What Went Wrong

Ikalabing dalawa (Nice to See You Again)

I look at the flowers in front of me. Kay Matt ba talaga 'to galing?  I was thinking of where to put it nang pumasok si Yen. Her eyes found the flowers right away.

"Uy! Kanino galing?" nakangiting tanong nya.

"From Matt," sagot ko kahit di ako sigurado kung galing nga ba 'yun sa kanya.

Naupo sya sa harap ko.

"He's here? Wow! You know what, I think he's really serious about you," sabi nito maya-maya.

"You think so?"

"Definitely! Bakit naman sya luluwas ng Manila kung hindi sya seryoso diba? Unless may iba syang pupuntahan dito." 

I felt a hint of disappointment thinking he's not really here for me. I brushed it off.

"Bago ko nga pala makalimutan," sabi nya sabay abot ng document na dala nya. 

I chuckled. "Inuuna kasi chika bago work eh."

Natawa sya saka tumayo at akmang lalabas na ng pinto. "Chika is more fun than work," sabi nya at saka kumindat.

I waited the whole day for Matt's call or text, but there was nothing. Baka hindi talaga galing kay Matt yub. Baka ibang tao ang tinutukoy ni kuya guard. But I couldn't think of anyone who would do that.

Yen and I are on our way out of the building nang may napansin akong familiar figure na nakatayo sa labas ng lobby. I feel nervous for some reason habang papalapit kami sa exit.

"Matt?" I call out.

He quickly turns around and smiles when he sees me.

"Hi!" he greeted nang makalapit na kami.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"To see you," maikling sagot nya but made me feel a lot. My heart drops when he smiles.

Umubo si Yen sa tabi namin to get my attention. I almost forgot she's with me.

"Uh...Matt, this is Yen, kaibigan ko. Yen, this is Matt -" Yen cut me off.

"Manliligaw mo?" sabi nya.

Pinandilatan ko sya.

Inabot ni Matt ang kamay ni Yen. "If she would allow me," sabat nito.

Aba't mukhang naging magkasundo sila agad!

"Don't worry. I think you have a huge chance," dagdag ni Yen bago dali-daling lumayo sa akin bago ko pa sya pandilatan ulit. "See you tomorrow, Toni!" nakangising sabi nya. Mukhang alam ko na ang almusal namin bukas sa opisina.

I look back at Matt.

"You look different," di ko napigilang sabihin. Is it because of his haircut or because I haven't seen him in a while?

He smiles again. Quotang-quota na ako sa pogi nyang ngiti!

"You must've missed me," he teases. I swear I blushed.

"Di noh!" sagot ko saka nagsimulang maglakad. 

"Let's have dinner first?" tanong nya.

"Treat mo?" biro ko.

"Of course! It's our first date," he looks at me as if wala lang yung sinabi nya.

"Date? Pumayag ba ako?" kunwaring galit na sabi ko. But he didn't take it.

"Well, you're already with me so..." he grabs my hand and holds it with his.

He smiles sheepishly. I'm so doomed!

Sa nearby Filipino restaurant kami pumunta to have dinner. I saw the glances a few people gave him as we went in. 

"Pati ba naman dito may fans ka?" biro ko sa kanya. 

He looks around before he looks at me.

"I wish you would look at me the same way," aniya. "I missed you," dagdag nya.

I feel very conscious of the way he looks at me. And yes, I missed him too.

"So, bakit ka nga nandito sa Manila?" tanong ko to change the topic while waiting for our order.

"Para makita ka," sagot nya. Sinamaan ko sya ng tingin kaya napangiti sya. "Well, it's true that I came to see you but also because I got an offer from the hospital where I used to work," kwento nya.

"That's nice! So, did you take it?" 

Tumango sya.

"Congratulations! Sabi ko naman sa'yo diba, you can do it! I'm so happy for you!" I told him with all sincerity.

He smiles widely. 

"You really make me feel like I can do anything."

"Oo naman! You're a doctor, you sing well, you cook well, and mabuti kang tao," I said looking straight at him.

He catches my gaze. Dang! He looks so gorgeous. Those eyes, I could get lost in them. 

Bumalik ako sa reyalidad nang dumating na ang order namin. Right! Gutom lang 'to.

"So, when are you gonna start work?" tanong ko maya-maya.

"Probably next week. May kailangan lang akong asikasuhing papers."

"That's good. Eh san ka tutuloy?"

"Are you worried about me?" He's teasing me again. I know.

I roll my eyes. "Forget it."

He laughs. "I'll stay with my friend for now habang inaayos pa yung papers ng dati kong condo," sagot nya. "But if you wanna offer your place..."

"No, I won't!" 

Natawa sya ulit. "I really missed teasing you. You look really cute page napipikon ka."

Matt offered to give me a ride home. I didn't know he has a car already. Bakit pa pala kami naglakad kanina? Nagulat ako nung sumama sya papasok ng building and di man lang sya hinarang ng guard.

"Pinapasok ka ng guard agad? That's weird."

He just shrugged saka sumakay din ng elevator.

"You don't have to go with me, you know," sabi ko sa kanya.

"I want to know where you live," sagot nya.

Tumingin ako nang masama sa kanya. "Anong binabalak mo?"

Natawa sya nang malakas. The elevator got covered with his laughter.

Sumama rin sya pababa ng elevator to my unit itself. 

"So, this is where you live," he looks around my flat and smiles when his eyes catch sight of something. I looked at where he's looking, it was a bra. Oh my god! Agad kong kinuha yun.

"I don't really mind, you know," sabi nya na halatang pinipigilan ang tawa.

"Manyak!"

"That hurts," sabi nya saka kunwari nagtampo at naupo sa isang tabi.

"Di bagay," asar ko.

He laughs saka tumayo at lumapit sa akin. He looks at me intently. "God, I really missed you," sabi nya sabay yakap sa akin.

I missed you too.

Humiwalay sya at sakay ngumiti nang alangan.

"I should go," sabi nya. "I'll see you tomorrow," dagdag pa nya bago tuluyang lumabas ng pinto.

I already can't wait for tomorrow.