Please, Forget me Not

CHAPTER 7

"Thanks for the ride," sabi ko kay Aly nang makarating na kami sa tapat ng bahay nila. "Just call me if you need me or if you want me to do something." I winked at him before getting off his car and make my way towards my house. Mabuti na lang talaga at magkapitbahay kami. I don't have to bring car with me every time na papasok ako. May free driver pa. O, 'di ba?

Nang makarating sa kwarto ko, agad kong ibinagsak ang katawan ko sa kama. Napagod ako nang sobra dahil maghapon akong nakaupo at nakatutok sa laptop kaya hindi ko namalayan na nakatulog na pala ako.

Pagkagising ko, agad kong hinagilap ang cellphone ko only to find out it was out of battery. Ichinarge ko muna iyon bago dumiretso sa cr para maglinis ng katawan.

I wore my favorite pajama at tinernohan iyon ng puting spaghetti strap na pang itaas.

Nang makalabas ng banyo, nakaramdam ako ng paghapdi ng sikmura kaya agad akong bumaba at nagtungo sa kusina.

Nagtataka ako dahil simula sa kwarto ko hanggang sa kitchen ay bukas ang ilaw and I don't remember myself turning them on kasi maliwanag pa nang makarating ako rito kanina. Wala rin sila Mommy ngayon. Nasa Batanes sila for business kaya mag-isa lang ako rito sa bahay.

Ah, baka pumunta rito si Aly kanina. I just shrugged it off at nagsimula nang maghalungkat sa kusina.

Nang walang nakitang pagkain, I decided to order foods na lang dahil tinatamad din naman akong magluto kasi anong oras pa iyon. I can just order sa malapit na fast food chain dito sa amin.

Bumalik ako sa kwarto at binuhay ang cellphone ko. Ngunit nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita kung anong oras na.

It's freaking 11:25 pm at nakalimutan kong i-chat si Zach!

Agad-agad akong nagtungo sa messenger at biglang bumilis ang t***k ng puso ko nang makita ang tadtad na mensahe niya sa akin.

Zachary Shein Villareal:

5:02

Are you home now?

5:25

Message me if you're

in your house already

5:40

Hey

Nakauwi ka na ba?

5:57

Mag-online ka naman

I'm worried

6:04

You missed a call from

Zachary.

6:09

You used to inform me

whenever you're home

already

And that was always

between 4:30-5:00 pm

there.

What happened?

I hope you're okay.

6:15

You missed a call from

Zachary.

6:28

I can't reach Algid as

Well

Bakit hindi kayo

Nag-oonline?

May nangyari ba?

Damn, Khyrss Sariah.

You're making me

worry so much.

Sa bawat segundong

lumilipas na hindi ka

nagpaparamdam sa

akin ay hindi ko

maiwasang hindi

mag alala.

6:30

You missed a call from

Zachary.

6:46

Hey, I'm still waiting

for your chats.

I'm trying to call

someone from my

family but none of

them were answering.

Hindi na ako mapakali

dito, nag-aalala na ako

nang sobra

If only I could go there

right now

I hope everything's alright

there

6:50

You missed a call from

Zachary.

7:15

Okay na pala. I already

talk to my brother and

I sent him to your house

to check on you and he

found you sleeping in

your room.

I thought something

bad happened to you.

Thank God, wala.

You must be really

tired. Take a long rest,

Sariah.

Goodnight :)

Me:

11:35

Hala, I'm sorry Zach.

I didn't mean to make

you worry

Sorry kung hindi kita

na-inform kasi nakatulog

agad ako pagkahiga ko.

Sorry talaga kasi

pinag-alala kita nang sobra

Pero at the same time,

kinikilig din ako. Grabe.

Hindi ko ineexpect na

you cared for me like

that.

You know what, I could

die right now. I'm just so

happy.

I really want to hug you

right now :)

You don't know how

much that means to me

It took me ten minutes before I replied. Paulit-ulit ko kasing binasa 'yong mga message niya at sobrang kinikilig talaga ako.

I never imagined him caring for me that much and after knowing he did, butterflies never leave my stomach. My chest is also pounding so much up until now.

His messages gave me a hope that we could happen. That I have a chance to be part of his life and I'm not wasting my time on him. I just need a little patience. Kailangan ko lang maghintay hanggang sa siya mismo ang magsabi noon sa akin. Ayaw ko siyang pangunahan pero ramdam ko talaga na may gusto na siya sa akin.

Sh*t! This is it! Kaunti na lang mapapasakin na siya. I'm positive! At 'pag nangyari 'yon, 'yon na siguro ang pinaka magandang graduation gift na matatanggap ko. Baka puntahan ko pa siya sa Canada sa sobrang saya.

Naputol ang pag-iimagine ko nang may narinig akong nag-doorbell.

At this hour?

Sino 'yon? I'm sure hindi 'yon si Aly kasi hindi naman uso sa'min ang doorbell, e.

Nagtataka man ay bumaba ako para tingnan kung sino iyon. Sinilip ko muna sa main door bago ko labasin. Kumunot naman ang noo ko nang makitang delivery boy iyon from food panda.

Huh? Ang alam ko hindi pa ako um-order. Pero bakit? Baka wrong address?

Mukha namang safe lumabas kaya nilapitan ko na siya.

"Kuya, baka na bogus po kayo. Wala po akong ino-order... Pero babayaran ko na lang po iyan para hindi po masayang 'yong effort niyo. Wait lang po." Tatalikod na sana ako para bumalik sa loob at kumuha ng pera nang pigilan niya ako.

"Wait, Ma'am. Bayad na po ito. At ito po 'yong ibinigay na address sa akin no'ng um-order."

Mas lalo akong nagtaka dahil sa sinabi niya. Huh? Someone sent me food?

"Nakausap mo ba 'yong um-order?" I want to know who ordered that food for me.

"Yes, po. Englishero nga po, e. Andami rin pong bilin. Ang sabi niya po, kapag hindi po kayo lumabas, isabit ko na lang po sa gate, e mabuti po lumabas po kayo." Nginitian niya ako bago inIabot sa'kin 'yong paper bag.

"Goodnight, Ma'am. Enjoy your food po." Nagpasalamat din ako bago sinarado 'yong gate at tumakbo papasok ng bahay.

I already have an idea who ordered food for me. I just want to confirm it.

Dali-dali akong umakyat sa kwarto at hinagilap ang cellphone ko.

Napangiti naman ako nang makumpirmang tama nga ang hinala ko.

Zachary Shein Villareal:

11:37

Sorry talaga kasi

pinag-alala kita nang sobra

↪It's okay. Hindi mo naman

sinasadya. I understand that

you're tired from school

works.

Uh, I ordered food for you

a while ago. The rider is on

his way. Wait for it. You

must be hungry since

hindi ka pa nag di-dinner.

My heart started racing so fast in my chest because of his action. That was so sweet! Sino'ng hindi kikiligin do'n? Ha?

Mas lalo pa akong napangiti at pakiramdam ko ay mapupunit na ang ang labi ko dahil sa sobrang saya.

Zachary Shein Villareal...

You refused to admit that you like me too, yet your action tells otherwise. Because right at this moment, I'm hundred percent sure that you already have feelings for me.

Hindi mo man sabihin, pero ramdam ko. Sobrang ramdam ko. And I'll just wait until you tell me too...

Days passed by as fast as a blink of an eye and before I knew it, it's already Saturday.

I'm still lying on my bed, thinking of what I should do today—except anything related to school.

Gusto ko kasing ipahinga ang sarili ko dahil buong linggo kong sineryoso 'yong mga requirements ko and I really want to have a stress-free day kahit ngayong weekeend lang dahil magiging busy na kami next week kasi foundation week 'yon and we need to document it—one of our requirements for our majors.

After that, we need to gather all of the photographic documentation we have from the past school events because we are going to have an exhibition display that will promote our school in public a few days or weeks before our graduation day. Sounds exciting, right? I mean the graduation day. Not the exhibition because that would be so exhausting.

Buti na lang talaga at nasa ibang bansa si Zach at hindi niya makikita ang haggard face ko. But I also want him here with me at the same time so I could rest. Kasi ganoon naman 'yon 'di ba? Kahit anong pagod mo buong maghapon, makasama mo lang saglit 'yong taong gusto mo, lahat 'yon mawawala.

I really wanted to experience that, but my baby was miles away from me. Maybe calls will do, right? Ah, basta! Anything would be fine as long as it's Zach. Aarte pa ba ako?

After few minutes of staring at the ceiling, I decided to do my morning routine. When I'm done, naglakad na ako palabas para pumunta sa bahay ng mga Villareal.

Wala pa rin kasi sila Mommy, e. Bukas pa sila uuwi. Kaya kina Aly na muna ako maglalagi ngayong araw. Miss ko na rin kasi si tita kak'wentuhan. Ni hindi ko pa nga naikukuwento 'yong improvement sa relasyon namin ng panganay niya. I'm sure matutuwa 'yon!

Nang makapasok sa bahay nila, sa kusina na ako dumiretso dahil sigurado akong andoon si tita tuwing ganitong oras at naghahanda ng agahan. Pero nagulat ako nang makita ko si Aly, walang pang itaas na damit pero may suot na apron na abalang abala sa pagluluto kaya hindi niya napansin ang presensya ko.

I leaned on the wall while watching him. This is the first time I saw him cooking. I took my phone out and took photos of him before I decided to film him. Baka kasi hindi na maulit. Sayang naman kung walang documentation.

Nang maramdaman ang presensya ko, napalingon si Aly sa akin bago lumipat ang tingin sa hawak kong cellphone na nakatapat sa kan'ya. "What are you doing?" He arched his right brow.

"Filming you, hindi ba obvious?" pamimilosopo ko naman.

"I mean why are you filming me?" he asked, quite annoyed.

Why is he so masungit sa akin these past few days? Hindi naman ako si Frea, ah!

"Bakit, masama ba?" Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.

"Yes, because you're doing it without my permission, and I can sue you for that."

"Sue me, then. I don't care." Hindi niya naman 'yon magagawa, e. Duh. “Papakita ko lang naman kay Frea 'yong sinayang niya.” I pouted.

Pinutol ko na 'yong video at sinave 'yon. Pagkatapos, lumapit ako sa kaniya at naupo sa island counter para makita 'yong ginagawa niya nang malapitan.

Nagutom ako dahil sa itsura at amoy no'ng niluluto niya. I'm not aware na marunong pala siyang magluto. Anong klaseng best friend ako? Char. Malay ko ba kung nagpa-practice lang 'yan.

“Don’t you dare.” Nagkibit-balikat lang ako at hindi na siya inasar pa tungkol kay Frea. Iniba ko na lang ‘yong topic dahil ayokong dagdagan 'yong pagka-bad trip niya.

"Why are you cooking? Anong nakain mo?"

"Kung may nakain ako, edi sana hindi na ako nagluluto ngayon. Where's your brain, Sariah?" he said sarcastically.

Aba't! Sinusubukan nito ang pasensya ko, ha!

"Ang sarap mo naman po kausap."

"Mas masarap ako." Magvaviolent reaction na sana ako nang dinugsungan niya iyon. "Kaysa roon sa boyfriend ni Frea."

Napahalakhak naman ako dahil sa sinabi niya. Tingnan mo ang mood swing ng lalaking 'to, daig pa ang babaeng menopausal.

"Bitter," I said in between laughs.

"I'm not. I'm just stating a fact here," depensa niya.

"You can fool yourself but not me. It's too obvious, you know."

"Whatever you say."

"Oh, 'di ba? Halatang-halata kaya!" I argued.

Pero hindi na niya ako pinansin kaya naman inabala ko na lang 'yong sarili ko sa cellphone ko. Binuksan ko 'yong conversation namin ni Zach at nag-send ako sa kan'ya ng message for the nth time.

Goodluck, I know you can

finish that at sigurado ako

na lahat ng drawings mo

ay maganda kagaya ko

And if you're tired already,

Don’t forget to take a rest.

Please know that I am

rooting for you, my Architect :)

Sending virtual hugs.

Nag-message kasi siya sa akin last time at ang sabi niya hindi raw muna siya mag-oonline in the next few days kasi tatapusin niya raw muna ang lahat ng plates at school stuffs niya so he could talk to me without thinking of them.

He's so sweet, right?

Feeling ko tuloy may mutual understanding na kami. Kasi bakit naman siya mag-eeffort ng gano'n kung wala, hindi ba?

Baka sa susunod, ang sabihin naman niya sa akin ay manliligaw na siya. Hindi sa pagiging assumera ha, pero alam kong doon din kami papunta.

Busy lang talaga kami sa acads kaya no label muna para walang commitment.

Ang advance mo mag-isip, e, hindi ka pa nga sinasabihan no'ng tao na gusto ka rin niya, e! Commitment, commitment ka riyan! My subconscious said. I buried that thought in the farthest corner of my brain.

Oh, before I forgot, I just want to say that Zach is also graduating. Though, mas matanda siya sa amin ni Aly. 5 years kasi 'yong course niya which is Bachelor in Architecture. E, 'yong amin apat na taon lang kaya sabay kaming ga-graduate ngayong taon and I'm planning to suprise him by going to his graduation day with his family para naman makita ko na siya in person. I just want to congratulate him personally for being number one in my heart. Charot. Gusto ko talaga siya i-congratulate because he's one of the top students in their batch.

Hanga nga ako sa time management niya. Kasi kahit busy siya sa mga plates, exams or whatever school stuff he has, he still has time to talk to me while slaying in B. Arch!

Sana all, 'di ba?

I have always known that Zach is a smart guy which is the main reason why his family let him study abroad kahit na bata pa siya.

At a very young age, he already knew what he wanted to be and he's a very goal-oriented man. I've been admiring him because of that. That was so attractive for me kaya naman nagustuhan ko siya. Akala niyo ba dahil lang sa physical appearance niya kaya ko siya nagustuhan?

Well, yeah, I got hooked on how his deep-set eyes beneath heavy black brows stare seriously as if he's scrutinizing the soul of every person who would look at the portrait. And I love how heart-stopping it was. But what made me like him so much besides being smart and goal-oriented, was his love for his family.

Naaalala ko every time na umuuwi sila Aly dito galing Canada, they would always show me photos of him being clingy to his parents because he missed them so much. Nagpapadala rin siya ng gifts tuwing birthday and wedding anniversary ng parents niya.

Hindi kasi siya pinapayagan nila tita na umuwi dito kasi gusto nilang mag-focus siya sa pag-aaral doon.

Palagi ko ring nakikita 'yong mga stories at posts ng bunsong kapatid ni tita Merelle na kasama niya sa Canada every time I'm using Aly's account at madalas doon ay kasama siya.

My favorite was him—carrying his one-year-old cousin while making her laugh. Tapos tuwang-tuwa siya no'ng napatawa niya 'yong pinsan niya kaya dinumog niya 'yon ng halik. Iniscreen record ko pa 'yon tapos sinend ko sa sarili ko because I can't get enough with their cuteness! Para silang mag-ama!

Nai-imagine ko tuloy na magiging mabuti siyang ama ng future children namin. Char!

Sino bang hindi magkakagusto sa ganoong klaseng lalaki, ha? Tanga lang ang hindi.

At hindi naman ako tanga.

"Aray!" reklamo ko nang may maramdamang pumitik sa noo ko.

"Para kang timang na nakangiti mag-isa riyan. You're creeping me out."

"Excuse me?! Sa ganda kong 'to? Mas creepy ka, uy!"

Panira talaga 'to si Aly kahit kailan! Nagde-daydream ako, e!

He shook his head three times. "Nababaliw ka na talaga."

"Nababaliw na talaga ako sa kapatid mo." He made a disgusted face that earned a laugh from me.

Porke wala lang siyang lovelife, e! Tss.

Binalik na niya ulit ang atensyon niya sa paglululuto. I massaged my tummy dahil nagugutom na talaga ako pero mukhang hindi pa siya tapos magluto. Bakit ang tagal naman ata?

"Nasaan nga pala si tita? She was the one I’m expecting to see here."

"She's not here. If it wasn't that obvious." Sinipa ko siya sa likod dahil sa sinabi niya.

"Nagtatanong ako nang maayos," I hissed.

"What? I just answered your question," natatawang giit niya. I rolled my eyes.

I just made face at him bago napagdesisyunang pumunta nalang sa sala nila. Hina-high blood ako kay Aly, e. Agang aga!

I was about to open the t.v when I heard my messenger notification sound. Someone sent me a message. No... It wasn't just someone. It was Zach, my baby!

Napatili ako nang malakas nang mabasa ko 'yong sinabi niya.

Can I call you?

Sh*t! why did he want to call me!?