Then suddenly, out of the loo, may bumulong sa akin ng: "Indaaaay..." Huh? It sounded like a familiar sound. Who can it be now?
"Dodong!" sigaw ko.
Napalakas yata voice ko. Kasi the other fans turned their backs to their behind at napatingin sa amin. Sabi ko, "Sorry, I didn't mean to be loud and proud." Hinawakan na lang ni Dodong ang kamay ko at lumayo kami from the crowd.
"Kamusta na Inday? Do you come here open?" tanong niya.
"Bihira lang, Dodong. I'm just droppings by. Ethnic ang schedule ko eh," sabi ko.
Memories came flushing in my mind. How can I forget to remember Dodong? Siya na may mata ni Piolo, dimples ni Aga, at bigote in Rex Cortez. He's every woman's dreamboat. I was just starting my tour of duty kay ate noon nang unang makilala ko si Dodong. Contraction worker siya sa ginagawang bahay sa tapat namin. Naging kami for awhile then after that were not an item anymore.
"Tanghali na Inday. What did you say we lunch together?" tanong ni Dodong. "I don't mine," sagot ko.
Sa restaurant, nilapitan kaagad kami ng waiter. "What's your odor, sir?" sabi nung waiter kay Dodong.
"Do you have porkshop?" tanong ni Dodong.
"Yes sir," sabi nito. "Our porkshop with a resistance to the teeth of boast of our chef. Domestic careful selection of pork with little fat of female liking is used. The exquisite cooking which repeated trial and error was completed. It also has healthy vegetables with salad feeling fully," dagdag niya.
"And you mam?" sabay tingin naman sa akin.
"Hmm.... mukhang masarap yung porkshop. Pero I'm cutting down on my carbon kaya pinigilan ko."
"I'll just have water, thanks. Liquidate diet ako eh," sagot ko.
Pagkatapos kumain, nagyaya si Dodong manood ng sine. Teka teka, this is going too far. Besides, it's a long, long way to run.
"Reality chess, Dodong. May asawa na ako, si Jay. As a mother of fact, I'm happily married," pagmamalaki ko.
"Di na pwede yung tulad ng dati. Sorry pero I didn't expect you still have more feelings than I expected. I don't want you getting the way. Past is fast. Therefore, cause and defect," dagdag ko pa.
Tumahimik siya. Parang may language barrel na namagitan sa amin. The seconds that passed seemed like fraternity. Di naglaon, nagsalita na rin siya.
"I don't care less!" sigaw ni Dodong.
Shocks, give me a brake! The nerd ng taong ito para sigawan ako! To think it's his other woman that caused our separation to part. Kinabahan na ako. I felt speed bumps all over my body and was having panic attach. Tinalikuran ko siya at nagmadali akong lumakad palayo. Pero sumunod pa rin siya like a monkey on my butt. Hanggang sa makakita ako ng security guard. Biglang nagwala si Dodong.
"Excuse me kuya, pwedeng magtanong?" sabi ko sa mamang guard.
"Of course miss, I can help you with my pleasure," sagot niya.
"Saan po ba ang exit? Could you point me to the right erection? I got lost in my eyes."
"Diretso lang," sabi niya. "Then turn right anytime with care."
"Thanks for your corporation," sabi ko.
Buti na lang nandun si kuya. Pero saglit lang, I smell something peachy. As I turned, nakita ko na namang nakasunod si Dodong! Delaying static lang pala kanina ang pag disappear niya.
"Nyahaha! You can run but you can hide, Inday. No matter where you go, there you are!" pananakot niya.
Oh no, is this the end? This is too much, I feel degradable. My world started falling afar.
Then suddenly, Jay come from behind! Dodong was caught to the act! In the matter of minute, it's all over. I'm out of arm's way. "Thanks Jay, my love. But how did you?" Bago pa man ako matapos, sabi niya, " I was in the neighborhood. Fans din ako ni Angel Locsin eh. I heard you shout but at first I didn't give it a thought. Pero nang makita ko kayong magkahawak ng hands, then I give it a thought. I know something is a missed."
From then on, Dodong did not bother me again. In fact, he didn't even sister me. As in platonic at wala na talaga. Pero kami ni Jay, heto shoot sailing pa rin ang relationship. Lalo pa ngayon, open na kami sa isa't isa at walang exhibitions. I feel I'm on cloud.
By: Kathleen Stevens, on a Filipino newspaper.
