo," I pointed out, "they need to work for their research kaya siya nage-effort. Bakit, do you expect him to stay like that after this? You're attaching yourself onto something temporary."

"Ay, nag-English na... 'di ka talaga galit, ano?" he teased me more, "pero seryoso, hindi naman ako mabilis ma-attach kaloka ka. Saka okay, putok ang abs at may hitsura pero hindi 'yon sapat para pagkatiwalaan na ng buo. Hindi rin sa pagiging judgemental, nag-iingat lang tayo. Gets naman kita, ang saya mo lang asarin," he told me.

"Isa pa, iyon lang naman ang na-observe ko kay BJ. Masipag saka matalino," he added, "at halatang may gusto sa 'yo."

"Huwag na 'yan," I dismissed him.

"Ayaw mo ba sa kanya?" Kurt asked me, "'yong totoo, ha! Kahit slight lang?"

"Ayaw ko nga, hindi ko naman kilala," I answered honestly.

"Tanda ko pang sinabihan mo siyang gwapo at hot, Ian, hindi ako nakalilimot," tukso ni Kurt.

I didn't need a fucking mirror to know if my face blushed because of his statement. I said back, "Oh, bakit? First impression lang—"

"Still! Nagwapuhan ka!" pinaglaban pa niya, "so, totoong guwapo?"

"Duh—"

Tumili si Kurt dahil sa aking reaksyon na sinabayan ng matinding kulog kaya hindi na ako muling nakapagsalita.

"Ikaw din naman, nag-gwapuhan sa kanila. Tulad din ng sinabi mo, hindi sapat ang mukha at katawan para pagkatiwalaan. It's normal appreciating their appearance, huwag kang OA," I hissed.

"Oo na, ang daming pinaglalaban," he laughed.

"Besides, I'm currently focused on my studies. I want to see what will I become if I don't give up. I want to prove that it isn't impossible for us to reach the top," I added.

"Tama, same mind set naman tayo... pero sa kalagayan ko ngayon, medyo mahirap pang magpatuloy dahil ang daming ganap sa buhay," Kurt chuckled.

"Don't worry, I'm always by your side, bitch," I cheered him up because his tone was getting sadder.

"Tangina, may disorder na ba tayo? Kanina nag-aasaran ngayon drama na?" he chuckled.

"Ikaw kasi, iiyak ka na, e," I teased, "pero in fairness sa atin... ilang taon na rin tayong magkaibigan."

"True, bitch! Hindi ka pa naman madaling maging kaibigan," he hissed, galit na sa akin ngayon.

"O, bakit mo ako inaatake?" I laughed.

Hindi na nagkaroon ng pagkakataon magsalita si Kurt sapagkat agad naming napansin ang papalapit na gray na kotse. Sa anyo pa lamang nito ay ramdam mo ng mamahalin, may parte sa aking nahiya nang hindi ko malaman ang rason.

"Don't tell me magb-back out ka pa!" Kurt noticed my shift of mood.

"Hindi, 'no. Need naman natin ng ride pauwi kaya necessary 'to," I told him and trying to calm myself as well.

"Conyo mo," he mocked.

"Huh? Does it tunog conyo?" pang-aasar ko pa.

Kurt harshly rubbed his right ear as if pained of my words and hissed, "Kaskas ko 'yang bibig mo sa labi ni BJ, e."

"Hoy!" sita ko.

"Gusto mo naman!" he yelled back.

"Hindi, ha!" sigaw ko pabalik, ang issue niya talaga!

Saka lamang namin muling napansin si Marcus nang lumabas ito upang payungan kami papasok ng kanyang sasakyan. We didn't need to be told, we immediately understood his action.

Kurt let me in first and while I was bending my upper body he spoke, "Mauntog ka sana para magising ka na sa reyalidad."

"Bitch," malutong kong sabi na kanyang kinatawa.

When I was finally inside and it was his turn to bend, he accidentally hit his head on the car's roof which made me laugh so hard, I didn't even notice Marcus' reaction before he closed the door.

"Saya mo, ano?" Kurt hissed, "at least hindi ko inaaraw-araw ang pagiging tanga."

"Foul!" I shouted, "at least may obaryo ako."

"Aba!" he sounded offended, "at least—"

"Ano? Ano?" I mocked, "wala kang maisip!"

"Tangina, foul play," he whispered and began to fake a cry.

Marcus successfully went in and seconds later, he started to drive the car slowly away from the store. I couldn't stop laughing at Kurt whose cry sounded weird. Parang umuungol na baka sa kalagitnaan ng tanghali ang dating.

"What's happening with him?" Marcus asked between his chuckles.

"Mourning for the ovaries he can't have," I replied.

"Grabe ka na, Ian! Tama na ang usapang obaryo," Kurt blurted, "napakasama mo talaga sa akin kahit noon."

"What? Ikaw nga 'tong masakit magsalita sa ating dalawa," I defended myself.

"Natandaan ko tuloy 'yong first reporting ko sa araling panlipunan class natin, nanginig ako sa takot dahil sa mga titig mo," he recalled.

"You stared at me as if I was the biggest mistake that ever existed on earth, you bitch," he ranted more that made me clapped my hands in enjoyment.

"Hindi pa tayo close noon, 'di ba? Saka ayaw ko pa sa 'yo noon kasi ang ingay mo sa klase. You flirt with boys and you befriend so many students, feeling ko tuloy ang plastic mo," I shared.

"Oo, hindi pa tayo magkaibigan noon. Ang hirap mo talagang kaibiganin, grabe. Imagine, maayos akong nagpatulong sa pag-iisip ng p'wedeng topic idea sa speech, she suggested me: how to shut up myself forever," kanyang pagkuwento na tila ba sinali pa si Marcus sa usapan.

Itong si BJ naman, todo ang halakhak. Those were some of our early interactions back in highschool where we almost ripped each other apart.

"Nagsimula talaga ang friendship natin unexpectedly like who would've thought we'd be best bitches, right?" I stated, "worth it naman."

"True! Hindi naman lahat ng kinakausap ko ay kaibigan ko na," Kurt said, "kaya Marcus huwag kang mawawalan ng pag-asa. Sa una lang talaga malamig si Ian pero—"

"Dapat talaga iyon ang ginamit mong topic sa speech para hindi ka na nagsasalita ngayon," I cut him off.

Our talk got disturbed due of the sudden ring produced by my phone. I hurriedly checked who was the person calling and when I saw it was my mother, I signalled Kurt to stay quiet.

"Ma," bati ko nang aking sinagot, "kumusta?"

"Ayos lang naman kami rito, Ian, kayo ba? Malakas ang ulan ngayon diyan sa Maynila, ha?" she asked me back.

"Malakas nga, ma... pauwi na kami ni Kurt galing sa karindirya—"

"Huh? Ngayon pa lang kayo uuwi?" her tone changed, she seemed shocked of what I said.

"Uh, oo... ang dami kasing customers buong araw kaya hindi namin namalayan ang oras. Anyway, we're safe, ma, don't worry!" I chuckled.

"Anong sinasakyan ninyo?" kanyang tanong, hindi kumbinsido sa aking sinabi.

"Remember the guys I said that will work sa karindirya? One of them offered to give a free ride kaya na sa sasakyan niya kami ngayon," I answered.

My mother sighed from the other side and stated, "Okay, sige... text me if you are home safely."

"Sige, ma," I simply responded.

"Kaya ako napatawag kasi si tita Helian mo, tumawag nitong hapon..." she started, "sabi niya puwede mo na raw muling tingnan iyong bahay dahil tapos na ang renovation."

"Oh? Sige! Kailan, bukas?" I excitingly asked.

"Puwede bukas kung hindi na maulan... wala si tita mo Helian kung bukas ka dadalaw," she told me.

"Okay, kapag hindi na maulan bukas ng umaga, bibisita ako sa bahay," I informed mom.

"Send-an mo ako ng mga picture, ha?" she asked me too, excited.

"Naman!" sagot ko at napalingon kay Kurt nang nagsalita ito upang ituro ang daan kay Marcus.

"Sige na, mukhang malapit na rin kayo," mother spoke.

"Sige, ma, good night," I said before she finally dropped the call.

Kurt turned to me after guiding Marcus the right way he must take and asked, "Si tita?"

"Oo, pinapatingin niya sa akin 'yong bahay na binibenta sa amin ni tita Helian. Baka bukas ng umaga ako umalis if ever na hindi uulan," I informed Kurt.

"Sige tapos didiretso ka na lang sa karindirya pagkatapos?" kanyang tanong.

I nodded twice as an answer. We both stayed silent and my eyes couldn't help but to observe the heavy drops falling from the sky. The clouds seemed mad as the water continously knocked on our vehicle and created flood at the streets.

Napa-isip tuloy ako kung maka-uuwi ba ng ligtas itong si BJ. The wiper blades couldn't even give us a clear view of the road we were taking, only the lights mainly red, orage and yellow were visible.

"May extra space ba sa inyo ngayon, Kurt?" naglakas ako ng loob magtanong.

"Sa taas, oo mayroon... bakit?"

I couldn't verbalize what I needed to say, bukod sa nakapapanibago ito ay hindi rin ako sanay maging mabait sa kapwa. I mean, I could be good but rarely. I often helped behind, not wanting the person know I did something to save him or something.

"Saang kuwarto sa taas?" tanong ko muli.

"Katabi ng sa 'yo," Kurt replied and shrugged.

"Saan dito, Kurt?" Marcus asked when we already went inside the street where Kurt's house was located.

Kurt effortlessly pointed at their gate which Marcus' immediately found. Thankfully, no one from the neighborhood was up this time of the evening and due of the heavy rain, no one was outside.

Marcus skillfully parked the car in front of the house and they were ready to go out when I spoke.

"Malayo ba ang uuwian mo?" I fucking asked Marcus!

His head slowly turned at me, shocked of what I just asked. Again, we stared at each other for a couple of seconds. He couldn't seemed to process what he just heard from me.

He replied, "Not really... maybe a twenty minute ride or so."

"Malakas ang ulan," my lips almost trembled because his stares were directed at me, "may free space pa sa taas... puwedeng doon ka muna ngayong gabi."

Oh my god! What was I saying?

Marcus' eyes checked on Kurt who was now speechless and he asked, "Really? Puwede?"

"Ah! O-Oo, walang tao roon," Kurt seemed to be back in his senses.

"Sure, thank you," Marcus said and went out to open the umbrella.

Kurt didn't speak even when Marcus opened the door to assist us through the mad raining clouds. I waited for my turn inside the car and watched the both of them conquer the rain.

Kurt was now opening their main door and Marcus was walking near me. I forcefully gulped when I noticed Marcus' glares, he just looked like he wanted to say something to me but he couldn't.

"Thank you for thinking about the free space by the way," he softly told me, opposite of the blank expression his face was showing.

"Wala 'yon," I said back, my tone was unconsciously softer than the usual.

"Anong oras ka bukas aalis?" he asked me.

I was still sitting at the edge of his car as he was standing in front of me with the umbrella lifted high to not get both of us wet. He had to slightly crouch to see my face as we spoke.

"Maybe ten," my mouth just seemed to answer automatically without my permission.

"Samahan na kita," he offered, it wasn't a question, "bawi ko na 'yon ngayong gabi."

"Wala kang gagawin bukas?" paninigurado ko muna.

He shrugged and gently smirked, "Sa karindirya lang naman tulad mo pero since sasamahan kita..." he trailed off.

"Oh, okay... sure," I tried to sound as chill as possible, I didn't want him to think I was dazed by his move.

I prepared myself to finally go out which he saw. Marcus assisted me like how he did with Kurt. He didn't touch me anywhere though which I was grateful of.

When the both of us reached the main door, I immediately stated, "Hintayin na kita rito."

He was obviously about to go back at his car when I spoke yet his feet seemed to froze into their place when his brain processed my words. Hindi na niya napigilan at napahalakhak na siya. I couldn't understand why he was laughing though.

Did I look like some kind of a joke or something? This was me trying to help him or to be at least sociable yet he find this funny?

"Why are you laughing?" I fired.

"Oh, don't be mad... you're just making me happy, that's all," he answered and tried composing himself again.

"Hindi na nga kita hihintayin, bahala ka," I took back what I said and turned my back on him.

He had some quick reflexes though, he gently grabbed my left wrist, making me stop from walking away of the shame I created.

His hand immediately released my wrist when he already caught my attention... as if he held something fragile and he didn't want it to break.

"Wait for me, I'm sorry for laughing. It's just surprising hearing those words from you," he whispered close to me, "I'm not making fun of you or something... so don't think of it badly," he added.

I sighed, couldn't look directly at him now. I went back on my previous position, facing him, and said, "Fine... I'll wait for you."

Marcus smiled widely even though his eyes seemed tired of the long day we both encountered, "You aren't that cold blooded after all."

I made this questionable facial expression to hide my smirk... yet his smile affected me like a strong virus, it made me smile back at him.