Chibaba Grill

Same with the characters of Forever

Friday.

I received a text message galing sayo. Oo. Ikaw ulit. Nasabi mo nalang sa akin na hindi tuloy ang lakad nyo kaya maari mo akong sunduin mula sa iyong trabaho. After reading your message, parang hindi na matanggal ang ngiti sa labi ko. Hindi ko alam kung bakit, pero dahil siguro sa sobrang saya ko. Bakit ako masaya? Hindi ko alam.

I spent my day daydreaming. I realized na para lang akong tanga na nakangiti mag-isa. I didn't know why I kept thinking about you. Imagining the very first night you held me. Thinking how those gentle kisses sent shiver to my spine. Reminiscing how those soft hands made their way to my body. Remembering how warm your breath was. Feeling it run under my neck. And those tight hugs you showered me when we were sleeping.

Marcus, are you okay? Kanina ka pa nakangiti dyan? Is everything okay?

An officemate.

Yup. I'm okay. Shall we have dinner?
Tumango ang aking kaopisina.

We had dinner over nice and cool conversations. She's just like a mom to me. I opened things about you and she listened attentively.

Magiingat lang ha? Kakakilala nyo palang?

A warning. A reminder. I know. It's just too weird for me. We just met and I feel like I already trust you a lot. Para bang we have known each other for years with the stories we share. Never a dull moment.

Lumipas ang ilan pang oras at nagtext ka sakin saying na nakauwi ka na. Inaantay mo nalang ako na mag-out para masundo mo ako.

Malapit na ang uwian. Hindi ako mapakali. I went to the comfort room and washed my face. Nagsipilyo din ako at nagpabango. Hindi ako ganito. Pero dahil gusto ko na makita mo ako lagi na at my best ay ginawa ko ang mga bagay na ito. After all, I didn't want to disappoint you.

Nandito na ako. Same place.

Nagmadali akong bumaba ng building. Nagpaalam sa mga kaopisina. Namataan ko ang iyong magarang sasakyan sa tapat at nakita ko ang iyong paglabas ng kotse, minamataan ako. I kissed some close officemates and bid farewell.

Ayy ang gwapo nung bumaba dun sa sports car.

I heard some of my friends mouthed.

I felt myself blushing. I gave them a look and grinned. All of a sudden, they were all in awe.

Oh my God! Marcus! Is he your date? OMGGG!

I rushed to your car. Like what you normally do, you gave me a kiss on the forehead. Tapos nun ay binukas mo ang pinto ng kotse at inalalayan akong makasakay. I know that all eyes of my friends and officemates are on me now. You started the engine, and we drove.

I saw you looking at me. Then you reached for my hand and squeezed it with yours.

Baby, I miss you.

I missed you too, dad.

Hindi ko napigil ang sarili ko. I gave you a kiss on the cheek na iyo namang kinatuwa.

Lambing ah.

I just giggled.

You made a sudden right pagdating natin ng intersection ng Julia Vargas.

Let's grab a bottle of beer first. Would that be okay?

Sure.

I ate some cake kasi. I want beer to do the trick.

That's weird. But sure. We can try that one.

We went to Home Depot. Unluckily, walang parking. We decided to drive to Mandaluyong and find some place there.

Baby, wag ka na munang tatambay sa Galleria ha?

Confused, I gave you a quizzical look.

Bakit naman?

You squeezed my hand again.

Baka maagaw ka pa sakin eh.

I find it difficulting resisting myself blush.

Whatever dad.

We both laughed.

Dahil sa wala tayong makitang parking ay bumagsak tayo sa isang lugar na alam kong hindi bagay sayo. Pero dahil nga sa pagiging cowboy ay wala kang pakialam. All you needed was a safe parking. Then we're all settled. We went inside Chibaba Grill.

We ordered Gilbey's Premium Strength dahil wala ang favorite kong Super Dry. Fuck them. And Fish Steak. Hindi ko maiwasan na hindi ngumiti sa t'wing tumititig ka sakin. Hindi ko alam kung involuntarily ba akong nagpapacute or talagang naooverwhelm lang ako sa atensyon na binibigay mo.

Why are you staring at me? May mali ba sa mukha ko?

You pinched my nose.

Nothing. I was just appreciating you.

I was dumbfounded. So frank huh?

Nagenjoy ka ba last time?

You took a bite of the fish fillet. You took some of your poison.

Oo naman. Nagenjoy. Nageenjoy. At mageenjoy pa.

Hindi na ako nakapagsalita. Ngumiti nalang ako. Pati ang puso ko ay parang gagong tumatawa. Gusto ko nalang matunaw. Gusto ko nalang yumakap sayo. Gusto ko nalang magpaangkin.

We went out of Chibaba Grill and went to your pad. Napuna kong mas luminis ito ngayon. Napangiti ako.

Malinis ba? I cleaned. Dadating ka eh. Baka sabihin mo na madumi sa bahay ang mapapangasawa mo.

Those words took me again. Hindi na ako nakapagsalita. Naramdaman ko nalang ang iyong pagyakap. Mas mahigpit ito kumpara sa nakaraan. Mas mainit ang iyong katawan. Soothing ang bango ng iyong perfume. Perfect. Romantic. Sweet.

We went to your bed. We were already both tired. Tulad ng dati, mahigpit ang iyong mga yakap. Ayaw mo akong bitawan. Whenever I shift, I can instantly feel your arms reaching for me and pulling me closer to you. Honestly, that's how I wanted to be held. You did it just perfectly.

I heard you snore. You are already sleeping. I looked at the overlooking view of the city from your window. It was indeed so romantic. I closed my eyes. And eventually, I fell asleep.

Nagising nalang ako sa dampi ng iyong kamay sa aking katawan. I gently moved para hindi mo maramdaman na gising ako. You are now touching my face. Parang dinadama mo lahat ng gilid ng aking mukha, aking tenga, ilong at labi. Idinampi mo ang iyong labi sa akin. Nanatili akong nakapikit. Dinadama ang sincerity ng mga nangyayari.

Sa pagaakala mo siguro na tulog ako ay naging mas kampante ka sa iyong ginagawa. Patuloy ka sa paghawak sa akin. Your comfortable carress has triggered unfamiliar restlessness. Hinalikan mo ako sa noo.

I love you so much. Thanks for coming to my life, Marcus. I won't hurt you. And not even let you go. I love you so much.

Hindi ko alam kung alam mo na narinig ko iyong mga sinabi. Napangiti nalang ako at muli, naramdaman ko ang init mula sa aking puso.