Allan's sister came to pick them up. Mukha namang mabait si Gail. Mabait din naman si Allan, and Jenneth knows magiging kaibigan niya ito if only the situation is not like that.
Si Jenneth at Darlene ang naghatid sa kanila sa may garahe. Naiwan sina Kenneth at Ryan sa loob.
"Thanks, Jen," ani Allan.
Tumango lamang si Jenneth. Inilahad naman ni Allan ang kamay niya at tinanggap naman iyon ni Jenneth.
"Tita Sam…"
Napatingin si Samantha kay Darlene. She smiled at the little girl.
"See you in Tarlac," ang sabi na lamang ni Samantha.
Then the group was off. Bumalik na rin sina Jenneth at Darlene sa loob ng bahay. Naabutan nila sina Ryan at Kenneth na nakaupo sa may sofa. Nasa may three-seater si Kenneth habang si Ryan naman ay nasa may armchair. Si Kenneth, nakalaylay sa pagkakasandal habang nakatingin sa sahig. Si Ryan naman ay nakatingin sa kaibigan.
Tumabi si Darlene kay Kenneth. Ramdam yata ng bata na malungkot ang ama kaya hindi na ito nangulit pa. Sumiksik na lamang siya dito at yumakap sa may baywang nito. Inakbayan naman ni Kenneth ang anak pero hindi pa rin ito nag-aangat ng tingin.
Umupo naman si Jenneth sa kabilang dulo ng three-seater. Napatingin siya kay Ryan, na tumingin din naman sa kanya. She can't tell kung ano ba ang iniisip nito. Hindi rin naman niya alam kung ano ang sasabihin. They just looked at each other, until Ryan decided to look down.
Thirty minutes has passed, but everyone is still where they were when the Allan and Samantha left. Even Darlene is just quietly staring at the adults she's with. As young as she is, she could already sense the tension in the surroundings. She just sat there at the sofa leaning on to Kenneth.
"I think we should also leave," ani Jenneth.
Walang sumagot kay Jenneth. She looked at Ryan, and the latter nodded quietly. He then looked at Kenneth. Jenneth noticed that look that he gave to Kenneth, making her feel like he's trying to be strong for his best friend.
Tumango lamang si Kenneth. Walang kabuhay-buhay na tango.
And so, they packed their bags and made sure Dr. de Villa's rest house is good. Ryan asked Kenneth to sit at the back with Darlene, and Kenneth agreed. Jenneth is sure it has nothing to do with her and Ryan hooking up. Kenneth just wanted to be quiet and alone, and Ryan knew that very well.
But Kenneth is not really alone. He's with Darlene. Quiet, yes, for the little girl seems to lose her enthusiasm as well. She just sits quietly at the backseat with her father.
Jenneth decided to sit beside Ryan. It was actually weird, because Jenneth did not feel awkward just like the first time they were sitting together. Maybe it's the mood behind them that seems to radiate to the two of them. Patingin-tingin si Jenneth sa may rear view mirror and she can see na hindi okay ang mag-amang nasa likuran nila. Or at least, Kenneth. But Darlene is not okay with her father not being okay so, technically she's not also okay.
Unang hinatid ni Ryan ang mag-ama sa bahay ng mga ito. Nandoon din kasi ang kotse nito at iyon na lang ang gagamitin niyang panghatid kay Jenneth. Hindi na tumutol pa si Jenneth sa plano dahil hindi naman din tamang mag-inarte pa sa ganoong klaseng pagkakataon.
"We'll go now," Ryan said.
Tumango lamang si Kenneth. Naisip ni Jenneth, siguro kung hindi ganoon ang sitwasyon ay katakot-takot na tukso ang matatanggap nila mula sa lalaki. Pero hindi na ito nagsalita pa at hinintay na lamang silang umalis.
Their trip was as quiet as the one earlier. Nakatingin lamang sa bintana si Jenneth, habang seryoso naman sa pagdi-drive si Ryan. Hanggang sa makarating na sila sa bahay ni Jenneth. Ryan helped her get her things from the compartment.
"Thanks," Jenneth said.
Tumango si Ryan. "The least that I could do for everything you've done this past two days."
"Sayang nga lang at ganoon ang nangyari."
Jenneth was really sad. Remembering the conversation she had with Samantha, she's pretty sure that Ryan's plan could have worked. It has a basis and it's not just because of a whim. Kenneth and Samantha really have feelings for each other, and it's not just as friends.
"I guess it wasn't meant to be," Ryan said.
Tumango na lamang si Jenneth.
"Well, I'll go now." Ryan looked at Jenneth.
"Ah… You want to come inside first?"
Maging si Jenneth ay nagulat sa sinabi niya. Bakit ba bigla na lamang niyang nasabi ang bagay na iyon?
Unbelievable. Gustong tampalin ni Jenneth ang mukha.
"Sure."
Natigilan si Jenneth. Did he just accept her offer?
Kung hindi pa tumaas ang isang kilay ni Ryan ay hindi pa kikilos si Jenneth.
"Come in."
To her surprise, Ryan took her things. Hinayaan na lamang niya ito at hindi rin naman niya alam ang sasabihin. For sure ay tatangi ito kung sasabihin niyang huwag na itong mag-abala pa.
Magkasunod silang pumasok sa loob. Sa may sala ay pinaupo niya si Ryan sa may sofa.
"Mag-isa ka na lang dito?" tanong ni Ryan kay Jenneth.
"Meron akong kasama, si Ate Janet. Siya ang naging kasama ni Mama nung magkasakit siya. Tapos may isa pang pumupunta dito thrice a week para tumulong maglinis at maglaba."
Tumango si Ryan.
"Nasa palengke daw siya ngayon. I'll just get you something to drink."
"Sama na ako," ani Ryan.
Tumango si Jenneth.
Nagpunta silang dalawa sa may kusina. Jenneth asked Ryan what he likes to drink.
"Beer," Ryan answered.
Jenneth stared at him.
"Joke lang. Nakaka-tense naman kasi itong sitwasyon." He was referring to Kenneth and Samantha's situation. Pero bukod doon, may iba pang nakakapagpakaba kay Ryan. It was the mere fact that he's alone with her that makes him uneasy.
Though, he would not dare say that to her.
"Meron akong tea," Jenneth said. "Nakaka-relax din iyon."
Tumango na lamang si Ryan.
Inihanda ni Jenneth ang tsaa. Bukod doon ay binigyan niya ng buttercream cookies si Ryan upang iterno sa inumin. Ilang minuto nang nakahain ang tsaa at biskwit ay hindi pa rin gumagalaw si Ryan. Hindi rin ito nagsasalita. Nakatingin lang ito sa may tasa nito.
"Okay na siguro iyan," Jenneth said. Siya na ang kumuha ng teabag mula sa tasa nito. "Do you want honey? Creamer?"
Para namang natulala si Ryan sa tanong niya. Hindi maiwasang mapangiti ni Jenneth.
"Spaced out?"
"Sorry…" Ryan smiled shyly.
"Okay lang."
Hindi na hinintay pa ni Jenneth ang sagot nito. Siya na mismo ang naglagay ng honey sa tsaa nito.
"Baka lumamig iyang tsaa mo," ang sabi pa niya para mapainom na si Ryan ng tsaa.
Tumalima naman na si Ryan. Ininom na nito ang tsaa.
"This is good," komento nito.
"Thank you."
Muli silang natahimik. Si Jenneth ang unang nagsalita. Medyo nagiging awkward na kasi ang katahimikang bumabalot sa kanilang dalawa.
"So… Uhm… doon ka pa rin ba nakatira sa parents mo?"
Ryan looked at her. "No…" sagot nito sabay iling. "No… Uhm… I moved out. May sarili na akong bahay sa may San Simon."
"Talaga…? Ang layo mo pala dito." Sa kabilang dulo ng siyudad kasi ang barangay na iyon.
"Okay lang… Hindi ko rin naman gustong umuwi muna."
Hayun na naman. Jenneth knows that the reason behind that was what happened in Subic. Naisip niyang humanap ng ibang mapag-uusapan kasi baka bumalik na naman sila sa topic na parehong nagpapalungkot sa kanilang dalawa.
"Mabuti pumayag ang daddy mo?"
Ryan shrugged. "Napagod na siguro siyang kontrahin ang asawa niya."
She felt like Ryan just said that casually. Mukhang medyo manhid na ito sa topic na iyon.
"So, you don't come and visit?"
"Funny, but I still can't take them away from my life completely," ani Ryan. "Alam mo iyon? I still keep on coming to them. Like, sa birthday ni Dad. Alam ko naman na napipilitan lang silang imbitahan ako, but I'm still coming."
"Because they are still your family."
Ryan let out a sigh. "I guess so… You know, you're quite lucky."
Napatingin siya kay Ryan.
"You don't have to go through all that," ani Ryan. "You don't have to force yourself to be with your father's family."
"Siguro nga. But you see, I also have my issues."
Tumango si Ryan. "Hindi naman maaalis iyon sa buhay."
"Sabagay…"
Ryan finished his tea, then stood up.
"Aalis na ako. Salamat sa tsaa. It somehow made me feel better."
Tumango na lamang si Jenneth.
"Huwag mo na akong ihatid."
Muli'y tumango si Jenneth, at hindi na nga niya ito sinundan palabas ng bahay nila. But for some reasons, she can't stop herself from going out and watching him go. Kaya naman nang marinig niyang mag-start ang kotse nito ay lumabas siya sa may sala, pero imbes na lumabas sa may gate ay tumanaw na lamang siya sa bintana nito.
The silver Audi Q5 drove away. Jenneth even looked on, wondering. Would that be her last encounter with Ryan Arcilla? Wala na naman siyang maisip na dahilan para makita ito ulit. Except if he would be the one to come to her, because she's sure she won't be the first one to come to him.
Or, is she really sure about that? She shook her head. Of course, bakit naman niya ito gugustuhing makita pa?
"Goodbye, Ryan Arcilla…"
Yeah, maybe that will be the last time she'll see him.