𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗛𝗨𝗡𝗞𝗦 [On-going]

39

"Hey, where are you going anyway?" Hanna asked me when I stood up.

"Restroom lang." I answered.

Tumango lang siya at umalis na ako. Medyo lasing na silang lahat doon at ako lang 'tong puro juice lang ang iniinom. I tried to drink alcohol but I didn't like the taste of wine o kahit ano pang alak yan. I just did't want to.

Pagkalabas ko sa restroom, bumungad sakin si Jazz na nakatingin nang diretso sakin. She flashed a smile and I did too.

"How are you these past few years, Ailey?" she asked.

"I've heard from Jiro that you rejected the proposal of modeling from Sync's Company? Why is that? Mas pinili mo yang cheap mong trabaho kesa sa maging model ng isang sikat na clothing and perfume brand." she uttered, tumawa pa siya ng mahina.

"I don't care about how famous that clothing and perfume brand is. I do care about my reputation only. Aanhin ko yang kasikatan na maging isang model? I do love my job, stop saying that my job is cheap. Mukha mo cheap." I said and walk away. Sinadya ko pang banggain braso niya ng slight.

Sino ba siya para sabihin sakin na cheap ang trabaho ko? Hindi ko naman siya close!

Bumalik nalang ako sa couch namin with a mad face. Nakakainis kasi yung babaeng cheap na yun e. Kulang lang ata sa atensyon ng Nanay niya.

"Hoy, anong nangyari sayo sis?" Hanna asked me.

"Nothing." sagot ko.

"But deep inside gusto ko nang magwala at hamunin ng away yung babaeng yun para manahimik." pero joke lang, sa isip ko lang yan nasasabi.

Few minutes had passed, bumalik nadin sa couch si Jazz. Talagang tinarayan niya pa ako bago umupo sa tabi ni Sync. She tried to kiss him but Sync turned away. Umiwas ako ng tingin, hindi na sana ako sumama pa dito kung ganito lang din naman.

"We have to go back to France tomorrow. May meeting pa ako with Mr. Sweighed." Hail said.

"Mr. Sweighed? The successful businessman and a billionaire? What the fuck men! Wag mo nang pakawalan yan, I offered him to negotiate with me but he refused." Rain mouthed.

"'Cause your business is lame, that's why!" Clyde said and chuckles.

They laughed because of Clyde. Rain gave him punches in his arm. After that they continued what they've talked. I've decided to go back in hotel dahil inaantok na ako. Nagpaalam na ako sa kanila bago umalis, sasamahan sana ako ni Clyde but I refuse him.

"Baka mapano ka pa." Jiro said.

"I'll be fine." I smiled.

"Hatid na ki---." Clyde uttered.

"I'll go with you." Sync suddenly spoken.

Lahat kami nakatingin sa kanya. Even Jazz looked at him with confused expression in her face. Umiwas ako ng tingin sa kanya nang makita kong nakatingin siya sakin. I looked at Hanna, God, she's smiling at me like she wants to slap me.

"I said, I'll be fine. I'll go now." as I said that I turned my back at them at umalis na.

Hindi ko naman kailangan ng taga hatid at sundo. Ginagawa lang nila akong bata. Pero bakit kailangan pang ihatid niya ako? What's wrong with you, Sync?

---------------

"Hoy, gising na dyan Sleeping Beauty!" naalimpungatan ako dahil sa boses ni Hanna.

"It's too early pa, Hanna. Anong oras ba tayo aalis?" I asked but my eyes are closed.

"Anong early ka dyan? Hoy, 10 am na. May business trip pa ako mamayang 12 sa Palawan kaya hindi ako ang magbabalik sayo sa Manila." she said.

Dahil sa sinabi niya napabangon agad tuloy ako. 

"Sino?" I asked, nakakunot pa noo ko.

"Baka si Clyde o si papa Sync mo." she grinned.

"Papa Sync your face!" I rolled my eyes at her.

"Sus, kunware ka pa! Sana kagabi hinayaan mo siya ang maghatid sayo pabalik ng hotel. Edi comeback is real!" she pinched my nose bago tumakbo sa cr.

"Hoy, walang comeback na mangyayari!" I shouted para marinig niya kahit nakasarado na yung pinto ng cr.

What am I suppose to do with a married man?  Kahit pa sabihin kong meron parin siyang lugar sa puso ko kung may nagmamay-ari na sa kanya, ako parin yung talo. But I didn't regret loving him, I admitted that I've experience happiness when I'm with him but now, nothing changed. I still do love him.

"Tinutunganga mo dyan sis." napalingon ako kay Hanna na nakatayo na pala sa harap ko.

"Stop thinking about that. Si Clyde na maghahatid sayo, I'm sure kasi na baka awayin ka pa nang lintang Jazz." she said.

Buti naman at si Clyde na maghahatid sakin pabalik ng Manila. Baka hindi ko pa makayanan pag si Sync yun. I already packed my things kagabi pa pagkabalik ko nang hotel. So, ang gagawin ko nalang siguro ay maligo at magbreakfast sa baba mamaya.

"I'm sorry, babe. I really have to go now, baka malate pa ako sa flight ko." paalam sakin ni Hanna at hinalikan ako sa pisngi.

"It's okay. Have a safe trip, Hanna. And don't forget to bring me a souvenir." I said.

"I got you, babe. Bye!"

Ayun, iniwan na niya akong nakaupo parin sa kama. Tumayo nalang ako at nagtungo sa cr para maligo na. Pagkatapos kong maligo, bumaba na ako para makapagbreakfast na ako. Nakasalubong ko pa si Hail at Rain sa hallway ng lobby.

"Ailey?" Rain call me.

"Yes?" I answered.

"I thought sumama ka sa trip nila Jiro at Hanna sa Palawan?" he asked.

"Akala ko din." nahihiya kong sabi.

Tumawa lang sila at nag-offer pa sakin na isama nila ako sa Singapore.

"Hala, may night shift pa ako. Balik sa trabaho na din ako pagkauwi ko sa Manila." sagot ko at medyo naiilang pa.

"Sino maghahatid sayo pabalik sa Manila? We can give you a ride hanggang Pasay." Hail said.

"Thanks for the offer pero si Clyde na maghahatid sakin. Ingat nalang kayo sa byahe niyo." sabi ko.

"You too, Ailey. See you soon." at nagpaalam na nga sila.

I wave my hands at them habang papaalis sila at ganun din sila sakin. I miss the five of them na nagkukulitan sa hapagkainan.

"Are you ready?" napalingon ako sa nagsalita at nakatayo sa harapan ko si Clyde.

"What do you mean I'm ready?" sorry confused lang.

"Ready to go back to Manila. What are you thinking, by the way?" he tease me by looking meaningfully at me.

"Hoy!" nahampas ko pa tuloy siya sa braso niya.

He just laughed at inakbayan na ako pero tinanggal niya din iyon. He asked me where's my luggage at, sinabi kong nasa room ko pa at siya nalang daw kukuha.

"Wait me at the parking lot." he said.

Hindi pa man ako nakakarating sa parking lot parang gusto ko nalang bumalik sa hotel at doon antayin si Clyde.

"Babe, I told you naman kasi diba we have to go back to Paris. My mom told me that your Dad wants you to go back there." narinig ko lang naman pinag-uusapan nila Jazz at Sync.

"Shut up, Jazz. Don't call me babe. I was forced to marry you because your Mom beg my Dad. But that marriage is not meaningful to me." Sync angrily said.

"Remember that I never love you once in my life. Until now, I still love Ailey."