Beneath the Clouds (Beneath Series 1) - COMPLETED

Kabanata 40

Warning: SPG

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Kabanata 40

Ring

Pilit kong pinagtatagpi tagpi ang lahat ng nasaksihan ko ngayon. By the looks of it, iyong matangkad na lalaki na kasama ni Diane ay boyfriend niya.

"This is Wendel Francisco, Diane's husband," pakilala ni Russell.

Tulala ako habang nagpabalik balik ng tingin sa kay Diane at doon sa sinabing asawa niya. Wendel just nodded his head bago muling binalik ang atensiyon kay Diane.

"Everything's a misunderstanding, Railey. You knew Chloe, palagi 'yong padalos dalos 'yon ng desisyon." Russell sighed and held his nape. He then looked at his wristwatch. "Kailangan ko nang umalis and I don't have time to explain. But I'll leave everything to Diane. Siya na ang bahalang magpaliwanag sa inyo."

Kinuha ni Russell ang kanyang maleta. He smiled at Diane and Wendel pagtapos ay tumungo na sa pintuan. Before that, nagkatinginan muna sila ni Nova para bang nag-uusap gamit ang mga mata. Later on, Nova nodded and patted his shoulders.

"I'll make sure to bring Chloe back." Binigyan niya ako ng matapang na tingin bago lumabas.

Naiwan along tulala habang nakatingin kay Diane. Kinakabahan ako. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin. Yes, we've been friends eversince high school hanggang sa mag-kolehiyo. She always rants at me everytime they have misunderstandings.  But she cut the ties between us noong nagbreak sila ni Russell. She never texted nor chatted me. I knew that time, nawalan ako ng isang kapatid at kaibigan.

Maybe it's just because of our distance. Mahirap kapag walang komunikasyon. Hindi namin alam kung ano nang nangyari sa kanya. No one knew. The more she distanced herself, the more she builds a barrier between us. It's the influence of the city at wala akong magagawa ro'n.

Diane swallowed hard. Bakas na bakas sa mukha niya ang pagiging guilty. Is it because she makes Russell miserable or because he ruined a relationship of two persons dahil nagbalik ulit siya?

"You don't have to force yourself," marahang saad ni Wendel kay Diane.

"I'm not forcing myself. I-I have to explain." She bit her lips. Matapang niya along tinitigan. I know that there's still regret and guilt on those brave eyes. "P-Pwede bang iwan niyo muna kami? I need to... t-talk to Railey in private."

Hindi niya inalis ang titig sa akin. Naramdaman ko ang paghagod ni Nova sa braso ko kaya't napaangat ako ng tingin sa kanya. His eyes were asking if I'll be okay.

I pursed my lips at gave him a small smile. "I'll be fine."

"Just call me if you need anything. Nasa labas lang ako." He kissed my forehead bago tuluyang lumabas. Sumunod rin si Wendel. He said something for his wife before going outside.

Naiwan kami ni Diane. Huminga ako ng malalim at dahan dahang naglakad palapit sa kanya. I can feel my heart beating. Napatunayan ko na talagang kinakabahan ako nang maramdaman ang pawis sa palad ko.

Hindi inalis ni Diane ang tingin sa akin. I can even see her misty eyes. Hindi ko alam para saan.

Tahimik akong tumabi sa kanya. No words came out of my mouth. I don't want to start a conversation first.

I saw how she bit her lips, pinipigilan ang sarili na huwag lumuha. She's even playing with her fingers to divert her attention.

She knows very well that I had a huge grudge on her. We were very close and suddenly, everything fell apart like our friendship didn't existed.

I have known her for being enthusiastic and shy. Noong nagdadalawang isip ako sa nararamdaman ko kay Nova noong highschool pa lang, she's one of the people who convinced me na gusto ko nga talaga si Nova. And seeing her now, skinny and pale, hindi ko alam ang dapat na irereact.