On the Market

Nakita ni Jenneth si Samantha de Vera, kasama sina Kenneth, Darlene at Ryan, na naglakad mula sa isang bahagi ng garden. At dahil nga ayaw muna niyang makausap o maka-interact ulit si… you know who, ay hinintay muna niyang makalayo ang birthday celebrant sa tatlo at asikasuhin ang kanyang mga bisita.

After a while ay nagkaroon na rin ng chance si Jenneth na makausap si Samantha.

"Jhing! I'm glad you came!"

"Happy birthday!" Niyakap niya ito. "And Merry Christmas."

Samantha smiled. "Thanks."

Ibinigay ni Jenneth ang regalo dito.

"Oh! Thank you, Jhing! Thank you."

Natuwa naman si Jenneth.

"I thought it was just me and Ryan and Kenneth? Oh, and Darlene," Jenneth said.

"Hay naku! Hindi ko nga alam, eh. Paggising ko kanina, nagse-set up na sila. Eh nahiya naman akong ipa-cancel kasi na-invite na lahat ni Ate Helen."

"Ganyan talaga si Doktora. Mahilig magpa-party at magpakain."

"Sinong mahilig magpakain?" tanong ni Dr. de Villa na nakalapit na pala sa kanila.

"Ninong!" Niyakap ni Samantha ang matanda.

"Happy birthday!" Iniabot ni Dr. de Villa ang regalo.

"Uh! Ninong, thank you."

"Ikaw nga iyong pinakamatipid kong inaanak kasi isang gift lang para sa Pasko at birthday."

Natawa sina Jenneth at Samantha.

"At least, Ninong, marami kang budget para mang-treat, lalo na nung mga tao sa Lab," ani Samantha.

"Ito nga, eh," ani Dr. de Villa sabay turo kay Jenneth. "Laging gutom."

"Grabe ka naman, Dok," natatawang wika ni Jenneth.

"Ang lakas kumain," ang sabi pa ni Dr. de Villa. "Hindi nabubusog."

Tuluyan nang natawa sina Jenneth at Samantha sa biro ni Dr. de Villa.

"Grabe si Doc sa akin," ani Jenneth.

"Ihanap mo na nga ng boyfriend para hindi na nagpapalibre sa akin," ang sabi ni Dr. de Villa kay Samantha.

"Hayaan mo, Nong. Project natin iyan," sakay naman ni Samantha sa matanda.

"O siya. Kukuha muna ako ng lechon doon sa buffet."

Iniwan na ni Dr. de Villa ang dalawa.

"Nong! Bawal sa iyo iyan!" pahabol pa ni Samantha.

Muling natawa na lamang ang dalawa sa matandang doktor.

"O paano iyan? Ihanap daw kita ng boyfriend."

Jenneth looked at Samantha.

"Malay mo, hayun na siya, o."

Jenneth looked at the direction Samantha is looking at. She caught sight of Ryan, who is also looking at her. Napaiwas lamang ito ng tingin nang magtama ang kanilang mga mata.

But on the same direction came a man na palapit sa kanila. The guy went to Samantha.

"Hey! Happy birthday!" the guy said as he went to Samantha and hugged her.

"Thanks, Stan. Nice to see you here," ang sabi naman ni Samantha.

"Na-excite nga ako nung in-invite kami ni Dra. Helen. The last time I've been to your birthday was I think nung grade 3 tayo?"

Natawa si Samantha. "Oo nga. Eh kasi naman kayo, ginawa n'yo nang habit na mag-travel tuwing holidays."

"Well, I can't argue with the elders," ang sabi ni Stan. "Tsaka, iba na rin iyong mga friends mo noon, di ba?"

"Sorry naman daw," ani Samantha. "Oh, by the way. This is Jenneth, a friend of mine."

"Oh! Hi, Jenneth!" Stan held out his hand.

Tinanggap naman iyon ni Jenneth. "Hi!"

"Jenneth, this is Stan Fontanilla. He was a childhood friend of mine and classmate until na-accelerate ako," ani Samantha.

Jenneth finally remembered who the guy is. "Oh! You own CPRU!"

Stan smiled. "Yeah, I guess so."

Isang lalaki ulit ang lumapit sa kanilang tatlo.

"Sam! Happy birthday!" anito sabay yakap kay Samantha.

"Thanks, Jared," Samantha said.

"Wow, Sam! You… you're stunning!" komento ni Jared.

"Ito naman! Parang ibang tao," ani Samantha kay Jared.

"Eh hindi ka naman dating ganyan nung mga bata pa tayo. America seems to have done a lot of good things to you, huh?" ani Jared.

Ngumiti lamang si Samantha.

"Baka naman… we can go out sometimes?"

Natawa si Samantha sa sinabi ni Jared. Napakunot naman ang noo ni Jenneth sa kapreskuhan ng lalaki.

"Sorry Jared, but I'm taken," ani Samantha.

"Uh…" Kunwari ay talagang dismayado si Jared.

"You know who's available? My friend here. Jenneth."

Ipinakilala ni Samantha ang lalaki sa kanya. Nakababatang kapatid pala ito ni Stan.

"Birds of the same feather, ha?" ani Jared, obviously pleased with Jenneth also. "I can imagine you rocking Harvard's premises."

"No, si Jhing friend ko nung high school," ani Samantha.

Saglit na napaisip si Jared. "Oh! So, you're older."

Napataas ang kilay ni Jenneth sa sinabi nito.

"Ano namang ibig mong sabihin doon?" tanong ni Samantha dito.

"Hindi kasi, women prefer older men. Hindi ba ganoon?" paliwanag ni Jared.

"Wala naman sa edad iyon. Nasa maturity," ani Samantha.

"Ouch!" Hinawakan ni Jared ang dibdib niya. "And sakit no'n, Sam. Sapol."

Natawa si Samantha sa reaksiyon nito. Maging ang nakikinig lang na si Stan ay napangiti sa biro ng kapatid.

"Truth hearts," ang sabi pa ni Samantha.

"I need a doctor! I need a doctor!" ang sabi naman ni Jared.

"Hayan ang doktor, oh," ang sabi naman ni Stan.

"Doc! Doc, I need help!" Kunwari'y maaatake na si Jared.

"I don't treat hopeless cases," ani Samantha.

Natawa sina Jenneth at Stan sa sinabi ni Samantha.

"Grabe ka talaga sa akin," ang sabi naman ni Jared. "Si Jenneth na nga lang."

Medyo nabahala si Jenneth sa narinig. Hindi naman masama si Jared. Actually, physically, Jared is very good-looking. Idagdag pa diyan ang pagiging Fontanilla niya. Sila lang naman ang may ari ng CPRU. And she doesn't mind if he's younger or not.

It's just that, Jenneth is not ready to have a relationship at this time.

Mabuti na lang at biglang tumunog ang cellphone niya.

"Excuse me, I have to take this."

Hindi na niya hinintay pa ang sagot ng tatlo. Lumayo na siya at naghanap ng mas tahimik na lugar para masagot niya ang tumawag sa kanya, who is none other than her cousin, Sharon.

"Cuz!"

Jenneth smiled. "Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas! Again!"

Natawa si Jenneth. Binati na kasi siya nito nung Christmas Eve.

"Grabe, Ate. You should see Seoul at Christmas. It's stunning!"

Nasa South Korea ito ngayon at may dadaluhang fashion show doon.

"I bet it is," Jenneth said.

"What are you doing?" Sharon asked.

"I am walking… trying to look for a more quiet spot where I could talk to you."

"Ay, nasa party ka nga pala!" ani Sharon. "Sige, later na lang ako tatawag."

"Okay lang."

"Naku, Ate! You should be enjoying the party and try to look for some guy."

"Hayan na naman yung some guy mo."

"Ganoon talaga kapag 31 na at wala pang boyfriend. Sige na, later na lang ulit."

Wala nang nagawa si Jenneth nang ibaba ni Sharon ang telepono. Saka lang niya napansin kung saan na siya napadpad. Wala nang tao sa pinuntahan niyang parte ng garden. It wasn't perfectly lit up like the part where the party is being held. Wala ngang gaanong liwanag sa parteng iyon ng garden. But there's something in the semi-lit corner that makes it look so magical. Jenneth can't help but feel enthralled.

Nang mapatingin siya sa may bandang dulo, she saw something. Lumapit siya doon para makita pa iyon ng mas mabuti. Natigilan siya nang ma-realize kung ano iyon. It was a swing! It was the swing that Darlene is talking about, Jenneth assumed. Wala naman din kasing ibang swing na naroon.

She moved closer to the swing and was amazed by its beauty. The white iron swing is decorated by rose bushes with flowers. It's very romantic. She was so drawn into it and she almost sat down on it.

Until Ryan suddenly talked.

"So, you finally found it."

Gulat na napaharap si Jenneth sa lalaki.

"That was the swing that Darlene was talking about."

Tumango na lamang si Jenneth to show she understood. Hindi rin naman kasi siya makapagsalita kasi una, nagulat talaga siya. Pangalawa, the moment seems odd. There was something about Ryan and the swing and the semi-lit location that gives her a feeling of longing.

She's getting a hard time brushing it off her system. It's trying to overcome her.

"Jhing, may… gusto sana akong ipakiusap sa iyo."

Tuluyan na siyang hindi nakapagsalita. How dare this guy ask her a favor? For all she knows, hindi pa sila okay na dalawa. Ano naman ang ipapakiusap nito sa kanya? Hindi na talaga ito nahiya.

Pero bakit may isang bahagi niya ang nananabik sa ipapakiusap ni Ryan? Jenneth can feel the anticipation as Ryan tries to weigh in the words he's going to tell her.

"Pero hindi dito… Hindi ngayon."

Jenneth frowned.

"Bukas… Pwede ba akong pumunta sa bahay ninyo bukas? Para masabi ko kung anuman iyong gusto kong sabihin."

Ryan seems very nervous. Lalong naintriga si Jenneth sa gusto nitong sabihin.

"Sige…" she said.

Parang nakahinga ng maluwag si Ryan sa sinabi niya. She could see on this semi-lit garden that his face lit up after she said yes.

"Thank you… Uhm… Sige, bukas na lang."

Walang nagawa si Jenneth nang talikuran siya ni Ryan at nagsimula na itong maglakad palayo. Nang bigla itong humarap ulit sa kanya.

"By the way… Merry Christmas, Jhing."

Hindi na nakasagot pa si Jenneth; partly because tuluyan na siyang iniwan ni Ryan; mostly because she was caught off guard. Hindi talaga niya inaasahan ang greeting na iyon. He didn't even greet her when they met earlier. And that look on his face… Why did she feel he's grateful?

Jenneth looked at the swing and sat down on it. Huminga rin siya ng malalim as she felt her breath was suppressed when Ryan was talking to her. Kaya tuloy para siyang nanlalambot dahil sa kulang siya sa hangin.

O, si Ryan ba ang dahilan ng panlalambot ng mga tuhod niya?

Whatever the reason is, isa lang ang sigurado niya. She will be seeing Ryan again tomorrow. Dadalawin siya nito sa bahay nila. Just thinking about it ay parang kumabog ang puso niya. She was nervous at the thought that her ex will come and visit her, but she cannot hide the fact that she felt some excitement in meeting Ryan again.