BITTER SWEET EQUATION

장-9

Chapter 9

As the cold air of the room slowly touched her skin. She slightly opened her eyes while yawning. Napabalikwas nalang ng bangon si Lalin nang mapagtanto kung nasaan siya. She immediately roamed her sight all over Akiro's room. She touch her face as she remembered how Akiro force her in putting the cream all over her face.
   
   
She sighed in deeply. Everytime she do arguments with Akiro. It always end up of losing.
   
   
At dahil doon, naiinis at mas lalong gusto na niyang makaalis sa maliit at masikip na condo ni Akiro. Padabog siya bumaba sa kama. And right there she saw Akiro, peacefully sleeping in the carpet.
   
   
Why do she always see this side of Akiro. It makes her more annoyed. Like who the hell make this shitty face. She should sue it and kill them so this man infront of her will never be existing.
   
   
Nevertheless, she didn't bothered to intertain her anger towards Akiro. Sa halip ay lumabas na siya ng silid na 'yon.
   
   
   
She slammed the door of her own small room as soon as she get inside. Hindi lubos mapaniwalaan ni Lalin na napwersa ni Akiro at nalagyan ng cream ang mukha niya. Mas lalong lumalaki ang galit niya sa binata bawat oras at araw niya itong nakakasama. At dahil sa bugso ng inis, hinagis niya sa kung saan ang mga unan na nasa kama niya. Akiro, never failed to ruined her day. Iiyak yata ang araw ng hindi siya nabubwesit kay Akiro.
   
   
   
Lalin was ready to scream on her frustation, when she heard her phone keeps on ringing. Pabagsak siyang umupo sa maliit niyang kama at dinampot ang cellphone niya.
   
   
Zhyra's name was beeping as her caller. So she hit the answer button.
   
   
"Hello, Zhy?"she called
   
   
Muntik ng takpan ni Lalin ang tainga niya nang tumili Zhyra mula sa kabilang linya. "Oh my gosh, Selene! I miss you!"agap nito
   
   
Napangiti na lang si Lalin, kahit gusto na niya singhalan ang kaibigan dahil sa makabasag tainga na tili nito. She really miss her too. Ito lang kasi ang tumatawag sa kanya ng Selene.
   
Zhyra Gonzaga was her long time bestfriend. Even though, na hindi sila magkasamang pumasok sa school dahil nasa mansion lang siya. Zhyra never miss a call to her. She always even visit her without reasons.
   
"I miss you too, Zhy. Lalo na yang bunganga mo."she laughed between her smile.
   
   
Bumuntong-hininga ang kausap niya sa kabilang linya. "Thats mean. So, how are you? "
   
   
"Honestly"she roamed her eyes around her room. "I'm not okay!"that  was between Lalin's sigh.
   
   
"Spill it."
   
"It's a long story, Zhy! " maagap niyang wika.
   
   
   
Zhyra's became silent on the other line. It took a second before she speak again. "Lets meet Selene, pwede mong sabihin lahat in person di ba? "
   

"Hmm, I'll think about it."
"C'mon, best. It would be great if I'll know where are you. And by the way, I have gifts for you. Remember the latest design of Gucci white dress?"natutuwang wika ni Zhyra.
Mabigat na napabuga ng hangin si Lalin. Gusto niyang lumabas at makipagkita kay Zhyra, but how? May kontrabida sa buhay niya at si Akiro yun. And unfortunately, hobby na nito ang pahirapan ang buhay niya.
 
   
 
On the other hand Akiro woke-up at exactly nine in the morning. Nakaramdam siya ng gutom kaya naghanap siya ng makakain sa ref. Pero halos wala ng laman iyon ng mabuksan niya. He cursed inwardly. So, he needs to buy new set of groceries again.
"I just brought groceries 5 days ago."he sighed. Kaya agad siyang umalis upang mamili. At sa kabilang banda ay narinig naman ni Lalin ang pag-alis ni Akiro.
   
 
   
   
Saglit na iniwan ni Lalin ang telepono niya sa ibabaw ng maliit na mesa at tumakbo palabas ng kwarto. Tahimik ang buong sala. So, Lalin walk towards the main door of Akiro's condo. Sumilip siya mula sa pinto, nguni't walang tao sa labas. Pero nang dumako sa elevator. Nakita niya si Akiro sa loob bago pa tuluyang magsara ang elevator.
   
   
   
Napangisi ng malawak si Lalin at tumakbo pabalik ng silid niya. Muli niyang dinampot ang cellphone niya at inilapit sa kanyang tenga.
   
   
 
"Hello, Zhy. Nandyan ka pa ba? " she asked.
   
   
  Nakarinig si Lalin ng pagtikhim bago may nagsalita. "Yes Selene, I'm still on the line. "
   
   
"Great!" Lalin beamed. "I'll send you the address kung saan tayo magkikita, okay?" she didn't wait Zhy to speak. She already hit the 'end call' button. Lalin immediately texted  Zhyra the address of Akiro's condo.
----
   
   
  Lalin just waited for a couple minutes before she loudly heard the beep of the doorbell. She hurriedly opened the door. Lalin can't surpass her smile when she see Zhyra. Smiling at her.
   
   
"Zhyra!" Lalin greeted. They're both hug each other as Zhyra jumped into her.
   
  
"Selene! " Zhyra greeted back and said. "It's been a while, how are you? "
   
   
    Lalin deeply sigh as she was saying, "Well, like I said, it's a long story. So, will talk about that inside. C'mon pasok ka muna."aniya at niluwagan ang pagkakabukas ng pinto. As Zhyra getting inside Akiro's condo. Lalin notice that Zhyra was examining the whole place.
   
   
Lalin sat like a buddha in Akiro's sofa. "What will you say?"she asked. Asking it's own opinion for the condo.
   
   
"Hmm, it's quite nice. I love the design but it's too small. How did you survive here?"Zhyra asked with curiosity. "Hindi ba nag-active ang phobia mo?"
   
   
   
Umiling naman si Lalin. "Nope, and it's nice and good for me. I won't take it anymore if it happen again. Halos hindi na ako lumabas ng kwarto dahil sa sakit ko. Tss."Lalin said while making it sound sarcasm.
   
   
"Yeah, I remember that. Anyway, hindi pa rin ba alam ni Tita Selina?"
   
   
She rolled her eyes. "Why would I tell her. Baka mas lalong hindi ako pansinin niyon. Ngayon ngang wala akong nararamdaman e' hindi niya ako mabigyan ng oras. Ang malaman niya pa kaya."
   
   
Nagkibit balikat naman si Zhyra. "Maybe your right. Actually, I saw her in the Paris last time. She's having fun talking with other kids same as our age."
   
   
"You know, I don't want our company."agap niya.
   
   
"But come to think of it. Kung susubukan mong pag-aralan yung sinimulan ng Daddy mo baka alam mo na."Zhyra suggest.
   
   
   
"Hindi pa ako sumusuko. So, no need for that."
   
   
Zhyra, know some of her story that's why she's giving her own perspective. But unlike her.
   
   
  Zhyra is a beautiful girl who has all. She onced meet Zhyra parents and she feels like home with her.
   
"Hmpft, you wouldn't listen."Zhyra pouted then turned her head in the other side.
   
Natawa naman si Lalin. "Anyway, Zhy. Would you like to have some coffee or juice perhaps? "
   
   
   
Mula sa patingin-tingin sa buong sulok ng condo ay lumingon sa kanya si Zhyra. And she's wearing a pleasant smile while she answered. "No, I'm good. Kakagaling ko lang sa coffee shop."
   
   
   
"So, go back to the topic in the phone. What is the mess your in?" panimula ni Zhyra.
   
   
   
Napasimangot naman si Lalin. "Well,it's a disaster for all you know, Zhy! "
   
   
  "And that disaster is a guy, I think! " tila nanunuksong pambubuska ni Zhyra. She even grinned to her as Zhyra saying those words.
   
   
   
  Lalin felt annoyed because of that. "I'm serious, Zhy! "Asik niya
   
 
   
  Zhyra raised her both hands, surrending. "Okay! "she said while grinning. Sumama ang tingin ni Lalin sa kaibigan. "So, your having a hard time with your so-called babysitter? "
   
   
Bahagyang nagulat si Lalin. Dahil wala siyang ma-alalang naekwento niya kay Zhyra ang ginawa ng witch mommy niya. Lalin's lips formed an 'O'. " You knew? "
   
   
   
  Zhyra already nodded her head and, as she replied. "Tita already told me everything! "
   
   
   
  Lalin almost rolled her eyes. Of course her witch mother already told her friend. Bakit hindi iyon sumagi sa isip niya.
   
   
   
   "I bet, she already told not to bothered me? " sabi ni Lalin sa seryosong boses.
   
   
   
  Umiling-iling si Zhyra bilang tugon. "No, ang sinabi lang ni Tita. You have your new babysitter not the whole story. "
   
   
  Tatango-tango si Lalin. "Gusto niya lang talaga akong pahirapan, Zhy! She's a witch."
   
   
"Your both a witch."agap naman ni Zhyra.
   
   
   
Tumalim naman ang tingin ni Lalin sa kaibigan dahil sa pagkukumpara nito sa kanya sa ina.
   
   
"Anyway, in what way he bother you Selene? " Zhyra asked.
   
   
"He's like a dog who keeps barking. A rat who keep wondering around and a dragon who always blow a fire in it's mouth. " Lalin replied in annoyance. "At kagabi he forced, to put a cream on my face! "
   

Zhyra laughed while listening. "Your not listening, Zhy."
   
   
   
"Wait,." She tried to come back her posture but she can't. She just continued laughing. "It's like the opposite, Best. Baka ikaw yung dragon."
   
   
   
"Wala kang kwentang kausap."Lalin murmured then she crossed her arms.
   
   
   
"Ito naman. E' yung sa cream? What's with that." Zhyra asked repeatedly.
   
   
   
Lalin sigh in frustration, and said."Nagpadala si mommy ng sangkaterbang beauty products."
   
   
    
Tumawa si Zhyra. "Selene, what's the big deal? "
   
   
   
"Ano ba Zhy kakampi ba talaga kita?"nanggigil niyang tanong sa kaibigan. "Kanina ka pa. Naiirita na ako."
   
   
   
Iiling-iling muli si Zhyra. "You won't get my point, don't you Selene? " makahulungang turan ng dalaga kay Lalin. "Give him what he wants. Tiyak ikaw ang panalo. "
   
   
   
  Pinagtaasan niya ng kilay si Zhyra. "Paanong ako ang panalo. Eh di napadali ang buhay ng tarandadong iyon, di na siya mahihirapan! "
   
   
   
   
    Tila sumusuko na napabuga ng hangin si Zhyra.  "Look, You're hitting two birds, with one stone in this game, Selene! " maya-maya ay isang ngisi ang sumungaw sa labi ni Zhyra. "Mas mabilis kang makaka-alis ng condo na ito kung susunod ka sa gusto ng lalaking iyon. At dahil si Tita ang nagpadala ng beauty products na 'yon. Mas madali mong mababawi ang mga credit cards at bank accounts mo."
   
   
   
"It doesn't make sense, Zhyra. If I obey him it make him win. Even though na nagpapadala si Mommy ng products from whatsoever places it is. Akiro still going to hold my allowance."she declined
  
   
"Pero isipin mo nalang kung mahuhulog ang loob sa'yo ng lalaking 'yon. Hindi ba mas matinding ganti iyon?"dagdag pa ni Zhyra.
   
 
Lalin laughed with sarcasm. "This isn't a novel, Zhy. Ano bang iniisip mo? Na kapag pinafall ko siya sa akin ay mafafall talaga siya. Your advice isn't really making sense."

   
Napaisip ng husto si Zhyra sa sinabi ng kaibigan niya. Lalin has a point. "Pero walang namang mawawala diba? Your in the pathetic mood, Selene. No, offense. Nandoon ka na talaga kasi sa part na maski yata pusa kakalabanin mo para may makuha ka."
   
   
"Hmm, I'll think about it."
   
   
"Don't you just think about it. Do it. Mygash, Best. Minsan sarap mong ihampas."
   
   
"Same here. Anyway, where's my gift?"tanong niya saka nilahad ang kamay sa kaibigan.
   
   
   
Zhyra pouted. "Sometimes, iisipin kong social climber ka. Kung hindi ka lang talaga anak ni Tita Selina."aniya sabay kuha sa box na nasa kanyang tabi.
   
   
   
Nginitian nalang siya ni Lalin bago makuha yun. She smiled more when she saw the dress.
   
   
   
"Hindi ka ba nagsasawa sa kulay na puti? I have pink dresses too. Di hamak na mas maganda yun kaysa sa puting yan."
   
   
   
Umiling si Lalin. "Nope, hindi ako magsasawa."
   
   
   
Before the dawn the lunch came. Zhyra decided to go home. Hindi naman siya pinigilan ni Lalin imbis ay tila pinalayas niya pa ito. Zhyra wasn't a perfect friend who thinks immediately to solve her problems. But Zhyra was the best people who came to her life other than anyone.