All The Sad Movies

Chapter Six

I can't totally say I feel for Carlene. I wasn't in the position to decline or agree for her dahil hindi ko naman na-experience first hand ang nangyari sa kanya. Whether that fucking bullshit harrassed or assaulted or did even worse, I can't make the call.

We're friends. Best friends. And I would do anything for her, like what we said. We'll stay with her. It's just that it's her battle to fight. Her decision to make. And she just did. I have to respect that.

God, I wish I could.

It's just that it's a battle that I would drag myself in! Not only does it violate my best friend. It violated women's rights. The prick needs to pay for what he did. But for fuck's sake, Carlene just won't cooperate!

I had to step out dahil naiirita ako sa kanya at baka mag-away pa kami kung magtatagal pa ako sa kwartong iyon.

"Huy, kalma ka naman." Gavin approached me with a bottle of water. He handed me the bottle at agad ko naman iyong ininom. I didn't even realize na nauuhaw na pala ako.

"Pagpasensyahan mo na kaibigan mo." He said. "Intindihin din natin 'yung nararamdaman niya."

I know. I understand. And I know she's scared of that son of a bitch. Hindi ko lang mapigilang mainis dahil pakiramdam ni Carlene na wala siyang laban sa gagong iyon. Hindi naman siya Diyos o ano para katakutan.

Hinila ako ni Gavin paupo sa garden nang hindi ako sumagot. Umupo rin siya sa tapat ko at tiningnan ako nang mabuti.

"Listen." He said. I looked at him. "Stay right beside her and wait."

Huminga siya nang malalim. "Ja," he called.

"Oo na." Sagot ko. He smiled. Napangiti na rin ako dahil shet nakakahawa talaga 'yung ngiti niya. He asked me to walk with him, pumayag na rin ako dahil wala pa rin ako sa mood kausapin si Carlene.

We started walking silently while embracing the cool breeze of mid-November. Aaah, konti na lang pasko na. I wonder what I'll get for them this year.

"May alam ka na nagpaparenta ng suit?" He suddenly asked. Nagtaka ako for a second then naalala kong may Christmas ball nga pala sila.

"Hmm, madami." I answered. "Kainggit, gusto ko rin sumama."

"Sama ka." He said. I chuckled.

"Kailangan may invitation din ako." I said. Binigyan nila ng dalawang invitation ang mga lalaki, one for them and the other for the girl they're going with. Of course, meron din ang girls. For when they're going alone. I'm not sure if there's like a prize for couples, 'yon ang narinig ko from our seniors.

I was pre-occupied with this year's theme and how they'll pull it off kaya hindi ko na narinig ang sinabi ni Gavin. I had to ask again pero hindi na siya nagsalita.

"Weird nito." I joked. Tiningnan niya lang ako at ngumisi. "Ano 'yan?"

"Alin?" He asked. Tinuro ko ang ngisi sa labi niya. Tinapat niya lang ang pointing finger niya sa akin at tinulak iyon palayo. "Wala."

"Wow, gumaganyan ka na?" I exclaimed. He just laughed. Ganon din ako, lahat na lang ata sa kanya nakakahawa.

We sat down sa bench, I laid my head back at tiningnan ang mga bituin, hindi ko alam kung anong oras na, sa tingin ko'y malapit nang mag-umaga.

"Okay ka na?" He asked. Tumango lang ako at ngumiti sa kanya.

There's this feeling, whenever I'm with him. I feel calm and safe and everything nice. We met just a few weeks ago pero pakiramdam ko matagal na kaming magkakilala or something dahil sa familiarity na nararamdaman ko kapag nariyan siya.