Perfect Pieces

05

"What happened to you?"

I was constantly asking Stella because she looked... flustered. Her cheeks were pink, she looked nervous... she's sweating a little bit, she's shaking!

"Nothing, Lani," she chuckled but looked away. "Just... I'm good! I'm very good!" now she seems hyper.

I narrowed my eyes at her. "Did you just... got laid?" lumingon pa ako sa magkabilang daan so other students don't hear us. I asked her because I know this look... not that I experienced it.

Her eyes widened and that answered my questions.

"With who?" I asked. Just to make sure that the guy reaches her standard! I just wanted to make sure that the guy is... good! "I mean, one night stand thing, a fubu, or serious talaga?"

She sighed. "I don't know, okay? It just happened and I can't take it back anymore." hinilot niya ang kaniyang sintido.

"Anong 'I don't know?!" I panickly said. "You don't know who you had s*x?!" pabulong kong sigaw. 

"No!" she hissed immediately. "It was a one time thing but except... it didn't happened last night... and I don't know what do you call it. It's not a one night stand because it didn't happened at night. I don't know if we're f**k buddies because we only did it once and we didn't speak about it after. It's not serious because... because we both agreed not to." 

Pahina ng pahina ang kaniyang boses like she was hurt and I... I think I already know who it was.

"It's okay," I said and tapped her on her back. "I'm one call away." I kissed her cheek before standing up kasi may pasok pa ako.

After I ran to my next class because I was running late, umupo na ako on my usual seat at nakipag chika with my other friends na blockmates ko. Hindi rin kami matagal na nag usap because our professor already went in with her usual scowling face. After the class, sakto namang tumawag si kuya Apollo kaya ay sinagot ko ito.

"Hi, kuya! Miss you!" agaran kong bungad.

"Hey, love." I hear him chuckle. "Can you do me a favor? Wala ka bang pasok?" he asked.

"No, and you're not in jail, aren't you?" I asked him while I was fumbling for my keys papunta sa sasakyan ko kasi mukhang may kailangan nga si kuya. "Mom and dad and kuya Arch and kuya Kyler will kill us both if you end up in jail-"

"What?! No!" nakahinga ako ng maluwang sa sagot niya at nilagay ang tote bag ko sa shutgun seat bago pumasok sa driver's seat. "I need you to go inside my condo and find this book and give it to me here in the university since I need to finish my presentation." I hear him say kasabay ng pagsend niya ng photo of the book.

"Oh, okay! Be there in less than an hour." And I hung up.

I immediately drove my car papunta sa condo ni kuya which was near pero natagalan ng konti because of the traffic here in Manila. Gosh, the traffic is making my head and butt hurt. Pagdating ko sa condo, kilala naman ako ng receptionist so she just smiled at me before I went up sa condo ni kuya. I scanned my fingerprint sa scanner ni kuya sa door and it let me in immediately. Hinanap ko lang 'yung libro and made sure to lock the doors first before going back down.

Pagbalik ko sa University, alam ko nanaman kung anong sched ni kuya ngayon kaya ay pumunta na ako sa building nila to give his book. Naloka lang ako kasi wala kasing uniform ang ibang course dito ang mga studyanteng nasa med related course lang ang meron which was a plain white polo top and plain white slacks or skirt. Naloka ako kasi puro puti.

Students there were giving me the looks tuloy. 'Yung parang 'naliligaw ba 'tong taong to dito?' look. Hindi ko nalang pinansin and rode the lift kasi hihingalin lang ako if I use the stairs hanggang 7th floor!

"Ah, there!" I whispered to myself when I saw kuya's room number. "Para namang gumagawa to sila ng ritwal dito. Baka anytime they can summon a demon or something." I shivered because I heard some med students sa room nila na parang mag chinachant na kung ano. Jusko mga terms pala!

I knocked on the door three times before opening it. Ang lamig pa nung room pagka bukas ko kaya gininaw ako. I saw some students busy typing on their laptop and some were practicing to withdraw blood from each other. Akala ko sa nursing lang 'yon? 

Pero imbis na si kuya ang una kong makita, it was Luan who I saw first. Sitting comfortably on his chair while reading and fiddling his lips using his fingers but he looked up to the door when he heard it open and our eyes met. Gosh, he looked more intimidating with his uniform on and his specs which was settling on the bridge of his nose.

"Lani! Thank you!" tumatawa si kuya habang papalapit sa akin. God, they looked like angels here kasi purong puti sila pati room.

"You owe me dinner," I pouted.

He laughed and kissed my cheek. "Of course. Tomorrow nalang since I need to finish my readings so that I can cook for you- speaking of cooking, who was the guy on your ig story?" he narrowed his eyes at me and I unconsciously looked at Luan who was still staring at me. Kuya followed where I was staring pero hinigit ko ang ulo niya at tumawa.

"No one! Just a friend!" tumawa ako. "I'll go now! I wanted to watch the new released movie with dad and mom." I kissed his cheek before turning away.

"Take care!" he shouted.

"You too!" I shouted back. "And no drinking... or texting and driving!" paalala ko bago sumara ang lift.

I went home and saw that there was a car parked outside the house pero hindi na ako nagtaka kung sino 'yon because I know whose car it belonged to.

"I'm home!" I shouted inside the house at tinanggal ang aking sapatos because dad will kill us if we bring our shoes inside the house without taking it off.

"Hi, Lani." Napaangat ang tingin ko sa narinig kong boses na iyon.

"Tito!" I approached and hugged him then kissed the cheek of my dad after.

Tito Ian. He was a very close friend of my mom and dad which was actually their partner in terms of business. He treats us, especially me, as his own child kasi wala naman siyang anak. I really don't know why tho because he had everything in life. Looks, riches, brains, everything. Maybe people ending happily together wasn't meant for everyone, eh?

"How are you, love?" dad asked me at kinuha 'yong bag ko at nilagay iyon sa couch.

"I'm good! I'm starving though." I shrugged. "How are you, tito? It's been awhile since you visited us. And where's mama?" I asked.

I hear tito Ian chuckle and ruffle my hair. "I've been busy with the company and the hospital."

"Why? It's not like you feed a family of 30," I pouted and the both of them laughed pero umiling nalang si tito. "I want my mama."

"She wants her mom," tumawa si tito and and nudged papa on his side.

"Mama is busy, anak." He smiled. "Why? I can help you with what you need." He offered.

"She's asking for her mom. Not her dad. You need to visit the doctors- oh, I'm a doctor. Come see me at my office-" tito joked but got cut off.

"Blah blah blah," dad teased him kaya sumimangot si tito.

"Ano 'yang tinuturo mo sa anak mo nanaman, Lucas Jameson?" we heard mom's voice at our back kaya ay umayos si papa.

"Hindi... si Ian-"

"Oh, Ian. Long time no... see." My mom smiled at tito Ian.

"Been busy," he replied and smiled a little to my mom. Napabalik balik nalang ang tingin ko sa kanilang dalawa because tito was just staring at her. A flicker of emotion went thru his eyes but he was quick to hide it.

"Dito ka na mag dinner, I'll cook." Mom offered. Nung tinignan ko si papa, he was pursing his lips na parang natatawa siya sa nakikita niya.

Dad cleared his throat. "Yes, eat with us, Ian. Who knows kung kailangan ka nanaman magpapakita dito?" dad rolled his eyes and so did tito. Napailing nalang ako and went up to my room to shower.

I showered and while I was drying my hair, I was also checking my social medias because who knows what people are up to? Nagcheck rin ako ng email kasi may sinabi ang blockmate ko kanina that he'll send something regarding the lectures na hinihingi ko.

luan sent you a message.

My brows furrowed when I saw the message of luan on i********:.

luan: Leilani.

That... that was the first time he called me by my name.

lassantiago: Yeah? Do you need help? Emergency? I can pick you up if you're not fine! I'm one dm on i********: away.

luan: No, I just wanted to type your name.

I glanced at the clock. 9 pm.

lassantiago: Are you drunk? It's only 9 pm.

luan: How can I have fun while I have mountains of books to read?

lassantiago: Wala naman. I just assumed.

luan: What is your favorite color?

lassantiago: Sage or forest green. You?

luan: I don't have one.

lassantiago: Eh? Every person has.

luan: Not me.

lassantiago: Oh come on, ano nga?

luan: Fine. Sage or forest green.

lassantiago: Favorite color ko 'yan eh!

luan: Exactly.

I blinked trying to process what he meant for that but I just couldn't get it. Geez, Lani, now you're gatekeeping colors. You're not the only one who likes sage green. Kahit nagtataka, I went down to eat nalang with my parents and tito after pero sumama pa ako sa kaniya because he said he wanted to ride with me and let me drive his new car!

"Gods, I love it..." I whispered while looking at the interior of the car. I hear tito buckling his seatbelt.

"I know..." he smiled and to my surprise, he clicked a button which made the roof open and he smirked at me. "Now drive until you reach your limit."

And so I did.

"Whooaaa!" I laughed while I was driving like a lunatic on the road kasi hindi na rush hour and wala na masyadong sasakyan sa main road. 

My hair was everywhere! I was laughing so loud and I felt very free. Driving makes me free.

Huminto ako sa may cliff which was overlooking sa city and I can see the city lights and the cars below. Umupo nalang ako sa unahan and so did tito.

"Thank you, tito. For letting me drive your car! I love it so much!" I grinned at him.

He just smiled at me and looked away kaya tuloy ay napansin ko ang lungkot sa mga mata niya. His hair were flowing because of the wind too.

"Are you okay po?" I asked him. I don't want the people around me to be sad because it makes me sad too! I'm like... getting their energy and nahahawa ako! Tinanong ko siya but he just nodded.

"Why are you single po tito? Don't get me wrong po pero why? You have it all!" I can't help but to ask.

He chuckled. "Don't be like me, in the future, Lani." He shook his head. "Yes I have it all pero pati siguro mga katarantaduhan sa buhay ay nakuha ko."

"Like what po tito?" my brows furrowed because who wouldn't love to be him? He's awesome.

"I was an idiot... I still am. I let go of my love because I did a very bad thing..." he whispered. "People f**k up but I f****d up big time." He chuckled but I still didn't get him. "I am an idiot for letting go of someone who was... my breath of fresh air."

"Why po? I mean, why did you let go of her?" maybe that's why he's single? Gosh, I was trying to get information now like a serial killer asking an FBI.

"Because she said so... I love her too much that I was willing to get hurt just to see her happy... just for her to be with someone who I know will make the rest of her life great..." he shook his head lowly. "I love her that much that I... I always listen to her even if she wished to me that I should let her go..."

"Eh? Diba nga tito, you said you love her? Doesn't she love you back?" that woman is something... really. She must have been so hurt at that time that she wished him to let her go...

He chuckled and ruffled my hair. "She does... but once upon a time, I love her too much that it was suffocating her," he sadly smiled like he was regretting something from the past. "Once upon a time, I couldn't let her go and yet, I couldn't keep her like the treasure that she is."

It was almost 2 am and yet, I still couldn't sleep because I was thinking about tito Ian. Hindi ko alam kung paano niya iyon nalampasan. I mean, I cant imagine myself letting go of the person I love the most just because they wished it. I couldn't bare watching the love of my life wishing me to let them go.

Nakakatakot magmahal... lalo na kung malaman mong hindi ka naman pala talaga tuluyang minahal. 

Pagulong gulong na ako sa aking kama pero hindi na talaga ko makatulog but I was sure na bukas, bangag nanaman ako sa klase at hinabaan ko lang ang pasensya ko in case I would snap again. I don't want to snap at my blockmates especially na kagagawan ko naman to na hindi ako makatulog.

Instead, I decided to open my i********: account and scroll through my feed. Liking all the posts of my friends na dumadaan at minsan ay napapa stalk pa ako.

luan: Awake?

I shifted on my bed.

lassantiago: Nope. I'm asleep. Probably sleep scrolling thru insta.

luan: Should I laugh?

lassantiago: Up to you.

luan: Okay. Laughing already.

I snorted and laughed dahil sa kaniyang reply at napailing nalang but suddenly an idea popped inside my head.

lassantiago: Are you free? It's okay if you're not though.

I asked him not actually thinking about anything because it's damn 2 am and he's a med student but he made me think otherwise because he replied agad.

luan: Yes. Why?

lassantiago: Want to eat ice cream with me?

luan: At 2 am?

lassantiago: Yes. At 2 am.

luan: Send me the location and I'll be there.

I grinned and sent him the location of my favorite ice cream parlor. Nagsuot lang ako ng football hoodie na jersey ni kuya Apollo and spandex shorts bago ko kinuha ang susi ng motor ko. I headed outside pagkatapos and drove thru the empty main road. My hair flew because of the harsh blows of the wind to my face but I loved it because... I felt was free.

Pagdating ko doon sa ice cream shop ay nakita ko si Luan na nakasandal sa kaniyang black jaguar na nakaparada sa labas. He was wearing his pambahay clothes which was the white v neck shirt and black joggers. Nakatingin rin siya sa langit habang nakapamulsa but must have heard me coming kaya ay lumingon siya sa gawi ko.

"We should have a race next time," he smirked while looking at me and my motor habang pababa ako pagka tapos kong ipark ito sa tabi ng sasakyan niya.

"That would be great." I grinned at him at inaya siya papasok.

We ordered na and I noticed that Luan likes the strawberry flavored ice cream. I ordered my favorite too which was the vanilla ice cream and pouted when they didn't put enough sprinkles on it.

"You don't like it?" he asked me because he so me pouting at one side nung naka upo na kami.

Umiling ako. "I love it."

"Then why do you look sad? Do you want to replace it?"

"No. They don't put enough sprinkles on it.." Lumabi ako when I heard him laugh.

"I'll bring extra sprinkles for you next time." he smiled at me and ate his ice cream casually like he didn't just say he will bring extra sprinkles for me next time.

My heart... it was beating so damn fast. How can he do that?

Pagkatapos naming kumain, we decided to go to this cliff, not the last one that my tito brought me to. Iniwan rin muna namin ang motor ko dun sa ice cream shop and rode with him sa sasakyan niya. It was... a perfect view of the sky, the city, and the sea in front of us.

"Beautiful," I whispered and took a picture of the view and posted it on my i********: story.

"Yeah... beautiful." I heard him on my side pero ngumiti lang ako at hindi siya nilingon sa aking tabi.

When we decided to go home na, hinatid niya talaga ako sa village before he went home. I told him hindi na but he was just persistent kaya pumayag nalang ako. I went home at 4 am but decided to scroll on my friends' stories when luan's message popped up.

luan mentioned you in a story.

My brows furrowed and opened it. It was my photo. It was me... sitting on the front of his car and was taking pictures of the city and he was on my back taking a picture of me too. Naglagay siya ng music don and I believe it was Thomas Rhett's, Die a Happy Man. 'Yung music sakto pa sa lyrics na 'I don't need no vacation, no fancy destination. Baby, you're my great escape.'

And he captioned it,

'2 am thoughts.'