Trieja: Jake And Josh [Under Revision]

Chapter 2

"Stay away from her." Mariing sabi ni Jake.

Marni was stunned by his sudden yanking of her toward the Fire Exit. Silang dalawa lang ang nandidito at walang kahit na sinong magtatangkang pumasok dito dahil sa Ghost stories na umiikot sa ospital patungkol sa lugar na kinaroroonan nila.

"What are you talking about, Jake?" kunot-noong aniya.

"'Wag ka ng lalapit pa kay Claire." 'Di na nagulat si Jake nung marahas na binawi ni Marni ang braso sa kanya. "You're not good for her."

"Who the hell do you think you are, her father?", sarkasmo niya.

"You know what I mean, Marni."

"Wala akong alam sa sinasabi mo." Mariing tugon nito.

"We know you like Claire." Natahimik ang babae. "You have feelings for her and she's clueless about your real intentions on befriending her. You're not the good friend whom she thinks you are. You're just like any other person trying to get closer to someone with hidden agendas."

Nanlamig si Marni sa mga sinabi nito. Her face went pale and grew startled and scared by the minute Jake continued to look her in the eye with nothing but coldness.

"Paanong... "

"It's not that hard to notice. It has never been difficult for me to sense a person who's just like me and Josh."

Saglit na napatitig si Marni sa kanya bago natauhan. Unti-unting naintindihan ang sinabi ng kaharap.

"Just because we're in the same community doesn't mean we're actually the same. Oo, bakla ka at nalaman mong lesbian ako, but who gave you the right to order me around? You don't have the right to reprimand me, Ignacio." Malamig niyang tinitigan sa mata si Jake. "I will stay by Claire's side anytime at any day I want, you don't have any say to whatever I do."

Umigting ang panga ni Jake. "Kita mo naman kung gaano naapektuhan si Claire sa mga pinagsasasabi ng iba patungkol sa kanya, hindi ba? She was accused of being a lesbian. Usap-usapan na ring sinilipan niya si Kathryn. Do you really think she'd be happy to know that you like her oras na malaman ng iba ang tungkol sa nararamdaman mo kay Claire?"

Marni's lips tightened in a straight line, unable to speak further. May punto ang lalake, at kuhang-kuha niya ang pinapaintindi nito. Pero ang hindi niya maintindihan, ay kung bakit nito hinaharangan ang pagkakataon niya kay Claire.

"Why do you even care so much? It's not like you're in love with her or something—" natigilan siya nung kumurap ito at agad napaiwas ng tingin sa kanya. "You like her, don't you?" Marahas na suminghap si Marni. "You like Claire! That's why you want me to stay away from her."

Tuluyan ng hindi makatingin si Jake sa kanya. Marni scoffed at him.

"I know what you're capable of, Jake Ignacio. You may be a working nurse here in St. Matthews Hospital, but you're still the heir to the Ignacio Empire. Subukan mo lang na ilayo sa akin ang best friend mo, kakalat sa buong bansa ang kahibangan mo sa isang lalake." Mariing banta niya. "If you don't want to disgrace your family to the world, better stick your nose to yourself. Hindi ako magda-dalawang isip na ipagkalat na ang isang katulad mo ay kayang-kaya maging taksil sa kanyang partner."

Marni left Jake with anguish. Galit na galit siya dahil muntik na siyang manipulahin nito. Mabuti na lang talaga at matinik ang intuitions niya. Kung 'di niya agad nahalata ang pagiging possessive nito kay Claire, malamang ay lulugmukin na naman niya ang sarili sa alak habang malungkot na tinatanggap ang katotohanang 'di siya magagawang mahalin ng babaeng mahal niya.