CHAPTER 12
“How’s the talk?” Renaissa ‘s voice welcomed as I enter in my apartment.
Agad kong sinalampak ang aking katawan sa sofa at pinikit ang mga mata sabay minasahe ang ulo ko. Too many activities for this day. What I heard about Christoph side makes me wonder about her.
It’s been three years already, yet she didn’t even bother to come to us to at least show herself and apologize for what she did.
Ngayong ikakasal na siya hindi ba niya talaga kami kikitain? To apologized to us, her friends. What she did to us also leave scars in our hearts especially Zenneth.
Among us, Zenneth was the most affected by her sudden leaving. To think that before she leaves our friendship was tainted with some issues. She didn’t clarify anything nor explain her side, then one day we were shocked that she’s no longer here.
Naramdaman kong lumapit si Renaissa, kaya inayos ko ang pagkaka-upo ko at tiningnan siya. She’s looking suspiciously at me as if I did something wrong. “What?” I hissed.
“Akala ko ba mag-uusap lang kayo ni Christoph bakit ka ginabi ng uwi?” Naniningkit at nagtataka niyang tanong sa akin. Kinuha niya ang throw pillow sa likod niya at agad niyang yinakap ito handa ng marinig ang kung ano mang i-kekwento ko sa kaniya.
My cheeks started to heat up upon remembering what happened earlier. Renaissa’s eyes didn’t leave me, so instead of looking at her, I looked away. Kahit ako, akala ko mag-uusap lang kami ni Christoph kanina. I didn’t know that Reeve was there! Waiting for me!
“The talk was okay and I already heard his side. He’s getting married,” I answered her first question.
Pagkasabi kong ikakasal na si Christoph ay agad na nanlalaki ang mata niya at umawang ang kaniyang bibig. Tila hindi maka paniwala sa binalita ko sa kaniya. Kahit ako hindi makapaniwalang ikakasal na rin siya lalo’t ikakasal siya sa kaniya.
“Seryoso?!” Hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya sa akin. Tinaktakpan ko ang tainga ko dahil sa biglaang pagsigaw niya na animo’y di pa rin makapaniwala sa narinig. Ang boses talaga nito kapag sumisigaw ay parang naka lunok ng mikropono dahil sa sobrang lakas.
“To whom?” Nahaluan ng pagtataka at gulat ang kaniyang mukha ngayon. She crossed her legs and hug the throw pillow tightly.
“Gwyn,” I whispered. Upon mentioning Gwyn’s named her face turned sour. May epekto pa rin pala sa kaniya ‘yon. It’s been three years and for me, I’m willing to let go of the past and be friends with her again.
After that incident happened we didn’t mention her name anymore, it was a sensitive topic to us. Mentioning their name was like a fire that burnt in our skin. That time, I feel betrayed by my friend.
“We’re getting married.” Pain crossed in his eyes but immediately faded and compose himself back to normal.
Puno ng pagtataka ang mukha ko dahil sa sinabi niya. He’s getting married to Gwyn? Magkasama ba sila ni Gwyn no’ng mga panahon na ’yon? Mga panahong umalis din siya ng walang pasabi. Leaving us, her friends behind.
Tila nabasa ni Christoph ang iniisip ko kaya agad niya akong inunahan sa pagtatanong. “Yes, sabay kaming pumuntang New York kasi ‘yon ang gusto ng pamilya namin. Our parents was desperate to marry each other.”
“Bakit hindi pa kayo nagpakasal doon kung ganoon?” Puno ng pagtataka ang tanong ko sa kaniya.
Kung nasa parihong lugar naman pala sila or worst ay magkasama sila sa iisang bahay bakit hindi na lang sila doon ng pagkasal. Knowing that their parents were so eager to marry each other they could have found ways to easily tie the knot.
“You still have issues right? You know, before Gwyn leaves the country your friendship was tainted because of me.” Nahimigmigan ko ang lungkot sa boses niya. Yes, our friendship was in chaos at that time.
I didn’t know that Christoph knows it. It was just me and our friends ang nakaka-alam no’n. Gwyn mention it to him?
“She did mention it to you?”
He nods, “ When she confesses her feelings to me and our parents forced us to marry each other.”
It turns out that Gwyn and I love the same guy-Christoph. Before Christoph came in my life, Gwyn already knows him. But before anything happens we made a promise to each other it was our sister code not to fall in love with the same guy. At first, I find it ridiculous why would we fall in love with the same guy, when she already knows that it belongs to you? Only you. Besides, for me, that rule was a joke.
Zenneth and Gwyn made that rule. Eventually, Gwyn broke it and she’s in love with my boyfriend, Zenneth was furious at her when she knows it. Zenneth was mad cause they were the ones who made the rule and Gwyn broke it.
Ako at si Zenneth palang ang nakaka-alam no’n hindi naming sinabi sa iba pa naming kaibigan.
Even I was mad at her at that time. Bakit boyfriend ko? Bakit hindi na lang sa iba? I was insecure at her because even when she did nothing Christoph’s family like her. While me, I need to impress his parents first to like me which it never happens. Kahit anong gawin ko, they never liked me.
Pero siya walang ginagawa ay gusting-gusto siya ng pamilya ni Christoph. Mas lalo akong na inggit sa kaniya no’ng nalaman kong mahal niya rin si Christoph. That’s the time when our friendship was ruined because of a guy.
It was an issue between her and me and our other friends weren’t involved. Pero no’ng nalaman nila ‘yon ay nagalit sila. The day when they wanted to confront Gwyn about it also the day where she leaves and Christoph leaves me also.
Everything was so chaotic at that moment, Gwyn leaves us and I was broken. Despite all of that my friends comforted me and, starting that we never dared to mention her name. It’s like a fire that burnt in our skin and will forever be carved in our hearts.
Regardless of what happened, I know my friends still care and worry about her. She was just in love, she just follows what her heart does. I was blinded by love, hatred, and jealousy to the point that I didn’t approach her and listen to her side.
“Yeah,” I replied and crossed my arms.
“She wants first to settle the issue between you and your friends before she will get married. That was her reason before when our parents forced us and wanted the marriage immediately. I don’t know now, her mindset was a bit complicated and not easy to read you know,” he chuckled when he said the last sentence.
Our friendship may be tainted but I know deep inside our hearts longed for her. She’s still our friends our sister. Years passed and we’re waiting for her to show herself. We’re waiting for her. Tatlong taon na ang nakalipas alam kong nag hilom na rin ang sugat no’n.
Siya na lang talaga ang hinihintay ko. She wants to settle the issue between us, pero bakit ngayon hindi pa rin siya nagpapakita? If she’s still mad at me, I will gladly accept that. Pero sana kahit sa mga kaibigan na lang naming magpakita siya.
“Thanks for this talk Christoph,” I smiled at him to show that I am grateful for this talk.
Taking grudges towards them will lead me to nothing. Developing hatred for someone will just stress you and will not be able to continue living your happy life.
“I hope we can still be friends and I’m sorry for not fighting back and leaving you,” I smiled and accepted it, after all, we’re civil and no hard feelings involved.
We both grow and mature at the same time. Being friends with your ex doesn’t mean that you could go back to being in a relationship. It’s better if you stay that way.
“So, she’s back?” Renaissa asked.
“Yup,” I simply answered. Christoph told me earlier that they are back for good.
“Wala ba talaga siyang plano magpakita sa atin?” Iniwas niya ang tingin sa akin at nararamdaman ko ang lungkot sa boses niya.
“Do you still consider her as our friend, right? Despite everything.”
“Yup, hindi naman nag bago ‘yon. What makes me mad at her is she chose to leave than to solve our problem,” she forced a smile. I know, every one of us still values our friendship with her. And I get what Renaissa trying to point out.
We could’ve solved the issue right away if she didn’t leave. Sa mga nagdaang taon naiintindihan ko rin naman si Gwyn. Hindi ko rin alam na may problema rin siyang pinagdaraanan no’n , aside from our friendship faded.
We have different ways to cope with our problems in life. Some choose to look at the brighter side of life and despite anything that happens they still chose to solve it, some don’t want to share it with others and chooses to keep it for himself and there are some chooses to leave instead of making a way to solve it.
In her case, she chose to leave than to face everything.
“But I hope she will approach us. I know everyone wants that also,” she whispered.
“But wait! Bakit ka ginabi ng uwi?” Renaissa is back for being an investigator again. Nagkasulobong ang dalawang kilay ta naniningkit ang kaniyang mata at ako ay isang criminal na iinimbistagahan niya.
Imbis na sagutin siya ay iniwas ko ang tingin sa kaniya.
“Uy… May ka date ka no?” Nang-aasar na ani niya.
“What? No!” Agaran kong sagot sa kaniya..
“E bakit ganyan mukha mo? Defensive ha,” she smirked.
Only to find out what my face looks like when I utter those words. Totoo naman na wala akong date. It happens that Reeve was there waiting for me! I didn’t even know that he’s waiting for me!
“’Yong totoo saan ka galling?”
“Uh… I was with Reeve,” I almost whispered the last word and bow my head.
“Reeve?” nagtatakang tanong niya.
I nod. “Wahhhhh! You mean Kyzyr Reeve Sandoval!? Lumayo ako ng kunti sa kaniya dahil ang lakas talaga ng boses niya!
“My ship is sailing!” Excited na ani niya at kinikilig pa ito.
Ngayon ko lang din napansin na maraming tao ang pumunta dito sa café na ‘to dahil puno na ang mga upuan at wala ng bakante. Pagkalabasko ay nakita ko si Reeve sa di kalayuan sa café na ‘to at prenteng naka tayo sa kaniyang sasakayan.
Hindi ko alam kung ano ang pumasok sa isip ko at kusang nagkaroon ng utak ang aking paa dahil papalapit na ako sa kaniya. Hindi pa man ako nakalapit pero agad na nagsalubong ang kilay ko dahil sa aking natuklasan.
Binubuga niya ang usok na galing sa kaniyang bibig at kasing layo ng tinatanaw niya ang takbo ng kaniyang isip. Hindi pa nagtagal ay agad nanaman niyang inipit ang sigarilyo sa kaniyang labi at hinithit ito sabay buga ulit ng usok.
Nakita ko siyang naninigarilyo no’n pero sa isang litrato lamang na pinasa sa akin ni Althea. Ngayon ko lang siyang nakitang naninigarilyo sa personal.
Nang makita niya akong papalapit sa kaniya at agad niya itong tinapon at inapakan. Is he waiting for me? Iniling ko ang aking ulo to shrugged of my thoughts. Bakit niya naman ako hihintayin e hindi niya nga alam na nagkita kami ni Christoph.
“Magkaka COPD ( Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) ka niyan sa ginagawa mo,” bungad ko sa kaniya pagkalapit ko.
Instead of answering he just frowned. Hindi naman maganda ang timpla ng kaniyang araw ngayon. Naabutan ko siyang magkasulobong ang kaniyang kilay at ang mga mata ay matalim na naka tingin sa akin.
What now? Kinakausap ko siya pero parang hangin lang ako sa kaniya. Instead of answering me, pinasadahan niya muna ako ng tingin at iniwas ang kaniyang ulo.
“Hello! Kinakausap kita.” Winagayway ko ang kanang kamay ko sa harapan niya para naman mapansin niya ako!
“What?” supladong saad niya, ako naman ang napa kunot ng noo ngayon. Bakit ang suplado ata nito ngayon?
“Sabi ko mag kaka COPD ka niyan. Don’t you know that smoking is the cause of having COPD.” Pangangaral ko sa kaniya.
“It can be treated,” walang ganang asik niya.
Walang pag-dadalawang isip na linapit ko ang mukha ko sa kaniya.. I saw him stiffened at my sudden action but I don’t mind I want him to know what’s inside my head.
Damn. His scent was a mix of menthol and his perfume. Bakit kahit naninigarilyo siya ang bango pa rin niya? “Hey…Hey Mr. COPD is treatable but there’s no cure for it. Ano gusto mong palagi ka na lang aasa sa gamot everytime na hindi ka makakahinga?”
Hindi niya ako sinagot at pinatitigan niya ang mukha ko. His eyes traveled my face, from my eyes, nose down to my neck. I can feel already his breathing. “Damn this girl.” Sabay tulak sa akin papalayo at muntik na akong matumba.
Doon lang ako ginapangan ng hiya ng itinulak niya sa ako papalayo sa kaniya. Ghad! Henzy what have you done again?! I avoided his gaze and turn my back at him. Kinapa-kapa ko ang aking pisngi dahil nararamdaman ko ang pag-init at pamumula nito. Every time that you’re with Reeve, you can do things that out of your control!
Ilang minuto na ang nakalipas pero hindi pa rin kami nag-iimikan. Hindi ko rin ibinalik ang tingin ko sa kaniya. Nahihiya pa rin ako sa ginawa ko.
I need to get out of here. Nang may naaninag ako na tricyle papunta dito ay papara na sana ako, ng may biglang humablot ng kamay ko dahilan para ma subsub ako sa kaniyang matipunong dibdib. Hinawakan ang aking balikat para mapaharap sa kaniya. My eyes widened again by what he has done!
“No, you’re not leaving just like that. You’ll be with me,” his stern voice echoed in my mind and at that moment, my heart race wildly again.
***
Pagkatapos ng nangyari kanina ay dinala niya ako sa mall. At first I thought he needed to buy some important things yet thirty minutes had passed we didn’t do anything! Kanina pa kami pa ikot-ikot at nilalagpasan ang mga stall kung saan ang mga damitan.
“Why are we here?” I asked to break the silence. Kanina pa kami pa ikot-ikot pero hindi kami nag-iimikan. Ilang beses na rin akong sumubok na kausapin siya pero natatameme ako.
“I don’t know.” I stopped walking and face him again but this time I keep my distance. Saglit na natigilan siya paglalakad dahil sa pagharang ko.
“We’ve been walking for around thirty minutes yet you don’t know what are we going to do here?!” Histerkal na saad ko.
Napapikit na lang ako dahil sa ginawa niyang pag-alis sa harapan ko. Ang sungit! Ghad!
I remember something that I should ask him. Hindi pa naman siya nakakalayo sa akin kaya sinigaw ko ang pangalan niya. People who are walking also are looking at me, probably thinking that I am a crazy girl shouting inside the mall. I don’t care about them, wala silang ambag sa buhay ko.
Nang makarating na ako sa kinaroonan niya at kunot noo na naman niya akong tinitingnan. “What?” tanong ko.
“You’re crazy,” sabay iling sa kaniyang ulo.
“You’re crazy over me?” I raise my left eyebrow and grinned.
I laughed hard when I saw his reaction. His whole face, as in the whole face was so red, his eyes widened in shock and his mouth was partly open. Hindi niya inaasahan na babanatan ko siya.
Dala sa hiya na dulot ng banat ko at sa reaction na nakita ko ay agad siyang tumalikod sa akin at dali-daling umalis sa harap ko. Oh, ano ka ngayon Reeve? Akala mo ikaw lang ang babanat ha.
He enters in a Korean restaurant so I followed him. Pero hindi pa naman nakapasok ng tuluyan sa loob ay may kumalabit na sa kaniyang braso.
I saw a man probably around our age wearing a simple V-neck white shirt and a color beige board shorts. He is not so white and not so tanned, ang kaniyang buhok ay naka-ayos hindi kagaya kay Reeve na parating walang gana mag suklay. His eyes were a bit chinky, may lahing Chinese ba ‘to? His eyebrows were thicked but it’s not messy dahil naka-ayos ito. His body built is toned but not bulky, he is also tall. Mas mataas pa ng kaunti kay Reeve.
Hindi ko na napansin na nakatitig pala ako ng matagal sa kasama ni Reeve kung hindi lang ito nagsalita.
“Hi!” masayang bati niya sa akin. Napakurap-kurap ako at sinuklian ang kaniyang bati.
“Hi,” I smiled.
“I’m Rod Andrew Villaruz bestfriend of Ky but you can call me Drew, and you are?” nakalahad niyang kamay sa akin at malugod ko naman itong tinanggap.
“Henzy Neve Vasquez.”
“Kaya pala hindi ka sumama sa amin Ky dahil dala mo pala girlfiend mo ha,” he smirked at Reeve.
Pero itong si Reeve ay nilagpasan lang si Drew at iniwan kaming dalawa. Ang rude talaga no’n, saan ba ‘to pinaglihi ng mga magulang niya?
“Ahhmm. I’m not his girlfriend we’re just friends and blockmates,” nag aalangin kong sabi sa kaibigan niya.
Nagulat ako ng bigla niya akong akbayan at sinundan kung saan pumunta si Reeve kanina. “Asus, do’n din ang punta niyo soon.”
His bestfriend is jolly unlike Reeve na pasan ata ang problema sa buong mundo. We started eating and as usual Reeve is quiet and Drew was the one who makes the ambiance jolly.
“So, Nursing ang kinuha mo ngayon?” Drew asked while his mouth is still full of meat. Binigyan ko siya ng tubig dahil baka ma bilaukan siya.
Ghad! Ang takaw niya kumain..
“Yup,” sagot ko sa kaniya. Nakita ko si Reeve na matalim ang tingin niya kay Drew pero ang isang ‘to parang walang pakialam.
“Are you planning to proceed to med school after you graduate?”
“No. I will work first as a nurse for a year as experience and then after that, I will proceed to med school.”
“Wow! Same dream kayo ni Reeve,” manghang sabi niya sa akin kaya napabaling ako ng tingin sa kaniya.
So he has plan also going to med school? “Really?” I looked at Reeve to clarify if it’s true.
“You and your mouth Andrew,” galit na asik niya sa kaibigan.
“What? Totoo naman ah,” natatawang ani niya kay Reeve kahit na inis na inis na sa kaniya ang kaibigan.
“Besides, you find your match ha. Naka move on ka na ba?” Nang-aasar ulit na ani niya.
“Shut up,” Reeve groaned.
“Move on? Does he have a girlfriend before?” I butt in on their conversation.
Naguguluhang binaling sa akin ni Drew ang kaniyang mga titig at agad na ibinalik kay Reeve.
“She didn’t know bro?”
“I said, shut up.” Mas lalong nahihigmigan ang galit niya na boses.
“Okay, okay fine,” pagsusuko ni Drew. Naguguluhan man sa kanilang pag-uusap ay hindi ko na lang siya tinanong uli. I respect his privacy. If he doesn’t want to share it, it’s okay with me.
“Ba’t ang sungit ng kaibigan mo?” tanong ko kay Drew.
Pinipigilan ni Drew na matawa dahil kinakagat niya ang ibabang labi niya. Napabaling siya kay Reeve at mariin ulit ang pagkakatitig niya dito.
“Ganyan talaga ’yan. Di ko nga alam kung saan pinaglihi ng mga magulang niya eh.” Kung kanina ay pinipigilan niya ang tawa niya ngayon tawang-tawa na siya at mas lalo lang nag-iinit ang loob ni Reeve sa kaniya.
“No’ng nakaraang araw ang ganda-ganda ng mood niya tapos kanina no’ng nakita ko siya sa labas ng café ang sungit na niya,” dagdag ko pa sa sinabi ko kanina.
“Baka pinag selos mo Henzy?”
“Huh?”
“Alam mo kasi si Ky, nagsusungit lang ’yan kapag hindi maganda ang mood niya or may sineselosan.” Inaasar niya si Reeve dahil kay Reeve siya nakatingin.
Reeve gave him a deadly glare but he didn’t mind. Patuloy pa rin siya pag-aasar kay Reeve.
“Kaya ang sungit niya ngayon dahil baka pinagselos mo?” Tinaas-taas niya pa ang kilay niya habang nakatingin kay Reeve.
“Huh? Eh nakita ko lang naman siya sa labas ng café eh, naninigarilyo pa nga tapos no’ng nilapitan ko siya ang sungit na niya.”
“Bingo!” Drew said out of nowhere. Dahil kanina pa inis na inis sa kaniya si Reeve ay aambahan niya na atang suntukin ito kung hindi lang tumayo si Drew at umalis sa kaniyang pwesto.
“Easy bro, ito naman nag bibiro lang eh.”
“Leave.”
“Oh siya Henzy, paano ba ’yan pinapaalis na ako ng masungit na ‘to. Bye!” Mabilis pa sa alas kwatro siyang umalis sa kinatatayuan niya kaya naman na patawa na lang ako.
Hindi naman pala niya kayang paamuhin bestfriend niya eh.
“You.” Napabalikwas ako sa gulat ng kausapin niya ako.
“What? Ba’t pinaalis mo kaibigan mo?” tanong ko.
“He’s annoying.”
“Hmmm,, baka gusto mo lang ako ma solo?” Pinaalis mo kaibigan mo ha ako naman ngayon ang mang-aasar sayo.
“If yes, then what? Besides, I was waiting for you earlier and I waited too long.”
What? He was waiting for me?
***
“Ahh!” Tili ni Renaissa at kinagat kagat pa ang unan na niyakap niya.
“Hoy! Ang ingay mo!” saway ko sa kaniya.
“I think he has feelings for you!”
“Feelings ka diyan, nag iimagine ka lang diyan hoy!”
“Eh bakit gano’n sinabi niya? ha?”
“Aba malay ko.”
Aangal pa sana siya ng biglang tumunog ang aking cellphone. Tinignan ko kung sino ang nag text at nanlaki ang mata ko ng makita ang taong nag message sa akin.
Unknown Number:
Henzy, it’s me Gwyn. Can we talk?
Pinatingin ko kay Renaissa ang message ni Gwyn at pati siya ay nagulat din sa biglaang pag text nito sa akin.
I guess it’s time to talk to her. Forget the past and look forward for the future that waits ahead.
But at that day and time my heart gone wild when I received a simple text from him.
Reeve:
Goodnight.