All Over Again

CHAPTER 41: Slip of the Tongue

Venice's POV

Ako: It looks okayy naman 'di ba?

Sheena and I stood by the main door and stared at our finish "design".. We spent hours and hours moving furniture around -- well, 'di naman exactly "kami" yung nag-move, Jerwin hired some strong arms to carry the furniture around, taga-utos lang ako at second opinion naman si Sheena.

Sheena: Yeah. I like it. It looks comfy, pero spacious..

Strong Arm #1: Tapos na po ba tayo?

Napatingin kami ni Sheena dun sa anim na lalaki na nakaupo sa labas. Kawawa naman sina kuya, na-overwork sa kakabuhat. Bakit vah.. Binigyan ko naman sila ng malamig na tubig.

Ako: Ay, opo. Tapos na po tayo.. Uhmm.. Pano po ba ang bayaran?

Strong Arm #1: Wag niyo na po isipin yun. Inasikaso na po ni Mr. Santos yung bayad.

Ay buti naman dahil wala akong ipangbabayad sa inyo. XD Nagtayuan na sila and nilakad namin ni Sheena yung anim na tagabuhat sa mga trucks nila. We thanked them one last time and then watched as they disappeared down the road.

Sheena: Well. Tara na. Uwi na tayo.

Ako: I have to wait for Jerwin. May usapan kami na dito mag-mmeet eh.. You wanna stay a little bit longer?

Sheena: Haaayyyy na ko.. Gustuhin ko man, baka makaistorbo-- Wait. Kasama niya kaya si Geena?

Ako: I doubt it. -__-

Sheena: Oh well. I'm going home then.

Ako: What!? Kung kasama nya pala si Geena, mag-sstay ka?!?!

Sheena: Syempre! 1st hand tsismis yun! Pero dahil wala naman akong masasagap, lalayas na lang ako!

She hailed a tricycle na tamang-tama naman na dumadaan.

Sheena: I'll see you tomorrow!

I waved goodbye na lang. Nasanay na ko sa ka-"baitan" ng best friend ko eh. After mawala nung tricycle, pumasok na ulit ako sa loob nung bahay. I walked around the house to survey what we've accomplished.

The living room looks cozy. Pwedeng-pwede nang manood ng TV dito buong araw, at masaya ka pa rin..

The dining room is kinda lacking some ornaments.. pero the medium-sized round table? PRETTY! and matching pa yung four chairs. Maybe we can buy some paintings to put on the walls para di masyadong bare..

Aakyat sana ako sa second floor nang narinig kong bumukas yung gate sa labas. Sumilip kagad ako sa bintana, and I saw Jerwin's truck na pumapasok dun sa driveway. I immediately opened the door para hintayin siya..

Yakk..

Ano ba yan.. Parang akong housewife na i-wwelcome ung husband niya..

Ew. O.O Sinarado ko ulit yung pinto, tapos naupo na lang dun sa new couch. Maya-maya, pumasok na si Jerwin.

Jerwin: Why'd you close the door?

Ako: Malamig eh.

Jerwin looked at me all weird. Kasi nga naman 'di naman talaga ganun kalamig sa labas. Eh bakit ba!? I quickly stood up para di na sya makasabat ulit..

Ako: So?? Anong rating mo sa interior designing skills ko?

Jerwin looked around the room. From his expression, mukha namang satisfied sya sa nakikita niya. Abaaah, dapat lang noh! Ang hirap-hirap kaya mag-arrange!

Jerwin: Heyy. Not bad. I like it. Did you do the bedrooms too?

Ako: Yea! Naawa nga ako dun sa mga movers.. Kasi bago pa nila maakyat yung mga kama tsaka yung vanity table ko--yung study table mo.. Grabi--

Jerwin: Well.. That's what I paid them to do.

Umakyat kami sa second floor and went straight dun sa kwarto nya. I'm particularly proud of what I did to his room.. heeheehee. I grabbed the doorknob and then flashed a big smile at Jerwin.

1.. 2.. 3!!

I pushed open the door -- complete with the "ta-da!" sound pa! And then I looked at Jerwin para lasapin ang reaction nya..

Ako: So? What do you think?

He cautiously stepped inside. Looking at the walls at his bed at his study table..

Jerwin: Are you sure this isn't your room? O_O

Ako: Duh! I specifically made everything here for you!

I glanced around my handy work. I'm so proud.. NYAHAHAHAHA

Habang umiikot ang tingin ni Jerwin around the room, sinimulan ko naman yung paliwanag ko as to why his room looks like this.

Dahil nagutom kami ni Sheena kanina, dumaan muna kami sa store para bumili ng makakain. Dahil sa mga Valentine designs na nakalagay, pumasok bigla sa magaling kong brain ang concept ng room nya.. Malapit na ang Valentines.. Kaya kailangan, mapagmahal ang kwarto niya. Binili ko lahat ng parapernalias.

Main Parapernalia #1: Red na Cartolina. And habang naghihintay dun sa mga movers, I cut out all sizes of hearts: small hearts, medium hearts, big hearts, VERYYY BIGG hearts.. And then I taped them all over the walls tapos nag-lagay pa ko ng tatlo dun sa kama nya!

Oh! Oh! And his bed!

Main Parapernalia #2: Hearty-Heart Bedsheet

I saw this bedsheet on sale.. It was so cute and it was just screaming: "TAKE MEEE"

It's pink na may design na hearts. Happy Valentines talaga.. Kaya binili ko rin. And then his study table. Wala akong makita na notebook na may hearts dun sa sari-sari store eh.. kaya nag-settle na lang ako sa ballpen.. Fluffy Ballpen.

Main Parapernalia #3: Red & Pink Fluffy Ballpen

Ehto ung mga ballpen na may fluff feather ball sa other end, soft to the touch! Nilagay ko sa penholder nya ung dalawang fluffy ballpen.. Ang cute cute talaga nila.. Match na match sa concept ko.

Jerwin: Are you mad at me or something?

Ako: Di naman.. *gasp* Y-You don't like the room? T_T

He quickly looked at me -- and I immediately pulled my "oh-so-hurt" expression.

Jerwin: No! I mean! It's not that I don't like it.. It's.. It's very.... heart-y...

Di ko na nakaya! Si Kuya! Trying hard not to hurt my feelings, pero yung face naman niya: Absolute dread! Tumawa na ko nang tumawa. Jerwin just looked at me as if I've gone crazy.

Jerwin: Do you mind explaining what's going on?

Ako: Sunshine naman kasi! Seryosong-seryoso ka sa pag-consider nitong kwarto mo! Syempre naman, yung furniture lang ang inayos ko.. Tingin mo ba papatulugin talaga kita with all these hearts around? HAHAHAHA

Jerwin: You little--! Akala ko pa naman seryoso ka sa mga pinaglalagay mong "design" dito!

Ako: Wahahahahaha Sunshine! You're so funny! I love you! --- O__O

Napatigil akong bigla sa pagtawa nung narinig ko ung sinabi ko. WTQuack?!? Where the hell did that come from?!?

Jerwin blinked twice..

I tried to open my mouth para maghanap ng pangontra sa sinabi ko but I can't think of any. I can feel my face burning up. All of a sudden, Jerwin smirked.

Jerwin: Oh, so is that why you put hearts all over the room? Coz you love me?

Ako: Che! Hinde 'no! It was a joke! A. Joke. I'll help you take them out right now--

Jerwin: No. Leave them. We can put them down tomorrow.

Tumingin sya sa relo niya.

Jerwin: Come on. I'll take you home.

He turned around and left the room. Naiwan lang ako sandali to take deep breaths, to try to regain composure.. dahil hindi ako maka-recover sa ka- stupidan na yun! I haven't said I love you in years! At-- At!! Kay Jerwin pa! Kay Jerwin pa talaga! T__T

Lumakad ako papunta dun sa wall katabi ng pinto, and I started hitting my head -- di naman masyadong malakas dahil ayoko rin naman masaktan.

Ako: You're *hit* so *hit* stupid. *hit hit hit hit*

"Am I interrupting something?"

I slowly turned my head dun sa door. Nakasilip si Jerwin -- with an amused look on his face. Strike two naaa!

Ako: No. *sigh* Let's just go.

I followed Jerwin down the stairs.. still mentally hitting myself. Napansin yata ni Jerwin na kulang na lang eh pagulungin ko yung sarili ko, coz he suddenly turned to me and then said,

Jerwin: Venice, it's okay.

Ako: Huh?

Jerwin: I think it's completely healthy for engaged couples to say "I love you" to each other. I will forever remember your courage in saying it first.

OoO

He laughed out loud bago nya ni-lock yung main door behind us and jumped in his truck. I was dumbfounded. O_O

Ako: W-W-What?!? YAH!!! JERWIN! ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME?!?!