Peace Minus You

41

"What?" angal ko sa dalawa.

Napahinga nang malalim si Pochi pagkaharap muli sa akin. Samantalang si Exodus ay nakangisi na sa akin.

"How are you, bro?"

Tinanguan ko lang siya. Lumapit sa akin si Pochi.

"Ah, he's here because I want to clear the air between the two of you."

"Perhaps there's air pollution between us?" Exodus grinned.

I remained serious while Pochi laughed at his joke. Nakakatawa ba 'yon?

Pochi's phone suddenly rang.

"Oh, the two of you should talk. Walang suntukan!" She excused herself at nagmamadaling lumabas sa silid.

"Sorry," I mumbled as I looked straight into his eyes.

"Fucking forgiven."

Good enough he's not dramatic. Akala ko susuntukin niya ako.

"How's your girl?" I decided to ask.

Kasalanan ko ang pagkakahiwalay nila. Iyon ay kung naghiwalay nga ba talaga sila. I accused him of being a cheater. Sana ay nagkaayos sila. Kung hindi ay tutulungan ko siya.

Biglang nagdilim ang mukha niya."Let's not talk about that."

I just shrugged at him. Pinigilan kong magkomento. Baka magsuntukan pa kami nito sa kung anong masabi ko.

Nagbukas ang pintuan at sabay kaming napalingon doon. My girlfriend is smiling widely. Though I can't seem to recognize the same emotion oinher eyes.

"Thank goodness hindi kayo nagsusuntaukan," she sighed.

Nais ko siyang tanungin pero biglaang nagpaalam si Exodus.

"Need to go now, Poch. Falcon, boxing soon!"

"See you in the boxing ring!"

Agad tinampal ni Pochi ang aking braso.

"That's too violent. You two should shut up with that matter," she winced.

Naunang umalis si Exodus. Nanatili kami pansamantala pareho.

"Anong pinag-usapan niyo kanina noong wala ako?"

"Boxing," I taunted her.

She rolled her eyes. Hindi ko napigilang humalakhak. Sarap talaga asarin.

"Ano nga?" patulo niya sa pang-uusisa.

"I just said sorry and he forgave me. The end."

"Weh?"

Kung kailan ko kinwento saka ayaw maniwala. Niyakap ko na lang siya.

"You're so galing, I'm so proud of you!" She kissed my jaw.

"Saan ako magaling?" I clarified.

Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay.

"Your performance," she pouted.

"What performance?"

Mahigpit niya akong niyakap. Bigla kong naalala ang malungkot niyang mata kanina pagpasok dito.

"There is something you're not telling me."

Nanatili kaming magkayakap sa isa't isa. Dahan-dahan siyang humiwalay sa akin. Malungkot siyang ngumiti.

"I'm sorry," she bit her lip after saying those words. Yumuko siya.

"What is it?"

I held her chin so I can look at her clearly. Sa pagsasama namin, ngayon lang siya naging ganito. Her problem is my problem too. Palagi kasama sa usapan na dapat kami magsabi ng problema sa isa't isa para masolusyunan.

"I-I can't be with you," her voice broke.