Love You Both (Tagalog/Filipino)

Chapter 3

    Aya woke up in a completely different place. It was half-past six according to the rectangular clock on the wall. She never woke up this early before. Where the hell is she? Bumangon na siya at handa na niyang alamin kung saang lupalop siya naroon nang mag-ring bigla ang telepono. 

    What the heck? Is someone watching me? 

    Sa halip na sagutin ay dinampot niya ang pamilyar na purse sa may side table. Lalabas na sana siya kaso nahagip niya ang sarili sa salamin. Napangiwi siya, kasabay ng pagtigil ng telepono sa pag-ring. She scanned the room once again. Nakita niya din ang dalawang luggage bag katabi ng malaking cabinet ng hotel. 

    Wow, did he finally answer her prayers? A vacation, really?

    Dinampot niya ang shoulder bag na nasa ibabaw lang ng luggage bag at binuksan ito.

    So where in the world am I?

    She found sets of plane tickets inside, one for her and one for him. MPN - MNL

    Bora? 

    Well, mukhang nag-level up naman ang relasyon ng dalawa at nakapagbakasyon din sila. Ngunit hindi niya maiwaksi ang kakaibang kaba ba ito o excitement na nararamdaman na tila ba may nag-aantay na magandang sorpresa para sa kanya.

    Binuksan niya ang mas maliit at kulay rosas na luggage bag, pero nagkamali siya, dahil mga damit ni Juluis ang nakalagay dito. She reached out for the purple luggage bag, the bigger one, and opened it, nagpalit nga ng luggage bag ang dalawa. Hinalungkat niya ang damit na mga dala-dala niya pero wala siya ni isang na-trip-an dito. Halos lahat yata ng laman nito ay puro bestida na masakit sa mata, shorts at swim suit. Napabuntong-hininga na lamang siya sa mga nakita niya.

    Dinampot niya ang nakita niyang makeup kit na pawang pulbos at lipstick lang naman pala ang laman. She also picked up the white, plaid polo blouse with a half-sleeve and quickly changed into it and picked denim shorts to go with it. 

    No choice.

    Muli niyang tinignan ang sarili sa salamin. She didn't look fat despite the blouse being oversized. 

    Much better.

    Then she saw her favorite leather boots on the floor. Napaisip tuloy siya kung bakit hindi nagtaka si Ana kung sino ang bumili nito at ginamit pa ito, samantalang tinago niya pa ito sa pinakailalim ng shoe cabinet nito.

    Matapos niyang magsapatos ay muli na naman siyang tumingin sa salamin. Annoyed with the recent color of her hair, she tied it into a ponytail, enough for everyone to see her small neckline. She then removed that damn tint to her lips. She was happy to find her choice of lipstick in her pouch and applied it on her thin lips. Natigilan siya nang mag-ring muli ang telepono. She picked it up on the third ring.

    “Yes?” she asked coldly.

    “Good evening Maám. This is Lacy from Hotel Estoria customer's desk. Sir Juls asked me to call you since he can’t seem to reach you on your phone. He said that they are waiting for you on the second floor of White Cafe," mabilis na litanya ng babaeng nasa kabilang linya.

    “Great, thanks," tipid na sabi niya sabay baba ng telepono. She got what she needed. 

    But who the hell is waiting with him? 

    Nakita niya naman ang set ng tickets na nakapangalan lang sa kanilang dalawa. She looked for Ana's phone. She saw it on the bed, under the pillow. She opened it but alas, Ana changed the passcode. She then used the fingerprint sensor, then it opened.

    There were about eight missed calls and three new messages that she didn’t bother to look into. She looked for her gallery instead, knowing Ana, she must’ve taken a lot of pictures already. There she saw their group selfie on the boat, captioned “From Bored to Bora real quick.”

     Ah, Kenneth, you sneaky bastard. 

    Things are getting exciting as she left the hotel room with just her credit card and keycard in her pocket. She saw them at the dining hall talking like formals lovers lost in the moment. Her eyes automatically rolled back. Believe na talaga siya sa kashungahan ni Ana for getting fooled right under her nose. 

    Pero ano bang magagawa niya? Mas gusto niya nga itong set-up nila. The more na heartbroken at nag-iiyak yung isa, the more she can have it her way. Well, ang con nga lang is masasaktan si Ana, pero hindi naman niya mararamdaman yun. Who knows, maybe one day, wala nang Ana na masasaktan. With that in mind, she walked towards their table in her normal reserved self. 

    “Babe!" she called out to him. When he looked up to her, she planted a not-so-long-but-not-so-short-either kiss on his moist lips. She made sure that the sound of their kiss reached their company. Hindi man niya mabago ang attitude niya eh kaya naman niyang umarte as a territorial girlfriend, especially at times like this na masarap mang-inis.

    “I’m so sorry for being late, my phone was on silent mode pala.” Nag-umpisa na pala ang mga ito kumain. 

     What a joke.

    “We apologize too, we got hungry waiting for you, we just had our appetizer." sabat ni Ken. Nakita yata nito ang disappointment sa mukha niya. 

    “It’s okay, not hungry yet," she said calmly. She then looked at her handsome boyfriend. 

    “Babe after this, do you mind if we go alone somewhere tonight? I really want to have fun with you," tumingin siya sa gawi ni Ken, “alone."

    Sumagot na naman ang bruho na akala mo ay abogado ng nobyo niya. “ Well, guess who got lucky and fell flat-face on the floor and hurt himself on his first night here." Ngumisi ito sa kanya.

    “You fell?" pag-uusisa niya kay Juluis na siyang kinakunot ng noo nito. 

    “Are you seriously asking me that? ” Siya naman ang bahagyang napakunot ang noo. 

    Thanks to her being sharp-witted, she instantly guessed that was her fault then, so she acted accordingly. 

    “Oh yes, I almost forgot, sorry babe. Does it hurt that much?” pag-uusisa kuno niya, but she got a feeling that her face is giving her away.

    “No, I’m fine. I just need to rest a bit tonight,” he said flatly na nahalata yata ang ka-plastic-an niya.

    “Is that the doctor in you, talking? Or are you just making me feel less guilty?” She saw in the corner of her eye, someone else’s rolled back.

    “I’m really okay babe. In fact, I think I am ready for a snorkel tomorrow,” sagot nito sa kanya. Pinipigilan niya talaga ang sarili niya na umirap, so she let out a deep sigh. 

     Of course, you’re fine. You even got yourself here. 

    “Well, I guess I’ll go have fun with myself for tonight.” She made it sound like she’s disappointed but in reality, this is what she’s waiting for, to be left alone.

    “Ken, please keep him company, okay?” she asked him like an apologetic and worried girlfriend.

    “Of course, no need to say that," replied Ken who looked like he won a small bet. She stood up and tried to give Juluis a kiss longer than the last one, but he made it quick. Of course, she noticed that victorious smirk on the other side of the table.

    “Be careful. Call me,” sabi nito sa kanya as she started to walk away.

    Nakakapagod na din ang kunwarian nilang dalawa. As much as possible, iniiwasan niya muna ang makipagkita rito para sa mga ganitong sitwasyon. Gusto na nga niyang masuka kanina sa totoo lang. Hindi nga lang niya maintindihan kung paano nasisikmura ni Ana ang makasama ito lagi. 

     Muli syang lumingon sa mga ito. “And, oh, you guys, have some fun.” She then gave them a mocking smile as she waved them goodbye. She has their room's keycard with her. She doubts that he will exert an effort to ask hotel staff for a duplicate copy. Alam na yata niya kung saan ang kalalagyan ng nobyo niyang ito ngayong gabi.

    She let out a triumphant smile.