"Dito na'ko. Salamat talaga sa paghatid, Karina."

 

 

 

I thanked her with my full gratitude nang dumulog na siya sa tapat ng dorm building namin. Nag-insist kasi siyang ihatid ako kaya wala na akong choice kundi ang umuo. Besides, sino ba naman ako diba? Si Karina na 'yan oh. Hihindi pa ba ako?

 

 

 

"You're very much welcome, Darling." I smiled.

 

 

 

Isa pa 'yan. Talagang hindi na siya titigil sa kaka-darling na 'yan ha. Wala naman na kaso sa'kin. I already accepted the endearment before I even get to fill my stomach with so much food. Wala eh. Maharot na yata ako pagdating kay Karina.

 

 

 

And oh, obvious naman siguro na the date went well.

 

 

 

Atsaka eto pa. Dahil hindi lang pala maganda at y si Karina. Pati na din 'yung utak niya. Like she's so intelligent and very interesting to have a conversation with. Kanina, while being on a date, we just talked and talked about everything na maisipan namin.

 

 

 

From politics down to every scientific theories ay napag-usapan na yata namin.

 

 

 

Kaya naman pala very push ang mga Kuya ko sa date na'to. They know that I would deeply enjoy this.

 

 

 

"Uhm, I guess mauna na muna ako ha?" Pagpapaalam ko sakanya as I looked at her. Nakatingin na din pala siya sa'kin.

 

 

 

I bit my lip. Punyeta, ang ganda-ganda niya talaga mama– ay, wala pala akong mama.

 

 

 

Sugar Mammeh lang. Hahahaha!

 

 

 

"Hmm, okay." She nodded slowly and smiled as her dark brown eyes deeply bore with mine. Tangina, nang-aakit ba'to? O sadyang nakaka-akit lang talaga ang mga mata niya?

 

 

 

I gulped as I looked away.

 

 

 

Ngina, Winter. Maghunos-dili ka. First date niyo pa lang. Please, huwag ka muna maging ganyan karupok. Ikalma mo muna 'yang mga daliri mo. Paki-usap.

 

 

 

"Sige na ha. Bye na muna." It took a bit too much of my self-restrait to open the door. And as I was about to leave, a hand suddenly stopped me. I looked back.

 

 

 

"Hey, uhm... pwede maki-cr?"

 

 

 

I contemplated. Then, tumingin ako sa dorm building namin. Nagdadalawang isip kung oo-o ba ako. Nakakahiya naman kasi siyang dalhin sa loob. Ang pangit-pangit kasi nito.

 

 

 

It was a very run down building at baka kahit isang minor na bagyo lang yata ang dumaan dito ay paniguradong magigiba na ito. Tapos ang itsura pa nito ay parang 'yung mga buildings sa bawat zombie apocalypse or dystopian movies.

 

 

 

Ganyan kapangit.

 

 

 

Pero wala rin naman akong may magagawa. Wala din kasi akong choice kundi ang tumira dito. Ito lang ang kaya ng self-support budget ko eh.

 

 

 

"Uhh, sure ka?"

 

 

 

"Honestly?" I chuckled as she scrunched her nose in disgust. Sabi na eh.

 

 

 

"I'm a bit horrified of your dorm, Darling. I mean, no offense ha. Pero, it looks really hideous. Like it almost looks so ugly inhumane, so disrespectful."

 

 

 

Wow. No offense pa sa lagay na 'yan ha.

 

 

 

But damn. Dahil instead of maturn-off ako sa panglalait niya, bakit parang opposite pa yata ang nangyayari?

 

 

 

Like hell yes! Laitin mo buong pagkatao ko at magpapasalamat pa ako sayo vibes.

 

 

 

Eme!

 

 

 

"Atsaka, sino ba yung may-ari niyan, ha? Ni hindi man lang siya marunong mag-alaga ng building niya. Ni hindi man lang ba niya naisipan na iparenovate ito to make look a bit more homeable?"


 

 

Natahimik ako.


 

 

I mean, tama naman siya sa lahat-lahat haha. Pati nga din sa'kin eh nakaka-ilang lait din yang dorm building na 'yan. Pati na din sa mga Kuya ko. Truthfully, baka lahat na ata ng taong nakadaan dito ay at some point, nilait na ito.

 

 

 

Kalait-lait naman kasi.


 

 

"Sorry, Darling." She gave me an apologetic look, probably regretting what she had said just now.


 

 

I shook my head. "Totoo naman haha. Atsaka, wala ka dapat ika-sorry dahil ang pangit naman talaga ng dorm building haha."
 

 

She pouted. I laughed.
 

 

"So, iihi ka pa?"
 

 

"Maybe next time?"


 

 

"So ayaw mo na?" I . Baka siya na 'tong naturn-off sa'kin.
 

 

"Syempre I still want you, Darling. A hundred percent."


 

 

"What I just can't stand is that you're living in that horrible, unpleasant place. At hindi ako napapanatag dahil dito. And honestly, deserve mo ng magandang tirahan. Not this hell hole." Grabe, bash na talaga kung bash.
 

 

"Haha. Di ko pa afford eh. Not unless... kung bibigyan mo ako?" Pagbibiro ko but she didn't laughed and instead naging seryoso.
 

 

"You know what? That's a very nice suggestion, Darling." Lumaki ang mga mata ko.


 

 

Wait. Pause. Stop the car!

 

"H-Huy! Biro lang 'yun, Karina! Gagi, huwag mong totohanin. Akala ko ba joke time lang tayo dito?"
 

 

She shook her head. "Darling, my feelings and my intentions are not just joke time, okay?"

 

 

 

"I'm serious. As well as giving you another place to live. But a very much more deserving one."

 

 

 

Punyeta! Hindi pa nangangalahati ang gabi and yet, nagiging ganap na sugar baby na talaga ko.


 

 

What the pakening is happening, Lord?


 

 

Gusto niya lang naman mag-cr kanina. Ba't umabot na sa ganito?

 

 

 

Just then, I gulped in nervousness when she typed something on her phone hangga't sa dina-dial na niya ito.

 

 

 

"Hello, Benjie? I know it's late but I'd like to ask you kung meron pa bang bakante diyan sa Kwangya Estates?"

 

 

 

Napasinghap ako. Holy .

 

 

 

Kwangya Estates.

 

 

 

Ito na yata ang pinakamayaman na village sa buong Manila. It was said that only a percentage of rich people are able to afford living there.

 

 

 

"Yes. I'd like to take one and lilipat kami bukas na bukas din so please prepare evrything. About the payment, I'll just wire it to you this instant."

 

 

 

Hindi ko na kaya ang mga nangyayari. Nanghihina na ako.

 

 

 

"Okay. Thank you."

 

 

 

When she was done. Ngiting tagumpay naman itong kaagad na tumingin sa'kin. She also looks super satisfied too. Meanwhile, hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko. I felt like my mind had became haywire.

 

 

 

"Darling, everything's settled na. And narinig mo din diba na lilipat ka na bukas so better prepare your gamit nalang, okay? Even though I'd hate for you to spend just a single minute on that horrendous building."


 

 

I then felt