22

"The final question is, how do you know you deserve to be rewarded and how do you know you deserve the recognition," pahayag ni Leif.

Ito na ang huli naming pagkikita. Sa limang araw na magkausap kami ay naging komportable na ako kasama siya. Alam kong marami ang nagtataas ng kilay sa amin pero hinahayaan ko na lang. Ang sabi naman ni Leif ay walang problema.

Marami akong nalaman sa kanya at sa pamilya niya, lalo na sa Daddy niya na dating presidente. He is someone you can be proud of. At nakikita kong may mga bumabatikos man sa tatay niya noon ay nananatiling mataas ang pagtingin niya dito.

The funniest part for the last four days was when he ordered food for the two of us. Um-order siya ng fried chicken, at hindi ako nahiyang sabihin na allergic ako doon. Nagulat siya dahil parehas daw kami ng Daddy niya. Kaya tuwing kakain siya sa labas, chicken ang kinakain niya dahil deprived daw siya sa fried chicken sa bahay nila.

"Should we write it?" tanong ko sa kanya. "Or record?"

"I think irecord na lang natin. Let's use my phone," sagot niya at inilabas ang cellphone. "We'll answer simultaneously. You go ahead?"

Tumango ako. "You ask and I'll answer."

"Okay. Alice Dominguez, how do you know you deserve to be rewarded?" umpisa ni Leif.

"Hmm. If I know I did something out of my league? Like if I eat chicken just to pass the exam, I deserve to really pass the exam. A passing grade is the reward I could ever ask for. How about you? Leif Soldevilla?"

Tumawa si Leif bago sumagot. "Maybe if I exert unfamiliar effort with the things I hate the most."

Marahan akong tumango. "And how do you know you deserve the recognition? You're full of it, I bet."

"Maybe if it represents who I really am. If it recognizes what I really am. And you?"

"Katulad ng sa 'yo," diretso kong sagot. "It's so nice to hear people recognizing your skills, talents or effor you do. But I think what you said is the best recognition you could ever receive. Yung kung sino ka talaga. That when they hear or say something related to you, they know it's you. No one else."

"So are we ending this... just like this?" tanong ni Leif.

I gestured him not to stop recording. "Canary, if youre hearing this, I want you to hear what reward and recognition you deserve. First, kung may pera lang ako, I will gift you a well-deserved vacation for all your hardworks. Second, I want you to be recognized not being a bad and cold person but a smart and brave woman.

I want you to be my friend pero kung ayaw mo, I dont mind. Youre still my friend and youll see me everywhere. If you need non-monetary help, Alice is here for you."

Ako na ang nagstop noon at ibinalik ko iyon kay Leif.

"I dont want to cross boundaries but... you seem close to her. Kamusta na ba siya?" usisa ko kay Leif. Matagal ko nang gusto itanong iyon dahil sa biglaang pagbabago ni Canary.

Alam kong biglang na-awkward si Leif sa tanong ko pero nagawa niyang ngumiti. "She's better than before. And I'm glad she's making friends with you and Via."

"360 degrees ang pagbabago niya thats why I'm wondering if she's really okay," pahayag ko. "Maybe because you're a good boyfriend."

Namula si Leif. "You get the wrong idea."

"Hindi ba?" tanong ko. "Kaya ba bati na ulit kayo ni Lake?"

"Mas matanong ka pala habang tumatagal," natatawa niyang pahayag. "I assure you that she's okay."

Napatakip ako ng bibig. Hindi ko na rin naman talaga naoigilan ang mga tanong ko. Bahagya akong nahiya pero pinilit kong maging kalmado.

"Ako na lang ang magse-send sa kanya nito," ani Leif at nilikom ang mga papel. "Para hindi ka na mapagod."

"No," tanggi ko sa kanya. "Ikaw na nga ang nag-compile eh."

"No biggie," aniya.

"Gusto mo ng reward? Or recognition?" natatawa kong tanong.

"Reward," mabilis niyang sagot.

Napalunok ako. Hindi ko inaasahan na makiki-ride siya sa biro ko. "Okay. Anong gusto mo? Cake or cupcake?"

"Cupcake?" patanong na sagot ni Leif.

"May tawagan na agad kayo?" Lake butted in. Bigla siyang naupo sa tabi ko. "Cupcake? I'm gonna puke."

"What are you doing here?" tanong ni Leif. May karamihan ang tao ngayon sa coffee shop kaya naman maraming mga mata na naka-focus sa amin. Dalawang sikat na binata lang naman ang ka-table ko.

Inakbayan ako ni Leif at nakiinom sa juice ko na hindi ko pa masyadong nababawasan. "In-indian ako ni Canary." Nakasimangot niyang pahayag.

"What?" natatawa kong tanong.

"Pinapahirapan talaga ako ng babae na 'yon. She thinks I would easily give up? Ha! Give up my ass!" naiinis pero desididong pahayag ni Lake. "Remember the time na nagpahatid siya papunta sa interview niya sa sideline niya? She said hintayin ko na rin siya. Guess what? I waited for her for almost four hours. The receptionist said she went home two hours ago."

Hindi ko na napigilan ang tawa ko. "Then what happened?"

"Pinuntahan ko siya kinabukasan kasi first day ng pagsasagot namin sa questionnaire niya. She said she forgot that I am waiting for her. Siya pa ang galit because I was trying to make her feel guilty daw when she did not have the time to feel guilty."

Bumunghalit na ako ng tawa. "She's not Canary if she didn't say that." Kawawang Lake.

"But how did your project with her go?" usisa ni Leif na napapangiti na rin.

"First day lang kami nagkita. Para lang siyang robot na may kausap din na robot. The next three days were all via text. She didn't even bother to call me," nangingitngit na kuwento ni Lake.

"And today?"

"She told me na magkita kami at three sa labas ng university. Magdadalawang oras na akong nasa labas nang mag-text siya na nasagutan na raw niya lahat. That she didn't need me anymore."

"That is so Canary," naiiling kong pahayag. "Kaya mo pa ba?"

Napabuntonghininga si Lake. "If only her hair doesn't smell like baby and her face doesn't look someone who needs me, susukuan ko na siya. She's so hard to understand. One minute, she's sweet as hell. Then the next one, parang 'di niya ako kilala."

Naubo ako sa sinabi niya. Mukhang hindi na talaga niya tatantanan si Canary.

Leif stood up and excused himself. Mag-CR lang daw siya saglit. Tumango lang kami.

"By the way, Alice," pag-iiba ni Lake. "Do you remember when I tell you that your name is familiar?"

Napakunot ang noo ko at inalala ko kung may sinabi siyang ganoon. "That night when we first met outside the IT room?"

"Yup. Parang alam ko na kung saan," Lake answered.

"Saan?" tanong ko.

"I just need to confirm. I'll send you a message kapag nakita ko ulit."