ROMANTICO SERIES 1: His Only Plea (FILIPINO VERSION)

CHAPTER 3

___Ruby's POV___

Morning came, 5 am pa lang nasa banyo na ako't naliligo, I washed my body, brush my teeth and all.

I just wore a simple high waist jeans and a light blue t-shirt, Nang makalabas nadatnan kong nagluluto na si Riri ng almusal, naghanda na ako ng hapag since malapit ng matapos yung ulam na niluluto ni Riri.

Hotdog at Eggs plus Bacon ang ulam namin ng umagang iyon, magana akong kumain dahil isa din ito sa mga paboritong ulam ko tuwing umaga.

Hinugasan ko muna yung mga platong ginamit namin ni Riri habang siya naman ay naghahanda na, nauna nako sa kanya, kinuha ko muna yung folder na nakalapag sa misa't lumabas na.

I waited the elevator to open nasa 10th floor kasi kami, Riri's long time condo, kinuha ko yung phone ko ng na bored ako kakahintay, I opened it and turn on my data, nasa IG nako ngayon at nagsoscroll ng may panibagong notif na naman akong natanggap, akala koy isang follower lang na naggoodluck kaso hindi naman.

I was shocked again for the ninth time, nagmessage si Daniel.

From Daniel Mitch Sandroe:

Hi.

Really like for real!? holy mami!....

I'm still in shockedness state when the elevator opened showing one man inside.

He was busy looking in the phone his holding like his waiting for something and I then realized what that means dahil I'm really sure that this features are very familiar to me, how many times I've wanted to see this beautiful man, my Daniel.

mine... I once call you mine but it's all in the past now.......

The opened door of the elevator were about to close when the owner of the title for being the most handsome in my world raised his head upwards making my deep chocolate eyes meets his tantalizing green eyes.

The eyes that made me fell for a long time, too hard I can't move.

He was stunned, shockedness was evident in his beautiful eyes, hindi ko man mawari pero pilit kong pinipigilan ang aking sarili na hindi matuksong lapitan siya't halikan, yes I've been longing to kiss this little bastard I'm facing right now but I can't embarrass myself again, natuto nako sa leksyong nangyari noon.

The past I wouldn't dare to happen again.....

Bago pa nito maiharang ang kamay sa papasarang pinto ay naunahan na ito ng elevator at sarado na.

I can't walk after what happened a moment a while ago, hindi ko magawang humakbang pero ng sumagi sa isipan ko na baka balikan ako nito at kausapin, pilit ko ring hinakbang ang mga paa, papunta ito sa pintong nilabasan ko kanina.

Dito muna ako, sa tanghali nako magsisimula.

I was about to open the door when Riri made it first, nakakunot ang magandang mukha nito habang nakahawak sa door knob nang makita ako.

"Bakit andito kapa?" nagtatakang tanong niya.

"Bigla lang sumakit yung tiyan ko sa tanghali nako magsisimula o kaya bukas kung gaganda tong sitwasyon ko", pagdadahilan ko na lamang, wala akong magagawa dahil kapag sinabi kong nakita ko si Daniel ay magtatanong ito't magtatanong, eh hindi nito tatanggapin na isa lamang ang eksplinasyong maibibigay ko sa kanya, She's a daughter of a former lawyer though, as expected.

"Okay I'll go now bye", sabay halik sa pisngi ko.

"Bye"

Nakapasok nako't pumunta na lamang salas, napaupo ako't tumayo agad, I was about to go out ng mag vibrate tong phone na hawak ko, nakalimutan ko to simula kanina buti nalang hindi ko nabitawan.

I opened my phone, I stilled when I read his message.

From Daniel Mitch Sandroe:

Where are you?

Hindi ko ito sinagot, I just read it a couple of times, he was typing something, I waited, waiting for what was it'll about but no message arrive.

Maybe he realized na hindi ako worth it na bigyan niya ng pansin at oras.

Nasasaktan at nalulungkot kong pinatay ang data ng selpon na meron ako, ibinulsa ko ito't pumasok sa kwarto.

I'm in my room now lying in the bed, wala akong ginawa kundi humiga lang dun, hindi ko na namalayang nakatulog na pala ako, hapon na ng magising ako, nasa 3 pm pa lang at napagpasyahan kong pumunta sa convenience store na malapit, naghilamos agad ako at

nagtoothbrush.

Kumuha muna ako ng isang pirasong sliced bread bago lumabas, kagat-kagat habang naghihintay sa elevator, I was looking at the elevator door then I remembered what happened this morning akmang babalik na naman ako sa condo ng bumukas na tong elevator, I felt relieved when no one's inside, I then push the switch of the ground floor and waited for my destination.

I just walk since the store's near, 5 minutes lang ata ang paglalakad ko ng marating ko ang convenience store, pumasok nako at namili ng mga kailangang kailangan ko sa bahay, I spent two hundred pesos that day, kelangan ko kasi na maging masinop dahil itong limang libo na pera ko ay sapat na sa one month pagkain ko before ako magkasweldo sa trabahong papasukan ko, normally I don't only spent two hundred pesos when buying something if I have money, noon kahit anong gusto kong bilhin na pagkain ay bibilhin ko kaagad but right now hindi na, tiis tiis muna, sa susunod na kita kukunin my chips and cup noodles pag nagkasweldo nako.

Lumabas nako at bumalik na sa condo, hindi naman kasi ako gagala ngayong nasa priority state ko sina mama'papa plus yung kapatid ko pang si William, mga expenses niya sa school, 3rd year college na kasi yun at Engineering ang kinuha, at siyaka yung lupaing pinagkukunan ng kabuhayan namin.

Nagluluto nako ng pumasok si Riri sa condo, tumingin ako sa wall clock na meron kami at saktong 5:30 na ng hapon.

"Akala ko ba dun ka sa opisina mo matutulog?", tanong ko ng humalik siya sa akin, Riri's very sweet talaga kahit kelan.

"Wala namang costumer na at siyaka dito ko nalang tataposin yung ginigawa ko kanina sa opisina", sagot niya habang kumukuha ng malamig na tubig.

"Kumain ka muna bago mo simulan yan, malapit nato", inasikaso ko na yung beef loaf with egg na niluluto ko ngayon, hindi naman kasi mapili tong si Riri sa pagkain dahil ako lang naman ang nagturo sa kanya na kumain din ng mga simpleng pagkain hindi yung pangmayaman lang.

"Sige magpapalit lang muna ako", pumasok agad ito sa kwarto.

Luto na yung ulam kaso hindi pa lumalabas si Riri simula kanina kaya hinanda ko na lang ang hapag, tapos nakong nakalagay ng kanin sa plato ng lumabas na si Riri.

"Halika na kain na tayo", aya ko sa kanya.

Umupo na siya't kumuha ng kanin, nilagyan niya yung plato ko bago yung sa kanya, sweet as ever, Napakaswerte ng mapapangasawa ng babayitang to.

"Nga pala kamusta yung paghahanap mo ng trabaho?", tanong niya habang kumakain kami.

" Nakatulog ako kanina hapon na ng magising ako, bukas nako magsisimula"

"Sige sorry ah hindi ka makakapasok sa kompanya ni Daddy, alam mo naman yun", mahina niyang sambit.

"Okay lang".

May naging alitan kasi sina Amang at Daddy nito kaya yun hindi na nito ini-recommend sakin yung business company na pinamamahalaaan ng Daddy nito, alam kasi nito na hindi talaga ako makakapasok sa kompanyang nasabi.

"Ruby babe, sa Sandroe Home Industry ka nalang kasi magtrabaho paniguradong pasok ka dun, hiring sila ng secretary ngayon ngayon lang, yung long time secretary kasi ng kompanya ay nag-resign na, matanda na kasi nasa fifties na", inporma niya sakin.

"Syaka na kung wala na talagang vacant diyan", sabi ko nalang.

"Okay", she surrendered.

Hindi ko talaga mawari tong babayitang to

eh gustohin ba namang makapasok ako sa SHI, well baka nag-aalala lang to sa sitwasyon meron ako ngayon.

Tumayo nako ng matapos, hinugasan ang platong ginamit habang si Riri naman kumakain pa, hindi na nagsasalita.

"Pasok nako", I kissed her cheeks bago pumasok sa silid ko.

I locked my room then took off all I'm wearing and went inside the bathroom to take half bath, I was under the shower when his face

appeared in my head.

Questions then entered inside my head, questions I'd like to ask him myself, I wanna know the answers.

How are you now? Have you moved on already? Do you still love me? Haven't you forgive me?

I was thinking all of this things to the point I wouldn't dare to know the answer dahil alam ko kung ano ang mga sagot dito, He moved on, He doesn't loved me, and I don't know the last part though it is maybe no or maybe yes.

Mabuti siguro at tatahimik na lang ako habang buhay, It's better to be quiet lalo na't ako ang may kasalanan sa lahat, but thinking what happened years ago.

It's really better to be like this forever.

Lumabas nako't nagpalit ng nighties, kinuha ko yung phone ko at nag-open ng IG, I'm watching stories from different people, celebrities and all, some of them are products, I was happy watching until Daniel's story appeared, I didn't know what to feel, His story has the picture of the elevator with a caption of You left, again'.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang dapat namaramdaman kikiligin ba ako dahil kilala niya pa ako't nai-isip o magi-guilty dahil hindi ko lang naman siya kinausap.

I was worried sick right now, gusto ko siyang kausapin pero hindi ko alam kung paano, I was thinking ways on how to talk to him when I received a message, I then click it.

from Daniel Mitch Sandroe:

Good evening.

I stilled looking in his message, namalayan ko nalang na nagta-type na yung kamay ko out of nowhere.

I'm embarrassed when I saw he immediately read my message, he then message afterwards.

From Daniel Mitch Sandroe:

How are you Precious?

Precious.. my Precio...

Gosh I miss this endearment of his, I could still remember how he called me my precious way back when we were in a relationship.

I miss this, so bad, I miss you

itspreciousRubybabe:

I'm fine hbu?

From Daniel Mitch Sandroe:

Maybe idk but I think I'm not fine

itspreciousRubybabe:

Okay good evening again, gotta go I'm going to sleep

I turned off my phone after that but he then immediately replied causing my phone to light and vibrate..

From Daniel Mitch Sandroe:

Aren't you gonna ask me why I'm not fine rn?

Thinking I'm the caused why his not fine this night I didn't turn on my data and didn't reply, I stand up to turn off the switch of the lights, then lie in the bed, for a while I'm in deep sleep.

***

"Ruby! Ruby!", tawag ni Riri sakin, nasa campus quadra kami ngayon at ginagawa ang mga projects para sa Filipino, we're classmates and deadline na bukas at heto nakatunganga lang ako, tulala't nakatingin sa kawalan.

I'm depressed ngayon dahil sa mga nalaman ko lang noong nakaraan, his engaged, his going to marry now and it wasn't me, it's Sophia Isabella Ra for f**k sake, Kilala ito sa buong campus, kilala rin ang mga Ra sa politika, her father is the current congressman of Manila, I'm just a simple average girl while she is too far from my state, too far I can't reach.....

At nasasaktan ako ngayon dahil hindi man lang ako sinabihan ni Daniel na magpapakasal na pala ito.

May nangyari samin ni Daniel before his mother went in my condo to tell me something, paika-ika pa nga ako noon, Daniel was my first love and I couldn't stop myself to give him my most preserved thing, handa ako na ibigay sa kanya ang pinakaiingatan ko, hindi ako natakot noon pero bigla lang din naglaho ang lahat ng tapang ko ng malamang his going to marry another girl.

"Ruby babe! hoy babayita napasok ka diyan?", tawag ulit sakin ni Riri.

" RUby..!!!!", malakas na sigaw ni Riri na nakakuha sa atensyon ng ibang student dito.

Agad akong napatayo sa gulat ng tinawag niya ako...

Nakarinig ako ng mahinang tawa sa paligid ko, pinagtatawanan ba naman ako, alam na kasi nila ang Engagement Party na magaganap sa Campus, it's the engagement party of the famous lovers, iilan lang ang nakakaalam sa relasyon ko kay Daniel, mga classmates at blockmates ko, They knew dahil hatid sundo ako ni Daniel.

I was hurt this time gusto ko ng mamatay, after ng may nangyari samin ay hindi na ito nagpakita sakin and its been 3 days, and f**k myself for missing him too much, too much this f*****g deep black eye bags appeared, Mukha nakong manananggal sa lagay nato.

"Ruby halika kana..., tayo na..alis na tayo Ruby babe.....", mahinang anas ni Riri, parang bumubulong.

" Bakit hindi pa tayo natatapos sa projects Riri", sagot ko sa kanya habang nakayuko't nagdedesign na.

Seconds later, I stilled when I felt the atmosphere in this place became heavy, it was peaceful but cold, I don't know why, no one dared to talk.

I was continuing what I'm making when I felt someone's presence, it sits beside me, at this state even I won't look up on him, I already knew it's him, I just smelled his manly scent, my favorite scent.

"Hi can I have a minute with you?", nagsalita siya at naging mas mabigat yung atmosphere na mabigat na.

I can't talk, I can't raise my head to look unto his beautiful tantalizing green eyes, I just can't, I'm too broke to talk.

"Precious?", He called.

"Precious I'd like to have a word with...."

Hindi na natapos yung dapat na sasabihin niya dahil tumayo nako't kinuha ang bag at ibang gamit na importante, hindi ko na dinala yung ibang materials, si Riri na kasi ang magdadala nun panigurado.

I was about to go when Daniel grabbed my arm making my attempt to fail, I missed his warmth but I can't stay, I'm afraid I might lose control.

Tinabig ko yung kamay niyang nakakapit sakin at umalis na.

Nasa waiting shed nako ngayon dito sa labas ng campus, naghihintay ng jeep, Nagco-commute ako dati pero nahinto lang iyon ng naging kami ni Daniel but right now back to old business na.

Andito pako sa labas, isang oras nakong naghihintay, puno ba naman kasi ang lahat ng jeep na dumadaan dito.

Naghintay pako ng biglang umambon, wala akong payong kaya sumilong nako sa waiting shed, mag-isa, mayayaman kasi ang lahat ng student dito sa University, may kanya-kanyang sasakyan, Scholars lang ang hindi, like me.

I was now watching my small watch, counting and watching the seconds to become a minute....

Nakatutok lang ako dito ng may biglang nagbusina, I raised my head up, sighting a very glamorous black car, Daniel's car, making me feel uneasy.

Lumakad nako dahil sa pagkataranta, natauhan lang ako ng mabasa, bumalik ako sa waiting shed para hindi tuloyang mabasa, may project pa naman ako dito.

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin ng madatnan kong nandoon padin yung sasakyan ni Daniel, hindi ko ito pinansin at patuloy na naghintay ng jeep.

May nagstop na jeep na saktong dadaan sa condi unit ko kaya pinara ko ito. Akmang sasakay nako sa jeep ng bigla akong hilain ni Daniel, making me unbalanced kaya napasubsub na lang ako sa dibdib ni Daniel.

He encircled his arm in my waist and dragged me close towards him making me brace his warmth which even made myself to remember all the crappy happy moments that we had and with that I cried. A very silent one. Yung tanging mga luha lang ang nagtatrabaho sa pag-iyak mo.

"Precious why won't you talk to me?", he whispered softly in my ears after a couples of silence that happened, ang basa na namin.

I didn't answer him dahil patuloy parin sa pagbuhos ang mga luha ko.

" Did I do something wrong?", he asked, a little confused.

But still, I'm silent.

" Precious what's wrong-", I cut his words off by letting go of his hold. I took a few steps backwards making enough distance among ourselves.

Hindi ito nagsalita kaya hinayaan ko na lamang mukhang naghihintay din naman ata to sa gagawin ko.

"I.......I want cool off", I announced without looking at him, diko na hinintay na makapagsalita siya, timing lang naman na merong panibagong jeep ang huminto kaya sumakay nako.

" I won't let you!", He shouted before the jeepney can move.

But truth to be hold I was actually believing.

—*MG*—