Eight Letters

Chapter 10

I was busy munching my chocolate cake when Harrison clears his throat. Dinala niya ako sa canteen para makausap. Siguro he knows that I am ignoring Zysk, at s'ya tong magpaliwanag in behalf of his best friend. To be honest,hindi niya kailangang saluhin ang kasalanan ni Zysk, it should be Zysk who's going to explain himself and not Harrison, o baka dahil wala naman talaga siyang dapat na ipaliwanag? That all along it was me who expected.

"I know what you saw on that party and I won't deny it,yes they kissed." Simula ni Harrison.

"But—you should have at least listen to his explanations,Erin. He's loyal to you."

I looked at him with annoyance. Loyalty is a big word, and being loyal isn't being caught kissing another woman.

O baka naman dahil sa paglipas ng panahon at sa globalisasyon nag-iba na din ang kahulugan ng salitang 'yon.

"Kylisle was so drunk and she kissed Zysk. Alam mo kung anong nakakatanga sa parte na 'yon?"

He chuckled before continuing his speech. Kitang-kita sa mukha ni Harrison ang paghanga at kislap sa kaniyang mga mata. Umiling-iling pa ito na para bang hindi makapaniwala sa nasaksihan.

"He chased you."

"Ngayon alam na ng buong Law Department ang ugnayan nyong dalawa. He chose to let other gossips about the two of you than being gossiped with Kylisle. Dati ayos lang sa kanya, he doesn't care about anything,about an issue, ayos lang sa kanya na machismis na nagd-date sila ni Kylisle."

Tingnan nya ako muli.

"But after that night he wanted to gossip with you not with Kylisle, not with anyone from the campus. He cut his connection with Kylisle, he's no longer a friend of her. He did that for you. And I know after this talk he'll beat me for sure but look— Zysk's may not be vocal with his feelings pero alam natin na Mahal ka niya. He doesn't want to court Kylisle because he was waiting for his Lioness. He was waiting for your return. You're living in the same roof,Rin you know what to do."

Pagak akong natawa nang umalis si Harrison, pinaglaruan ko ang pagkain habang tinitingnan ang paligid.

Dapat ba pinagsalita ko muna siya? Pero naghintay ako. I was waiting for him to clarify everything pero wala siyang ginawa.

Kailangan ko bang masorry?

Bakit ako mags-sorry?

"Kasi may na sira na pagkakaibigan dahil sa'yo"

Pero hindi ko kasalanan yon, as what Harrison said, Kylisle was drunk. It was her birthday party after all. They were having fun.

At ayon nga sa mga balita they were an item. Siguro dahil sa kalasingan kaya nagawa yon ni Kylisle. Her actions tell how much she likes Zysk, and here I am an ex girlfriend from highschool entered the picture and ruined her fantasies.

Siguro nga kailangan kong makausap si Zysk. Pero amo naman ang sasabihin ko?

"Ang lalim ng iniisip a."

I rolled my eyes when I saw my cousin drinking a coffee infront of me.

"Wala kang pasok? O baka di ka pumasok? Isusumbong na ba kita?" A devilish smile plastered on his face.

Kailan ba ako tatantanan ng mga lalaki? Mas sumasakit ang ulo ko sa presensiya ng isang to.

"May problema ka ba?" The thing that I don't like about Jacob is how he can easily read me like an open book. Simula bata kami hindi na ako makapagtago ng sekreto sa kaniya. He maybe is childish and annoying but he cares for me like how a brother should take care of her sister.

Tatlo silang magkakapatid at Parehong lalaki, mga tagapagdala ng apelyido ng Pamilya, samantalang ako ay nag-iisang anak nina Mommy at Daddy tapos babae pa.

"May nahanap akong condo unit I'll take my things this weekend with me. I'll leave you with Zysk."

"What?" Gulat kong tanong sa kaniya. Kinuha niya ang cake sa plato ko at nginuya iyon na mistula bang hindi pinakain ng isang buwan.

"Alam kong nag-away kayo. I know you,Erin at sa pagsama kay Zysk sa iisang bahay nakilala ko rin siya. You know how observant I am kaya wag mo ng itanggi. Isa pa, tuwing magkasama tayong tatlo ako lang ang pinapansin at kinakausap mo leaving Zysk in his own world."

Tama siya,hindi ko pinapansin si Zysk sa condo o kahit Saan man,kapag magkasama kaming dalawa hindi ako kumikibo and so is he. We are living in our own world, walang mangingialam.

"You should talk it out. It's the best option you have for now"

Buong night class ko ganon ang pumapasok sa isip ko. Mabuti na lang at may sagot ako noong quiz bigla kasing nagkaroon ng surprise quiz. Alas 8 ang uwian namin kaya naisipan ko munang tumambay kasama sina Samanta at Yong sa canteen dahil bukas pa naman siya,doon na din namin napagdesisyunan na mag dinner,pagkatapos non ay umuwi na ako,hindi alam kung papansinin ba si Zysk I hayaang ganon ang pakikitungo namin sa isa't-isa pero tama naman si Jacob at Harrison, kailangan naming mag-usap. Kailangan ko siyang kausapin.

"Kumain kana?" Jacob approached me. Tumango naman ako at dumiretso sa kusina para kumuha ng maiinom. Kita sa peripheral vision ko ang pag-upo ni Zysk sa couch. Si Jacob naman ay nakasunod sa akin. He keep on glancing at Zysk, alam ko ang gusto niyang mangyari. At oo,gusto kong itakwil tong pinsan ko.

"May gagawin pa ako mauuna na ako sa taas" tumango ulit ako at sinundan ng tingin si Jacob hanggang sa makapasok siya ng kwarto nina Zysk.

"Uh— aalis na si Jacob sa weekend."

"I'll leave on the same day I don't like the idea of living in someone's house and being ignored." I gulped.

He's still mad,isn't he?

Naupo ako sa tabi niya, I don't know what to say but I really am sorry, kailangan ko bang mag hi? Greet him?

"I saw you being intimate with someone last Saturday" basag niya sa katahimikan naming dalawa.

"And this afternoon I saw you with Harrison."

Biglang umangat ang mukha ko at napatingin sa kanya. He saw me with Harrison, 'yong mga oras na nag-uusap kami tungkol sa kaniya.

His best friend took over his explanations, si Harrison na akala ko ay walang pakialam sa paligid niya. But when it comes to his friends, he'll do anything for them.

"Do you like my best friend?"