Art of Serendipity

39

Napahawak ako sa sintido dahil sa sunod-sunod na talak ng Ate Noreen ko sa isang tawag na nambulabog sa akin. Early in the morning and my breakfast is her priceless rants.

She said that she had millions of missed calls to me last night but since my line is busy, she waited pero nang hindi na, natulog naman na kami ni Levi so I forgot about her. I did not know that it will cause her to be this mad!

"I am very sorry, Ate. Bakit ba galit na galit ka? Are you going to tell something important, anyway?" I whispered. Levi is still sleeping on my bed and I am sitting at the edge so that I won't disturb him.

[I'm going home! Kagabi sana ako magbu-book ng ticket but I wanted to tell you first! But you did not answer my call so ngayon na lang! You dummy!]

"I am deeply sorry, okay? But, oh? When are you going home?" I suddenly became attentive.

[Probably, the day after the next day. Let's grab some drink, punta tayo sa bar. I will bring Tali and friends] Humalakhak siya. Tali is her best friend and what she means about friends is probably, Tali's siblings.

"No, I can't drink. I am the baddest alcohol drinker, I hope you know that." I rolled my eyes, remembering who am I when I am drunk. I glanced at my peacefully sleeping man. Kung hindi dahil sa kanya ay hindi ko pa madi-discover iyon.

[No, minsan lang 'to, Ayannah! Just one night!] pamimilit niya pa.

"You mean... oOne crazy night?" I asked sarcastically. "Ayoko nga."

[Tss. Bakit ba ayaw mo? May magagalit ba kapag nag-inom ka? As far as I know, you don't have boyfriend naman, ah? Magpapalam din ako kay Kuya Michael if that is what you are worrying for] giit niya pa.

I chuckled slightly. "Well, Ate. Huli ka na sa balita, may magagalit na. I have a boyfriend now-"

[What the f*ck? What the hell are you saying? What the?] she cannot expressed her shock properly. [And you did not even bothered to tell me immediately, Ayannah? Kailan pa yan?]

Napangiwi ako. She is O.A. "Uh... The month before last month?"

[Oh boy! Is it the painter guy? Please, say f*cking yes!]

"Yeah..." I said and smiled.

[Then that's another call for a celebration! Isama mo... or don't! No boyfriends allowed! Magpaalam ka... I'm sure, papayagan ka niyan! Dali!] pagpupumilit niya pa rin.

I sighed and looked at Levi. "But... I am sure, he won't. I had a bad reputation about drinking and he knows that so, unfortunately, baka hindi niya ako payagan."

[What? Ayaw mo ba?]

"I want to be with you guys but... H'wag na lang tayo mag-bar. Ayaw ko rin mag-bar, e," I whispered more.

[But I already I agreed to Tali's invitation, Aya! One night lang naman, e. Babantayan kita, promise. Please! Ay, ako na lang ang magpapaalam. Where is he? Give me his number. I will call him]

I glanced at Levi again and he hasn't moved yet, tulog na tulog. "He is still sleeping, Ate..."

[How did you know?] pagtataka niya na siyang ikinairap ko. When she realized it, I heard Ate's amused laugh. [Oh, so magkasama kayo matulog kagabi? Ang harot ah...]

"God, Ate! Will you stop teasing me?" pagalit kong bulong.

[Okay, kaya ka pala bumubulong-bulong diyan, ah! Basta magpaalam ka, ah? I will count you in na.]

"I will try..." I trailed off because Levi moved. Nangapa agad ang kamay niya sa tabi niya at nagmulat ang mata nang maramdamang wala ako. I held his feet over the sheet for him to know that I'm just here. Mapaghanap ang mga mata niyang lumingon sa akin. Kumunot ang noo niya nang makita ako.

[Don't just try! Do it!]pilit na naman ng ate ko. [If he will force you not to come then ako ang pupunta riyan. Do everything! Minsan lang ito!]

I smiled at Levi who is already narrowing his eyes at my phone, he leaning on the bed's backrest now, waiting for me. Nagtataka siguro na ang aga-aga tapos may katawagan ako. Ang aga kasi tumawag nitong babaeng 'to!

"Okay, okay. Just hit me a message me if susunduin na kita, ah?" bahagya ko nang nilakasan ang boses ko dahil gising naman na si Levi.

[Okay. Lambingin mo na si boyfriend mo. Bye! Love you, sweetie!] Then the call went off.

I crawled to hug him. "Good morning!"

"Morning..." he greeted huskily. Iniyakap niya ang braso sa akin. "Who called?"

"Ate Noreen," I answered shortly. I felt him nodding before kissing my head. I smiled and closed my eyes.

Morning cuddles with him and lazy morning like this is always be my peace of mind, my comfort, and my happiness.

We stayed like that for couple of minutes. I let him adjust about the day since he just woke up. Umahon ako para makita ang itsura niya. Nakapikit siya pero ang lalaking 'to, kahit kagigising lang ay maaliwalas agad ang mukha. He looks like a damn hunk with his messy hair and calm face.

"Lev..." I called softly. He did not open his eyes but he extended his hand around my waist. "Ate wants a little night out. Minsan lang iyon kaya gusto niya kaming mag-celebrate since nakauwi na ulit siya," dahan-dahan kong ani.

Kumunot ang noo niya pero nakapikit pa rin. "Hmm... Night out? What exactly?"

Matagal bago ako makasagot. I pursed my lips and release. "Uhm... Sa bar? Kasama 'yong iba pa niyang kaibigan and she already agreed so..."

Doon niya na minulat ang mata niya, diretso ang tingin sa akin. "Love..." malambing niya ring tawag, alam ko nang ayaw niya.

"It's just one night." I raised my forefinger. "Hindi ako iinom ng marami, I promise."

He groaned. "I will come."

"No, no boyfriends allowed!" umalma ako.

"No! You promised that you won't go drinking again or at least, without me. You promised, love..."

I pouted and touched his jaw. "Please... love?"

He closed his eyes strongly after hearing me, umiling-iling siya bago magpatuloy magsalita. "You called me 'love' because you need something. I don't want that."

I pouted more. Tama nga naman siya. Sa kagustuhan kong payagan niya ako, nasabi ko 'yon. As far as I remember, I never really called him that, right? Ah, aamin na ako. I am not a sweet girlfriend and I feel bad about that. Ngayon lang naman kasi ako nagkaroon ng boyfriend so I really don't know how a relationship works. Naawa naman tuloy ako kay Levi, he is the one who knows how to handle this. Parang siya lang tuloy ang nagdadala ng relasyong ito. I am trying, though.

"I'm sorry, love..." I smiled genuinely at him. "Hindi na lang ako sasama sa kanila. I can be with them naman whenever I want so I'm sure that they will understand that I'm a bad drinker." Tumawa pa ako. Yumakap na lang ulit ako sa kaniya ng mahigpit at itinago ang mukha sa dibdib niya.

I don't feel bad if I will not go with them. As I said, pwede naman kami mag-bonding sa ibang paraan at ibang pagkakataon. I also know my stance with drinking alcohol, nawawala talaga ako sarili ko kaya ayos lang talaga. No problem. Sasabihin ko na lang kay Ate mamaya ang desisyon ko. It's for my own good too.

I can feel his heavy sigh but he still keeps on stroking my hair gently. I buried my face more and I heard him curse a little. Nagtaka ako pero hindi ko na lang pinansin. Patuloy ko siyang niyakap, trying my best to be the sweet and clingy girlfriend.

Kaso baka ayaw niya naman ng masyadong clingy at sweet? May nabasa kasi ako noon na nakipag-break 'yong boyfriend sa girlfriend niya kasi masyadong clingy si girl. Ah, basta. Ngayon lang naman nangyari 'to.

"Damn it..." he whispered. "Okay, Aya. Sumama ka na sa Ate Noreen mo. Just be careful and know your limits, hmm?"

Napaahon akong muli at nagtatakang tumingon sa kaniya. I shook my head. "Huh? No, it's okay. Ayos lang 'yon. Sasabihin ko na nga kay Ate, e. I told you. I can be with them whenever naman, just not in bar."

Umupo rin siya sa kama at humarap sa akin. "Papayagan na kita. I don't want you to feel upset-"

I cut him off with a strong shaking of my head. "I don't feel bad about it, promise. Ayos lang talaga. Para rin naman sa 'kin 'yon, so it is definitely okay. I understand."

Tumawa siya. "Sige na, sumama ka na. I will just check on you from time to time. Just tell me where are you and what are you doing. Update me."

"Pero..."

What the hell? When did the tables turn?

"Wala naman kayong lalaki na kasama because you said that no boyfriends allowed, right?" he asked, a bit hopeful.

Tumango ako. "Kami lang nila Ate tsaka si Talitha Fajardo and her sister."

Hindi na lang ako nagreklamo pero patuloy niya akong pinapaalalahanan na h'wag mag-iinom ng marami, kahit noong sinundo namin si Ate Noreen ay patuloy pa rin siya sa mga paalala niya.

"Ayon si Ate Noreen!" I said to him. I raised my hand so that Ate will notice me. "Ate!"

Since she already know my voice, mabilis niya akong nalingunan. She smiled and while walking towards us, her eyes darted to the man beside me who are currently holding my waist. Nagsimula nang mangasar ang tingin ni Ate Noreen habang lumalapit.

Ngumuso ako sa kaniya. Nang makalapit ay agad niya akong niyakap ng mahigpit na halos hindi ako makahingi. My gosh, Ate Noreen!

"Gosh! I told you! I already told you! He is going to be your boyfriend! Kahit kailan ay hindi namali ang insticts ko!" she said happily in my ears.

I chuckled. "Oh e 'di ikaw na!'

~~~