Date
Five dates, my ass.
It was just a way of Papa, for me, to take his bait. As soon as I had the fifth date, he started mumbling things – again.
"Why can't you date more? Nakaya mo naman doon sa naunang lima, ah? You are just giving reasons, no?"
"The deal was just five dates, Pa. Nothing more, nothing else. Nagawa ko na, kaya why the fuss?"
"When did I say that it was just five? The deal was for you to meet men, I wanted you to date!" He looked at my brother who was busy feeding my 5-month old niece. "Diba, Mike?"
Mike look confused on who to side his opinion. "Ahm, parang iba naman ata yung nasabi mo noon, Pa--"
"NO! Sinasabi ko sayo Teinne, kailangan mong puntahan tong mga naplano ko na. Ano na lang sasabihin nila sa akin kapag di ka pumunta? That I'm giving them false hope? Mapapahiya ako sa mga kaibigan ko! So, you will go. And that's final!"
Papa was giving me cold shoulder again after that. He would shoot daggers at me too, like I did something so horrible when in fact, it was just his idea, ni hindi nga siya nakinig sa akin, not considering on what I would feel.
"Puntahan mo na lang kasi, Ate. It's just dates. Decline them immediately kung ayaw mo talaga. Papa's old, masama sa kanya ang makaramdam nang mga makakasama sa kanya."
Papa is being petty. I really don't get why he was so work-up at the fact that I don't have a boyfriend at this age.
I mean, there are other people too, who don't have certain someone. Not because I'm single, doesn't mean that I'm sad or lonely. You can find happiness or contentment on other things too. Being in a relationship doesn't guarantee you'll be happy for life.
Di dahil, people my age are getting family on their own, means I should too.
I'm tired being compared to them. And I've been saying this to Papa, over and over again but he can't just seem to understand things. Ang hirap magpa-intindi ng taong ayaw makinig.
"I graduated at Xavier University, with a degree of Engineering. It was kinda hard, pero natapos ko rin naman yung kurso ko. Now, I'm working on the Department of Engineering in our municipality". Tinitigan ko lang si William – yung date ko sa araw na ito, habang naglilitanya siya nang mga achievements niya sa buhay.
I'm not interested with what he was saying but I do get amazed with what he had done for his life. Sanaol.
"...didn't have a relationship for 2 months. Kaya I was kinda reluctant to have this date, pero I think it's worth it". And he flashed a smile after that. Ngiting alam mong playboy. He keeps on looking on my face, too, and I sometimes notice the way his gaze would peek at my chest, then gulp. What a fucking pervert.
For the past blind dates, Papa had set, I've quite encounter some of them who would look at me, like the way this William is looking at me. My body figure is not that great but I know, I'm blessed with the chest area. And I really hate how these motherfuckers look at it, like I'm fucking naked when I'm pretty covered.
I stayed quiet until we both finished our foods. May balak pa siyang manood kami ng sine pero inunahan ko na siya. I don't have the energy to tolerate his thoughts. Men like him are easy to read.
"I appreciated that you paid for the meal even though I offered that we split it in half. Rather you forced to pay. Maybe for some people, you're quite a catch, I mean with your looks and achievements but unfortunately, I don't. I'm being rude right now, it's obvious, but I'm not sorry. And next time, fixed your gaze upfront, not on the chest, it makes you look like a pervert. Have a good day, William"
He was kind of taken aback with what I said before I leave him on our table. I'm not usually this rude with the other dates I've had but I don't like the vibes his giving. It was very uncomfortable for the whole one-hour with him.
I check the time. 1:27 PM.
It's quite early to go home. And I'm pissed. The restaurant William picked was located in Pala-o. They were some establishments near the area but boring kung ako lang isa maglalakwatsya. For the past few days na lagi akong nagpupunta sa Iligan for the dates, lagi kong nadadaanan ang bagong tayo na Robinsons Mall.
It's a good day to explore it then.
I have a feeling that William already told his parents or Papa, what happened earlier and I don't give a damn. In the first place, ayoko naman talaga sa kalokohang ito ni Papa, as of William's parents, hihingi na lang ako nang paumanhin like the other families I've dealt with.
I've spent almost two hours, just walking in and out on shops in the mall. I bought some toys and dress for my niece and take-out two boxes of pizza as per Mike's request - he sent a text not long after I arrived at Robinson's Mall.
I'm also expecting an earful from Papa, once I'm home. Lagi naming ganoon kapag umuuwi ako galing date and wala pa din akong nagugustuhan maski isa sa kanila.
That's what I thought and I was preparing myself for the whole ride but what welcomed me at home was nowhere to what I have imagine.
Papa was heartily laughing when I entered the house, reeks of alcohol, with the man I never thought I'd see at this town again.
Anong ginagawa ng gagong to sa bahay namin?
"THIS IS THE LATE APPOINTMENT for today, Sir. You are free for the remaining days of the week and our flight back home is on Monday." Napasalampak ako na umupo sa sofa dito sa hotel na inakupa namin ni Theo – secretary ko.
We've been so hectic for the past few months. Madaming meetings na kailangan puntahan,not to mention, other appointments na kailangan bumiyahe sa karatig-lungsod.
"Thank you, Theo. Take your rest, too. Just let me know if there is an emergency." I check my phone. It's 7PM already. Katatapos lang namin maghapunan ni Theo pero inaantok na ako.
We just attended two meetings today, pero nakakapagod ang makinig at umupo lang for the whole day. Good thing, Theo is an efficient secretary, kahit na may parte akong nakakalimutan, he can easily back it up.
I wonder, why did I enter this line of job when it's not really my preferred profession. This is kinda exhausting, dealing with a lot of people, being the head of the community.
Gusto ko nang matulog but they said, it's not good to sleep immediately after eating. It's some old beliefs that I unconsciously follow.
I open my messages and saw that Mom sent me a message, earlier this day.
'Kailan ka uuwi dito, Jin?'
I heave a sigh after reading it. Mom has been bugging me to visit them in Siquijor, tatlong taon na silang doon nakatira nina Papa, at miminsan ko pa lang silang nabibisita ngayong taon dahil sa schedules na kailangan kung puntahan.
'Kapag maluwag na schedules ko,Ma'. After I sent my reply, I opened my social accounts. I don't have lots but some important ones where I can communicate most with people.
I was scrolling into them when some notification caught my attention.
A picture on Instagram. A picture of someone I've been waiting to see. The account holder was a friend of mine. And it was posted a week ago.
Bakit ngayon ko lang ito nakita?
Ow, hindi nga rin pala ako nag-open nang social media accounts dahil abala sa mga gawain. Argh.
I looked at the other pictures they've uploaded and checked if she was tag on the post but nothing.Nagmumukha akong stalker pero paki ko. This is the first photo I've seen this year that she's with it. HIndi ko alam mga social media accounts niya so I can't look for updates about her life, or does she even have one.
I kept on scrolling the app, hoping that she would be with other people who I know in this app and there was another post.
The post was dated a day ago. Tinignan ko ulit yung naunang picture na andoon siya at kimumpara sa pangalawang picture na nakita ko. The location was both somewhere at Iligan.
Umuwi ba siya? Kailan?
I hurriedly typed a message. Kung totoong umuwi siya, kailangan kong makabalik agad bukas. Or I'm gonna miss the chance again, like the previous ones I've dealt with the past years.
Pinacancel ko kay Theo yung flight sa Monday and change it tomorrow morning. He was confused with the sudden change of plans but didn't say anything and just followed my orders. Buti na lang, konti lang yung dala naming gamit so it was easy to pack the things.
"Wala na bang naiwan, Theo?" I ask Theo na siyang naglalagay nung ilang bag sa taxi na pinara ko kanina.
"Wala na po, Sir."
We check our items for the last time, bago pinaandar ang sasakyan papuntang airport.
It was a short ride. Umuwi muna ako sa bahay para maligo at magpahinga nang kaunti, bago pumunta sa dapat kung puntahan ngayon.
Later in the afternoon, I texted Mike, if his available, if it's okay to visit their house. And he says,okay.
Uncle Joseph like drinking. Kaya bumili muna ako nang alak sa kanto before heading to their home.
I was slightly laughing at myself while looking at the beverage. Kapag daw may alak, may balak. Wala ba?
But it's not necessarily I have bad motives, gusto ko lang siyang makita. And hoping, be able to have a talk too.
"Oh Jin! Kamusta? Ngayon ka lang ulit nakadalaw ah!" Uncle Joseph was very welcoming when I entered their home.
"Iyon nga po ih, ngayon lang maluwag yung trabaho. Ito nga po pala, para sa inyo" inabot ko sa kanya yung alak na nabili ko kanina. It's not much but it is Uncle Joseph's favorite.
"Nag-abala ka pa. Pero dahil binili mo to, sayang naman kung di natin iinumin, diba?" I smile at him.
Tinulungan ko siyang ayusin yung mesa sa porch. "Kayo lang po ba ngayon dito?" tanong ko.
"Ah,oo. Dumalaw muna sina Mike doon sa manugang niya, pero darating din iyon maya-maya. At ewan ko kay Teinne kung anong oras iyon uuwi, may date iyon ih" I flinch when he said Teinne's name, and didn't know if Uncle Joseph notice the sudden change of emotion, I did.
She's on a date? With whom? Gusto kung mag-usisa kung sino but that would seem obvious. Kaya ba siya umuwi because she's having dates with other people?
Yung nakita kong picture kahapon, does that mean, nakipagdate date din siya nun? I don't know pero ang sarap manuntok at magpakalasing ngayon.
Ako na iyong nagbukas ng alak at nagsalin sa sarili kong baso saka nilagok iyon. Ah! Naiinis ako for some reason.
Dumating nga di kalaunan si Mike at kaming tatlo na iyong nasa sa porch at masayang nag-uusap nang kung anu-ano pero hindi nawala sa isipan ko ang sinabi kanina ni Uncle na may date ngayon si Teinne.
Malapit nang mag-alas-sais nang hapon, wala pa din siya. Masyado ba siyang natuwa sa date niya ngayon at ang tagal niyang nakauwi?
But what's with me if nagustuhan niya ang date? It's not as if we are something. But you hope,you are.
Ah, tangina!
And as I was keeping check on the time, I didn't notice the car that's parking at the small garage.
"Oh! Andito na pala si Ate." I look at Mike because of what he said. He was smiling while waving his wands on the person behind me. I'm afraid of the reaction I'll get when I face her but my urge to see her is stronger. So, I slowly turn my body, facing her.
She looked surprise seeing me and the smile on her lips immediately disappeared when she recognize me.
"H-hi, Tei------"
"Anong ginagawa mo ditong tangina ka?"
Before I could say anything, namura na ako. Ang lutong pa.
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