23

It's been three months since the day Leo agreed with her offer. At tatlong buwan na rin silang lumalabas ng lalaki. They often spend their weekends having some road trips outside Metro Manila. And that's so worthy to remember. She can't wait for a trip outside the country, kung magkakaroon man sila ng ganoon.

And today, they are having their brunch inside this pancake house. The ambiance of the store was great and relaxing.

"Wait! I have to asked something, baby," may biglang pumasok na tanong sa kanyang isipan.

Matagal na niya itong gustong itanong sa binata ngunit nakakalimutan lamang niya.

Napahinto naman sa pagkain ang binata at bahagyang nilingon siya, "What is it, baby?," he asked while picking up a tissue in tissue box in their table.

Napalabi naman siya bago tiningnan ang kaharap, "Who's the architect of your townhouse in Antipolo?," matagal na niyang gustong malaman ito dahil isa talaga ito sa mga gusto niyang tao sa kanyang kumpanya.

Leo's eyebrow creased, "Why? Magpapagawa ka ba ulit ng bahay?," he asked back curiously.

Mabilisan naman siyang umiling at binitawan na ang hawak na kubyertos, "Not that. You know naman my job and our company is looking for an architect like yours," dahan-dahan niyang pagsasalita at baka mabuking pa na may sarili siyang kumpanya.

Pinunasan naman nito ang gilid ng labi, "Sad to say, baby, he's working in my company as an Accountant."

Sayang!, she expressed her disappointments on her mind.

"But I'll still try to asked him if he wants to be a regular architect, freelancer lang kasi siya ngayon," pahabol naman ng binata nang mapuna ang ekspresyon ng kanyang mukha.

Her face suddenly lit up upon hearing it and she smiled sweetly, "That's so great of you, baby. Just give him my number if he's interested."

"Huwag na, I'll be the one who'll contact you if he want the offer," his voice screams possessiveness, if she's right on what she reads on his facial expression.

She just nodded her head, not trying to start an argument, "Okay, no problem. Huwag ka ng mainggit, baby," she teased.

"I'm not. He's just a playboy baka kung ano-ano pa ang sabihin sayo," he spoke defensively.

She laughed a bit and even bite her lips to stopped herself to burst out more, "Alright. I won't fight."

"Baka maging type mo rin 'yun," piksing muli ni Leo.

She even bite her lower lip more, "Ikaw lang naman ang type ko."

And upon discarding what's on her mind, Leonardo's face suddenly turned into red like a tomato. Namumula pa ang pares ng tainga nito.

"You're so red, baby!," natatawang tinuro pa niya ang mukha ng binata.

"This is all your fault, baby," he spoke still can't get over on what she just said.

She just shrugged her shoulders at muli ng hinawakan ang sariling kubyertos, "You're just being gay, baby."

Tumikhim naman ang kaharap bago muling nagsalita, "Anyways, do you want to go outside the country?"

Napataas namang muli ang paningin niya, "What?," she's making sure na tama ang pagkakarinig niya at hindi nabibingi.

Tumikhim naman ang binata at nangalumbaba pa sa kanyang harapan, "I'm planning to attend Pinkpop Festival next year, baby. Do you want to come with me?"

"Where? And what's that all about?," she's not familiar about that festival, even little details ay wala siyang alam.

"It's a music festival usually held in Landgraaf, Netherlands, baby. Nandoon kasi ang Artic Monkeys my favorite band, that's why," Leo uttered with full of aspirations on his voice.

"So, we're having our first out of the country trip?," nakangiting tanong niyang muli.

She can't wait! Even she's not really into bands, that's fine if she's with Leonardo.

"Yes, pero next year pa, baby. Kakatapos lang kasi ng Pinkpop Festival last June kaya next year na lang ulit. Is it fine with you?"

She can't believe more na he has plans to be with her until next year. Mas lalong lumambot ang kanyang puso sa nalaman. Wala na siyang mahihiling pa.

She nodded right away, "Of course, baby. Kahit kailan pa 'yan, sasama ako," her voice was filled with enthusiasm and her eyes sparkled like a stars in the night sky, also her lips never leave a wide smile, showing more her dimples.

"You should try to stream on their music then para naman hindi ka ma-out of place," and Leo let out small chuckles.

Napalabi naman siya sa tinuran ng binata, "Bad baby. No worries I'll try to appreciate everything you love, too. It's no sweat at all."

Kaya niyang sakyan lahat ng hilig ng lalaki, kahit na maliit na ang espasyo para sa kanya.

ABALANG nagtitipa si Leonardo sa kanyang laptop nang mamataan niya ang isang folder na nilapag sa tabi nito.

He raised his eyes just to see Ethon with a wide smile on his face, "What's this, moron? And what brought you here in my unit?," binato na niya ito ng sunod-sunod na tanong at hindi man lang binati ang kaibigan.

Binagsak naman ng huli ang katawan sa malambot na sofa sa kanyang living room, nagawa pa nitong itaas ang dalawang paa sa lamesa na parang pag-aari niya ang lahat ng nandito.

"That's my proposal for our lobby's theme this Ber months, dude. Tingnan mo na, mas maganda 'yan kaysa last year!," hindi pa rin nawawala ang ngisi nito, akala mo ay nanalo sa lotto.

Napailing naman siya at tiniklop na ang kaharap na laptop at inabot na lamang ang tasa ng tsaa sa may lamesita, "You should direct it in our production team, tiwala naman na ako sa gawa mo, bro."

Hindi na muna siya pumasok ngayon sa opisina dahil may tinatapos pa siyang kaso na malapit na ang hearing. So, he's just in his usual clothes today, white polo and a sweat short.

"Nabigay ko na rin 'yan, bro. I just used it an alibi para makatambay ako dito," humalakhak pa ang loko sa ginawang kalokohan, "Ang boring sa Department, kaya dito na lang ako, may libre pang pakain kay Attorney," pahabol pa nito nang makabawi na sa ginawang pagtawa.

"You're ditching your job, Ethon, I should fire you, then," umakto pa siyang seryoso sa kaharap.

"Wala namang ganyanan, Attorney! Ikaw rin, mawawalan ka ng poging empleyado," aniya ng huli at nagawa pa talagang kumuha ng spanish bread na katabi lamang ng kanyang tsaa.

"Hindi ka naman gwapo, dude, kaya ayos lang," ganting pang-aasar naman niya dito, tuluyan ng nalimutan ang inaasikasong kaso, "Anyways, don't you want to be a regular architect in a company?," bigla naman niyang naalala ang naging usapan nila ni Antoinette kahapon.

Naagaw naman niya ang atensyon ng lalaki at mas lalong lumawak ang ngiti sa labi, "Why, dude? You'll build new company exclusive for me? Grabe ka namang kaibigan, Attorney! Nakaka-touched!," loko-loko talaga at nagawa pang umaktong naluluha sabay punas sa mga mata. Suminga pa ang gago. Gross.

"You're pathetic, dude. Asa ka na lang," tumayo na siya mula sa pagkakaupo, dala-dala pa rin ang sariling tasa.

"Eh ano naman pala?," Ethon asked curiously.

Hinarap naman niyang muli ang kaibigan, "Well, Antoinette asked me yesterday who is the architect of my townhouse. And when I said that he is someone I knew, agaran na niyang sinabi na gusto ka daw niyang makatrabaho sa kumpanya nila. She's an Engineer there if you didn't know."

Nawala naman bigla ang kapilyuhan sa mukha ng kaibigan at napalitan ito ng kaseryosohan, nagawa pang himasin ang sariling baba habang umaaktong nag-iisip, "Pinamimigay mo na ba ko, dude? Hindi na ba ko useful sa kumpanya mo? Akala ko ba magkaibigan tayo?," pagda-drama nito kalaunan.

Sinamaan naman niya ito ng tingin, "As if naman na kapag umalis ka sa company ay wala ka na talaga. We're business partners there, huwag ka nga! I'm just giving you chances to continue your other passion. Dami mo kasing lisensya."

"Ginaya lang naman kita, dude! Nakaka-inspired kasi na dalawa rin license mo," Ethon laughed again, mamaya mahipan ito ng masamang hangin at matuluyan na talaga.

Retarded amp, he thought.

"So, what's your decision? Yes or no?," pagbabalik naman niya sa usapan, at hindi na lamang pinansin ang kalokohan ng kaibigan.

"Just forward my resume on Antoinette's email, dude. Tell her to contact me right away kapag pasado sa hr nila. Pag-iisipan ko pa muna, baka kasi ma-depressed ka kapag iniwan na kita sa Accounting Firm," sagot naman nito at muli na namang dumampot ng tinapay sa table, lalo pa nitong ibinuka ang mga binti na parang nagpapahinga lang sa sariling bahay.

"Don't flirt with her, Corpuz. Pababalikin kita sa kumpanya agad-agaran," dinuro pa niya ang pagmumukaha ng binata.

Itinaas naman ng huli ang parehong kamay sa ere, nakasalampak pa ang tinapay sa bibig, "No worries, dude. Bro is bro," at pinilit pa talaga nitong magsalita kahit puno ang bibig.

Ang baboy talaga, muli na naman niyang naisip.

"Oo nga pala, dude. Where's Tita? Nagpapabili ako ng bagong release na Jordan shoes doon, eh," napakamot pa ito sa sariling batok ng madulas niya ang dahilan kung bakit nito tinatanong.

"She's still on her trip with friends on Maldives. Baka next month pa 'yun uuwi," naalala naman niya bigla ang inang lakwatsera.

"Wow! Sana lahat kagaya ni Tita! Ma-datung! Kung saan-saan na lang gumagala!," umakto pa talaga ang loko na manghang-mangha.

"Then you should try to marry my Mom. Matagal na naman silang wala ni Dad," nagawa niya pang lokohin ang kaibigan bago ito tinalikuran at naglakad na papunta sa kitchen.

Naramdaman niya ang pagsunod sa kanya ng kaibigan, "Kadiri ka, dude! Para ko na 'yung sugar mommy, tapos ikaw pa magiging stepson ko? Eh mas mukha pa nga kitang tatay!," patuloy lamang ito sa pagkuda habang parang tutang nakamatyag sa kanyang ginagawa.

He just put his cup on the kitchen sink and open the fridge to have some cold water to drink, "Hindi ka rin naman namin gustong maging stepfather ni Levis, dude. Nice try."

"Gago. The feeling is mutual, dude," binigyan pa siya nito ng nasusukang reaksyon.

He raised his middle finger on the air, "Gago ka rin."

Natigil lamang sila sa asaran nang marinig ang malakas na doorbell galing sa pintuan ng kanyang unit.

"May inaasahan ka bang bisita, Attorney?," nagtatakang tanong sa kanya ni Ethon.

He just shrugged his shoulders, 'cause even him, he's not expecting any visitors today.

Naglakad na lamang siya pabalik papunta sa pintuan ng kanyang unit. Para na namang tutang sumunod sa kanya ang kaibigan.

"Hoy, Attorney! Mamaya si Antoinette 'yan, ah! Wala kong balak manood ng live sex, dude," aligagang wika pa nito habang sinusundan siya.

"Shut up, dude," piksi niya dito at binuksan na ang pinto ng kanyang unit. Hindi na nag-abala pang tingnan sa screen kung sino ang nasa labas.

"I miss you, dear!," nakangiting mukha ni Aishana ang bumungad sa kanya pagbukas pa lamang niya ng pinto.

Hindi naman agad siya nakatugon nang hagkan na siya nito sa labi at yakapin ng napakahigpit.

"Don't you miss me, baby?," Ai asked him sweetly, sniffing his neck a bit.