30-Day Investment
"Some people believe love takes forever. Kai believes it takes exactly thirty days."
---
DAY 1
Nasa tapat ng gate si Maya nang may humarang.
Isang nonbinary na naka-polo, may hawak na sunflower... at clipboard.
"Hi."
"...Hi?"
"Kai."
"Maya."
Nagkamayan sila.
Tahimik.
Biglang nagsalita si Kai.
"Thirty days."
"...Ano?"
"Thirty days kitang liligawan."
"..."
"Kapag umabot ng Day 30 at wala pa ring official 'Oo,' automatic withdrawal ako."
Napakunot-noo si Maya.
"Withdrawal?"
"Investment kasi 'to."
"...Excuse me?"
"High-risk investment. May principal. May emotional expenses. Hindi puwedeng habang-buhay akong lugi."
"Tao ako, hindi mutual fund."
"Exactly. Mas volatile."
Tumawa si Maya.
"Ang yabang mo."
"Hindi."
Ngumiti si Kai.
"Budget-conscious lang."
---
DAY 3
May iced coffee.
"Favorite mo."
"Paano mo nalaman?"
"Research."
"Creepy."
"Thorough."
---
DAY 5
May dalang lunch.
"Niluto mo?"
"Hindi."
"Umorder ka?"
"Hindi."
"Edi?"
"Nanay ko."
"..."
"Quality assurance."
---
DAY 8
May payong.
"Hindi naman umuulan."
"Tingnan mo ulit."
Paglingon ni Maya...
Bumuhos ang ulan.
"..."
Kai ngumiti.
"Weather app."
---
DAY 12
Pagkatapos ng date...
Tumayo si Kai na parang flight attendant.
"Thank you for choosing Kai Courtship Services."
"...Ano?"
"You are now on Day 12 of 30."
"Tigilan mo nga ako."
"We value your emotional experience."
---
DAY 16
"Survey lang po."
"Huh?"
"On a scale of one to five..."
"Hindi."
"...how likely are you to recommend my panliligaw to your friends?"
"Bwisit ka."
"Is that a four?"
---
DAY 20
Napansin ni Maya...
Araw-araw...
Eksaktong alas-sais...
Uuwi si Kai.
"Wala ka bang overtime?"
"Wala."
"Bakit?"
"Healthy boundaries."
---
DAY 24
"Anim na araw na lang."
"Binibilang mo talaga?"
"Oo."
"Hindi ka ba natatakot?"
"Sa alin?"
"Baka mahal mo na ako."
Tahimik.
Pagkatapos...
"Mahal na."
Natigilan si Maya.
"Pero ang usapan..."
Tumango si Kai.
"Thirty days."
---
DAY 28
Habang pauwi...
Kai:
"Thank you for choosing Kai Courtship Services."
Hindi namalayan ni Maya...
"Thank you."
Pareho silang natigilan.
Kai napangiti.
"Progress."
"...Shut up."
---
DAY 30
5:59 PM
Tahimik.
Kai may hawak na envelope.
"One minute na lang."
Kinabahan si Maya.
"Bakit may envelope?"
"Liquidation report."
"...Ano?!"
Binuksan ni Kai.
"Total investment."
Binasa niya.
"Seventeen iced coffees."
"Four bouquets."
"Twelve umbrella services."
"Thirty-six good morning texts."
"One birthday surprise."
"Three sleepless nights."
"Emotional damage..."
Tumigil siya.
"...priceless."
"May resibo ka talaga?!"
"Lahat ng investment may documentation."
Tumunog ang relo.
6:00 PM
Kai ngumiti.
"Officially..."
"...expired na ang courtship contract."
Iniabot niya ang envelope.
"Thank you for participating in the Thirty-Day Investment Program."
Status:
❌ No official response received.
Recommendation:
Archive feelings. Proceed with healing.
Tinanggal niya ang sunflower na lagi niyang iniiwan sa gate.
Tumalikod.
At naglakad palayo.
Tahimik.
"Hoy!"
Huminto si Kai.
Hindi lumingon.
"Pwede bang..."
"..."
"...i-extend?"
Lumingon si Kai.
"Extension?"
"Ninety days."
Napangiti si Kai.
"Sorry."
"Bakit?"
"Walang extension."
Napasimangot si Maya.
"Ang unfair mo."
"Policy."
"Pwede namang baguhin."
"Hindi."
"Please?"
"Hindi."
"..."
Huminga nang malalim si Maya.
"Sige."
Tumalikod siya.
Si Kai naman ang nagtaka.
"Ganun lang?"
Pagharap ni Maya...
May hawak na sunflower.
"In that case..."
Ngumiti siya.
"...ako na manliligaw."
Napakurap si Kai.
"Ha?"
"My turn."
Lumapit si Maya.
"At may sarili rin akong policy."
"Ano?"
"Hindi kita susukuan sa loob ng thirty days."
Tahimik si Kai.
Biglang ngumiti.
"Applications for Q2..."
Huminto siya.
"...accepted."
Pareho silang natawa.
Habang naglalakad...
Bulong ni Kai.
"Actually..."
"Hmm?"
"Best investment I've ever made."
Napailing si Maya.
"Bwisit ka."
"Five stars ba?"
"Sige."
"Four point nine."
"Bakit hindi five?"
"Kasi may liquidation report ka."
"...Fair enough."