"Oh my gosh! I missed you BF!" Barbie immediately ran to me when she saw me waiting inside of the hospital's cafeteria. She hugged me instantly.
Passed 12 noon na pero mabuti na lang ay hindi pa nakapag lunch break si Barbie. Naisip kong dito na lang kami kumain since naka-duty pa naman siya. I already ordered for us.
"Why didn't you tell me you're coming?" She said after pulling away from the hug. We both sat in front of each other.
"I had to visit them, I thought of dropping by because I know how much you miss me." I stuck my tongue out which made her laugh sarcastically then rolled her eyes.
"Wag ka ngang epal!" Hinampas niya pa ako nang mahina.
Ugh, Barbie and her light harassment!
I rolled my eyes on her before we started eating. I ordered Chopseuy, Ginataang Kalabasa and two orders of rice. Panigurado kasi, sesermonan na naman ako nito kapag hindi ako kumain nang maayos kasama siya.
Perks of having a nurse best friend..
"So tell me, kamusta ka naman?" She asked away.
"I'm fine, masaya naman doon. I already have new friends plus, ang babait pa ng neighbors ko!" I even moved my hand when I told her.
Her lips formed into a sad smile but I knew it was just her acting.
"I'm starting to get jealous, baka mahanapan mo na ako ng kapalit niyan?" She even rolled her eyes before pouting.
Hindi ako nagpatalo, I rolled my eyes, too, and laughed at her.
"Barbs, mahanapan kita ng boyfriend 'dun but never a kapalit." I winked at her, natawa naman siya.
"Alam mo ikaw, kahit kailan epal ka talaga!" Umakto siyang hahampasin ako nang magtaray siya.
Arte pa niya kahit ang totoo, natuwa siya sa sinagot ko.
She's been my best friend since I was on primary school. We got along really well. Kahit marami akong nakikilalang bagong kaibigan, I never ever forget that I have Barbie. She's like a sister to me, a nonblood related family.
"Are you sure you're okay there?" Now, she sounds worried.
She really seemed so worried. Nakita niya kasi kung gaano ako kawalang buhay nang mawala sina Lolo at Lola. I became someone who needs to be taken care of. I was so near to being emotionally lifeless and she witnessed it all.
"Don't worry about me, Barbs. Kaya nga ako lumipat because I wanted to start a new life." I gave her a reassuring smile.
She nodded to me and then we continued eating. Nagkwentuhan pa kami tungkol sa kung anong ginawa namin during holidays, ano yung mga gifts na natanggap namin and such things just to catch up.
"I'm sorry, I didn't buy you a present." I gave her a sad smile because I really forgot to buy her one. The past few days seemed normal for me, it didn't feel like Christmas or New Year.
"It's okay Kathy, ano ka ba! Before you left, you bought me the pair of shoes I wanted from Adidas! Ayun na yung regalo mo sakin, ano!" She was even rolling her eyes while talking to me.
Before I left Taguig, she once told me she wanted to have a pair of sneakers from Adidas but couldn't buy it yet. That's why I bought it for her, I wanted to give her a favor before I leave her.
"I'm sorry, saglit lang ako pwede." She gave me a sad face when we finished eating.
Nakatayo na kami sa harapan ng elevator, ready to part ways. She hugged me tightly and caressed my back, then moved away a little to see my face.
"Call me when you need me, okay?" She hand signaled me a call.
"Yes, always." I answered and did the same hand sign.
We pulled away from each other then separated ways. Kinailangan niyang bumalik agad sa trabaho dahil nag late lunch break lang siya, at hinahanap na siya ng patient niya ngayon.
I went inside the elevator and clicked the button for the ground floor, the parking lot. I was already walking my way to my car when my phone beeped. I got it outside of my bag and checked it.
dylan.flynn sent you a message.
I opened his message on Instagram immediately. I was still a little gloomy pero tiningnan ko pa din ang message niya.
dylan.flynn: hi miss, you're not at home? :(
I typed my reply, wondering why he sent me a message with a sad smile in it.
hei_katherine: yes, why?
I got my keys from my bag and opened my car. Nasa loob na ako ng sasakyan ng tumunog ulit ang phone ko, I checked at it again.
dylan.flynn sent you a photo.
It was a photo of his hand holding a clear tote bag with food containers inside. When I looked at the background, I realized that it was my gate.
He's in front of my house?
dylan.flynn: cooked something so
I thought of giving u some
hei_katherine: I'm sorry, I wasn't home since
this morning, but i'm omw now
dylan.flynn: Are you driving already?
hei_katherine: just about to drive
dylan.flynn: Okay, then I'll wait here.
dylan.flynn: Stay safe on the road, miss!
hei_katherine: u don't have to wait for me
Dylan baka matraffic pa ako?
dylan.flynn: it's okay, not a bother
hei_katherine: are u sure? :(
dylan.flynn: yes sure, ma'am. Take care!
hei_katherine: okay, you too!
He sent me a sticker of a cartoon character inside a car with a note "drive safe" in it. I smiled, he really is a sticker fan. Napaka-cute.
I drove back to Cavite after that. I didn't want to end up in an accident because I was text-driving, though.
Umalis ako ng Taguig around 1:30 PM, I guess, nakarating ako sa Cavite nang bandang 4:45 PM, it was traffic! Kanina naman hindi!
Bumaba na ako ng kotse nang nasa tapat na ako ng bahay ko, I opened the gate and drove my car inside. Lumabas ako ng gate at tumingin sa paligid, hinahanap si Dylan. When I couldn't find him, I opened my phone to message him on Instagram.
hei_katherine: I'm home, I'm sorry,
it was traffic :(
Typing na siya kaagad, ang bilis naman?
dylan.flynn: to your right, ma'am.
I looked to my right only to see him standing in front of Ate Ruby's store, katapat iyon ng bahay nila Ate Anabel. I didn't even notice him there. He walked towards me with a smile.
Geez, wag ka namang ganyan Dylan!
"I'm sorry I made you wait for so long." I gave him a sad smile when he was already in front of me. He chuckled then shook his head.
"It's okay, Katherine." He simply said. He then showed me the clear tote bag he was holding, "Have you eaten already?" He asked with a small smile.
"Yes, but that's a few hours ago already." I gave him a sad smile again, just to convince him na kumain na ko pero gutom na ko ulit.
"Here." He gave me a clear tote bag. It smelled delicious even from the outside!
"Thank you! You really didn't have to bother." I said while giving him an apologetic smile for making him wait.
"It's okay, miss, not a bother at all." He gave me a reassuring smile before shaking his head.
"Kumain ka na, I better go." He said when I looked inside the clear tote bag.
He waved his right hand a little before turning his back on me. He was ready to leave when I called him back.
"Dylan." He turned to look at me.
"Do you want to come in?" I asked using my thumb to point at my house.
I didn't want to be rude by making him wait for almost four hours then letting him leave just like that. And besides, mukhang hindi ko naman to mauubos lahat mag-isa.
"H-huh?" He looked taken aback.
I walked closer towards him so that we could understand each other.
"Do you want to come inside, I said?" I asked again before gesturing to my house.
"N-no it's okay. Hindi na, Katherine." He refused my offer by shaking his head and waving his hand.
"I don't want to be rude, Dylan. I made you wait for long hours and then paaalisin lang kita kaagad." I pouted, trying to show him that I am feeling guilty.
"It's not rude, miss, I decided to wait for you." He chuckled awkwardly.
Ayaw talaga pumayag? Ano ba yan hina ko naman.
"Okay, I guess I'll just eat alone.." tumalikod na ako sa kanya at naglakad na papasok ng gate.
I didn't know that he would follow me from behind kaya nagulat ako nang may humawak sa braso ko.
"Okay fine, miss. You won." He sighed in defeat but immediately smiled, too.
I opened the gate, and he went inside after me. When he faced my house, he surveyed it like a critic.
"Come in." I gestured to him at my front door.
I got my keys out from my bag then unlocked the door. When I opened it, I immediately saw Callia in front of us. She was wagging her tail excitedly. I carried her and gave her a kiss on her head. Her gaze then turned to the man beside me, she looked stunned! Sinubukan ko siyang iuga-uga pero hindi pa rin niya maialis ang tingin niya kay Dylan.
I looked at him and he was looking at Callia, too, exchanging glances. He probably noticed me staring so he looked back at me then smiled.
"Hello, Callia." He patted my baby's head. She likes it very much!
"Baby I'm here!" I tried to steal her attention away from Dylan but she just gave me a glance then looked back at him again.
I formed a sad smile which made Dylan chuckle. Did he see it? Akala ko kay Callia lang siya nakatingin. They were like two love birds who fell in love at first sight!
I put Callia down and gestured Dylan to the dining area. My baby girl is stalking us from behind, not taking her eyes off of him. Dylan was enjoying it, too. His looks are really something attractive huh, even my baby dog likes him.
Magiging karibal ko pa yata si Callia sayo.. kidding.
"Why are you preparing two plates?" He was busy playing with Callia when he noticed me putting a place mat in front of his seat.
"Of course because you will eat with me." I told him before placing some bowls on top of the table.
"Tapos na ko kumain, Katherine. The food is for you." He said when he was just watching me prepare everything for two people.
"Please? I'm just not in the mood to eat alone. Please?" I tried to convince him.
He sighed again in defeat then helped me on preparing the table. I asked him to get some drinks from my fridge and he gladly obliged. He took out a box of pineapple juice then placed it on the table. When we finished preparing, we sat in front of each other since it was just a square table with four seats.
"Hindi mo ba siya bibigyan ng pagkain?" He asked when I was already opening his food containers.
I looked at him and saw that he was playing with Callia. Oh right, I almost forgot.
Pareho kasi kaming nasa iyo ang focus!
I stood up and filled her bowl with dog food and milk on the other side. I finally got her attention when I placed her food in front of her, making her stop playing with Dylan. Akala ko tapos na siya kay Dylan pero kumakain siya habang nakatingin dito, probably trying to impress him.
"She likes you." I said after sitting back in front of him.
"Kumain ka na lang." Natatawang sabi niya habang umiiling pa.