Chapter 5

Kinabukasan ay nagising ako dahil sa tunog ng cellphone ko. It looks like someone's calling me kaya inaantok ko iyong sinagot without looking on the caller's ID.

"Hello?" Inaantok kong saad.

"Girl! Where are you? May tatapusin pa tayong requirements 'di ba?" Inilayo ko ang cellphone sa tainga ko dahil sa lakas ng pagsigaw ni Aria.

"What? Anong oras na ba?" I replied at her. Inaantok pa talaga ako kaya pumikit muna ako habang nakikinig sa sinasabi niya.

"Girl, pumunta ako sa unit mo kanina, you're not there and kailangan na natin itong matapos kasi may lakad ako tomorrow," she said seriously.

Napadilat ako bigla dahil sa sinabi niya at doon ko lang narealize na wala ako sa condo ko. The fuck? Nakalimutan kong nakitulog pala ako sa condo ng iba.

"Y-Yeah, uhh bumili ako ng breakfast, oo bumili ako. Text me where are you, susunod ako."

Hindi ko na pinakinggan ang sasabihin niya at napatayo sa kama. I looked at the clock and it says 7 AM. Fudge, late na talaga ako.

Mabilis akong pumunta sa CR, only to see Cupid sleeping. Well, it's 7 AM and anong oras na kami nakatulog kagabi.

Speaking of kagabi, I remembered what he said.

"Yes, I like you Psyche, I liked you the first time I saw you."

Nakatulala lang ako sa kawalan habang paulit-ulit na nagpaplay sa akin ang sinabi ni Cupid sa akin. What does he mean by that? Did he mean it or he's just joking. K-Kung totoo man ang sinasabi niya, hindi ba masyadong mabilis? I mean, kakameet lang namin tapos gusto niya agad ako?

Piniling ko agad ang ulo ko at dali-daling kinuha ang jeans tsaka ang top ko. Pinalitan ko ang suot kong sweatpants at kumuha ng paper bag na nakita ko sa gilid ng kanyang TV. 

Hindi naman pagnanakaw 'to 'di ba? I mean, this is just a paper bag, ano namang gagawin niya dito.

Nagvibrate na naman ang cellphone ko at nakita kong tinatadtad na ako ni Aria ng text.

Nilagay ko ang gamit ko sa paper bag bago lumabas ng kuwarto at dumiretso sa living. 

I saw him, peacefully sleeping while his arms are covering his eyes, flexing his biceps. He looked tired. Nakaawang ng kaunti ang labi niya at kitang-kita ang matangos niyang ilong na nasisinagan ng kaunting araw. His black messy hair is touching a little portion of his forehead. 

How can be someone became so sexy while sleeping?

I didn't realize I was smiling while looking at him until Aria called me again. Doon ko naalala na nagmamadali pala ako.

Si Cupid kasi, ang sexy matulog. Unfair!

---

Sa sumunod na araw ay naging busy kami dahil sa tinatapos naming requirement. Since Aria is done with her part, umalis siya papunta sa lakad niya. I don't know kung saan siya pupunta dahil wala namang sinabi.

I feel exhausted after cleaning my condo. It's Sunday, I have time to clean my unit after a very tiring day yesterday.

Napangiti ako, at last I'm graduating two months from now and I'm excited. I'll be free from all stress college gave to me but I know I'll start a new journey once I've got my dream job.

It's 4 PM when Aphrodite called me. Anong ganap ng babaeng ito?

"Yes, Lei?" I asked while looking at my fingers.

"Aria's in the hospital, Venice. The hospital called me, but I'm malayo from there, sabi nila need ni Aria ng kasama from one of us but malayo ako e. I'm in Pampanga and you're the one who's malapit." Mahabang explanation niya.

Napaupo ako ng maayos dahil sa narinig ko. I combed my hair using my hands. "What? Why? What happened?" 

"The hospital called me since I was the last person she called and I can't go there. I'll text you the address," inulit niya ang sinabi niya kanina.

Pagkapatay niya ng tawag ay nagvibrate na ang cellphone ko, she texted me the address.

Tinanggal ko ang pagkakatali ng buhok ko at sinuklay gamit ang daliri. I go to my room and picked a random oversized shirt, tucked it in my highwaisted shorts and wear my white sneakers. I opened ny wardrobe wider to find my favorite denim jacket.

"Where's that jacket?" Frustrated na tanong ko.

It's my favorite so hindi ko iyon hahayaang mawala.

Nang hindi ko talaga nahanap ang jacket ay kumuha nalang ako ng isang cardigan at kinuha ang cellphone at wallet.

Habang nasa elevator ay pilit kong inaalala kung saan ko nailagay ang jacket. I mean, I'm sure it's not in the laundry kasi wala ng damit na natira doon.

I remember wearing it the other day and then...

Halos manlaki ang mata ko dahil sa naalala. Now I know kung saan ko naiwan ang jacket ko.

Yesterday morning, when I realized that I was late, I quickly change from his sweatpants into my jeans and get my top. 

Sa sobrang pagmamadali ko ay nakalimutan kong palitan ang shirt na suot ko at hindi na nakapagpaalam kay Cupid na natutulog pa.

Pagdating ko sa condo ko ay naligo ako at nagpalit ng damit. I was preoccupied the whole day to remember about his shirt.

Napa-face palm ako dahil sa nagawa ko. I felt bad for not saying goodbye and for bringing his shirt.

Sumakay ako ng taxi at sinabi ang address. Nakapatong ang cellphone at wallet ko sa lap ko habang inaayos ang suot ko. Doon ko lang napagtanto na hindi pamilyar sa akin ang suot kong t-shirt.

What the fuck?

Dali-dali kong chineck ang sarili ko, that's why it's too big than my normal oversized shirt because this is his shirt!

Well, this is great. Just great!

When I reached the hospital, bigla akong nakadama ng kaba. I mean, maybe because it's my bestfriend, right?

"Miss, uhm, Ariadne Silvestre?" Kinakabahan kong tanong sa nurse na nasa reception.

She checked something and then faced me. "Ma'am I'm sorry pero wala pong Ariadne Silverstre, dito."

Napakunot noo ako sa sinabi niya. How come? Ito ang hospital na sinabi ni Aphrodite 'di ba?

"Try, Ariadne Carmilla Silvestre." I tried once again.

"I'm sorry po ma'am but wala pong Silvestre. Ariadne Monteverde lang po ang nandito."

I was gonna speak again when a handsome guy walked towards me.

"You're Aphrodite?" He asked in a deep voice.

"No, I'm Psyche. How did you know my friend's name?" I asked curiously.

"Yes, Psyche, I remember you. Uhh, you're the best friend of my wife, right?"

Gumilid kami sa isang sulok habang ako ay nakakunot noo pa rin.

Wife?

 Sinong wife ang sinasabi niya? And how did he know our name? Ni hindi ko nga siya kilala.

"I'm sorry? I don't know you, mister."

Nilahad niya ang kamay niya sa harap ko. "Dionysus Monteverde, your friend's husband."

Tinanggap ko pa rin ang kanyang kamay kahit litong-lito na ako.

"And what's the name of my friend?" 

"Ariadne Monteverde, I mean-- Ariadne Silvestre."

Literal na nalaglag ang panga ko sa sinabi niya. Is he nuts? Parang nung nakaraan lang ay single ang kaibigan ko tapos ngayon ay may asawa na siya.

"Mister, please if you're joking, stop it. I don't remember attending my friend's wedding." 

Napakamot siya sa batok at may binulong pero hindi ko naman narinig. 

"Okay? If you're really telling the truth. I want to see her." Matapang na sabi ko.

Sabay kaming naglakad patungo sa isang private room. Then I saw my friend there, lying unconcious.

I was shocked, so he's not joking. Ang daming tanong sa aking isip na gusto kong mabigyan ng sagot pero isinawalang bahala ko muna dahil ang priority ay ang nangyari sa kaibigan ko.

"What happened?" I asked as I walked to her side.

"I don't know. I just told her we're married tapos bigla siyang nahimatay! I panicked so I bring her to the hospital." Natatarantang sagot niya sa akin.

"Malamang! Kahit ako kapag sinabi mong kasal tayo mahihimatay ako," I said in disbelief.

Aktong sasagot pa siya nang magsalita si Aria.

"W-Water, I w-want water." Parehas kaming napalingon sa kanya. Her husband quickly fetch a glass of water and gave it to her.

"Hey, you okay?" I asked her.

"W-What happened?" Pabalik-balik ang tingin niya sa aming dalawa.

"You happened. You didn't told me you're married," I raised my brow at her.

He looked at her husband and gazed at me. "Ako rin, hindi ko alam na kasal na ako, kanina lang." she shrugged at me.

I faced palmed and looked at them. "So, you're married, legally?" I asked.

"Oo daw, sabi ng lawyer namin. It's legial," he answered.

"What's your name again? Sorry I forgot." I didn't mean to forget his name, nalimot ko lang talaga.

"Dionysus, but my cousins call me Dio so call me Dio," he formally introduced himself.

Magsasalita pa sana ako pero tumunog ang cellphone niya so he excused herself.

"Really, Ariadne? What really happened?"

Nagkibit balikat siya. "I don't know. I was drunk that night. Hindi ko naman alam na nagpakasal pala ako!"

I sighed and looked at Dio while talking to someone.

"Bro, I'm fine.. what? Sabi mo hindi ka makakapunta?... Okay sige sunduin kita diyan." 

Hinarap niya kami. "My brother's here, sunduin ko muna," he looked at my friend, "then we'll talk."

Paglabas niya ay tiningnan ko ang kaibigan ko. "Do you like him?" 

Namula ang pisngi niya at doon palang ay alam ko na ang sagot. I know her plus she's honest. 

"Why? Who wouldn't? Ang gwapo niya kaya girl! I'm just shocked to be married pero kung sa kanya naman ay okay lang," I rolled my eyes, bumalik na naman ang pagiging maharot niya.

"Ikaw, you liked him din noh?" Mataray ha dagdag niya.

"Nope, yes he's handsome but not my type." I said because I was imagining someone, just my type.

The door opened, iniluwa non si Dio na may kasamang lalaki sa likod.

"Ladies, this is my brother, Cupid."

His what?!