KABANATA 22 — End Our Friendship
"Mga bata?" Minerva almost shouted when she realized what I just said.
Binalita ko na sa kaniya ang tungkol sa napagplanuhan ko nitong nakaraang Sabado. I told her that I finally told the kids about them being my escort on my debut.
"What the fuck, Veign!" she frustratedly yelled at me in front of all of my classmates. Even with Lukas in the same room.
Tinapik ko ang bastos niyang bibig.
"Ouch!"
"You don't have to shout at me," gigil kong sabi habang pinandidilatan siya. I was kind of telling her using my eyes that we were with a lot of our classmates. Hindi lang kami ang narito sa silid-aralan.
Isa pa, kasama rin namin dito si Lukas na siyang dapat ay escort ko kung hindi lang nagbago ang isip ko.
Huminga siya nang malalim na tila kinakalma ang sarili sa isang napakamasalimuot na balita. Nagsalita siya pagkatapos niyon.
"Why did you want them to be your escort? Mga bata pa sila, Veign! Hindi pa nila naiintidintihan 'yon," giit niya sa akin.
Sumandal ako sa aking armchair bago nag-isip ng isasagot sa kaniya. I wanted her to understand my reasons. She's my best friend. I was sure that she would understand. Ang hindi lang ako sigurado ay kung maiintindihan niya ang lihim na dahilan ko kung bakit ko ito ginawa.
Kahapon ay dapat sasabihin ko na sa kaniya ito. Pupunta kasi dapat siya sa bahay upang samahan ako sa pagpili ng magiging disenyo ng gown ko. Unfortunately, the famous fashion designer wasn't able to attend the meeting because of an emergency with his current client. Hindi naman kami nagreklamo dahil ayos lang 'yon. The one who was furious was Spy who was keeping track of the schedule and deadlines.
Maging ang pagpili ko ng escort ay hindi inasahan ni Spy. Of course, he was expecting someone my age.
Sinikop ng aking kamay ang buhok sa ibabaw ng aking tainga. Sinabunutan ko ang sarili ko dahil nananakit din ang ulo ko dahil dito. Ang daming laman ng isipan ko. It was as if I just made the biggest decision in my life. Hell, I was just choosing an escort! Iyon lang pero parang buhay ko na ang nakasalalay rito.
Binulong ko kay Minerva ang aking mga sagot. "I don't want it to be unfair for Lukas." I made sure no one would hear us.
Minerva's eyes squinted. Maganda si Minerva. Ngunit kapag naiirita siya ay kumukulubot ang buong mukha niya. She's not pretty when she's angry.
"So that's your point? You didn't want it to seem unfair? Because, what? You don't have feelings for him and asking him to be your escort will lead him on?"
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Natumpak niya!
"Exactly!"
"Bitch!" Halos sabay naming sabi.
Nalaglag ang aking panga. Inirapan ako ni Minerva. Her eyes went back to mine after.
Kinuha ni Minerva ang pulsuhan ko at hinila ako patayo. "Come with me. We cannot talk here," aniya habang hinihila ako.
Mabuti na lang at breaktime namin. Sinigurado ko talagang ikikwento ko sa kaniya ito kapag may mas mahaba kaming oras dahil mahaba-habang paliwanagan ito. Pinakiusapan ko pa si Lavina na huwag ikwento sa kaniya. I knew Lukas wouldn't tell her so I didn't ask him to keep quiet anymore.
Binitiwan ako ni Minerva nang makarating kami sa comfort room ng mga babae. The doors of all the cubicles were slightly open so we were sure that no one else was here.
