Wife
"What the fuck?!" she panicked as if realization hit her.
"Oh my God! Pretend you didn't hear anything" nakaupo siya sa bed niya at nagcover ng kumot habang ako ay nasusuot ng salamin ko. Huh?
Does this mean? Pero what, how, why?? No time to think. And it's too late to pretend I didn't hear what you said Sevilleja.
"Mayonnaise talaga ah?" sabi ko sa nandidiring boses. She removed the comforter and I saw her morning face. It was pretty and red and then her expression now irritated.
"Ikaw nga naglalagay pa ng maraming cucumbers eh nakakadiri yun!" Oh? So she really hated cucumbers. I smiled.
"Kung makasumbat akala mo naman kaya mong magtrabaho ng wala ako sa tabi mo?" I said remembering my second dream about her. Now my face must look as red as a tomato. But who cares? I wanna test a theory. And if she ever reacted the way I want her to and prove that I may be right? Then I will admit one thing about myself.
Her face impossibly red as her lips parted, visibly shocked by what I just said. She seemed lost for words and then a teasing smirk slowly emerged. Shit may rebuttal to for sure!
"Eh ikaw nga nagnanakaw ng halik. Chansing!" she said and threw a pillow at me. Sinalo ko yun at tinakip sa mukha ko. Wtf? So I'm actually right and we dreamt about the same thing each time??? How am I supposed to feel about that?
But for now, hindi muna tayo magpapatalo. Look at her ever so smugly kahit ang pula na niya at parang kunti nalang mapupunit na labi niya kakangiti ng ganyan. Kainis!
"Nakakahiya naman sayo na nanghihingi ng kiss" remember the first dream Sevilleja? I smirked at how her teasing smirk faltered and then she throws another pillow at me. This time hitting my face. I threw it back at her. Sinalo niya ito at tinakip sa mukha niya. I laughed, victoriously. Ano ka ngayon?
She removed the pillow on her face but her head was still looking down. She mumbled something and I failed to catch it. Ano daw?
"Huh?"
She looked up at me, visibly frustrated and her redness spread through her neck and ears. So cute!
"Eh ikaw nga, you wanna do 'it' kasi sobrang selos mo!" Wtf??? Kaya hindi ko na kwinento yung ikatlong panaginip ko eh! How dare you bring that up! What the fuck talaga.
I think my whole body just turned red from the shock, if that ever is possible. Tangina naman kasi? San ba pwedeng magpalibing mga 6 feet under lang.
"Eh sa pumayag ka naman?" Jho ba't mo pa sinabi yan? Now for sure dalawa na kaming gusto malibing ng mga six feet under based on how Stacey went back to hide on her comforter. But at least I think I won? Ano ba kasing sense ng pagtatalo namin? Kasalanan niya. She started it!
That's right guys. Now exposed naman na, sasabihin ko na lang. Sheena was fucking right. I had wet dreams with Stacey on the third dream. So pano kaya ako makakamove on niyan habang ka chat siya? Hindi ko rin alam. At ayaw ko na alalahanin kung anong mga pinagdaanan ko para lang hindi tumulala at isipin ang panaginip na yon.
My alarm rang again, signaling that we have to start moving or else we will miss breakfast and morning attendance. Tumayo ako habang si Stacey ay nakatapik parin ng comforter niya.
"Bumangon ka na diyan Sevilleja, we're going to be late."
Tinanggal niya ang comforter, her face still red at inis akong tinignan.
"Mag shower ka na" she said.
I playfully covered my chest with my hand, as if defending it from her gaze.
"Tangina mo. As if we will ever do it in reality! Dream on Robles." She said as she rolled her eyes and stood up to stretch, her back facing me.
Tumawa ako at naglakad papuntang bathroom. Alam ko naman haha. Sa panaginip lang kami ganon. And the chance of us being lovers in real life? Possibly zero kahit na aaminin ko na sa sarili ko. I am having a fucking crush on the girl who loves pink.
I have a crush on Stacey Sevilleja.
Bakit mo pa inamin Jho? Now I have to continue the whole tour with my feelings already out for myself to notice every little thing connected to my crush.
Sabay kami ni Stacey bumaba patungo sa hall kung saan kami mag be breakfast. The elevator ride was super awkward. Kung magkakaroon man ng MMK sa story namin, anyone would've guessed that the title would be 'awkward'.
We joined the table where Kisha and Lee are. Soon the attendance and the breakfast started.
"Nyare sa inyong dalawa, bat ang tahimik niyo?" Lee started.
"True, para kayong mag asawang nag aaway." Kisha isa ka pa!
We'll in a way, mag asawa talaga kami? Jho delulu mo!
"Shut up Lee"
"Shut up Kisha"
Sabay pa talaga? Kisha and Lee snorted and shrugged. The breakfast continued painfully and awkwardly.
Lee offered"Jhoanna, gusto mo mayo?"
"She doesn't like that" Stacey nonchalantly said and grabbed the mayonnaise Lee offered to put it on her side of the table. Wow? Mabait din naman pala siya in real life.
"Mag asawa nga" I heard Kisha whisper but it was loud enough for the four of us to hear. Tang ina mo Kisha. Kisha and Lee then snickered. Di ko na nilingon si Stacey sa tabi ko kasi for sure doubleng hiya ang aabutin ko.
After breakfast ay bumyahe na kami sa ikatlong hotel na pupuntahan namin for tour. Magkakaroon din ulit ng seminar at lunch break sa hotel na yun. I'm at the window seat again at hindi na namin yon pinag awayan. Buti naman?
After seminar ay meron din kaming tour around the premises of the hotel. It's so we could witness the real life embodiment of what we are to be in the future. It's so we are exposed to the reality of the industry we have chosen. Hospitality management sure is fun. Sobrang dami ng pwedeng mapagtrabahuan if ever. Hindi ka rin ma bobored sa klase kasi iba't iba yung topics every major. Hindi lang siya focused sa iisang trabaho.
Busy ako kaka picture sa mga aesthetic sides ng hotel. Of course I am careful now at lilingon lingon na ako kung saan mga kaklase ko. Katakot kayang mawala, may mananakal. Early pa naman at mamaya pa ang call time.
I was busy taking a picture of a certain weird figurine when a group of foreigners approached me. Dami talagang dayo sa Cebu.
"Excuse me miss, can we ask you for something?" one guy asked. Sir nagtatanong ka na po. Pero as an hm student, I gathered every hospitality inclined spirit I had to answer.
"Yes sir, what would you like to know?" so confident naman this girl kahit nangangatog na yung tuhod sa kaba. Bakit ako? I hate impromptu public speaking.
"Do you know where this place is?" sabi niya sabay lapit sa akin para ipakita yung lugar sa cellphone niya. Ahhh. Lumayo ka please, I'm uncomfortable.
I took a step backwards and nag smile sa kanila.
"I'm sorry sir, but I'm also not from here so I don't know where that could be." ikalma mo Jho.
"Ohh too bad." the man said. Buti mabait.
"Hey you're kinda cute. What do you say you come with us?" Another man from their group said. How do I get out of this?
May tumikhim sa likod ko at bago ko pa malingon yun ay may pumalupot na sa aking bewang. Familiar vanilla scent lingering around and I can't help but to sigh in relief.
"Excuse me, do you need something from my wife?" ano daw? Nakakabingi naman to tangina! Jho pala mura era!
"Oh, didn't realize you were taken. You look too young." the man took a step back a little gesturing a defensive hand and an amused smile.
"But you're both cute. Why not come with us together?" Napantig ang tenga ko sa sinabi niya. Wala pa pala ako sa industry para maging mabait sa mga guest, swerte!
"We're sorry sir, but my wife and I have places to be." I said dismissibly and guided Stacey to walk out from the group of foreigners. We both ran papunta sa mga classmates namin. Halfway, we stopped running and we're both catching our breaths. Talaga lang Stacey ah? Wife? Ang tapang mo naman.
"Pfft- wife talaga ah? I laughed and faced her. Her face turned red and then we we're both laughing.
"Eh kasi naman- your knees were about to give out" she said while laughing in between.
After the laughter died out, all that was left was the smiles on our faces. I realized na may hindi pa pala ako nagagawa.
"I'm sorry." I said sincerely. Her brow raised.
"For what?"
"Kasi nawala ako kahapon. Napagalitan ka tuloy." Heat creeping up my face as I looked at anything but Stacey.
"It's all good. I'm sorry din kasi nasabihan kitang tanga"
"We'll I deserved it" - "Well you deserved it' sabay naming sabi.
"Talaga lang ah?" kainis to. Nakikipagbati na yung tao eh!
We both laughed. She held out her hand.
"Friends?" I asked.
"What friend? You mean wife?" She said teasingly. Wtf?
"Gaga ka." I said and laughed.
"Wife" I said as laughter died out and reached for her hands to shake it.
"Wife" she said.
Wow upgrade kana sa crush mo Jho! Pigilan mo muna yung kilig baka mahalata.
We went back to the group who were already at the bus and readying for the next hotel we are about to visit. I heard it would be at J park? Maganda daw dun. Pero I think mas maganda si- Jhoanna ang landi mo!
Once settled on the bus, a familiar silence between me and Stacey is present. But it wasn't as awkward as it was. We both now have common understanding about ourselves. Now I know she doesn't hate me. And we both are somehow now friends. Wife? Just another one on our inside joke list. Tama Jho para di ka mag assume.
While it is true na same nga kami ng panaginip, it is also a fact that it is only a dream. None of it will happen in reality. That thought alone, hurts me slightly. I know for sure Stacey won't even entertain the idea. Sure she could say it playfully. But none of those teasing remarks could be true for sure. Stacey attracts both gender, but she is not one of us.
It was 2 pm when we arrived at J-park. Tama nga na sobrang ganda ng lugar. I think my phone storage could be full of pictures with just this place already. Tapos na yung seminar and it was now time to roam around the place. I turned my location on in case mawala ulit ako dahil sobrang laki pala ng lugar. Nakasunod naman ako sa ibang students kahit di ko na mahanap sina Kisha, Lee, or kahit si Stacey.
It doesn't matter. Gusto ko lang talaga makita yung mga andito kasi baka mag vacation kami ng family or friends ko, dito nalang kami pupunta. I checked the time, 3:45pm. 4:39 pa naman kami naka scheduled magkita sa bus para umuwi sa hotel na tinutuloyan namin at magbihis. Because tonight, we have a wine tasting and seminar and we are required to wear a semi formal attire.
I was taking pictures of the beach when I looked around and noticed na wala na yung mga sinusundang kaklase ko. Wtf? Ano na ngayon? I walked around, hoping I could find them somewhere. I opened my phone and typed in a message.
To: Sevilleja buddy system
Lost
Wag ka magagalit please. Gusto ko lang naman mag ikot! Bobo mo kasi Jho! Okay pa to, kaya pa to late game. Maglakad ka lang Jho.
Sevilleja buddy system
Stay where you are.
Katakot! Eto na uupo na. I sat at one of the chairs I could find. Sobrang masunurin lang?
A few minutes passed and still no sign of Stacey. Hinahanap pa ba ako non or pina stay ako para maiwan? Lord bati naman na kami di ba? Wag sana ako maiwannnn.
"Tsk. There you are." Nilingon ko si Stacey na kita ang inis sa mukha. Ginagalit mo kasi Jho.
I looked down and pouted. "I'm sorry."
"Tsk wag ka nga magpa cute? Tara na nga!" she said and started walking. I followed her and smiled.
"So cute ako?"
"Nyenye" hahahahahaha
She stopped walking and faced me. She looked at me from head to toe. Intimidating! Then her gaze fixed on my hand. Before I could say anything, she grabbed it and continued walking.
"Let's just do this so you won't get lost ever again" she said with finality in her voice. Oki po hehe.
"Okay" I said and swayed our hands as I walked beside her. This is cute. Jho ikalma mo!
"Wouldn't want my wife to be posted missing right?" she said and laughed at my burning shocked face. Mapang asar!
"You like me too much love" HAHAHAHAH ano ka ngayon?
Her grip on my hand tightened but she never let go. Instead she threw a sharp gaze at me and clicked her tongue.
"In your dreams" well I'm just a girl?
"True" I teased.
"Fuck you"
"True. In your dreams." Jho tama na. Yung angas mo ramdam ko hanggang outer space pero mas ramdam ko parin yung hiya.
"Could be true in reality." Wtf?
Wtf?
Napaawang ang bibig ko sa sinabi niya. Now she laughed victoriously. Tangina mo!
"Loser" she said and oulled me to where Kisha and Lee are.
"Uyyyy, bati na ang mag asawa" tangina mo talaga Kisha.
"Ay taray may pa holding hands pa"
Stacey let go of my hands and I instantly missed the warmth. Gustong gusto lang Jho?
"Palaging nawawala, bata ka ba?" Stacey said.
"Nyenye"
"Tsk"
"Ayan nag aaway ulit"
"Tara dun Lee? Pabayaan muna natin sila" Kisha said.
Nagkatingan kami ni Stacey and we both smiled.
"Tara na love?" I said teasingly.
"Right. Tara love" and then we both laughed on our way to the bus.
Jho upgrade malala ka na talaga. Love daw oh?
Love