Arrange To You (Tagalog)

My eyes darted to my phone. Roseanna's calling again. I rolled my eyes and tapped the decline button. If it's not with her then I wouldn't end up marrying someone I don't even know. Simula nung dumating siya ay wala na siyang ginawang tama. And here's my dad who's blinded by that woman all over again.

I'm just tapping the screen of my phone while looking outside. Binalot ko ang sarili ng kumot at umupo sa sala set.

I saw Wayde outside, talking with someone over the phone. Tanging ang glass panel lang ang naghihiwalay sa amin kaya kitang-kita ko siya sa labas.

Hindi matigil sa kaka-ring ang cellphone ko kaya sinagot ko na iyon. I was welcomed by Roseanna's ear shattering voice.

"Where the hell are you?!" Gusto kong i-rolyo ang mga mata ko sa pagtatanong niya.

"Sa lugar kung wala ka," I answered flatly.

"You're such a brat! Come back here and meet your groom, this instant!" Tila mapuputol na ang litid niya sa kaka-sigaw.

"You don't own me, Roseanna. So don't act one. And please, just leave me alone." I said with finality and ended the call.

Napabuga ako ng marahas na hangin at isinandal ang likod sa sofa. She is still calling me kaya ang ginawa ko ay pinower off yung cellphone ko. We would just be arguing all over again if I answer that call.

Why is she rushing to set up me on my groom, by the way? Nagawa na nila ang gusto nilang gawin. What's that shitty contract marriage is for?

I wished that I had my mom beside me. Siguro... hindi mangyayari 'to. Dad would surely attend to my mom minute by minute. Siguro... my kapatid rin ako ngayon. If only mom didn't die while giving birth to me, then all of those dreams would come true.

I frustratedly sighed.

Tinungo ko ang hardin at mataman na tinignan ang mga halaman.

"The plants might melt."

"Joker," I mockingly said. Nillingon ko ang kalalapit lang na si Wayde. I smiled at him.

"Why aren't you sleeping yet? Manananggal ka 'ba?" umupo siya sa kalapit na upuan ko.

Napapantastikuhan ko siyang tinignan.

Wayde is not really in the joking department. O masyado lang akong seryoso?

"Seriously? Tatawa na 'ba ako?" narinig ko ang mahinang pagtawa niya at pinilig ang ulo.

"You should laugh sometimes, it's not good to be stressed about things." Kibit-balikat nitong tugon.

Easier said than done. Kung ganu'n lang sana kadali iyon.

"I came here because I want to fix myself first, pero mukhang mas nadadagdagan lang ang problema ko. Is it the right decision to stay here?" pumitas ako ng nalagas na dahon at pinaglaruan iyon. "Why did you come up with that decision in the first place?"

"To fix myself?

"Why do you seems doubting?" hindi ako sumagot.

"A decision always have consequences. Kahit anong gawin mo, may masasabi pa rin ang iba sa'yo. So do what's good for you. At the end of the day, uuwi kalang din sa sarili mo." Wayde said.

"I hope so, Wayde. The situation was just so heavy that I needed to fresh up my mind. The girlfriend of my dad just called, gusto niyang makipagkita ako sa asawa ko," tumayo ako.

"She told me to go back to the mansion but I refused. I'm a brat as she called me and I will be more likely if they'll continue."

Lumingon ako sa kanya at nagpaalam na para matulog. Wayde's right. A decision always comes with consequences, and it's up to me on how I will be responsible for it.

***

Napangiwi ako nang makita ang puting damit ko ay nagkulay pula na. I'm washing the clothes but the stain won't go away. Naka-ilang lagay na ako ng sachet na panlaba pero hindi pa rin matanggal-tanggal iyon.

"Ano ba yan!" reklamo ko at inilapag ko ang damit sa bath tub at tinignan ang kamay ko. Nangungulubot na rin ang mga kamay ko sa pagbabad sa tubig ng matagal.

The advertisement in the tv is a scam! Ang sabi nila'y mawawala ang stain sa damit kapag ginagamit yung brand nila. But it turns out scam.

"What the hell?" napalingon ako kay Wayde na kakapasok lang sa shower room. His eyes darted on the bathtub filled with water and my clothes. To the open sachets of laundry detergent that was scattered on the floor. Napadako rin ang tingin niya sa basang-basa ko na damit.

Halang akong ngumiti sa kaniya at gustong ilublob ang sarili ko sa bath tub dahil sa kahihiyan. If only I could kick him out of the room for him not to see the mess I made.

"Uhh, I can explain." I bit my lower lip and actually don't know where to start. Ngayon ko lang din napagtanto na sobrang kalat ang ginawa ko. It was just messy all over the place. A total disaster.

"I tried to wash my clothes but it turns... uhh, disaster." Wayde eyes darted to my clothes that are almost the color red.

"You should separate the white one from the colored ones. Here, let me show you how." He was about to get near my clothes, but I blocked myself in front of him. Kumunot naman ang noo niya sa ginawa ko.

"Yes! Yes, I get it! You can go out now, byeee!" It's embarrassing for him to see my clothes, especially that my bra was there! That would be so embarrassing. Tinulak ko pa talaga siya sa labas ng pinto pero hindi naman siya umangal at hinayaan lang ako.

"Are you sure?" ngumiti ako at walang pagdadalawang isip na tumango.

Nakita kong kumunot ang noo niya at kaagad kong sinara ang pintuan at napabuga ng hininga.

"That was close." Kaagad kong tinungo ang mga nilalabhan ko at inihawalay ang mga puti at inilagay sa pabilog na lalagyan.

Napasapo ako ng noo nang makita ang mga puting damit ko na kung ano-ano nalang ang kulay. Maybe I should really need Wayde's help.

I separate my innerwear from my outerwear and put those in a separate bucket. Kaagad kong binuksan ang pinto at nakita si Wayde na nakatayo lang roon. His hands were folded and it looks like he's been standing in front of the door for quite a while.

Then his eyes went on me.

"K-Kanina ka pa diyan?" tumango lang siya.

"Bakit ka n-naman nakatayo diyan?" nagkibit balikat lang siya at nakikita na naman sa kaniya ang masungit nitong mukha.

"Cause I know that you will be needing help," casual niyang sagot.

Tumatango-tango ako at tinignan ulit siya. Pero bakit parang nagsusungit siya?

"Galit ka 'ba?"

"Why would I?" His eyes were filled with amusement while maintaining his calmness.

"Dahil ginamit ko yung bathtub sa paglalaba? O baka naman dahil halos naubos ko yung sabong panl-Aray! Ba't ka namimitik?" hinihimas ko ang noo kong pinitik niya. Masakit talaga yung pagkakapitik niya ah.

It will surely leave a red mark there.

"Why would I be mad at you for doing those, silly? C'mon, let's teach you how to wash the clothes."

Wayde entered the shower room and sat at the little chair in front of the bathtub. Kinuha niya ang lahat ng damit roon at inilagay sa malaking pabilog na lalagyan. Natigilan pa siya nang makita kung gaano ka 'laking kalat ang ginawa ko. "Wayde, I actually bought two of these. Sayo yung isa, at akin naman ito. Teach me how to use it!" I joyfully grabbed the two brushes and handed the other one to him.

He's very hands-on in doing those chores. Wayde put the laundry deterget and stir it with his hands until the bubbles came out. Nasa gilid lang ako at matamang nakikinig sa kaniya.

"Why are you helping me this much?" tanong ko habang sinusubukan kong gamitin yung brush. Palaging dumudulas sa kamay ko kahit may handle naman.