The Art Of Hating

Chapter Thirty-six

XXXVI. Wet

What the fuck is this all about?

After the first headline, there's another one. . . and another one!

Hindi ko alam kung anong uunahing intindihin because the comment section of the said issues were very toxic. Hindi ko akalain na ganito pala kabilis kumalat ang mga ganitong mapanirang issue.

I'm not even a showbiz personality but the recognition I'm receiving was too much. I don't know if some users were just getting on with the hate train but I didn't know that it's a big issue right at this moment?

I opened my one and only private account to look into the link January sent me. It was recently published when I read it. And the said headline was really misleading.

The simple dinner with Cameron went viral as I was tagged as a cheater girlfriend of Alexander Sarmiento. Gusto kong matawa sa sobrang layo ng mga nakasulat sa totoong kaganapan but I'm starting to get uncomfortable with the hate I'm receiving from this account users. Sure there were still people defending me. . . but there's too much foul comment it didn't even console me a bit.

People in social media are kinda. . . obsess with issues concerning cheating.

May isa pang issue ulit na pinublished at tungkol naman iyon sa pagiging bastos at rude ko sa isang media personnel. Ang dami ring comment pero itinigil ko na at hindi na pinagkaabalahang basahin pa isa-isa. I've been receiving messages from my friends and college batch mates asking if I'm okay. Nakarating na rin pala sa kanila ang balita. Cause who's not using social media now? Kahit hindi ka interesado ay mababasa at madadaanan mo pa rin ang mga issue katulad ngayon.

Napahilot ako sa sentido ko.

I can't believe this is happening now!

After wearing my robe, I sent texts to my friends telling them what happened with Cameron. I feel like I need to explain things to them. Alam kong nag-aalala sila dahil hindi rin naman ako nagku-kuwento. The least I could do was to tell them the truth. Pinili ko na rin lang mag log out sa account ko at hindi na lang iyon titingnan o buksan ulit dahil ngayong taon ko lang naman 'yon ginawa at hindi ko rin nagagamit.

Napatitig ako sa pangalan ni Alexander sa contacts ko at nag-aalangan kung tatawagan ko ba siya. But the same name appeared seconds later, indicating he's calling me now.

Halos madulas ang phone sa kamay ko dahil sa gulat. Heck!

I'm fucking nervous and I feel a little bit guilty, too! January was right. Dapat nagpaalam ako kay Alexander! Anong klase akong girlfriend? Ugh.

Sure I didn't cheat like what those headlines were telling but the heck, I feel like I did. Hindi ako naging honest man lang sa kanya.

I picked up the line and immediately played with the ribbon on my robe because of worry. Shit. Nabasa niya rin ba agad? Anong iniisip niya ngayon? Is he mad?

He was silent for a moment before he cleared his throat.

"Are you okay?" Maingat niyang tanong.

Hindi ko alam na imbes mapanatag ay mas nangibabaw pa ang guilt na nararamdaman ko.

"I'm. . . sorry." I whispered. "For not telling you."

Matagal muna siyang nakasagot. Siguro ay pinoproseso ang sinabi ko. Mas lalo tuloy akong kinabahan sa kung anong sunod na sasabihin niya. We just talked things out about us and this happened. I wasn't careful enough.

Huminga siya ng malalim.

"It's okay. Nagpaalam siya sa akin." was his serious answer.

For a moment, nalito ako kung anong ibig niyang sabihin. Nang maintindihan 'yon ay nanlaki ang mga mata ko.