Pangarap Chronicles Scene 8: But I Need You To Be Able To

It was easier said than done. Michael has loved her for so long it was hard to cope. Of course, he didn't totally lose her. Via just married a guy. They are still friends. He can always be by her side whenever she is down or she wants somebody to talk to.
Really now? Sinong niloloko mo, man? You will never win against Gabriel. Not now. Not ever.
Michael finds it suddenly hard to breathe. He made his tie loose and went to the office's window. He desperately needs air. As a matter of fact, his dad suggested a vacation. Pero paano siya magbabakasyon kung ganitong tambak ang trabaho niya sa opisina? Besides, when he's not busy, he will only think of her more...
"Damn!" he cursed and went out of his office. When he saw his secretary eyeing him, he involuntarily said, "Myla, cancel all my appointments."

So, where will I go from here?
Michael finds it ridiculous. He was out of the building and in his car scanning his contacts. All of them are his friends from college and his colleagues but as soon as he presses that call button is his cellphone, he immediately cancels it. He needs company but the "companies" he is considering seem not to fit.
Mariel
He kept on staring that particular name in his contacts. What is that girl doing? Papayag kaya ito?
O well, here it goes.
Ring...ring...ring...
"Hello?" A smile formed in his lips when he heard her voice. "Hello?"
"Ah, hi, it's me, Michael," pakilala niya rito. Is her voice always this husky?
"Sir Michael? Bakit po?"
"Hmm, ahm, you know, I wanna go somewhere just to..uhm..breathe..."
"Hello? Sir, ano yun?"
Napakunot ang noo niya? Hindi ba nito maintindihan ang sinasabi niya?
"Mariel, can you hear me?"
"Ha? Wait lang sir, ah," anito. "Tawagan mo ako after five minutes."

Napakamot sa batok si Mariel habang naghahanap ng mas magandang signal. Hindi niya alam kung tatawagan pa siya ni sir Michael o ano. Pero malamang na importante ang sasabihin nun kaya malamang na oo.
May sasabihin siguro kay Via kaya lang brokenhearted kaya kailangan ng messenger.
Nang makahanap ng magandang signal ay ite-text sana niya ito ngunit nakita niyang Globe ito at Sun naman siya. Unlitext ang load na meron siya at wala siyang extra load.
Hay! Mukhang kailangan ko pang hintayin to! Wala naman sanang masamang nangyari sa kumpanya...
In-extend kasi nina Via at Gabriel ang honeymoon ng mga ito. Kinakabahang naghintay siya ng tawag galing kay Michael. Pasulyap-sulyap pa siya sa orasan sa cellphone niya.
Kailangan ko pang mag-research para sa project ko...
"Hay, hayan na!" Nagulat siya nang biglang nag-ring ang phone niya. Heto na...
"Hello, sir Michael?"
"Can you hear me now?"
"Ah, oo sir. M-malabo lang po yung signal. Bakit nga pala kayo napatawag?"

Darn it, Michael! It's not like you're asking her out on a date or something!
Naghugot muna siya ng isang malalim na hininga to compose himself. He doesn't even know why he has to.
"Hello sir? May problema ba?"
"No, no, it's nothing, Mariel."
"Eh bakit nga po kayo napatawag?"
"Ahm, I was just wondering if you're free today."

Nagyaya ba siya ng date?
Date? Gaga! Balikan mo kaya muna ang pangyayari sa love story ni Via bago ka ngumiti nang parang adik diyan.
Sa naisip ay napalis ang ngiti niya. Oo nga pala, brokenhearted ang isang ito na kailangan ng karamay.
"Mariel, are you still there?"
"Ha? Ah, oo, sir," biglang sagot naman niya. Kung bakit ba naman kasi ang lambing pala ng boses nito sa phone? Yan tuloy, nag-ilusyon na naman siya.
"Ano? Free ka ba today?"
"Pasensya na, sir. Kailangan ko kasing mag-research ngayon para sa project ko." Totoo naman iyon. Bakit ba naisip niya na defensive siya?

"Project?" Michael inquired. "What kind of project?"
Ipinaliwanag naman nito sa kanya. Aparently, it was a feasibility study about a beach resort at kung paano iyon pinapatakbo. Piece of cake.
"Paano, sir Michael, pasensya na talaga ah."
"Don't you need my help?"
"Ha? Tutulungan ninyo ako, sir?"
"Tinatanong pa ba 'yan," napapangiti niyang sabi. "Of course."
"Eh di ba, gusto ninyong mag-good time ngayon?"
"Well, I can have a good time while helping you with your feasibility study on a beach, right?"
"Hmm, may point ka 'dun, sir," anito. "Makakahanap ka pa ng chick at nang di ka na magpapakaemo sa harap ni Via."
"Do I really look pathetic?"

Mariel! Bakit ba kasi kailangan mo pang ibuka yang bibig mo?
"Sorry," pabulong niyang sabi.
"Maybe, I really do look pathetic," mapait nitong sabi. Lalo tuloy siyang na-guilty at napakagat-labi. "God knows how much I love Via. I'm trying to move on but somehow, I can't. I tried to date women who suit my taste but I just can't help it but compare them to Via. I don't know what to do anymore."
"Sir naman, huwag ninyo akong pa-guilty-hin," aniya. "Malay ninyo, pag nasa resort na kayo, makapag-relax-relax naman kayo."
"So, it's a deal? Ako na ang bahala sa nanay mo."
"Ay, sir! Ako nang bahala dun," natataranta naman niyang sabi. Tiyak na interrogation na umaatikabo ang aanihin niya sa mga oldies sa mansion ng mga Pereira. Makarating pa kina Via at Gabriel, eh malakas pa namang mang-asar ang mga 'yun, lalo na si Gabriel.

Napangiti si Michael sa tinuran ni Mariel. Mukhang balak pa nitong ilihim na siya ang makakasama nito. O well, he guessed it was for the better.
"So, get ready by Saturday."
"Shoot! Mga anong oras tayo magkikita?"
"I'll tell you the details later."
"Okay," anito. "Ah, sir, sige. Baka maubos na ang load ninyo."
Natawa siya sa tinuran nito.
"Okay, bye. See you."
"Okay po."
Nangingiting naiiling na sinulyapan niya ang phone niya bago magdial uli ng i-operate uli iyon to browse the beach resorts available on the net. He will be looking forward to it on Saturday. There are no doubts. It will be fun.
Since Mariel will be there...