Please, Forget me Not

CHAPTER 8

"Hoy, Sariah! I heard you scream. What happened?" Napatingin ako kay Aly na nasa may entrance ng kusina while looking at me with his concerned face.

"Wala! Bumalik ka na kung saan ka nanggaling. Tsupe!" pagsusuplada ko.

I replied to Zach's message with 'of course' at maya-maya pa ay nag-ring ang messenger ko.

Huminga muna ako nang malalim at kinalma ang sarili bago ko iyon sinagot.

"Hey..." His bedroom voice sent shivers through my body.

Seconds of silence flicked by. Hindi ako nakapagsalita.

"Are you there?" he asked.

"Yes, uh, why did you want to call me? Is there something wrong or what?"

"Nothing. I just want to hear your voice." It took so much in me to stop myself from screaming. Ano raw?

"And why do you want to hear my voice?" I bit my lower lip while waiting for his answer.

"I'm tired and I wanna rest... And the first thing that came to my mind was calling you."

I closed my eyes hard while gritting my teeth. Pinaypayan ko rin ‘yong mukha ko gamit ang kamay dahil pakiramdam ko nag-init ‘yong mga pisngi ko dahil sa sinabi niya.

Zach, bakit ka gan'yan?

"Oh, I thought you were busy, but it seems like you have so much time to flirt with me." I tried so much to keep my cool. Itinago ko ‘yong kilig ko as much as possible kahit na kaunti na lang ay sasabog na ako rito.

"Correction, it's not flirting. It’s recharging."

Tita Merelle ‘yong panganay niyo po nilalandi ako!!! Pagsabihan niyo nga po na baka p’wedeng araw-araw?

"Does it work?" I bit my nails. Ewan, ganito yata talaga ako tuwing kinikilig. Kung anu-ano ang ginagawa ko para maikalma ang sarili ko.

"Yep, I'm at eighty percent already. Fast charger, huh?"

I rolled my eyes as if nakikita niya ako.

"Inuuto mo lang ako, e. 'Di ka naman talaga pagod. Tinatamad ka lang."

I heard him laugh. Suddenly, I was lost for words and my mind went blank after hearing it. It's just like music to my ears, and I never thought that someone's laugh could have this effect on me. It made me smile and warmed up my heart. Oh, God! It's such a wonderful feeling.

"I'm not messing with you. My mind and my hands were really tired. Even my back and my eyes. But I still have a lot to do. I just want to talk to you for a few minutes." I could hear tiredness in his voice. Aw, my baby.

"I told you, don't exhaust yourself too much. Why don't you sleep first? Kahit isang oras lang or two? I'll wake you up, promise. Just don't end this call."

"I'll do that if you sing for me." Nailayo ko sa tainga ko ‘yong cellphone at napatitig doon. Nawi-weird-ohan sa ikinikilos niya.

Is he really Zach? Bakit parang hindi?

"Are you drunk?" I asked after a few seconds.

He laughed again. See?

"I'm not. Why?"

"Are you really Zach?"

"Yes, I am. Why are you asking me that?"

"Because you're so sweet and clingy kaya nagtataka ako baka lasing ka or what.”

Narinig ko na naman ang pagtawa niya sa kabilang linya dahil sa sinabi ko. Napapaisip na ako, ha.

Hindi kaya ako na ‘yong happiness niya kaya siya tawa nang tawa? Walang halong charot. Pero feeling ko talaga.

"I'm a hundred and one percent sober. Seems like I creeped you out. Well, those are the sides of me that not everyone gets to see. And I feel like showing it to you for some unknown reasons."

Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko dahil sa biglaang pagkabog nito nang mabilis. Rinig na rinig ko pa sa sobrang lakas. Sh*t!

“Alam ko kung ano ‘yang unknown reason na sinasabi mo.”

“What?”

“You like me, that’s why,” I said confidently. He can deny it, but it won’t change the way I view his actions. He likes me. He really does.

Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko at napapadyak na ako dahil sa kilig. Pinaghahagis ko rin kung saan ‘yong throw pillow na nahagilap ko na akala mo ay nasa sarili ko akong bahay.

Napahiga ako sa sofa habang yakap ‘yong cellphone ko sa dibdib ko at magpapagulong-gulong sana ako nang bigla akong mahulog sa sahig.

"Aray!" Napahawak ako sa p’wetan ko dahil iyon ang napuruhan.

'Yan, kaharutan ko kasi, e.

"Hoy, napano ka, Sariah?" Hindi ko namalayan na nakalapit na pala sa akin si Aly at tinulungan akong tumayo para maiupo sa sofa.

Leche, ang sakit ng p’wetan ko, pakiramdam ko naging flat siya.

"Ano ba kasing pinaggagagawa mo? Mag-isa ka na nga lang riyan, e." He knitted his eyebrows.

"Wala! Iabot mo na lang ‘yong cellphone ko. Tumalsik doon sa ilalim ng center table, bilis!"

"Ayaw kasi mag-iingat. Paano kung ‘yang ulo mo ‘yong tumama sa sahig?" sermon niya habang inaabot ‘yong cellphone ko sa ilalim no’ng table.

"Wow, concerned ka pala sa akin."

"I heard you scream. What do you expect me to think? At kailan ba ako hindi naging concerned sa’yo?" he said, half annoyed.

"Oh, sorry na. Galit ka agad diyan, e. Wala lang 'to, okay? Nahulog lang ako sa sofa pero okay lang ako. Now, go back to the kitchen and finish whatever you're cooking kasi gutom na ako."

"Are you sure?"

"Oo nga."

He gave me one swift look from head to toe bago tumalikod at naglakad pabalik sa kusina.

I smiled while staring at his back. Yeah, he's so annoying most of the time pero siya din ‘yong grabeng mag-alala sa akin.

Naaalala ko dati, tuwing may sakit ako, sa kwarto ko siya palagi natutulog para raw mabantayan niya ako at maging utusan tuwing may kailangan ako para hindi na raw ako magkikilos.

Tuwing nagkakaroon ako ng menstrual cramps during my first few months of menstruation, palagi siyang may handang pain reliever, hot compress tapos ‘yong chamomile tea. Nagtataka nga ako kung paano niya nalaman ang mga ganoong bagay kasi hindi ko 'yon alam tapos nalaman ko na nag-research pala siya kasi nakita ko sa recent search ng phone niya.

Ganoon siya kung mag-alala sa akin. He's so caring and I’m so lucky to have him as my best friend. Paano pa kaya ang magiging girlfriend niya, 'di ba? Sobrang swerte niya kay Aly 'pag nagkataon.

Nang nawala siya sa paningin ko, ibinalik ko ang atensyon ko sa aking cellphone.

"Hey, are you still there?"

"Yeah. I'm waiting here. I thought you already forgot me." My forehead creased. What's with a sudden change of mood?

"Sorry, something happened, e."

"Yeah, I heard that you fell on the sofa and I really wanted to check on you but I couldn't. At least my brother was there for you. Is he always in your house?"

"Uh, it's the other way around."

"Oh… so, he's cooking for you, huh?" He sounds like he's jealous of Aly... or maybe I'm just hungry?

"It's not like that. He's already cooking when I came here, and I used to eat here whenever my parents were not around," I explained.

"Okay. I gotta go. Matutulog na ako." Confirmed! Nagseselos nga siya!

Don't be jealous, baby. Best friend ko lang ang kapatid mo. Ikaw ang gusto ko. Kahit malayo ka.

"I thought you wanted me to sing for you?"

"You said you're already hungry, you should eat your breakfast first."

"Are we cool?"

Ilang segundo ang lumipas pero hindi siya sumagot. Sinilip ko ang cellphone ko baka kasi pinatay na niya ‘yong tawag pero hindi pa naman. I was about to speak again when he finally answered.

"Yes, why are you asking?"

"Bigla ka kasing naging cold. Kanina lang ang clingy mo." I frowned as if he could see me.

"No, I'm not. This is just my usual self." I nodded my head.

"I see. Okay, goodnight. Take a rest na. Just send me a message when you're free and you aren't busy anymore. Goodbye."

"Goodbye, Sariah."

Napa-buntong hininga na lang ako pagkatapos niyang patayin ang tawag. Tinitigan ko pa ang cellphone ko for a few seconds bago napagdesisyunang bumalik sa kusina.

"Oh, bakit ka nakasimangot diyan?" tanong ni Aly habang abala sa paghahanda ng hapag.

Umupo muna ako bago siya sinagot.

"Nothing. Gutom lang ako," walang ganang sabi ko habang kumukuha ng pagkain.

"It doesn't look like hunger at all. Mas mukha kang na-basted ng kapatid ko." He smirked. I glared at him.

"It's your fault."

"Aba, bakit ako? Ano’ng ginawa ko sa'yo?" Bakas ang pagtataka sa mukha niya habang nakaturo sa sarili.

"He was jealous of you," I blurted out.

Kumunot ang noo niya dahil sa sinabi ko. "Ha?"

"Nagselos siya sa'yo kanina," ulit ko.

"Hassumera." Humagalpak siya nang tawa pagkatapos sabihin iyon.

"T*ngina mo. Wala ka talagang kuwentang kausap." Akala ko naman seryoso. Leche!

"Ba't naman 'yon magseselos sa akin?" tanong niya nang mahimasmasan sa pagtawa.

“Bakit ka nagtatanong, e ‘di ba sabi mo nag a-assume lang ako?” Inerapan ko siya at nagpatuloy sa pagkain.

Pupurihin ko na sana ‘yong luto niya na nakakagulat kasi masarap kaso 'wag na lang. Binuwesit na niya ako, e.

"Nagbibiro lang ako.”

“Whatever.”

“Ba't nga? What did I do that made him jealous?"

Ha! Tatanong-tanong ka r'yan matapos mo akong barahin.

"Talk to yourself, assh*le!" Uminom na ako ng tubig nang matapos kumain bago tumayo at umalis sa kusina.

I made myself busy for the rest of the day by doing my portfolio kahit na sinabi ko kaninang umaga na ayaw ko sanang gumawa ng school stuffs pero wala akong choice. Busy si Zach. Inis naman ako kay Aly. Kaya iyon na lang ang pinagkaabalahan ko.

Bandang alas syete nang matapos ako. For checking na lang siya and kung okay na at wala nang kailangang baguhin, ibig sabihin tapos na ako sa portfolio ko.

Napahawak ako sa leeg ko nang makaramdam ng pananakit doon. I stretched my neck and my shoulders habang naglalakad papuntang kusina.

Geez! Tinatamad ako magluto!

"Nakapagluto ka na?" Napatalon ako sa gulat nang biglang sumulpot si Aly sa kusina.

"Ba't ka ba nanggugulat, ha? Aatakihin ako dahil sa'yo, e." I clutched my chest as I eyed him from head to toe.

"Where are you going?" I asked. He's wearing black cargo pants partnered with a white hoodie. May lakad siya? At this hour?

"Kakain sa labas. Aayain nga kita, e. Kaya ako nandito." I arched my brow.

"Why?"

"Anong why ka riyan? Syempre nagugutom na ako. Wala naman si mommy. Tinatamad ako magluto, kaya sa labas na lang ako kakain. Ikaw ba? Kung nakapagluto ka na, dito na lang ako kakain."

"Mamamatay tayong dalawa dahil sa katamaran magluto, e," natatawang sabi ko bago naglakad palabas ng kusina. Sumunod naman siya sa akin.

"Liligo ka pa?"

"Aba, syempre! Nakakahiya naman sa'yo."

"Bilisan mo, ha? Gutom na ako. Baka iwan kita riyan." Nahiga siya sa kama ko pagpasok sa kwarto at inilabas ‘yong phone niya para roon ituon ang pansin.

Ako naman ay kumuha ng susuotin sa closet bago dumiretso sa cr.

It took me thirty minutes to get ready kaya naman alas otso na kami nang makaalis sa bahay.

"Where are we going to eat?" tanong ko.

"Caviar."

"Hoy! I miss eating there. Ang tagal ko nang hindi nakakakain doon, omg!" excited na sabi ko. That was our favorite restaurant ever since gumraduate kami ng highschool. Doon kasi kami nag-dinner ng family ko and family ni Aly and we really liked their food.

Almost 2 months na akong hindi nakakabisita ro'n dahil sa sobrang busy. Buti na lang nag-aya 'tong kumag na'to.

Dahil sa sobrang tuwa, inaya ko siyang mag selfie nang makarating kami sa restaurant.

Pinost ko 'yon sa ig story ko with a caption, "Saturday date with my best friend in our favorite resto."

Nang na-serve na 'yong order namin, I quickly took a photo of it bago nagsimulang kumain.

"Bakit mo ako inaya rito?" tanong ko sa kalagitnaan ng pagkain. Ang random naman kasi, e. Nakakapagtaka.

“I told you, I’m hungry and I don’t want to cook.”

“E, bakit dito ka pa dumayo? Madaming restaurant na malapit sa atin.” Pinagtaasan ko siya ng kilay. Umiling-iling siya at nagpakawala nang malalim na hininga bago ako sinagot.

"I want to treat you."

"It's your treat? Really? You're not kidding?" He nodded.

"What for?" I asked again. Hindi kasi ako makapaniwala. Anong meron? It's not my birthday naman or what. Kaya bakit niya ako ililibre at dito pa talaga?

Sino’ng Santo ang sumapi sa kan'ya para maging ganito siya?

"Peace offering because I annoyed you this morning. Hindi ka na nga lumabas ng bahay niyo maghapon and I'm sure that's because of me."

Napangiti naman ako dahil sa sinabi niya. Mainis na kaya ako sa kan'ya palagi? I shook my head. Palagi nga pala akong bwesit sa kaniya, muntik ko nang makalimutan.

"You're extra nice today." I leaned in to touch his forehead.

"What are you doing?" He shoved my hand away.

"I'm just checking if you're sick or what." I shrugged.

"Pay for your food, then."

"Charot lang. Ikaw naman, masyado kang seryoso." I gave him my sweetest smile that earned a disgusted face from him.

"Where's your parents nga pala?" Tanong ko nang matapos kaming kumain.

"Canada," he said casually, as if it was just a nearby city.

Naihampas ko ang dalawa kong kamay sa lamesa at napatayo.

"What?! Bakit hindi ko alam na pupunta sila roon?!" Nanlalaki ang mga matang tanong ko.

"Can you please sit down? You're attracting everyone's attention." He pulled my arm so I could sit.

"Ang daya naman nila tita, hindi sinabi sa akin." I frowned.

"You were busy these past few days at hindi ka nakakapunta sa bahay. Besides, biglaan lang din 'yon... And what would you do if ever you were informed?" His brow arched.

"I'll go with them."

He laughed at me. My face immediately crumpled.

"Why are you laughing?"

"For my brother?" I nodded. "You're not even together. Why would you make an effort to go there?" He said, still laughing.

"Pake mo ba? Gusto ko na siya ma-meet, e."

"E, ikaw? Gusto ka ba niya ma-meet?"

"Oo!" I said confidently.

"Paano mo nasabi? Ano ka ba niya ha?" He crossed his arms.

"Tss. Aly, kapag inggit, pikit. Porke wala kang lovelife, e." I rolled my eyes at him.

"Huh? Sinong inggit?"

"Ask yourself."

"Yabang mo!" I gave him a smile as a sign of victory. 'Kala mo, ha!

"Okay lang 'yan, my dear best friend. Makakahanap ka rin." I patted his shoulder. "Let's go. It's getting late."

Nang makababa sa sasakyan niya, nagtaka ako nang makitang sumunod sa akin si Aly papasok ng bahay.

"Hoy! Bakit ka sumusunod? Ano pa ang gagawin mo rito?"

"Dito ako tutulog. Hindi mo ba nakita ‘yong ibang gamit ko sa kwarto mo?" Nilagpasan niya ako at dire-diretsong umakyat sa hagdanan. Sumunod naman ako.

"May sarili kayong bahay, ba't dito ka tutulog?"

"Samahan daw kita dito sabi ng mommy mo." Pumasok na siya sa kwarto ko at agad na ibinagsak ang katawan sa kama.

"Kaya ko naman mag-isa, e."

"Alam ko. Na-miss ko lang mag movie marathon hanggang madaling araw kasama ka. So, let's do that tonight."

"Oo nga 'no? We haven't done that for a while now. Ngayon na lang ulit. Kumuha ka ng chips sa baba, magpapalit lang ako," excited na sabi ko bago dali-daling kumuha ng sleeping wear at nagpalit sa cr.

Nang matapos ako, nagpalit na rin si Aly habang inihahanda ko ‘yong tv na nasa loob ng kwarto ko nang biglang nag-ring ang phone ni Aly.

I checked to see who it was. Tita is calling him on messenger at video call 'yon!

Agad ko iyong sinagot nang maalalang nasa Canada sila ngayon. Medyo nagulat pa si tita nang ako ang bumungad sa kan’ya.

"Hi, Tita! I heard you're in Canada right now. When did you get there?" masiglang sabi ko.

"Kanina lang. Sorry, hindi kita nasabihan. You've been very busy lately, e. Where’s Quinzy? Oh, forget about him. Do you want to talk to Zach?"

I smiled at her before nodding my head multiple times.

"Zach, come here. Khyrss wants to talk to you." rinig kong sabi ni Tita.

"Huh? I thought it was Algid you called?"

"Yeah, I did. But Khy answered it. She's probably with him."

"What? At this hour? It's almost 11 pm there."

Nakikinig lang ako sa usapan nila.

"I have no problem with that. I'm used to it since there are times they sleep together. It’s no big deal, they are best friends."

Omg! Why did Tita say that? Baka kung anong isipin ni Zach!

"Really?" he responded, as if Tita had just said something ridiculous.

I bit my lip. Feeling nervous.

Nagulat naman ako nang biglang bumungad ang mukha ni Zach sa screen.

"Hey?" I greeted him awkwardly.

"Who's that?" Napalingon naman ako kay Aly na kalalabas lang galing cr. He's topless while drying his hair with a towel. He walked towards me at kinuha ‘yong cellphone niya na hawak ko.

"Hi, Brother! Why did you call me?"

"Si tita ang tumawag sa’yo." Inagaw ko naman ‘yon pabalik.

"Magdamit ka nga roon!" Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin at nakuha naman niya ‘yong ibig kong sabihin.

"Nasaan ‘yong damit ko? May naiwan ako rito last time. Where did you put that?" Mas tumalim ang tingin ko sa kan’ya. Lecheng Aly! Nananadya ata! Kasasabi ko lang kaninang umaga na nagseselos nga si Zach sa kan’ya, e!

Lumapit ako at binatukan siya bago kunin ‘yong damit niya sa closet ko.

Natatawa naman niyang isinuot 'yon.

"You're really that close, huh?" Napatingin ako kay Aly saglit at ibinalik ‘yong tingin sa screen bago dahan-dahang tumango even though I know it was a rhetorical question.

He closed his eyes for a few seconds.

"Sh*t. What's with me? Why am I feeling like this?" he whispered so low that I wasn't able to hear it.

"What?"

"Nothing," he answered before returning the phone to his mother as he walked away. Nakagat ko ang labi ko habang nakatingin sa likod niyang papalayo.

"Someone's grumpy," Aly whispered in my ear. Sinasabi ko na nga ba, e. Nananadya talaga siya.

I slapped him because of annoyance.

"Bwesit ka!"