Write About the City

Chaptet 15 - Red flag

MAGKASAMA SINA JESSIE AT MEL na nagpapaitim sa ilalim ng araw. Nakahiga sila sa ibabaw ng hiniram nilang sapin kay Emerald na kinailangan pa nitong halungkatin sa baul, resulta na amoy moth ball ito. Nilingon niya ito at malungkot siyang ngumiti. “Lucas makes me homesick for a place I’ve never even been to.”

“Homesick ka riyan,” tukso nito. “Ano ba naman kasi iyong isang gabi lang siya nag-stay rito?” reklamo niya. 

“Hun, may buhay iyong tao. He can do whatever pleases him. You don’t have a say,” ani Mel na tinanggal ang sunglasses at dumapa. Sinilip siya nito. “Ano ang iniisip mo?”

“Nabitin lang kasi ako,” aniya at sabay silang natawa ni Mel. “No, I mean, gaga, nabitin ako na saglit lang kaming nagkasama tapos hindi ko pa siya na-solo,” paliwanag niya. 

“Kailangang mag-explain?” si Mel na nakatawa. “Gets ko na ‘yon. You like the guy. Of course you will miss him. I miss Dominic, too.” He sighed. "Am I being the asshole to let him go home to take care of Matthew?" tanong nito. 

"Relax, babe. He volunteered. That's a huge diff. So, relax. If I hear Dom complain about, then that's another topic of who's being an asshole," she said. 

"Ang sakitin ni Matt, sobra. He frequents his doctor's office. I should have been there," anito na napatihaya. 

"Mel, no one's stopping you to fly back home," she said impatiently. 

Mel smirked. "You're making me worried, hun. Who taught you to be so impatient? As you grow older, you're molding yourself to be this woman who's so done with the world she can't be bothered." 

"Second thoughts are there for a reason. If it bites you in the ass, you will regret it later in your life. You know what's my suggestion? Think hard, harder, before you speak. What I see is a father who had to choose between resting because you just earned yourself a masteral degree and the world can f*ck off, or you know, let the burnout take a toll on you," she explained. "Kung tatanungin mo ako kung ano ang dapat mong gawin pagkatapos nitong f*ck all mo, you let Dom rest, too. Let him have his fun. Whatever his definition of rest is, that will do." 

"Thanks, I guess," anito at siya naman ang napabuga ng hangin sa bibig. "Seryoso, thank you. Ang coherent mo ngayon, in fairness, and I'm not and I hate it. But I think I can't give Dom the rest he needed yet. Matthew is really sick these days. You know what. I'm flying tomorrow. That's final." 

"No problem," she said with finality in her tone and they both shut their mouths. Soon they began to eat sandwiches made by your oiliness, Jessica. Fresh tomatoes squeezed to death in halved baguette topped with olive oil, rugula, pesto, gouda, and cream cheese. What a treat. Nilibot nila ang SM Naga para sa mga ingredients na iyon. 

Nagyeyelong tubig na may kasamang lemon naman ang inumin nila. Kanina pa ubos ang watermelon na binaon nila. Hindi nila pinatagal iyon at nilantakan agad pagdating habang malamig pa. 

It took them twenty minutes to down their food and left some lemon water enough for trip home. Nang makapagpalit ay naglakad na sila. 

Ignasi didn’t spare any minute to destroy her mood when they got back from the beach. “Who’s Lois?” is the first thing he asked. 

Hindi niya ito pinansin. 

“I’m not gonna ask again, Jess,” giit nito sa topic na gusto nitong pag-usapan. 

“I know a Lois,” si Mel na nakasunod sa kanila. “A certain Ms. Lane from Metropolis.”

“Lucas received a phone call from a certain Lois,” said Ignasi who’s watching her intently. “May bumubulong sa akin na—”

“Better have a checkup with your doc, Ignasi, kung may bumubulong na sa'yo. Ciao,” siya na nilisan ang dalawa habang nakatiim-bagang. 

Isa pa ‘yon. How Lucas went the way he did. Lois called him, it was a heated argument at least the way Lucas was pacing back and forth and the muscles on his shoulders were rigid, so she presumed they were arguing. Hindi rin siya magsasawang ipaalala sa sarili na Lois was there first in his life. 

Right, Jess? she asked herself silly. Of course. The f*ck?

Nang madaanan niya ang pinto ng kwarto nila Emerald ay sumilip siya saglit sa loob at nabungaran siya ng dalawang taong kahihiwalay lang magyakap. 

“Hey, lovely couple,” bati niya. 

“You wanna open your gifts?” asked Emerald. 

She shrugged her shoulders no. If there’s such a thing. “Can we have it delivered over here?” she asked. 

Emerald motioned a yes. “‘Course, darling. You okay?” 

“Hmm, birthday girl is sulking,” si Sergi. 

Ngumiti siya. “It’s fine, guys. Remember, I wasn’t in his life first.” Hinintay niyang mag-react ang dalawa sa sinabi. 

“What a cunt.” Nanggaling ang tinig na iyon sa likuran niya. Nalingunan niya sina Mel at Ignasi na naka-distansya mula sa kanya. It was Ignasi who spoke. The audacity. He plays his role well. 

“Let’s talk,” aniya rito. Hinintay niya itong makapasok sa kwarto at saka pinagsarhan ang kabilang mundo. Nakaupo na si Ignasi sa dulo ng kama at siya naman ay hinila ang isang silya paharap dito. “How do you wanna do this? What is your role in my life right now, Ignasi?” She wanted to know.

“Jess, I don’t know,” anito na hindi makatingin ng diretso sa mga mata niya. 

“Bwisit ka. Dami mong kuda riyan. Did you talk with him?” 

“The guy’s a jester. He writes books based on him and his friends. What a joke. Jowa ng isa, jowa ng lahat. He was here then he’s gone, just like that. Darating din sa buhay niya na pipili siya kung sino ba ang mas matimbang. Itong namumuong relasyon sa pagitan niyo o ang mga kaibigan niyang s**t to start with. Listen, Jess, when I say they’re s**t, I mean it. Kinukunsinti niya ang kalokohan ng matalik niyang kaibigan kasama ang isa pa niyang kaibigan na dati niyang naka-fling? At may anak ang best friend niya sa ibang babae, na nasabi mong naging ex din ni Lucas. These are all red flags.”

“You’re just talking about his friends.”

“Did I stutter when I said he tolerates his best mate’s cheating? Wake the f*ck up, please?” 

“I appreciate your cussing. Continue.” 

“Actually, that’s it.” Hindi na ito kumibo pa. Akala niya ay nagbibiro lang ito. In frustration, she just lied on the bed and grunted and tossed and turned. 

“Wait,” anang kasama niya. “Another point: you said he treats you like a muse? How so?”

“He’s in love with Dumaguete and everything in it! I was there and maybe the writer in him thought, wow, this is good timing and she’s a fine ass, this will be romantic if. I. Could. Just. Integrate this to my story.” She’s been duped.

Ignasi sighed. “Yeah, you ain’t nothing but a Tinder date where he could unmatch you whenever he likes.”

She acted as if insulted. “Sir, that is not your territory.” Sabay ngisi. “You been on Tinder lately? What gives?”

Now he hid his face in frustration. “Women wants s*x all day!” he shouted. 

“Well, that’s not the tough part, though,” she said. 

Someone knocked then opened it unceremoniously. Binati sila ng mukha ni Sergi. “Lunch time, lovebirds.”

They made guttural sounds followed by slow dancing all the way to the dining table.