Rooftop (CHAPTER TWELVE)

"Did I?"

"Gosh! Yes, you did!"

"Oh my. My bad, my bad. I'm sorry. It wasn't supposed to be like that." Then he laughed.

"Ohh wait. I thought asa hotel ka at magsstay ka pa run? Were you lying?"

"Nope." Then he shrugged his shoulders.

"Then what are you doing here?" I asked confusingly, it's evident on my face.

He heavily sighed.

"I wasn't lying when I told you earlier na asa hotel pa ako. Pero you didn't ask in wich hotel I am." Then he gave a smirk.

"So?" Still confused, I asked.

"So.. I arrived here in Makati last night. When I called you earlier, I was in the hotel all along."

"I didn't know may branch pala kayo rito sa Makati?"

"I didn't tell you about that on purpose."

"And why? Surprise ganun?"

"Yeah, probably." He chuckled softly. "Look at your face, your expression looks weird." I arched an eyebrow at him. "Uhmm.." he laughed. "Kasi kanina you were smiling while nakakunot mo."

I just rolled my eyes at him, pero I think medyo weird nga 'yun hahaha.

"Ohh so ano na meron dito ngayon? Anong pautot 'to?"

"Pautot?" He laughed again. Hobby na talaga ng taong 'to ang tumawa. Hayy I missed hearing those laughters.

"Ano bang meron at may paganito ganito ka pa?" At pinakita ko sa kanya itong mga papers na hanggang ngayon hawak ko pa rin.

He just stared at me.

"Hoy! Ano 'to? Scam!? At kinuntsaba mo pa talaga si Dokora ha?" He laughed again. "Hey, hey! Tatawa-tawanan mo nalang ba ako rito? Hinihintay na ako ni Ate na makauwi." Though I'm not sure if siya mismo nakauwi na. Ay wait. "Hmm wait, wait! Don't tell me kasabwat mo rin si Ate at pati si Kuya Dan ha?" He smiled then he shrugged his shoulders.

"Wow. Iba rin."

"Thanks. I actually met them earlier. I reached your Ate through Facebook Messenger."

Ahh so nauna pa silang nakita siya huh?

"Asan na 'yung fireworks?" Pag iiba ko nalang ng topic.

"Suus. Naniwala ka naman."

"Ay! Bwiset talaga 'to. So anong gagawin natin dito?"

"Stargazing nalang tayo." I smiled at him. Well, sabagay maganda rin naman ang night view dito sa rooftop. Ang gandang titigan ng mga buildings and ng stars and moon sa taas. Nagstart na akong tumitig sa paligid, pero bigla naman akong hinihila netong katabi ko.

"Hoy! Bakit tayo bababa!? Akala ko stargazing?"

"Did I say na dito?"

"Ahh so saan? Sa baba? Gano'n?"

"Bakit hindi ba pwede sa baba?"

"Huwag ka ngang makulit! Doon ka magstargazing sa baba kung gusto mo!" I said while I'm trying to pull myself, pero hindi ako makawala sa kamay niya. He's obviously stronger than me, wala akong energy and oo pala 'di pa ako nagdidinner. Nakabitaw na rin ako sa kanya sawakas at 'di ko na tinuloy step ko papunta sa may rails dito sa rooftop. Nakaramdam kasi ako ng gutom so kusa na akong umeexit ngayon.

"Oh? Akala ko dito ka sa taas? Yie gusto niyang kasama akong magstargazing sa baba."

"Don't be so assuming, bruh. Gutom na kasi ako kaya bababa na ako, uuwi na ako, bahala ka riyan."

"Uy sakto may free dinner ngayon sa hotel. Nice timing ang pagkagutom mo, girl." Sabi

niya while humahabol sa akin sa pagbaba. Andito na kami ngayon sa 4th floor. Tumatakbo kasi ako kanina hahaha.

"Hmm anniversary ng hotel ngayon. Actually.. tomorrow pa, pero aantayin na mag 12 midnight. Every year kapag anniversary, naghahanda kami ng free dinner and there are guests, too. Mostly are the stockholders, the board members and the staffs ang andoon. And since andito ako sa Makati branch, dito nalang cinelebrate instead sa main branch."

"Ohh, I see. Saan pala ang main branch niyo?"

"Sa Pasig, girl. Pero may mini celebration din sa main branch of course, party gathering ng mga employees, girl." I laughed. "Oh anong nakakatawa?"

"Wala, bakla. Gaga."

"Oww, you speak those kind of words din pala? It's not obvious on you." And we both laughed. Ayun tawa tawa nalang kami rito. Nakarating na kami sa first floor and nagpaalam na ako kay Doktora and I confirmed at her na oo, kinuntsaba nga talaga siya. Doktora even said na we take care and good luck sa dinner. Huh? How'd she know? Weird. Or baka plano naman talaga ni Kielle, I mean Kyle. Nako baka bigla ko nalang siya matawag sa gano'ng pangalan. Lagot na, mukhang wala pa namang kaalam alam etong taong 'to. Pero when to think of it, bakit ang tagal niya naman atang nagkaamnesia? 8 years? Wala pa rin ba talaga siyang naaalala?

I shut my thoughts off at nagfocus muna ako sa present.

Nakalabas na kami ng hospital ngayon. Surprisingly, he didn't bring his car with him. Commute raw kami para masaya. Odi sige, sanay naman ako eh.

15 minutes and nakarating na agad kami rito sa hotel. Gabi na rin kasi so walang traffic.

"Welcome back po, Sir. Good evening."

"Good evening, Sir. Good evening, Ma'am."

"Hello, Sir Kyle." The manager of the hotel looked at me. "Is she a nurse of our client doon sa 3rd floor, Sir? Siya ba 'yung nurse na nirequest nila?"

"Oh, no, no. She's a friend of mine."

"Ahh, I see. Hi, Ma'am I'm sorry. But you're a nurse right?" I smiled and napatango lang ako kasi narealized kong nakascrub suite pa pala ako. Etong si Kyle, 'di manlang pinaalala sa akin na magpalit manlang! Pinagkamalan pa tuloy akong on duty.

.....

"Okay! 12 AM na and since gutom na ang lahat. Mamaya na raw magsspeech Si Sir Ezekiel. Let's toast our wines for our 5th anniversary!"

We're here right now sa 29th floor ng hotel. After ng mahaba habang paglilibot at pag eentertain niya sa mga guests, natapos na rin finally. He even introduced me as his friend sa mga guests and mga board members.

Nakaupo ako ngayon sa harap ng round table na nacoveran ng white and gold na cloth. Tapos na kaming serve-an ng food. Since may ari ng hotel etong kasama ko, sinerve na mismo sa table niya ang food na sinusupervise ng manager na Tita niya raw.

Nagpalagay din ako ng shrimp sa plate ko.

"I'll just go to the comfort room." Pagpaaalala ni Kielle.

Tatlo lang kami sa table with his Tita.

"Ay ako rin, iha. Ako rin, cr din muna ako ha?"

"Okay po, Ma'am."

"Nako stop calling me Ma'am. Just call me Tita."

"Hehe sige po, Tita."

"Will you be okay here?"

"Yes naman po. Baka pabalik na rin si Kie- ahh I mean Kyle hehehe."

While waiting for Kyle, naalala ko 'yung ginagawa namin nung mga bata pa kami so I did it again. Itinago ko 'yung shrimp sa ilalim ng rice niya and now parating na siya.

"Oh bakit sobrang wide ng ngiti mo diyan, huh?"

"Let's eat na?"

"Okay."

We prayed first before we eat and pinagpray ko na sana hindi nagbago favorite ni Kyle, sana favorite niya pa rin etong shrimp.

"Ow shit."

"Hey, Kyle? Why?" I asked with shock on my face.

Napatingin naman ako kay Kyle at sobrang gulat ko nalang nung makitang niluluwa niya sa tissue 'yung shrimp.

"Huh!? Bakit mo niluluwa 'yang shrimp? I thought favorite mo 'yan?"

"No. It's my brother's favorite. And I'm allergic to seafoods."

"What?! Kailan pa?" I asked him while offering him water to drink, pulang pula na siya.

"I don't know when. I can't remember."

'Ahh oo nga pala nagkaamnesia nga pala 'to dahil naaccident siya before and it was my fault.' Sabi ko sa isip ko.

"Hey, nakatunganga ka na, Aisha."

"Ay sorry. Hey, are you okay now?" I asked worriedly.

He nodded then smiled then uminom siya ng tubig.

"I'm sorry. I was the one who put the shrimp in there. I and my best friend usually does that before. I'm sorry."

"Wow."

"Huh? Ikaw na nga 'tong mamuntikan na tapos wow? Sira ka?"

"No. I mean wow kasi I was glad hearing from you that the thing you did was the thing you were doing with your best friend. I am flattered, Aisha." I smiled at him, I just smiled. Paano ba naman kasi Kyle? You were the one I was referring to!

We're done eating now at paakyat na kami sa rooftop. Ewan ko rito sa taong 'to. What's with him and rooftops?

"Ahh so dito mo sinasabi na dito tayo magstargazing?"

"Yeah?" He answered while shrugging his shoulders na may kasamang pagtaas ng two eyebrows niya. Cute.

*Phone ringing*

"You got a call. That's definitely not mine, hindi gano'n ringtone ko." Then I chuckled.

"Alright, yea. Wait a minute." And he answered the phone call in front of me after looking at the caller ID though ako hindi ko nakita and I have no intention of finding out kung sinuman ang tumawag sa kanya, baka business matters lang.

"Yeah, yeah. After 10 to 15 minutes siguro na nagstart 'yon, pwede na. O'sige, sige. Yeah. Just talk to them. Yea, yea. Thanks. Bye."

"Aish? You curious?"

"I didin't say anything, hey?"

"But you look like you are."

I chuckled. "Medyo naweweirdohan lang ako sa sinasabi mo, pero doesn't matter. 'Di naman ako chismosa noh."

"Pero I would still tell it to you." He looked up at the sky then smiled. "This."

And those beautiful firework displays started to occupy the dark sky. The sky is surrounded by stars. Ang cute lang tingnan ang fireworks sa langit na may mga kasamang stars sa gilid. Sa sobrang amazed, napasabi nalang ako ng

"This is so amazing."

"Thanks!" And umakbay siya sa'kin.

"Hoy close tayo?!"

"Huh? Aren't we?"

"No, Kyle. I mean are we blood related para akbayan mo ako?"

"Ay may requirements pala sa pag aakbay sa'yo?"

"Sina Papa at Mama at Ate at Tita at ading namin at pinsan ko and other close relatives lang nakakaakbay sa'kin. Sa kanila lang ako nagpapaakbay kaya hey! Get off your hands of me!"

"Shh, you're getting talkative, Aisha. There's nothing wrong with this. I just wanna enjoy the moment." At umakbay na uli siya kasi natanggal kanina pagkakaakbay niya sa'kin when I pushed him hahaha sorry naman. Kasi actually, I just feel nervous. I don't know. But I'm feeling the same feeling I felt years ago when I'm this near to him.

He looked up at the sky again.

"Enjoy lang natin 'yung fireworks. They're so beautiful oh."

"Yeah, yeah." And we watched the fireworks together. Gosh I miss this guy. I miss this hooman.

"How'd you know I love the fireworks?"

"What?"

"I said how did you know na I love the fireworks? Pa'no mo nalaman? Stalker ka?" Umasa ka lang na may naaalala siya, Aish.

"Hmm no, no. Actually, I didn't know. I just find the fireworks beautiful and I hoped that you would like it. But to be honest, I'm not sure if you'll like it because you seem like the kind of person who doesn't care about things and these stuffs."

"Sabagay yea. But surprisingly, I like these kind of stuffs, too." I said then smiled. Yea, he's right. But years before, I'm that kind of person. 'Yung nakakaappreciate ng little things, friendly, at parating cheerful. I don't know but since nung nawala siya, nawala na rin 'yung side ko na 'yun. Maybe isa siyang malaking lost sa akin. And I think baka nga siya 'yung TOTGA ko.

"Hey?" I muttered.

"Yeah?"

"Have you ever had a TOTGA?"

"TOTGA what?"

"Uhm.. the one that got away?"

"Ah, ah.. that? Hmm I-- I think I have."

"You have? Who is it?"

He chuckled.

"You might not know her. And I don't know her now, too."

"What do you mean?"

"Let's just say that she changed a lot. Let's just say it like that. Hmm why'd you ask?"

"Nothing. I'm just curious."

"Ow, ow. So you're curious about me now huh?" He winked.

"Duhh?" I said while rolling my eyes.

He laughed and I seconded.

"But, Aisha.. I'll ask you, too. Meron ka rin bang totga?"

Natahimik ako.

"Come on. Just answer me. I won't judge."

I just nodded with a little smile.

"Is it romantically? Or?"

"Yeah."

"Yeah what?" He asked me that with one eyebrow arched.

"Yeah, I have totga. The one that got away. I don't know if it's romantic or I.. don't know?" I said then shrugged my shoulders.

"I.. I just tsk. I.. don't know? Because I'm not sure if he feels the same. 8 years before nung nawala siya. And now, I think nagbalik na siya, pero hindi siya buo." I continued.

"Wait. Wait. I don't understand you, fully."

"You fool!"

"What?!"

Then we both laughed.

I miss this guy so much.

"What I mean is.." I took a deep breath. Gosh how do I explain this to him?! I took a deep breath again.

"Come on, girl relax!" He placed again his arms on my shoulders then leaned his head on the other.

I gave him glaring look.

"Just let me!"

"What else could I do?" Then I sighed out of defeat. "I'll continue na ha?" He nodded. Aww this cute big guy. "What I mean is he's not exactly the same person I knew before because there is something missing in him and it is.."

"It is?"

His memory. But I can't tell it out loud. I don't know why. I just feel like it.

He stared at me, still waiting for my answer.

"Uhh I don't know? Basta parang may iba, parang may mali na hindi ko maintindihan.But one thing is for sure, I'm happy that he's back."

"I'm back."

"WHAT!?" Does he knows about it? Bumalik na ba memories niya?!

"Yeah. I'm back, too. Ya know.. We haven't seen each other for two years."

"Ohh." I laughed, pilit na tawa. Assume pa kasi, Aish. 'Yung last last summer lang pala tinutukoy eh hayyy asa pa, sige, asa pa!

"Hey? You alright?" He snapped his fingers.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm pretty alright."

"No."

"I'm really okay, hey?"

"No. Ahh yeah, yeah. You're okay, but are you pretty?"

And I realized what he meant. I just rolled my eyes at him as a a response. Hahaha he's still naughty as ever as before.

"Thank you." Huh?

"For?"

"Tonight." And he smiled.

"Huh? But you're the one who brought me here and these.." Then I looked at the colorful sky above us.

He smiled again.

"But still, thank you. You made my night."

"Ohh, oh. Thanks to you, too. I enjoyed this."

And he smiled again. I wish we could stay forever in this rooftop.