Waiting For You

Chapter 6

Dalawang oras lang naman ang tinagal ng byahe nila at hindi na naman kailangan manghula ni Chloe kung saan sila papunta dahil kilalang kilala niya na ang daan na yun. They went to Tagaytay, not anywhere special in Tagaytay but to their rest house there. Spencer’s family own the resthouse, getaway place nila.  Not that she was disappointed, but she expected something more special. Pero nakumbinse niya naman sarili niya na she’s not worth it kasi nakalimutan niya nga diba?

Spencer was unloading the things they bought from the grocery yesterday, kaya agad niya rin naman ito nilapitan. “Kailangan mo ng tulong?” Offer niya

“Just grab our bags and bring it to our rooms.” Maikli niyang sagot sa kanya at sinunod niya naman. Pagkabalik niya ay tapos na mailipat ni Spencer ang mga pinamili mula sa kotse papunta sa kusina. At napahikab naman si Chloe.

“Sleepy?” Tanong ni Spencer. She just nodded.

“Pwede ka matulog muna, while I prepare our lunch.” Offer ni Spencer sa kanya

“Wait, ikaw? Lunch?” Nagulat na tanong ni Chloe

“Yep! Kaya magpahinga ka na muna” Nakangiting sagot ni Spencer sa kanya

“You sure you won’t blow up the kitchen?” Di pa rin makapaniwalang tanong ni Chloe sa kanya

“I won’t” Giving her a reassuring smile.

“Ok sige” sagot ni Chloe trusting him this time. Nakailan hakbang palang siya sa hagdan ay tumigil siya. “Are you really sure??” Sigaw niya mula doon

“Yes! Go to sleep!” Sigaw pabalik ni Spencer sa kanya

“Call me if you need anything” Pahabol niyang sigaw bago umakyat sa kwarto.

While Spencer was cooking he was also on his phone. “Yes Ma, I wouldn’t blow up the kitchen, Bakit ba parehas na parehas kayo ng sinasabi ni Chloe?”

“Yes ma, I would. Opo….Ma kung kakausapin niyo ako ng kakausapin hindi po ako matatapos…Opo…yes” sunod sunod na sagot ni Spencer sa mommy niya. “Opo Ma, I promise…sige na po bye” Pagkababa niya ng telepono ay tinuloy niya na ang pagluluto. In about few hours natapos na rin naman siya. Umakyat siya sa kwarto para silipin si Chloe.

“Sleepyhead, as much as you want to sleep. Nagugutom na ako” Gising niya kay Chloe.

“Eat by yourself!” Masungit na taboy ni Chloe sa kanya

Natawa naman si Spencer dito, sa tagal nila magkakilala he knows best what Chloe is like pag hindi pa kumpleto ang tulog. Especially pag ginigising mo ito ng wala pa sa oras it’s either she gets up on herself or it is war.

“Come on Chloe, nagugutom na talaga ako” Tuloy na pangungulit niya sa kanya. But she didn’t budge. Instead turned to the other side.

“Sige ka Chloe, pag hindi ka pa bumangon diyan ikaw ang kakainin ko” Bulong nito sa tenga niya.

“Spencer James!!!” Pasigaw na saway ni Chloe sa kanya. Pero successful naman si Spencer dahil napabangon niya na si Chloe.

Instead na matakot sa kanya ay natawa na lang siya. Well he won’t be getting the credit of being the “bestfriend” if he doesn’t know the ways on her. “I’ll wait for you downstairs” Tanging sinabi ni Spencer sa kanya smiling in victory.

A grumpy Chloe went down to join him on the table. Pero tila nagiba naman ang mood ni Chloe ng makita niya ang mga pagkain. It was almost all of her favorites. Kukuha na sana siya ng bigla niya maaalala kung sino ang nagluto nito, she just looked at him.

“Walang lason yan, promise” Sagot ni Spencer sa kanya containing his laugh.

Sumandok siya ng Paella na nasa harap niya, at dahan dahan na sinubo. Parang natatakot ba sa kung ano ang magiging lasa nito. Surprise was an understatement pero hindi niya ito pinahalata.

“Di mo tinake-out to kung saan?” Bigla nitong tanong sa kanya, just to assure that she was not tricked by Spencer

Spencer gave her a disappointed look. “Of course not, kamusta pasado ba?” kabado niyang tanong

“Pwede na, pwede na pambawi sa pamgigising mo sa akin kanina.” Sagot ni Chloe sa kanya, “You’re forgiven” Pahabol nito sa kanya giving him a smile

He sighed. Atleast sa pagkakataon ito nakalusot siya. Napakamot siya ng ulo to contain his happiness. “Hindi mo ba ako sasabayan?”Tanong ni Chloe sa kanya

“Will be honored to” Sagot niya sa kanya and joined her feasting on the food he cooked. Pagkatapos nila kumain ay napagdesisyunan nila na magmovie marathon.  Take turns sila sa pagpili ng panunuorin nila. Chloe being herself qumuota na ito sa pagtawa, sa pagkakilig, at pati na rin sa pagiyak..

“Wala naman drama umiiyak ka dyan?” Pangaasar ni Spencer sa kanya

“Ehhh…ang sweet sweet kaya ni Marcus kay Joanne! And to think that it all started with just a pretend! Joanne is very lucky to have him in her life” Dramatic na sabi ni Chloe while pertaining to the characters sa palabas na pinapanuod nila.

Spencer rolled his eyes. “Sus mas sweet pa nga ako sa Marcus na yan noh!” May halong inggit sa tono ni Spencer

“Naku Spencer, saan aspeto??” Biglang bangon ni Chloe sa pagkahiga mula sa couch para kausapin si Spencer who is sitting on a sofa across her.

“Sa lahat ng aspeto!” Proud na sagot ni Spencer

“Di nga?! Kaya mo gawin lahat ng ginawa niya kay Joanne?” Parang panghahamon pa ni Chloe

“Alin dun? Yun pagiging knight in shining armor niya nun dumating yun ex niya? Or yun parating andyan siya para kay Joanne sa tuwing na maheaheartbroken siya sa mga lalaki niya?” Depensa ni Spencer

“Basta lahat lahat! Imagine mo ah, kung ako si Marcus, I cannot stand being the second guy in her life, na tuwing maloloko siya, sasaktan siya tsaka niya lang ako na makikita. Na handa siya ibigay ang lahat para lang masaya si Joanne” Paliwanag ni Chloe

“And you call that sweet? Suicide yun Chloe!” Tuloy na pagkontra ni Spencer sa kanya “Then pinagpanggap pa siya as her boyfriend para lang makaganti sa Ex niya? Sweet yun?” Tuloy na tanong ni Spencer sa kanya. The conversation seems out of hand now pero di pa rin sila tumigil.

“Oo sweet kaya yun, to be able to give everything to someone without expecting anything in return. To love someone unconditionally kahit hindi ganun ang tingin nila sayo? That’s a big leap.” Sagot pabalik ni Chloe

“More of martyrdom” Pabulong na sabi ni Spencer. There was a moment of silence before Chloe laugh out loud. “Spencer, can you imagine na muntik pa natin pagawayan to?” Natatawang tanong ni Chloe

“Eh ikaw kasi proud na proud ka sa Marcus na yan” Reklamo ni Spencer

“Asuusss…nagselos pa kasi. Oo na sweet ka naman talaga eh, pero wala lang kabilib lang ang ganyan lalaki sa mundo” Chloe not giving up on defending the character in the movie

“So gusto mo ng ganyan lalaki?” Serysong tanong ni Spencer

Nag-isip saglit si Chloe bago sumagot “Maybe not, kasi kung ako si Joanne di ako maging ganun ka relax na malaman ko na there is this such guy na willing to give  everything to me without expecting any return, someone who is loving me the way that I don’t love him and all this time nasa harap ko lang pala siya and I’m not knowing it. I think I’ll freak out and my conscience will eat me out alive” Sagot ni Chloe sa tanong.

Nangiti naman ni Spencer. “And earlier you where gushing out kung gaano kasweet si Marcus and all, tapos ayaw mo naman pala ng ganun?” Natatawang sagot ni Spencer

“Kaya ikaw wag ka namagselos, no matter how much I like Marcus for Joanne, I think you’re still sweeter” Lambing naman ni Chloe sa kanya. “At fictional characters lang sila, movie lang yan. Siguro sa totoong buhay walang lalaki ang ganyan maliban na lang kung masochista siya” {agtatapos ni Chloe

“Yeah, maybe your right” Spencer nodding in agreement. After few moments, nakarinig sila ng weird na tunog.

“It’s not mine it’s yours.” Agad na sabi ni Spencer

“Hahaha, yeah ako nga yun. This movie marathon starved me” Natatawang sabi ni Chloe

“Kanina ka pa kain ng kain ah.” Accuse ni Spencer

“Fast metabolism” Chloe stood up and winked on him. “Ako naman magluto ng dinner natin” Presenta niya at agad na pumunta sa kusina.

After a simple dinner, Spencer drag Chloe to their garden. May nakahanda pang picnic matt dun at pinaupo niya si Chloe.

“Spencer,picnic sa gabi are you kidding me?” Di makapaniwalang tanong ni Chloe pero umupo rin naman siya.

“Nope star gazing” Turo ni Spencer sa langit “I heard marami daw stars tonight so here I guess this is the perfect place for star gazing”

“Iba ka talaga!” Nangiting komento ni Chloe and lied down on the matt for a better view. While Spencer just sat down hugging his knees.

“Chloe” Tawag ni Spencer sa kanya

“Yes?” Sagot niya naman agad

“Alam mo ba kung anong araw ngayon?” Tanong ni Spencer

“Of course, its Sunday” Pabirong sagot ni Chloe

“Yeah it is, How about the date?” Tanong ulit ni Spencer

“Spencer are you kidding me?” Natatawang sagot ni Chloe

“How about the occasion today?” Tanong ulit ni Spencer

Natigilan naman si Chloe dun. Oo naman alam niya na kung ano ang okasyon dahil pinaalala na ng mommy ni Spencer earlier. Pero parang naguiguilty pa rin si Chloe kaya di agad siya nakasagot

“Nakalimutan mo noh?” Sagot ni Spencer sa sarili niyang tanong. Chloe didn’t dare to look at his reaction. Pero nasense niya na medyo may disappointment sa boses ni Spencer

“Hindi naman…” Biglang defensive niyang sabi napabangon pa siya. Then she came face to face with Spencer. “Fine I did, pero not totally. I did know that malapit na pero di ko lang siya naalala na today na pala” Chloe trying to explain but failed miserably

“May difference ba yun?” Spencer asked

“Spencer, sorry talaga..di ko naman sinasadya..it’s just..” Di naman alam ni Chloe kung paano iexplain ang sarili niya.

Kunwaring seryoso na tumitig si Spencer kay Chloe bago tumawa. “Are you seriously thinking na magagalit ako dahil dun?” Natatawang tanong ni Spencer sa kanya. “Well medyo nahulaan ko na ganun ang mangyayari knowing you, and paano ba, I guess it’s not that important” Sagot ni Spencer trying to sound positive as possible

“Importante naman talaga siya, and I really feel bad for forgetting about it…” May guilt sa tono ni Chloe

“It’s fine, really, promise” Spencer assuring her. “Pero tingin mo how did this day go?” Tanong ni Spencer

“Well it was great. Actually I found it unique, alam mo yun. Kasi ang ibang tao they celebrate this day with fancy dinners, out of town trip well technically we are out of town pero this is like our second home, o kaya yun iba extreme sports, basta something stepping out of their comfort zone making it very special. Pero tayo, I mean ikaw you planned it to be as simple as it is pero yeah…it’s good..and…” Natigilan si Chloe sa sinasabi.. Napatinigin naman si Spencer sa kanya and telling her to go on “I feel special”

“I’m glad it turned out well, I was in doubt if what will work out and not for you. Pero relieve that you felt that way” Spencer giving him a smile

“You didn’t have to you know what and what not can make me happy” Nailing na sagot ni Chloe sa kanya

“But not on this day, it’s our first” Medyo alanganin sagot ni Spencer

Chloe again for the nth time that day didn’t know how to react.  Humiga ulit siya and stared on the sky. “Spencer!! Look shooting star!!”

“You know the drill! Wish now!” excited naman na sigaw pabalik ni Spencer. Chloe quickly closed her eyes folded her hands and wished. Spencer instead of doing the same just stared at her.

“What did you wish for this time?” Tanong ni Spencer pagkadilat ni Chloe

“I won’t tell” Parang bata na sabi ni Chloe

“Come on, diba sabi mo tuwing sinasabi mo sa akin nagkakatotoo? Why not now?” Pangungulit ni Spencer

“Ayaw ko lang for a change” Pagtanggi pa rin niya

“Bahala ka di magkakatotoo yan” Pananakot ni Spencer

“Well, we’ll see” Sagot ni Chloe na may kasabay pang nakakalokong ngiti.

Nagkwentuhan at nagkulitan pa sila saglit. May tinatanng si Spencer kay Chloe nang wala siya makuhang sagot ay nilingon niya ito, tsaka niya lang napansin na nakatulog na pala ito. He tried poking her twice thrice pero wala pa rin siya nakuhang reaction. It’s official nakatulog na nga ito. As much as he wants to camp out for some more time. Ayaw niya naman na pagpyestahan si Chloe ng mga lamok so he decided to carry her back to her room.

Inihiga niya si Chloe sa kama at inayos ang pagkakahiga. Bago ito lumabas ay binulungan niya ito. “Happy Anniversary Chloe, well today was special in our own way because we are no normal couple” And he did what he must not do but something inside him is pushing him to do. He gave Chloe a quick kiss before turning off the lights and left the room.