Three

"Ma! Nandito na ulit ako!" Sigaw ko.

"I'm in the kitchen."

She knows what would interest me. I made my way to her kitchen. It was dim lighted, only the light of the chandelier.

"SURPRISE!” Dianne yelled.

"Oh, my God! You're really here? Oh my God. Oh, my God." I literally jumped over the counter. "I missed you so much."

Siya si Dianne. Dianne Sanders. Siya ang best friend ko simula bata pa lang ako. Nothing could separate us, maliban nung nagmigrate sila nang parents niya sa Spain. Nung simula, palagi kaming nagtatawagan, especially after classes. Of course, may magsasacrifice para magkausap kami. It's either me or her, pero nung nagtagal, nawalan na din kami ng communication. Mahal kasi ng long distance calls.

"Siya ang nagdala ng pita bread," singit ni mama para mapansin siya.

"Really?"

"Yep. Straight from Spain," pagyayabang ni Dianne. "Kain na tayo. Nagugutom na talaga ako."

"Oh. Poor Dianne," I teased as I turned on the lights.

Si mama naman, hinanda na ang tomatoes (diced), lettuce (washed and dried), chicken pastel (shredded), cheese (shredded) and the pita bread (reheated).

We ate. We laughed. We talked.

Parang magkapatid na ang turingan naming ni Dianne noon. Kapag meron ang isa, dapat meron din ang isa. Hindi pwedeng magka-iba. Pero sa tagal na naming magkaibigan ni Dianne, I never had the chance to meet her mom and dad.

--

At half past ten, mom declared that she has to go to bed. "Kung gusto n'yo dito na kayo matulog. Pwede sa guest room or sa old room mo, Anna. Matutulog na ako. Kayo na bahala d'yan."

"Yes, tita. Good night po."

"Good night mom."

"So, magtatagal ka dito, `di ba?" tanong ko kay Dianne.

"Magtatagal siguro. Depende kung palagi mo akong papakainin," biro ni Dianne. "I'm thinking, two to three weeks. Or maybe a month."

"Good!" pasigaw kong sabi. "We really need to catch up with each other. Where will you stay?"

"In a hotel room, I guess," she frowned a little, halatang nagpapa-awa.

"I have my condominium now." Pagyayabang ko. "Dun ka na lang kaya magstay para magkasama tayo."

"Really? You'll let me stay with you?" her face brightened.

"Of course. You're my best friend." I tugged on her hand.

I texted my mom, "Uwi na po ako. Kasama ko si Dianne. Sa bahay na lang po kami tutulog. No need to get up. I'll lock the doors and windows. Thanks for dinner. Good night. I love you, mom."

It was a ten minute drive.

"This is it," as I drove my car in the garage.

"Akala ko condo?" she sounded excited. "You're a rich bitch. You have a house with a garage."

I laughed. "You don't want to know the story how I got the house," but I frowned in the end.

"You went all out did you?" she left her mouth open for a little while, acting as if she was in disbelief.

"What do you mean, all out?" I asked, confused. "Oh my God Dianne!" pabiro ko siyang itinulak. "I did not go all out. I'm simply irresistible," I joked and we both laughed. "Pasok na tayo?"

"You live here alone? `Di ka nalulungkot?" Dianne asked as she probed the house with her eyes.

" It's kind of lonely, but I get through it every day," as I walked to the guest room. "Is this room okay? Or gusto mo pa tignan yung ibang rooms?"

"Okay na ito. Alam ko naman na gusto mo lang ako i-libot sa bahay mo," She laughed and gave me a hug.

"Sure ka?" I hugged her back. "Are you sleepy?"

"Are you kidding me? It's out first night together. I could stay awake all night long. We need to catch up with each other," she said excitedly.

"Tea or coffee?" I offered.

"Coffee please. Iced!" pabiro niyang utos.

"With whiskey?" sigaw ko.

"Yes please," sigaw niya. Nasa salas siya ngayon kaya sumisigaw kami parehas. "What?! Wait! May alak ka dito? Umiinom ka na ngayon?"

"Uhm, yes. Hindi na ako bata ate Dianne," I laughed.

Mas matanda talaga sa 'kin si Dianne ng 2 years, pero dahil sa naging bestfriend ko siya, hindi na naming pinapansin 'yon.

'Age is just a number.'

"Ikaw? Umiinom ka na rin ng alak, `di ba?"

"Of course, I lived in Spain for too long. I had friends and they taught me to drink," nahihiya niyang sagot.

"That's okay. Change is good right?" we’re having a conversation while I was shaking an ice cold coffee.

"Oo naman, change is good. Change for the better, right?" she sounded as if drinking was a good thing. "Who's the guy in the picture?" asked by a curious little Dianne.

"Just someone I met," I frowned.

"Sigurado ka? Sa pag-akbay pa lang niya sayo, parang kasal na kayo," duda niya.

"I don't want to talk about him, Dianne," I shouted, pissed off.

Masakit pa din sa akin ang maalala siya. Kung meron nga lang sigurong memory eraser, ako ang unang pipila para mabura lahat ng masasakit na alaala. Hindi ko alam kung paano, pero kailangan ko na makalimutan siya. I need to move on. There's no use in dwelling in the past. Alam ko, paulit-ulit lang akong masasaktan kung palagi kong iisipin ang mga nangyari.

"God, Anna. You don't need to yell."

"I'm sorry. I have a lot in my mind and I don't want him in there too," I felt ashamed. "I have a bigger problem to think about."

"Oh my gosh Anna. Why didn't you say so? When is it due?" she was serious, pero hindi ko mapigilan na matawa.

"Silly, Dianne. I'm not pregnant," I slid the iced coffee across the counter to Dianne.

Lumabas ako para kunin ang envelope containing Gabriel Anderson’s contract.

"Saan ka?" Dianne panicked.

"Out the garage. I forgot something in the car. Feel at home," sigaw ko.

I came back with the envelope on one hand and a plate of cheese and bread.

"Saan galing `yan? Nasa kotse mo na ba yan kanina?" Dianne asked, pointing to the plate.

"I have good neighbors. Plus, I'm very friendly," pagyayabang ko. "And this is my problem," binigay ko kay Dianne ang envelope at hinayaan ko siya na tignan kung ano ang nasa loob. "I have to decide about it until tomorow afternoon."

"What's this about?" tanong niya.

"Read it." I said while munching on some bread. "I think it's a contract of some sort. I don't even know if it's legit or not."

"Well, seems legit to me. It's from the Anderson Company, isn't it? It's the best company you'll ever work for. I heard he gives a lot of benefits. At ayun, sabi nga dito sa contract, `di ba? They’ll provide you a company phone, car, insurance, and a house," Dianne skimmed the contract.

"Don't miss the salary – there," pointing to the bunch of numbers.

“What? 30,000 dollars! You don't need to think about it. Just sign the contract and you'll be rich forever," Dianne said excitedly. "30,000 dollars. At nandito ka sa Pilipinas? Na-compute mo na ba? Magiging milyonaryo ka sa kaunting oras."

"I think it's a prank."

"A prank? Bakit? Paano?" tanong ni Dianne.

"Hindi naman ako nagpasa ng resume, bio-data o application letter," pagpapaliwanag ko. "Basta na lang ako tinawagan ni Gabriel Anderson at pinapunta niya ako sa office niya. Doon sa office niya na halos walang kulay pero mukhang elegante."

"Maybe someone you know wanted you to have the job? Baka si tita iyon?" she suggested.

I shrugged. "Tinanong ko na siya kanina. Hindi daw siya ang nagpasa," I sounded a little disappointed.

"Maybe she's just denying," she said thoughtfully. "Tanggapin mo na lang. Sayang din `yan, Girl," she sounded impatient.

"You want to know something funny about it? Halos mapuno ni“prankster” `yong office ni Gabriel Anderson ng application letter ko. There's a small drawer full of them and two filing boxes. Kaya nga nagdududa ako," I said thoughtfully.

I asked Dianne for advice and she said, "Go! You wouldn't know unless you try it for yourself."

"Pag-iisipan ko," I said, munching on a piece of cheese. "Let's call it a day, I'm sleepy."