Art of Serendipity

38

Tomorrow came and Levi and I are already waiting for Daddy in some random restaurant. Nakapagsabi na ako kahapon kung pwede kami magkita, he agreed but saglit lang daw because he still has some business errands to run. That is underastandable for me and Levi kaya nauna na rin kami rito. Sasabihin lang naman namin na kami na.

Maya-maya lang ay natanaw na namin si Dad. Kumaway ako para makita niya kami, nakangiti naman siyang lumapit sa amin. He kissed my forehead before sitting.

"How are you, sweetie? Are you done for your vacation?" he asked me first.

"I'm fine and probably, last ko na pong vacation iyon. Sa undas na lang po ulit," I answered politely. I shifted my weight and glanced at Levi, ganoon din siya sa akin. Sabay kaming humarap kay Daddy na nanliliit na ang mga mata sa amin.

"Levi, I'm glad that you're here. Is there any progress?" Dad asked meaningfully.

"Yes, Tito. Your princess is now my girlfriend. I hope that's okay with you po," diretsong saad ni Levi. Humigop ako sa akig milktea.

My Dad's mouth formed an 'o' while leaning backwards. "I see. It's okay with me but of course, I'll kill you if you break my daughter's heart," Dad said very smoothly.

I choked. "Dad!"

He giggled. "I'm just kidding, sweetie. Just know your limits and love wholeheartedly. I know your Mom wants to know this too. Did you visit her already?"

I shook my head. "Baka po mamaya pa, Dad."

That's just a little conversation with my Dad. Sabay kaming umalis, kami naman ay nagpunta rin kay Mommy. He drove until the cementery.

Pagkarating ay nilapag ko na ang flowers at si Levi naman ang nagsindi ng kandila sa gilid ng puntod ni Mom. After that, inilatag ko ang sapin sa damuhan at iyon ang inupuan namin ni Levi.

"Hi, Mom!" I greeted first. "You know what, Mom. I enjoyed my vacation well. I went to Paris. Oh, do you still remember the peach crochet sweater you gave me? I wore it because it was so cold in Paris. I wish you were there with me, though," pagkukwento ko.

I sighed when the wind blew, it is not cold, it is warm, so I really assume that it was my mother telling me that she is listening. I bit my lower lip and looked at Levi who are patiently waiting for my attention, he then relaxed a bit when he saw that I am already looking at him.

He held my hand and intertwined it with his. Pagkatapos ay hinalikan niya ng marahan ang likod ng palad ko. I smiled sweetly, then, I turned to my mom again.

"Today, I will reveal to you something unusual for me, Mom," I told my mom. Alam ko namang alam na niya iyon pero gusto ko pa ring sabihin sa kaniya ng personal. "Mommy, this is Lee Valkiery Velez, my boyfriend."

"Good day, Mrs. Vegas," Levi greeted too. "I am Levi."

"You know what? Lagi kong sinasabi kay Mommy na hindi ako magbo-boyfriend kasi akala ko sakit lang sa ulo iyon," I told Levi.

I heard his slight laugh. "Sakit ba ako sa ulo sa 'yo, hmm?"

Natatawa akong umiling. "That is what I thought. I never knew that having someone by my side would give this wonderful feeling."

"Now, you know." He kissed my forehead.

Nag-stay pa kami ng kaunti bago namin naisipang umuwi na ni Levi sa hotel. Nagkukulitan at nagkakantahan kami sa daan habang pauwi.

So, our first two days together is meeting the family, huh?

"We are now official," I informed him. Hindi pa siya umaalis sa Hotel room ko dahil dito na lang daw siya magdi-dinner.

"Yeah," maikling saad niya at tumitig muli sa akin.

"We must tell this to Alastrid. I'm sure na magugulat siya," naisip ko.

Napaiwas siya bigla ng tingin sa 'kin. He pursed his lips. Nagtaka ako. Bakit ganiyan ang reaksyon niya? Is he alright? Hinabol ko ang tingin niya kaya napabalik ang tingin niya sa akin, may pag-aalangan na. Nagtataka ako.

"What's wrong, Love?" I asked softly.

"Alastrid is still busy but I promise..." He held my hand and kissed the bridge of my nose. "I promise, we will tell him right away. Just promise me, you'll not slip away with my hold, hmm?"

"Huh?" naguguluhan kong tanong. Bakit parang problemado pa siya? Anong mayroon?

"Just promise me, Love," he said, mga mata ay nagsusumamo.

"P-promise..." I just said. "What's our problem?"

He shook his head. "Nothing, Love."

Naguguluhan pa rin ako pero hindi ko na siya pipilitin pa. Mukhang ayaw niya pang ipaalam sa akin kaya hindi ko na ipipilit pang alamin sa kaniya, hihintayin ko na lang na sabihin niya, hindi rin naman siguro magtatagal at masasabi niya rin sa akin. I'm just hoping that it's not bad.

"When the classes start, are you still going to stay here?" he asked.

Napaisip naman ako. Nagaalangan ako dati na mag-stay kay Levi dahil natatakot sa sasabihin ng iba but it's okay now. He's my boyfriend after all, tsaka para mabawasan na lang din ang gagawin ng driver namin. I am a bothersome for our driver.

"Is it okay if I will stay in your Condo? Don't worry, inaantay ko lang si Daddy na mapaalis si Tita Donna then, I am going back to our house."

"It is definitely fine. Kahit nga roon ka pa tumira, e," he said casually but I just pinched his chest.

My third year starts and I am already here in his Condo. Hindi na raw gagamitin ni Laia ang room dahil lumipad na siya sa ibang bansa, so I occupied it, nagpaalam na lang ako kay Laia. Last year naman ngayon ni Levi so he must focus more on his studies.

I'm expecting a call from Ate Noreen this night because she told me that she will call me. Well, I haven't told her about Levi so I'm sure, magugulat siya tsaka matutuwa. Knowing her, napaka-supportive niya kay Levi kahit hindi pa man din niya masyadong kilala. Inaasahan ko na talaga ang reaksyon niya. Eksaherada pa naman ang isang iyon.

Kakatapos ko lang mag-night bath nang mag-ring ang phone ko kaso hindi si Ate Noreen ang tumatawag. It was Alastrid. I immediately tap the answer button because we haven't talk to each other lately. Napaka-busy niya talagang tao at ang hirap niyang hagilapin.

"Hello..." panimula ko.

[Hi...] he greeted softly, bahagya akong natawa. Parang nahihiya pa siya. [I'm sorry if I called late. I just have my spare time so...]

"It's okay. Hindi pa naman ako matutulog, e. How are you?"

[I'm good and... busy, as usual. I think, ipapagpapaliban ko muna ang law school ko.]

Lumabas ako ng kwarto para sana sabihin kay Levi na tumawag si Alas kaso bukod sa wala si Levi sa sala, hindi rin pala alam ni Alas na kami na. He's busy and Levi told me that he will be the one who will tell him. I stayed in the kitchen while talking to Alas.

"Is that so? Hindi ka pa man din nakakapag-law school pero busy ka na. Paano kapag ganap na lawyer ka na, Attorney?" pagpapatuloy ko.

I heard him laughed. [I don't really know but I will check if I can have an atleast, a vacation. Uuwi ako riyan.]

"Okay, I will wait. Hihintayin ka namin ni Levi. I'm sure that your bestfriend misses you so much." I leaned my back on the counter.

[That man. How's he? We haven't keep in touch lately, but we talked last last week. Sobrang busy ko lang talaga. I'm planning to call him later.]

"Uh..." I bit my lower lip. Paano ko sasabihin na hindi na niya kailangan tawagan si Levi dahil magkasama naman kami? Nasaan ba kasi 'yon?

[How about you? How are you? Did you earn friends now?] he changed the topic.

"I'm good, too but uh... friends? Wala pa masyado, e but I will take your advice. Don't worry about it and besides, masaya naman ako ngayon." I smiled, thinking about Levi. My heart is so happy and healthy.

[I see. I'm glad that you're hap-Why, Krisha? I will, okay? Can you wait?] I suddenly heard a clicking door then he talked to someone. [I'm sorry, Aya. I have to turn down this call. I still have things to do.]

"Yeah, it's okay. Uhm... Don't exhaust yourself too much. Bahala ka, baka may wrinkles ka na pagbalik mo rito." Tumawa ako.

He laughed over the call, too. [I guess, I'm not exhausted anymore, hearing you laugh. Sige, I'll call sooner or later.]

Napatingin ako sa entrance ng kusina dahil pumasok si Levi. He narrowed his eyes when he noticed that I'm talking to someone over the phone. Lumapit siya sa akin at nagtatanong ang mga mata. I signaled him to stay quiet.

"Okay, we will wait. Take care always. Goodnight," I said softly because Levi is glaring at my phone on my ear.

[Goodnight, Aya.] Then the call ended.

Ibinaba ko ang phone ko at humarap sa boyfriend kong nakasimangot na. Ano na naman kayang problema nito? Nagseselos? Seriously?

"Who's that? I just fixed my things in the art room then pagpunta ko rito, may katawagan ka na?" nagtatampo niyang ani.

I laughed at my cute jealous boyfriend. "He's your bestfriend, you dummy!"

Biglang nag-iba ang timpla ng mukha niya. Kinagat niya ang pang-ibabang labi at iniiwas ang tingin sa 'kin. Na-realize ba niya na mali ang pinagseselosan niya? I laughed again ang cling my arm around his nape.

Namumungay ang mga mata niyang humarap sa akin. He held my waist to maintain our balance.

"Did you tell him about us?" he asked.

Umiling ako. "Sabi mo kasi ay maghintay ako. Mukhang tatawag naman daw ata siya sa 'yo, e. Ikaw na ang magsabi. He is so d*mn busy."

He nodded and put a gentle kiss upon my forehead. "You're not yet sleepy?"

I shook my head. "Kukuha sana ako ng gatas kaya nandito ako sa kusina. You want some milk too, hmm?"

He nodded again and released me. Nagtimpla naman ako agad ng gatas naming dalawa. Naroon lang siya at nanonood sa akin, parang may malalim na iniisip. Hindi ko na siya inusisa pa kahit tahimik lang din siya hanggang matapos namin ang gatas.

Natawa na lang ako at umakbay sa kaniya papunta sa kwarto namin. Binuksan ko ang kwarto ko at handa na sanang magpaalam sa kaniya para matulog pero hinawakan niya ang doorknob para hindi ito magsarang mabuti. Kumunot ang noo ko at hinarap muli siya.

"Can I sleep beside you?" he asked huskily.

I smirked. This the first time that we will sleep beside each other if I will agree. My eyes suddenly soften, lumapit ako sa kaniya at hinila na siya papasok sa kwarto. Hindi na ako tatanggi. I also know my limits.

May napansin ako. Kapag nababanggit si Alastrid sa usapan naming dalawa, palagi siyang parang nanghihina. Hindi ko alam kung bakit. May problema na silang dalawa? Bakit mukhang okay naman si Alas kanina?

I cupped his face. "Is there any problem with you and Alas?"

He giggled. "Wala naman. Inaantok lang ako kaya ganito ako. Let's sleep now, please?"

My eyes narrowed a bit but I yawned. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at hinila na ako pahiga sa kama. Ginawa niyang unan ko ang braso niya. Ipinulupot ko rin ang kamay ko sa bewang niya samantalang siya ay iniyakap ang parehong braso sa akin at bahagyang hinahaplos ang ulo ko.

A gentle caress from him then I dozed off to sleep.

~~~