Ikatlong Tawag

Ikatlong Tawag
8:17 p.m.
September 28, 2000
Rodriguez Residence

“Good evening po. Pwede po ba kay Mikaela Rodriguez?”

“You didn’t have to call me by my full name.” sagot ni Mikaela. “Bakit ka napatawag, Leonardo Arrevallo?”

“I’m sorry if I wasn’t able to call you last week. I was busy. Missed me?”

“Miss you?” Tumawa si Mikaela ng malakas. “Me? Miss you? Why would I do that?”

Leonard gave a dull laugh. “Oo nga naman ano. Mika would never do such a thing.”

Aray? “Are you implying that I am heartless?”

“No.”

“I have emotions, Leo. I can miss people. It’s just that you are not in the list of people I am thinking of right now.” Depensa ni Mikaela.

“I’m not?”

“No, you’re not.”

“Who are the people in your list then?”

“Hmm… si Rizal, si Pythagoras, yung prof namin sa Accounting, at si Carl, yung assistant secretary ng Literati.”

“You’re still doing campaigns for Student Council?”

Mikaela rolled her eyes as she remembered the incident 6 years ago. “No. Literati is the university book club.”

Tahimik lang na nakikinig si Leonard sa kabilang linya. “So… you really don’t miss me, do you?”

“I said it before. I will say it again. NO.”

“I see.”

Saglit na natahimik ulit ang linya.

“You’ve been pretty busy too, huh? All those activities and school work.” Simula ni Leonard.

“Yeah” Which means I don’t have time for you too.

“Are you busy now?”

Pag sinabi niya ang totoo, babagsakan na naman siya ng telepono. “Not really.”

“Umm… I just wanted to ask if you are free this coming Saturday.”

Eto na naman ang utak ni Mikaela. Starting to jump into conclusions. What the f—Is he asking me out for a date? She shook her head. Nah. That’s impossible. Seriously. “Why?”

“I want to ask you out on a date. We could eat at a restaurant. My treat. Just to catch up on the old times.” ***

“Tell me you’re not serious.” sabi ni Mikaela.

“I am serious, Mika.” Sagot ni Leonard. “So? Could we? Huh?”

“I don’t know.”

“I need your answer right now, Mika. Could we meet at the Baywalk this Saturday or not?”

Nagulat si Mikaela. “B-Baywalk?”

“Yeah. The Baywalk. The one at Manila Bay.” Nag-iba ang tono ni Leonard. “Am I interrupting you? Mukhang may iba ka kasing iniisip eh.”

Mikaela sighed as she hit herself in the forehead. Her imagination was running wild again. Ano bang nangyayari sa iyo, Mikaela? “No… I… May nakita lang ako sa TV… Ano ulit yung sinabi mo kanina?”

She heard him sigh on the other line before he continued. “I was asking if you are free this Saturday coz I want to meet you and talk to you about Kristine. Malapit na kasi ang birthday niya and I want to ask your opinion on what gift I could give to her.”

Biglang sumagi sa isip ni Mikaela, Ano bang pakialam ko sa girlfriend mo? Malapit na rin ang birthday ko, alam mo ba yun?Ewan ko lang kung naalala mo pa. Pinagalitan na naman niya ang sarili pagkatapos. “I’m not really sure, Leonard. But I will try. May cellphone number ka ba? I text na lang kita kung tuloy tayo.”

“No, I don’t have a cellphone.”

Ang yaman yaman mo, wala kang pambili ng cellphone! “Well, how can I contact you if you don’t have a cellphone with you? Can’t you borrow your mom’s cellphone?”

“I’ll be waiting for you there until 12 noon. Come on time, alright?”

“Teka, sandali. Paano kung di ako makapunta?”

“I will be sitting on the bench beside that bronze statue facing the Bay. I will wait for you to come so don’t fail me, alright? Bye.”

“Wait! Leo!”

Pero naibaba na ni Leonard ang telepono.

Nakakainis ka talaga! Meron akong meeting sa araw na iyon, alam mo ba? Sa tingin mo paano ako pupunta dyan? Galit na inisip ni Mikaela habang binababa ang handset ng telepono.

Sira ulo ka talaga, Leo. Binigyan mo na naman ako ng problema.

To be continued…