[align=center][size=3][b]FIVE[/b][/size][/align] [b]PAOLO[/b] I was shocked with what Gio told me. “No.” I said. “Why?” “Andie can’t be your mommy kasi.. Daddy doesn’t love ate Andie. You have a mommy—“ “But my mommy’s dead.” “She’s still your mommy. Matulog ka na.” Tinalikuran ako ng anak ko, and he slept. Did I sound harsh? Tsk. I just hurt my son’s feelings. He doesn’t understand what he’s saying. He doesn’t know what I am going through. I understand that he needs a mother right now. I am still inlove with the same woman I love 6 years ago. She’s 4 years dead, and I still love her. I still love my dearest Issa. But this girl has been really bothering my mind lately, I mean Andie. There’s something about her that’s totallt resembling on Issa. I don’t know what it is, but I’m sure there is something about her. I sat on the couch and slept. --**-- “Daddy, daddy. Daddy.” Ginigising ako ni Gio. Tsk. “Ate Andie.. Umalis na.” sabi niya. I looked at the clock. It’s 12 noon. Ohhh shit. “Have you eaten breakfast?” He nodded. Andie must have cooked for him again. I tried doorbelling at her unit again. But I think she’s out. Wala siya sa unit niya. No one’s opening the door. I decided na magtake-out sa McDo. Iniwan ko muna si Gio sa table. Di naman mahaba yung pila. “Ate Andieeeeeee!” Napalingon ako.. Instantly. She was there. Sakto naman, nakuha ko na yung inorder ko. She went to the counter and ordered. She ordered, and we went to her unit altogether. --**-- “So gaano na kayo katagal ng boyfriend mo?” “Well, uh, one year and 3 months.” “Matagal na pala.” “Yah. Kaso madalas may conflict e. I’m always looking for him. Haha. You know. Well I understand naman ‘cause he’s working. But we’re doing great.” She’s really pretty. No wonder na talagang may tatagal na relationship sa kanya. Tsk. Made me miss Issa more. Haay. “Grabe I’m so tired. I went t the office. I submitted a resignation letter to my boss.” “Why?” “Ayoko na dun. Nakakapagod masyado. Di kakayanin ng puso ko. Mahirap nang magkasakit ulit.” I was kinda struck with what she said. “Ha?” “Well, I mean.. I mean.. Alam mo na, mahirap mastress e. Uh.. Wala lang. Forget it.” “Alright.” We continued eating. “Yung.. Yung ex mo ba.. Mahal mo pa?” She suddenly asked. Na.. Na parang may laman yung tanong niyang yun. Why do I feel like.. Uh, nevermind. “Uh. Sobra. Hirap makalimutan e. Anyway, let’s not talk about her. Let’s talk about.. You. I mean, kayo ng boyfriend mo.. If you don’t mind.” “Well.. Kami kasi—“ Her cellphone suddenly rang. Nagulat siya and napainom ng softdrink. “Speaking of boyfriend.. He’s calling. Answer ko lang ka.” She said habang super smile. She’s really inlove with this guy. [b] ANDIE[/b] “Hello? 13’s coming nearer! Mapapakilala na kita kay daddy.” “Well, ‘yun nga yung problema e.” “Why?” “Hindi ako makakauwi sa 13.—“ “WHAT?!” I said in shock. Napalingon si Paolo. Nagpeace sign na lang ako. Then I went inside my room muna. “ Makakauwi pa ako after 6 months pa. Nagkaconflict ditto e. Madaming mag-uuwian ng 13, so mauubusan ng tao ditto. I volunteered to stay. I hope you understand.” “Eh, pano yan. Nasabi ko na kay daddy e. Naman oh. Anthony naman. My dad would be really disappointed.” Palakad lakad na ako sa kwarto habang nagkakamot ng ulo. “Sorry talaga. Babawi ako. I have to go. Kailangan na ako dito.” He’s really getting in my nerves Hay nako. Tsk. How do I explain this to daddy. I lied on my bed. Covered my face with pillow. I must admit that Anthony hurt my feelings again. I know I act so immature pagdating ditto. Pero gets, antagal na naming di nagkikita. I understand that he’s doing this for him, and yeah for our future daw. Pero ewan. Ang hirap. He’s too kind sa pinagtatrabahuhan niya. Nakakaiyak naman. ARGH!! Ang childish. Paano ko ‘to sasabihin kay daddy? Someone knocked. “Andie, are you okay? Andie?” I stood up at lumabas na ulit ng kwarto. “He’s not going home on the 13th. Nagkaproblema daw sa work niya and he needs to be there. Hay grabe.” “Intindihin mo na lang.” “Paano ko sasabihin kay daddy. Ipapakilala ko na siya e. My dad wanted to know him na rin. My dad is sick.. May taning na din life niya.” I started to sob. “And I never introduced someone to him pa, kaya he’s excited na makita si Anthony.” He wiped my tears. “Wag ka naman umiyak. Why don’t you tell your dad na nagkaproblema nga. Or.. Nagbreak na kayo?” Natawa ako ng onti. “Ano ka ba, baka mapaaga pagkamatay ni daddy niyan. Sabi niya kasi.. Kailangan may mapakilala na ako sa kanya.” “Edi natawa ka. Kaw talaga. Ganda ganda mo umiiyak ka.” Napatingin ako sa kanya. “I mean.. Totoo naman a. Ano.. Ano ka ba.” He said. Tumayo na ako sa upuan. Kukuha sana ng tubig. E kaso.. Nabunggo ako ni Gio. Out of balance. I tripped. Napaupo sa lap ni Paolo. Nagkatitigan. Ano ba yan. This scene is so movie-like. Sht. Awkward. “Sorry!!!!!!” sabi ko. He laughed. “Okay lang. Magaan ka naman.” Then binuhat niya ako na parang pangkasal. Tss. Crap. “O ang gaan mo.” “Put me down!!!” “Wag na. Sus. Tapos ano? You’ll trip again? Tapos uupo ka na naman sakin?” We laughed. Si Gio naglalaro lang. Ang kuliiiit. He turned around nang paulit ulit. “Luwag pala ng unit mo oh.” “Paolo stoooop. Nakakahilo na.” We seriously look like teenagers. Ang harot ng mag-ama. But I am enjoying this moment. Minsan lang naman ako maging ganto. So yah. “Gio, Gio Gio! Wag ka magulo. Mahuhulog kami.” Paolo said. Gio’s also going round in circles. Until nabangga niya si Paolo. Paolo fell of the sofa while carrying me. I’m on top of Paolo. Sht. Ang awkward na talaga. Gio’s pulling me away. Eh.. Babagsak naman ako sa sahig. So I have to be careful. “Ate Andie!!!!” sabay hila ng sobra. [b]PAOLO[/b] Gio pulled her hard. Kulit ni Gio. Nakakainis. “No, Gio! Ate Andie will fall. Sige ka.—“ He pulled her hard. “WOOOOOAAAAAH!!!!” Buti na lang alert ako and I was able to hold her head para di tumama sa sahig.. Which.. Made me fall. And.. AWKWAAAARRRRDDDD. I stood up. “Gio, uwi na. Tara na.” “Sorry ate Andie. Babay.” Umuwi kami sa unit. Humiga kami sa kama. “Gio wag ka masyado makulit ha. Muntik na mapahamak si Andie.” “Soooorry.” I thought about a lot of things again. Especially yung kanina. Nakakahiya kay Andie. Then Gio caught me smiling. I stood up, went out, and knocked at Andie’s door [b]ANDIE[/b] Did our lips just.. Met? They already left.. But they left me still sitting sa floor. I rubbed my face. Tsk. Accident lang yun. Someone knocked. I opened the door. It was Paolo. Sht awkward. “S-Sorry kanina. Si Gio kasi. I mean. Sorry talaga.” He said. “Uh.. Uh. Well, uh, okay lang.. I- I mean, accident yun. So.. So yah..” I replied awkwardly. “Ah.. Yah. Yun- Yun lang.” I closed the door. He knocked again. I opened the door. “I- I have.. May- May i-ooffer sana ako sa’yo.” “An- Ano yun?” “Well.. I- I-.. Well. I could pretend and act that I am your boyfriend while your dad is here.” “Oh. Uh.. We- We’ll see. Thanks sa.. Thanks sa offer. Mag.. Maglilinis muna ako ng unit.” I smiled and closed the door. [b]This is the most awkward feeling I’ve ever experienced. [/b]