Arrange To You (Tagalog)

"What do you mean?" aniya habang ang mga mata'y nakatuon sa hawak ko na brush. This is frustrating as hell. Pa-urong sulong lang ang ginagawa ko at hindi ko pa alam kung tama. I sucked at this kind of chore.

"I mean, you just met me. Well, I thought your intimidating at first, but that was just at first so don't worry," pagkwekwento ko pa. Lumingon siya sa'kin, "Hmm, is it bad helping you?"

Marahas akong umiling, "No! Don't misinterpret it ah, pero ito," tinuro ko ang nilalabhan namin. "These are all new to me. Someone like you helping me from the very first place. It was... new. It's just unusual for me because I'm not used to seeing that value to those people that surrounded me before."

"I'm helping you because I want to, Celestia. Naninibago ka dahil hindi na ito ang dating nakagawian mo, and there's nothing wrong with it." Seryoso niyang saad. That made my heart flutter for a moment.

"Alam kong ilang beses ko ng sinabi 'to sayo but thank you. This is just the very first time that I felt someone wanted to help me without something in exchange. Except for the fact that you want me to be a part time assistant, but that's excluded from my narrative so thank you."

"And I was always telling you, don't thank me yet, a lot of things are about to come."

"Kagaya ng pagtalsik ng mantika?" napasimangot ako habang tinignan ung mga hindi ko pa hilom na paso sa braso dahil sa talsik ng mantika.

"You got it right." We both chuckled as we played with those bubbles from the bucket.

I scooped the water lightly where we washed the clothes and made a bubble by it. Nang humarap ako kay Wayde ay hindi ko sinasadyang gumawa ng bubble at tumama sa ilong nito.

The bubble popped out by the tip of Wayde's nose. Napakurap naman si Wayde dahil nabigla rin siya sa bulang paparating. He looked at me and I just gave him a peace sign.

It was noon already when we finished. Nananakit ang balikat at ang likod ko dahil sa kakayuko kanina. 'E halos si Wayde naman ang gumagawa ng lahat. I was just busy watching him and didn't even dare to intervene.

Ako nalang ang nagpresentang ilagay ang mga damit ko sa sampayan. Some of my clothes already had some stains because I mixed both colors. Kulang nalang ay gawin iyong basahan dahil sa hitsura. It looks awful.

I got an amount of hanger immediately and hung it on the clothesline. Hindi naman mahirap abutin dahil ka-lebel ko lang naman ang sampayan.

"Did I do good?"

"Waydyyyy!" nagkatinginan kami ni Wayde dahil sa narinig na sigaw.

By the sound of it, we already knew who it was.

"What do you think would happen if I run?" kalmado niyang ani at tinanaw ang kababata nito na halos pudpudin na ang gate sa kaka-kakalabog nito. Wayde frowned his eyebrows and huffed a breath before heading to the gate. "You better found out," kibit-balikat kong tugon at natawa.

"Dang it," napakamot pa sa ulo si Wayde bago tinungo ang gate at binuksan. I chuckled lightly when we heard an ear shattering voice. Nangunyapit agad ang babae kay Wayde na parang isang unggoy na hindi makawala sa amo. I just mouthed him 'Goodluck' and proceeded to hang my clothes in the clothesline.

"Wayde! nagdala nga pala ako ng lunch para sa'yo," Melissa's smile widens and looks like a student who got an A+ from her teacher. She must really like Wayde that much.

Ibinigay ni Melissa ang dala-dala niyang plastic kay Wayde at malawak na ngumiti. Kaagad namang tinanggap ni Wayde ang binigay niya at nilapag iyon sa lamesa. I saw Melissa glanced at me before turning her back away. "Thanks Melissa. Hindi kana sana nag-abala pa." Wayde politely said and motioned her to sit down.

Nang matapos sa pagsasampay ay kaagad kong ibinalik ang mga gamit sa banyo at naglinis. Hindi ko maiwasang mailang dahil kanina pa ako sinusulyapan ni Melissa. When our gaze met, I saw a hint of... jealousy? What for?

Akala niya ba na may... namamagitan sa aming dalawa ni Wayde? Gosh, that would be even so impossible!

When I went out from the shower room, hindi ko maiwasang marinig ang pag-uusap nila. I heard Melissa's sobs not from a far. Are they arguing?

"Kailan ba magiging ako... Wayde? Kailan mo ba ako titignan na hindi lang kababata? Hindi lang yung kaibigan mo at matagal ng kasama?" When I took a peek, I saw Melissa crying in front of Wayde.

"Our feelings wouldn't be the same always, Melissa. I don't like you, and I will never give you back the same feelings that you feel for me. Masasaktan kalang. May dadarating rin para sa'yo, and I'm not that person." Wayde explained to her directly.

Pain is visible in Melissa's eyes.

"But I love you, Wayde... ikaw lang mahal ko." Melissa said desperately.

"I can't tell you to unlove me that instant. Prioritize yourself before prioritizing others, Melissa. The words that I'll tell you might hurt you big time, but I can't just give you false hope and leave you hanging. I know that there's a person that is worthy of your love, and it will never be me, Melissa."

"Dahil ba sa babaeng 'yun, Wayde? Dahil ba maganda siya at mukhang mayaman?" I hardly gulped when I realized what Melissa is talking about. She's talking about me!

She really did have a wrong impression about us!

"No." Wayde's voice was cold and firm.

"There's always none, Melissa and you know that. And if there's someone, I don't settle for a person just because of her appearance or status in life. Let's not drag someone into this." Those bloodshot eyes became more serious and stoic. Mukhang hindi nagustuhan ni Wayde ang patutunguhan ng usapan nila.

Tumatangong ngumiti si Melissa,"salamat at sinabi mo sa'kin ang mga bagay na 'yun. Ang hirap mo kayang iwasan, alam mo ba 'yun? Masyado ka kasing pa-fall eh," pilit itong ngumiti pero kitang-kita ang sakit sa mga mata nito. I sighed and was about to leave when Melissa caught me.

"Hey Celestia! Pasensya kana sa mga nasabi ng mga kaibigan ko nung nakaraang araw. Sadyang mga inggetera lang talaga ang mga yun eh."

"Nah, it's okay. Just tell her to not do it again." I smiled at her and tapped her back.

Silence invaded us three before Melissa stood up and fixed herself. She turned to Wayde and nodded at him. "Mauuna na muna ako, may pupuntahan pa kasi ako." She smiled awkwardly and waved her hands at us.

"She likes you so much, didn't she?" tanong ko habang tinatanaw si Melissa papalabas ng gate.

"There's someone who's much more deserving for her love. She just didn't see it because she's focusing on me. Friendship is the only thing that I could offer to her."

"Well, mas mabuti ng magpakatotoo than to give a person hope despite knowing that we couldn't give back what they feel for us. It's a battle between mind and heart. And as you've said, a decision always comes with consequences," humalukipkip ako at dinama ang simoy ng hangin ng paligid.

"And you know what," I faced him. "Love is a pain in the head." Sabay kaming natawa dalawa sa sinabi ko. Half meant true.