Every Sunday (Sisterhood Series #1)

CHAPTER 5

—ALISHA'S POV—

"Here's your brewed coffee. Are you sure that's what you only want? You know, we can order something we could eat. I'm sure—"

I shooked my head as response to him. My eyes settled on the glass window of this cafe shop. Different buildings, cars and people are walking with their umbrellas, some are running while covering their heads not to get wet because of the raindrops—I could clearly see them through this window.

This moment, it's very familiar. The scent of the gloomy night ahead, the atmosphere, the memories and the aura of the place. It's still familiar.

"Are you okay?"

I could sense his stares, burning me inside. I didn't mind it. I focused my attention outside; to the road, to people, I don't know.

Why he has to cross my mind everytime this is the set up?

I heaved a deep sigh. I should have brought my jacket. It's getting cold and cold. I took the cup of coffee place above the table and took a sipped of it.

"Sabi ko nga, hindi mo ako papansinin," napatingin ako sa naiwika niya.

Medyo basa rin siya dahil siguro sa ulan kanina. Pero parang wala lang sa kaniya ang lamig at nanatiling kakatigin sa akin. Ang awkward din kaya. Hindi kami sobrang close pero heto ako, sumama sa kaniya para hintaying tumila muna ang ulan at magkape tapos siya naman 'tong makatitig, kulang na lang matunaw ako.

Ice cream ba ako ha?

"Pa-borrow nga phone mo." Kinuha niya ang cellphone sa bulsa saka walang angal na inabot sa akin 'to, hindi pa rin natigil kakatitig. Ang ginawa ako ay pinundot ang camera at bahagyang nagselfie at binalik sa kaniya ang cellphone niya.

"Ayan na lang titigan mo, baka matunaw ako," walang ganang sabi ko at muling uminom ng kape ko. Pagkatapos ay sumandal sa kinauupuan ko.

"I actually feel awkward everytime there is someone staring at me for more that 3 seconds. So please, stop it. Kahit na nasa office man tayo o wala."

It's true! I'm observant. I could sense it when someone staring at me for too long and I hate it. I don't know but I hate it.

"I'm sorry. I still can't believe, you've grown up. You look so, ahmm... can't figure out the word that suits you. When we were in college you were so thin and small. Hanggang leeg lang kita pero ngayon," saglit siyang tumigil at nagpipigil ng ngising nagsalita. "Ngayon hanggang balikat na lang." Blankong mukha ko siyang tinignan.

Aba! Porket mataas siya kaysa akin, manggaganyan na. Kapal naman ng mukha nito.

"Just kidding. I just want to lighten the mood. You're so serious and not in the mood always. To be honest, I'm curious if you have your period everyday—" Hindi niya tinapos ang sasabihin nang mapansin sumama nang sumama ang tingin ko sa kaniya.

Feeling close 'to?

"Are you done, King?" This guy, I don't know but my blood seems to boil everytime I sense his presence. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the thank you zone thingy.

'What if your ego, still couldn't accept it?' A small part of my brain asked.

Oo, parating bad mood ako. Walang bago riyan. Aminadong-aminado ako na parating mainit ang ulo ko pero hindi lang naman kay King kung 'di sa lahat ng lalaki.

Hindi siya sumagot kaya tumayo ako at kinuha ang bag at cellphone ko. "Tumigil na ang ulan. Thank you for your treat and help. Mauuna na ako." I was about to excuse myself out when I heard his voice.

"Isha, can I get your number?"

Isha? Eh? That sounds weird.

My right eyebrow raised because of his question. For?

"Since we are now colleagues, I'm hoping you could give me your phone number. I know you're not interested to befriend with me but I'm serious. Gusto kita—"

Inilahad ko ang kamay ko.

"Ha?"

"Hindi ba nanghihingi ka ng number, phone mo. Bilis." Dali-dali niyang kinuha ulit ang cellphone at binigay sa akin. And yeah, nilagay ko ang number ko sa contacts niya.

I see nothing wrong to it. Bahala na. If he'll disturbed me, well I already blocked a lot of numbers already. Malay natin, siya susunod sa yapak ng mga nasa blocked list ko. After that, I went out the cafe shop. He bid his goodbye but I didn't mind to do it too, magkikita rin naman kami bukas sa trabaho. Effort will be wasted.

He's still my assistant, the different is that, he's occupying the cubicle of Gia and he's not staying in my cubicle all the time.

TWO WEEKS HAD passed after Yhu's birthday. Walang bago, ganoon pa rin ang routine, trabaho, bahay, trabaho then bahay ulit. Sobrang sanay na rin naman ako since I've been working in ABC Company for almost 6 years na.

"Hoy, bes, pansin ko lang ha, nagiging close yata kayo ni King? Anong nangyari, bes? Nag 'you're welcome' ka na ba?"

"Ha?"

"Sabi ko kako nag you're welcome-"

"Eh?"

"Kita mo 'to, napaka-slow. Ba't hindi mo na lang kinompleto ang vowels!"

"Bakit 'di mo gawin? Ikaw nakaisip eh," pabalong ko saad sa kaniya. Hindi ko naman maintindihan pinagsasabi niya. "At para saan naman 'yong 'you're welcome'? I don't get you! Saka close na ba tawag doon?"

"Wow! Hindi pa ba close 'yon? To someone like you, pag may hinayaan kang makalapit o kausapin ka ng ilang minuto—it's already considered close! Halos magkasabay lang naman kayo pumasok araw-araw tapos parati siyang nakatambay sa cubicle mo-"

"Hindi ba p'wedeng tsamba or what. After all, he's my assistant, remember? Huwag kang malisosya." Nanatiling nakatuon ang atensyon ko sa daan, ako kasi nagda-drive pauwi. Nakisabay lang si Yhu sa akin, sa hindi ko alam na dahilan. "At pasalamat ka nga pinasabay kita, baka nakakalimutan mong pinagtripan niyo ako ni Paxton. Tapos iniwan mo pa ako sa office 'yon tuloy nasiraan ako ng kotse at nakita ko si King."

"Hala, ikaw ha! Anong nangyari sa inyo, bes? Chika mo nga!"

"Wala naman," tipid kong sagot.

"Sus, if I know naging ganyan ka pagkatapos ng birthday ko eh. Parang may something talag—" naputol ang sasabihin niya nang tumunog ang kaniyang cellphone. Hindi niya pinatagal at sinagot ito.

Hindi na ako nakinig sa usapan ng kung sino man kausap niya at nag-drive na lang.

After that night when I and King saw each other and have coffee, he texted me right after he went home. I don't know but yeah I found myself texting him back. Sa office naman parang naging okay pakikitungo ko, OA lang si Yhu mag describe pero siguro tama sinabi ni Paxton, may damdamin din ang mga lalaki at magdahan-dahan ako sa pagmamaldita. Besides I really could feel how sincere King is, he only wants to befriend with me, that's all and I think there would be nothing wrong about that fact. 'Yon nga lang, Isha siya nang Isha. Para raw maiba kasi sa name kong Alisha, lahat na raw tumatawag ng Ali kaya Isha 'yong itatawag niya.

"Hoy, kanina pa ako nagsasalita," napukaw ang pansin ko sa naiinis na boses ni Yhu.

"Ha?”

"Ayan na naman tayo sa 'ha', alam kong lutang ka parati pero tigil mo na ang sasakyan."

"Ha?" For the second I unconsciously said.

"Paxton called me, he's in the office to fetch me. We'll have a dinner date. So, stop the car!"

Dahil sa sinabi niya, bigla akong nagpreno at agad siyang napasubsob sa harap.

"BAKIT BIGLA MONG PINRENO?! ARAY TANGINA, ANG SAKIT!" sigaw niya.

"You instructed me to stop the car, I just did what you said!"

"Pero biglaan, nananadya ka ba?!" Walang gana lang ako umiling sa kaniya. Inaantok na ako tas nababanas ako sa boses niya.

"Okay fine! Bye, magtataxi na lang ako pabalik sa office." Nagsariling sikap siya magbukas ng pinto ng sasakyan. Akmang bababa na siya nang muling lumingon sa akin. "Tingin ko hindi mo pa rin na-o-open 'yong USB na binigay ko noong birthday ko."

USB?

"Open mo 'yon tapos panoorin mo ang dalawang video na nandoon. Thank you for the ride, 'til next time!"

PAGKAUWI AY ginawa ko ang sinabi ni Yhu, ang panoorin ang video.

"I know when the time you watched this video, we already pranked you. Hindi pa man ako sigurado sa sagot ni Lobes ko, may nakahanda na kong trip sa 'yo. Before that, thank you for this." Pinakita niya sa video ang set up na ginawa namin sa room sa dating school namin. Kung saan una silang nagkita, kung saan tinanong niya si Yhu kung p'wede niya itong maging girlfriend at ngayon, ang lugar kung saan aayain niyang maging asawa si Yhu.

Their love life are almost perfect. Kahit sino papangarapin magkaroon ng ganitong relasyon. A relationship wherein you treat each other not just a boyfriend/girlfriend but also a closest best friend, mortal enemy and a family.

Naalala ko 'yong dating kami ni Kysler, ang ex ko. For me, it was an almost perfect relationship too but I think destiny hates me. Our relationship ended so fast, without warning nor sign. Sobrang sayang no'ng 4 years pero haha, that was 8 years ago pa naman.

"Ikaw talaga first witness ng lovestory namin simula college pa at naisip kong gawin 'tong video because I want you to witness how we accept each other and proceed to the next chapter of our life—tss, too cringe! Teka, nandiyan na siya kaya, stay ka lang diyan."

Mula sa screen ng laptop ko, kita ko si Paxton, inaayos ang sarili at kabadong naghihintay.

The room were simple, we brought out all chairs and design the whole room with their pictures since college. Bali may nakasabit ng tali mula sa kesame at nasa dulo ng tali ay iba't ibang litrato nila magkasama. A lot rose petals are scattered on the floor.

"She's here, wish me luck," I hear him whispered.

Bumukas ang pinto at niluwa si Yhu, suot ang isang simple bestidang puti. Bakas ang pagtataka sa mukha hanggang sa nilapitan siya ni Pax. Binigay ang hawak na papel nito. She kept her eyes wandering on the whole room, she looks so amazed and surprised.

"Lobes, you made this all?" He shooked his head.

"Partly. Ali actually helped me set this up."

Her gazed settled on the blackboard, wherein he drew her face there with the use of chalk. Maliban sa isang business analyst si Pax, magaling din siyang pintor.

"Lobes, ahh sobrang ganda!" sabi niya saka nilapitan ang Blackboard at namamahanghang tiningnan ito.

His idea actually amazed me. I don't know, for others it would sounds so simple but it can surely make you smile. Not unless, Yhu isn't in the mood to it.

"Here take this paper and the pen too, lobes." And she did what he said. A knott on her forehead starts to appear.

"Anong gagawin ko dito?" It was a blank paper and ballpen.

Looks like, she'll going write something.

"You see that pictures hanged on the ceiling, I wrote something on their back. Can you do me a favor, look at it then read it aloud what's written on their back and write the code on that paper. You will know my surprise afterwards." Himala namang hindi na umangal si Yhu at bumalik doon sa bandang pintuan, kung saan nag umpisa ang nakasabit ng pic.

"It was around September 2007 when I bumped on you right in this classroom, it was our first meeting. We almost had a fight to the point that our bloods boiled so fast and even shouted so loud. We almost got into detention—Woy teka, morse code ba 'tong nasa ilalim?" takang tanong ni Yhu nang matapos basahin ang nasa picture.

(•–– •• •–•• •–••) (Will)

"Basahin mo muna lahat 'yan. There's a surprise after that!"

Yhuri knows how to translate morse code, it would be easy for her to know what's the meaning of it later.

"I thought you were the long lost daughter of satan. You're an amazona, just like our best friend, Ali. You're not really my type 'cause you're too sadistic yet sweet woman. But after the long war with you, I found peace."

(–•–– ––– ••–) (You)

"I found peace when I'm with you. You're my home, my moon, my everything. 9 years ago, you made me happy by saying yes to me as my girlfriend." Tuloy sa pagbasa si Yhu, minsan ay titigil tapos ilang saglit ay mapapatawa. She's enjoying what she's reading.

(–– •– •–• •–• –•––) (Marry)

I could see genuine smile from her face. The thought of reading and reminiscing their past was really heart melting.

"We've been in a relationship for years. We encountered a lot of problems, trials, fights, doubts and more but here we are, standing still. I just want you to know that I love you so much, lobes—Hoy kako ka, lobes corny mo ha! " natatawa niyang saad saka sinusulat ang code na nasa picture.

(–– •) (Me)

"Para sa 'yo handa akong magpaka-corny."

Ew, tae! Tagal matapos 'tong vid, dami kasing arte ni Pax. Umayos ako ng upo sa kama ko at muling tinutunok ang pansin sa screen ng laptop ko.

It's now the last pic she will get.

"And I couldn't imagine myself being with someone else. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, only you. I want to grow old with you, so please translate the morse code and make me the happiest man on earth now."

(•–•• ––– –••• • •••) (Lobes)

Pagkatapos mabasa ni Yhu ang nasa huling picture, natigil siya at saglit pang napatitig sa mga code na isinulat niya. Hindi nagtagal ay nagsilaglagan ang mga luha niya sa pisnge, si Paxton naman ay inisang hakbang ang pagitan nila at lumuhod.

"First of all, happiest 32nd birthday, lobes. I won't make any speech since you read it already from the pictures. Ahmm, Yhuri Qachika Aldera, would you take this ring and live a happy married life with me?"

With teary eyes, she nodded. Pax then shout in happiness. I stopped the video. Well, our efforts paid off. They are now engaged.

I'm so happy for them.

Pagka-off ko ng laptop ay itinabi ko ito. It's been a tiring day. I need a rest, good thing no work tomorrow. I can sleep all day.