Eyes Don't Lie

Chapter 34

"You guys should catch up!"

Nakatingin pa rin sa akin si Wena, marahil ay hinihintay ang tugon ko.

"Sure," I answered.

Ngumiti naman ito sa akin. May binulong ito saglit sa kasama niyang lalaki bago ito humalik sa pisngi at iwan siya. Naglakad kami palayo ni Wena roon. Nakita ko agad ang pagtayo at pagkunot ng noo ni Vernon nang makitang tumayo ako.

Mabilis kong sinenyasan ito na aalis saglit bago ito talikuran at sundan si Wena na umupo sa bar counter. Malayo sa table nila.

"It's been a while, Astrid..." panimula nito.

I ordered pina colada on the counter as Wena said her drinks.

"Paolo is my husband. Iyong kasama ko kanina..."

I nodded. That makes sense. "Katya's already married too," I informed her. I remember Katya invited Wena on her wedding, but she didn't attend. "She looked forward seeing you, but you didn't attend."

"I-I know, I'm sorry... I was in a hospital that time, I miscarried our first baby..."

Bahagya akong natigilan roon. Dumating ang in-order naming drinks at napansin ko ang mango shake na in-order nito.

I didn't even know that. And I doubt Katya knows it too.

"Bukod doon, nahihiya rin akong um-attend... You know, I've been a bad friend to the two of you. I did bad things to you, Astrid."

Nilingunan ako nito. I saw her teared eyes. "I was a selfish friend. Nagpabulag ako sa selos sa'yo. I ruined you and Naville. Sarili ko lang ang inisip ko noon."

Remembering that makes my heart aches. I treated Wena like my sibling. Kaya nang makita ko sila ni Naville noon ay sobra ang sakit nito sa akin.

"You see, I was jealous to you, Astrid. My parents always compared me to you. They said I should be like you. You're smart, kind, and beautiful. Bukod pa roon ay gusto ka rin ng lalaking gusto ko. I envied you. Ako ang unang nakakilala kay Naville, ngunit bakit sa'yo siya agad nakatingin? You two only met, but why is he willing to change just because he met you?"

Hindi ako nakakibo rito. I only know Wena did that because she loves Naville. I just didn't expect that it's also because of her parents.

"I started to hate you. Alam kong wala akong karapatan, ngunit iyon ang naramdaman ko noon. I ruined you and Naville. Nagpanggap akong sumusuporta sa inyo, ngunit sinira ko naman kayong dalawa. Dahil akala ko hindi seryoso si Naville sa'yo. Dahil akala ko kapag napaghiwalay ko kayo... magiging akin si Naville..."

Humikbi ito at napatakip ng mukha. Aabutan ko na dapat ito ng tissue na nasa counter nang mapansin ko agad ang paglapit ng asawa nito sa kaniya.

"I-I'm fine--"

"You're crying..." malambing na saad nito kay Wena.

"I will stop. Don't worry about me. Bumalik ka na sa upuan mo. We're just talking, Paolo."

Nakita ko ang pagkunot ng noo nito. He seems like he's in pain about not leaving Wena. Nang bumaling ang tingin nito sa akin at may binulong si Wena rito ay agad itong napabuntong-hininga.

"Can you stop her on talking if she's about to cry?"

"Paolo!" suway ni Wena.

"She's pregnant at maselan ang pagbubuntis niya. I just don't want to happen--"

"I will take care of her. Don't worry," nakangiti kong tugon dito.

"Thank you so much, Astrid..." I nodded. May binulong pa ito kay Wena bago lumayo sa amin.