Breakthroughs within Barriers (Youth Series #4)

22

#BWB22

R-18

"Tori, tama na. Lasing ka na," awat ng mga kaibigan ko

Inagaw ko ang bote sa kanila. "Kaya nga ko umiinom para mag-lasing e!"

Tinapat ko ulit ang baso ko sa bartender. Agad niyang sinalinan iyon, pagkatapos ay ininom ko iyon ng diretso. Napapikit ako sa pait ng lasa. "Ah! Taste so fucking bitter just like my life!"

"Tori. Sorry about what happened," sabi sa'kin ni Nicole

I looked at my friends, half-drunk. Lahat sila ay pinapanood ako. Ngumisi ako. "Ha? Saan?"

"Well, we feel so bad noong kumalat yung video. We didn't expect that Ross would do that to you."

"Ross? I don't want to hear that asshole's name anymore," I coldly said and took another shot. Kinuha ko sa kamay ni Aubrey ang chaser.

"We already warned you about him, but you didn't listen to us," she said

"But we're still here for you Tori, even at your lowest," Tiffany reminded

"After everything you did, we're still here for you," Nicole added and moved closer to me

I smiled bitterly. "Thanks guys. I knew I can count on you." Tinignan ko silang apat. "Hindi niyo naman ako siguro tatalikuran 'di ba? You wouldn't betray me, would you? People hate me now. Kayo nalang ang meron ako."

Nagkatingan silang apat at tumikhim. "What are you talking about? Of course we're still here for you, your forever girl friends," they chuckled

"I'm sorry for hurting you guys. You were right. I should have been more careful," I sighed

Aubrey held my hand. "It's okay. No one's perfect. Ang mahalaga, matibay pa rin ang friendship natin. We all are like sisters. We're here for each other, through ups and downs. Hindi natin hahayaan na may masira lang ang mahigit apat na taon na pagkakaibigan natin."

I smirked. "Sira ulo talaga yun si Ross. I hate boys now. They gave me nothing but pain. They can't be trusted. Pare-parehas lang talaga sila. I don't care if I'm man-hating now. Fuck what people call me." Uminom ulit ako sa bote ko

"Ross is an asshole. I knew he can't be trusted," dagdag niya

I chuckled bitterly. "I was so stupid. Hindi ko alam kung bakit niya ginawa sa'kin yun. He even talk shit about you guys."

"Why? W-what did Ross tell you? Nag-usap kayo? Kailan?" sunod-sunod na tanong ni Karina

They looked at me curiously, anticipating my answer. Hindi ko alam pero may halong kaba sa mukha nila.

"Just two days ago, after I found out that he's the one who recorded us and posted the video," I began. "You know what he told me? Sabi niya sa'kin na niloloko niyo lang daw ako at pinaglalaruan. In short, binabackstabb niya kayo."

They swallowed hard. "What?! Is he crazy?"

"That's what I said!" I exclaimed. "He sounded so sure. I still don't understand how he can say that to you. Alam ko naman na hindi kayo gano'n e," sabi ko at tinignan sila isa isa. "Di ba?"

They smiled and patted my back. "Never! Alam mo, gumagawa lang siya ng kwento para hindi mo siya pagbintangan. He's the one playing with your head. Ang kapal niya para siraan kami."

"Yeah. Umpisa palang talaga masama na kutob ko kay Ross. I didn't expect he'd go to this extent. He's trash!" galit na sabi ni Aubrey

Karina looked at Tiffany. "Kaya ikaw Tiffany, stop fantasizing about Ross okay? He's not a good person," she warned