Gwen's Point Of View
"Do you like him, Gwen?" Joseph asked when we were already seated inside the restaurant. Mabilis lang naman ang naging byahe namin papunta dito at nakatulong din siguro na nag-uusap lang kami the whole time. I actually thought it was going to be awkward after what Jarred did but Joseph was able to open a different topic.
"Yes." I answered without blinking. Gusto kong magulat at bawiin ang sagot ko, but at that moment, I knew it was the most honest word that I can say. Yes, I like him. It was more like I am admitting it to myself rather than telling Joseph about it.
Tumango siya, ngumisi ng bahagya at umiwas ng tingin. Napayuko naman ako.
"Let's order now?" Biglang aya niya na agad ko namang sinang-ayunan.
"Joseph, I know it's hard for us to accept these things kasi we were friends for some years now and I don't plan to end it in any way. But please know that I can't entertain your feelings anymore. I am engaged to Jarred and I am sure that I will marry him. I want us to remain friends, please don't make this hard for the both of us." I started and he was just looking at me. He smiled a bit.
"Ang sakit pa rin talaga." And I really saw how hurt he was. But I just can't think of any other way to do this.
"I know, and I'm sorry. Nasasaktan din ako. Alam mong maha—"
"Mahal mo ko, bilang kaibigan. Yes, I get it. I'm sorry if I keep on pushing myself to you. Akala ko kasi for the past years, natutunan ko nang maka-move on. I had a girlfriend, remember? But I just can't force myself to forget about my feelings for you that's why I broke up with her. I didn't want to be unfair to her. I was able to like other girls but not to the extent of how I feel for you." Napayuko ulit ako sa sinabi niya. It hurts.
Buti nalang ay dumating na ang mga pagkain namin kaya nagsimula na kaming kumain and we also tried to change the topic para hindi kami masyadong ma-ilang habang kumakain.
"I'm sorry again. Please let me still be your friend. Hindi na'ko manggugulo sa'yo, Gwen. I'll try to distance myself as much as possible." Malungkot pero nakangiting salita niya. Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya na nakapatong sa mesa.
"I am and will always be your friend, Joseph. I don't want to lose you. Please don't distance yourself from me too much. You can still message me whenever you need someone to talk to. I will always try to reply as much as possible. I love you, okay?" He smiled wider.
"Pa-fall ka naman!" Natatawang salita niya kaya napatawa narin ako. Nagpatuloy ang kwentuhan namin hanggang sa mapansin ko na 8:30 na pala.
"Ihatid na kita?" Joseph asked when he noticed how I looked at my watch. Agad akong umiling.
"Susunduin daw ako ni Jarred. Maybe I should text him na?" He immediately nodded and drank his water.
Kinuha ko ang phone ko from my bag and I saw three messages from Jarred.
From: Jarred
Take care, baby! Please text me :)
From: Jarred
Hey, babe!
From: Jarred
Please reply to me :((
Natawa ako ng makita ang huling text niya 30 minutes ago.
To: Jarred
You can come pick me up na, babe. Ingat ka! :))
Wala pang isang minuto ay nakatanggap na'ko ng text galing sa kaniya.
From: Jarred
On my way, babe. See you!
Napakunot ako ng noo na naging dahilan ng pagtanong sa akin ni Joseph.
"Why? Is there something wrong?" Nag-aalalang tanong niya. I chuckled and shook my head.
"Nagtaka lang ako kung bakit ang bilis nakaalis ni Jarred sa bahay. Anyways, where were we?" And we were able to open another topic again. I guess I really missed him. I was so used to talking to him almost everyday before, I tell him everything kaya naman it was also hard for me to distance myself to him. Joseph and Kevin are both my best friends as well.
Our talk was interrupted by my ringing phone. Jarred's calling.
"Hey, I'm here outside. Do you want me to go inside?" Malambing na tanong niya. I smiled.
"I'll just go out. We're done narin naman."
"Okay, love." He answered which made my heart pound so hard. Love? Why did he call me love?
Sa sobrang gulat ko ay pinatayan ko siya ng tawag. Oh my goodness! My heart can't take this.
"Hmm, should we go out now?" Natauhan lang ako ng tumikhim at magtanong si Joseph. Wala sa sarili akong napatango bago tumayo at lumakad palabas kasabay niya. He was also guiding me, siguro ay dahil napansin niya na natulala ako kanina.
"Hi!" Jarred greeted as soon as we stepped out. I smiled at him who's now looking at Joseph intently.
"Thank your for allowing us to have dinner together, bro. Take care of Gwen, kung hindi, babawiin ko siya." Joseph smirked, I then looked at Jarred and his dark eyes. He looks mad.
"Walang babawiin, bro. She was never yours to begin with." He answered and protectively wrapped his arm around my waist.
"Joseph, we talked about this already. We'll go now. Take care, okay?" Lumapit ako kay Joseph at saglit kaming nagyakapan.
"I know, I'm sorry. I'll see you when I see you." He caressed my hair and said "I love you" before letting go. Tumango sya kay Jarred na sinagot naman nito ng isa ring tango bago lumakad papunta sa sasakyan niya.
"Akala ko ba you'll clear things out with him? Eh bakit parang hindi parin siya nalilinawan?" He asked, trying his best to look at me in the eyes but he failed to do so. Nakatingin kang siya sa kawalan so I tried my best to have him look at me.
I caressed his face.
"We talked, I cleared things out with him. Stop getting mad about it. Joseph and I are friends, we will always be." I explained calmly. Tumango tango naman siya bago bahagyang napatawa.
"I'm sorry, baby. I'll try harder. Let's go now." And as he held my hands, I felt like nothing would go wrong as long as he's holding me like this.
