Chapter 9: Hit the nail on the head.

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Maxine and I were playing NBA Live 2008 in my Xbox 360 when my mobile phone rang.


“Pause it right there,” I told Max and I pressed the answer button. “Yep?”


“Ardie, it’s me.”


I’d recognize that gentle voice even from anywhere. “Hey, Pam. How are you?”


Even though she did dump me after almost eight months of courtship, we ended things quiet smoothly. We dealt with it maturely and (well, it’s mostly her, really) agreed to remain friends.


“Are you busy right now? I’m here at Coffee Bean in Libis. I was wondering if I could talk to you…”
 

“Kuya, faster,” whined Maxine.


I gestured her to keep quiet. “No, I’m not busy.”


“Anong I’m not busy?! We’re in the middle of our game,” Max hissed.


“What is it that you wanted to tell me?” I continued as if I didn’t hear Maxine complaining.


“I was hoping to say it in person.”


“Oh, I see. I’ll be there in 30 minutes.”


“Thanks, Ard.”



“Pam, sorry. Did you wait that long?”


She smiled and suddenly stood up and wrapped her arms around me. “I’ve missed you, Sanciongco,” she said, while I just stood there completely stunned by her gesture. My heart started thumping and even my breathing stopped for a moment there. I was actually worried that I might blackout anytime.


But, God, I missed this.


When she finally let go of me, it was only then that I was able to breathe normally again. “Didn’t you miss me?” she asked teasingly.


“Of course, I did,” I answered nervously. She still makes me feel jittery whenever I’m around her.


“Let’s take a seat,” she offered the chair in front of her. “Do you want to order anything?”


I shook my head. “I’m good.”


“So, how are you doing? Haven’t seen you for a long time.”


“Nothing much. Same old, same old.”


“Yeah, I’ve noticed. Even the haircut is still the same, only a bit longer.”


I laughed in amusement. “How about you? What’s new with Pamela Alonzo?”


“Still the same I guess. So, who are you dating now?”


I snorted, “Me? I should be the one asking you that, missy. Who’s the guy?” She didn’t responded verbally but merely shrugged and smiled. “Still keeping secrets from me, I see? Anyway, what’s up? Why did you want to talk to me?” I asked, wanting to know the real purpose of this meet-up.


Her bright smile faded as soon as I raised the question. “Pam, did I say something wrong? I’m sorry,” I immediately apologized and regretted for even asking in the first place.


“I know I have to tell you this before the news reaches you,” she told me.


“What are you talking about?”


“Please don’t get me wrong, Ardie. You’re a nice guy. And you would definitely be a great boyfriend.”


“Pam, I don't understand. Why are you telling me this?”


“I don’t want you to hate me, Ardie, when I told you that I can’t be involved in a relationship. It’s just that…” She stared at her coffee mug for a moment or two.


“Look, Pam, we’ve settled this thing a long time ago.” I placed my hand on top of hers.


She gazed at me for the longest time as if the words that would complete her statement are floating somewhere around me. I could see her eyes starting to well up with tears before she finally spoke. “I’m getting married.”




I knocked on her door and called out, “Wends? It’s Carrie. I’m coming in, okay?” I turned her door knob and went inside her room.


After that incident yesterday, Wendy was back on her post-break up state ― skipping meals, locking herself inside her room and other signs of becoming nearly anti-social.


She was lying on her bed, curled up like a ball. I removed my flats and sat on her bed facing her lazed shape.“Hey, how are you holdin’ up?” I laid a hand on her shoulder.


She slowly sat up and rested her back on the headboard. “He’s getting married. It’s all over the newspapers. Bianca wasn’t lying.”


“Yes, sweetie, I’ve read.” She started bursting into tears.


“I can’t do this,” she shook her head. “I can’t go out with Third. I’m still not ready.”


“He has been calling you since yesterday. You should call him back, Chi. You should tell him.”


“It’s your cue to say ‘I told you so’ now,” she said in between her sniff.


I smiled and stroked her hair, “I know you just did what you think was right.”


“I hate myself.”


I hugged her tightly. “Yeah, that makes two of us,” I joked and that made her chuckled a little. At least, she’s feeling a bit lighter now.


“Wends, you can’t be like this every single time you hear something about Ralph,” I told her. “Life’s tough, sweetie. But prove everyone that you’re tougher. I know you are.”


She leaned back again on the headboard and idly stared at her feet. “When it comes to Ralph and everything that has got to do with him, I immediately become spineless. He’s like a chink in my armor,” she muttered.


“He’s not your Achilles’ heel, Wendy. You’re just feeling this way because you and Ralph didn’t had a proper closure. That you look forward to seeing and talking to him again, with the hopes of you two getting back together.” 


“I don’t―”


“Come on, sweetie. I know you,” I cut her off and tucked some of her hair behind her ear. “Wake up, Chi. You guys already broke up and he’s now getting married. You have to let it go or you’ll just be more submerged in the depths of depression.” She kept mum and mulled over what I’d just said.




It has been four days since I found out that Ralph is getting married. And I have to bear with that fact everyday as much as I don’t want to. Why is moving on have to be this hard? D*mmit.


“Whatever happened with Third?” Kuya Wesley asked, which suddenly roused me from my reverie.


“Oh. He, er… Uhm…”


“She dumped him before they even got to their first date. Over the phone,” Carrie answered in my lieu.


“Jeez, that’s harsh, Chi,” Kuya teased.


“Come on, give her a break. She needs to reflect on the things that have been going on lately. And being in a relationship won’t help her.”


“Oh, what do you know? The philosopher has spoken his words of wisdom once more!” Kuya hoisted his hands upwards in praise. “Have you ever been in a relationship? You shouldn’t be talking about these stuffs, little brother. You still have a lot to learn from the big man,” he pointed to himself.


“I’m just stating my opinion, airhead,” he retorted.


“Stop it, you two. You both are not helping her, just so you know,” Carrie sarcastically told them.


“I’ve decided to plan my debut personally just to keep my mind off these things,” I said, trying to change the trail of topic.


“Just to remind you, you still have no escort,” Kuya said matter-of-factly.


I rolled my eyes. “I know,” I grunted. “No need to jog my memory about it. You and Wade will be my escort. For the meantime, that is.”


“Aren’t there any rent-an-escort kind of thingies here? There are lots in San Francisco if I’m not mistaken, right?”


“Carrie, we’re in the Philippines. And Mom wouldn’t agree on that even if it’s the last option left. She’ll just restate the tradition over and over if you mention that to her.”


“Who ever said we have to tell her?”


Kuya bonked her in the head, “Have you gone nuts?”


“Ouch! What was that for?!” yelled Carrie.


“Your suggestion is insane!”


“You didn’t have to hit me in the head, dimwit!”


“That’s it. I’m outta here,” I announced and stood up.


“I’m coming with you, Ate. I don’t want to be stuck with two loonies,” said Wade and we left the two madcaps in the family room still bickering.


Wade and I decided to sit by the breakfast nook in the patio. Wade then fished out his PSP from his pocket and started playing with it.


“You’re such a gadget boy. What else do you have in your pocket, Doraemon?” I kidded.


He always keeps his pocket loaded with trinkets: his treasured Swiss army knife, some gum, a pen, USB flash disk, another memory card, keys (includes spare keys to my car and Kuya’s, which is very useful most of the time), his contact lens holder, travel contact lens solution and a few other things that I know I could only find in his pocket.


“Call me Doraemon again and I won’t let you borrow your spare keys,” he snapped with his eyes fixed on his PSP. “Wait, I take that back,” he added after a few seconds. “You might not fetch me from school again if I did that.”


I chortled. “You think too much, Wade. You know I wouldn’t do that to you,” I said and tousled his hair.


The moment my amusement had finally settled down, I rested my head on top of my hands. “Timots,” I uttered his given pet name at home, in an attempt to get his attention away from his PSP.


It actually came from his second name, Timothy. Kuya and I would call him that every time we need something from him or simply trying to seek for his attention and be cutesy.


“What?” he groaned, his eyes still glued with effin’ gadget.


“Tots,” I whimpered.


He paused his game and placed it on top of the table. “This has better be good, Ate, because I haven’t saved that stage yet,” he snarled.


“Would it appear futile if I told you I’ll wait for Ralph?”


He looked at me with furrowed eyebrows. “Would it make me less of a brother if I told you it would?”


I shook my head, “Not even a speck.”


“Then, yes, Ate. It’s pointless.”


“That’s what I’ve been trying to convince myself,” I mumbled. “But my mind can’t discern it!”


“You’re mind perceives it, Ate. But the thing is you let your heart hear only what it wants to hear and not what’s really the logical thing to do.”


“And that came straight out of the perspective of a fourteen year old, Chi,” Kuya Wesley suddenly appeared, with Carrie standing beside him.


“I hope you’re finally seeing our way of light now, sweetie.”


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