I covered my mouth in shock. Agad akong pumagitna sa kanilang dalawa at inilayo si Chad kay Ryan upang hindi na siya makasakit pa ulit. Chad gave me vexed glares. "Calm down.." sabi ko na may pakiusap.
I turned my back to Chad and helped Ryan to stand up. He's currently wiping the blood on his lips and exercises his jaw by moving it side by side. I felt bad to see the fresh cut on his lips and had an urge to treat his wounds just to wash away my guilt.
"Thanks" He smiled. Hindi nakaligtas sa paningin ko ang pagkuyom ng kamao ni Chad.
"Sorry.. I guess Chad and I need to talk now." I said while probing to Chad.
"Actions speak louder than words, he didn't tell me that it was you all along but he proves to me now that he's in love with you, Grace. Bakit ba kasi ang torpe."
Tumaas ang kilay ni Chad nang makitang seryoso pa rin kaming nag-uusap tungkol sa kanya. Chad ran out of patience, so he walked out.
"Napaka-mainip talaga ng isang 'yon. Ako ang kakausap sa kanya, ako ang bahala sa love life mo." I heaved a sigh. This is not the right time to discuss, ako dapat ang kakausap sa kanya para maliwanagan kami.
"But--" Huli na nang patakbo siyang lumakad para sumunod kay Chad.
Umuwi akong may pangamba dahil sa iniisip na baka mag away ulit sila at magka-rambolan. I pace back and forth and check the messages. Ryan haven't replied to me yet. Nagugulohang napatingin sa akin si Tori kung bakit pabalik-balik ako sa paglakad.
"Anything wrong happened?" She asked, worry was written on her face. Tori didn't leave her eyes on me as she took off her heels, and placed them in the shoe rack. She waited for my answer, I looked down and bit my nail.
"Chad and Ryan had a fight"
"And it's because of?"
"Me. It was all misunderstanding, nakita niya kami sa parking lot na magkalapit ang mga mukha namin dahil sa maliit na bagay na pumasok sa mata ko. Ryan was trying to help me, but Chad punched him."
Tori held my chin up. "Boy's argument didn't last long, unlike girls. Magkakaayos rin ang dalawang iyon, walang makakabuwag sa kanila. Don't worry, okay?"
"Okay.." I calmly sit down and put aside my phone. "Kumain ka na?" I asked her, I never cooked anything this evening.
"Yes, Mari." She said, after a while, I hear her yawning. "I should sleep now, maaga ang lakad ko bukas. I'll visit the venue of the party."
"Paano ang trabaho bukas?"
"Well.. I already informed Uncle Rumulo"
"A-absent kana agad?"
"No, and Yes, my days of absence in the cafe will be covered in my rest days"
"So, ilang days ka hindi magtatrabaho?"
"A week?"
I facepalm, napahilot ako sa aking sentido. Hindi ka talaga tinubuan ng hiya Tori!
Naagaw ang tingin ko sa umiilaw kong cellphone, inabot ko ito at napahinga ako ng maluwag ng mabasa ko ang mensahe.
From Ryan:
I'm so sorry for the late reply, we talk too long. We're okay now, Grace. Wala kang dapat ikabahala.
The thought that they've settled their argument made me think it wasn't true because Chad and Ryan are avoiding each other, their relationship made a gap. I've been observing the two this past 3 weeks, parang naiilang na sila sa isa't isa. Iba na ang kasama-kasama ni Ryan sa cafe pagkatapos ng kanilang practice .
