Haywire

chapter 4

Seconds, hours, days and months passed, no one talked about the incident. Joey finally decided, “Okay! Now’s not the time to be afraid. But I really can’t do it. But I should tell her, kahit na our friendship is at stake. Wait! Am I the one talking? It’s not like me! I should be thanking that we have a very beautiful relationship as best friends. How can I talk something like this?!”

Joey went to Chicky’s room and knocked, “Chicky?”

“Hmm? Why?” she replied.

“Can we go out?” he said kind of nervous.

“Out? Where?” her answers were mostly monosyllables.

“Dunno. Park? Anywhere.” Hindi na niya alam ang isasagot.

“Oh okay! Wait lang I’ll just get ready.” She said while walking over to the cabinet.

“Okay. I’ll wait outside.” Was all his reply. He closed the door and headed downstairs. He got out and went to the car, thinking about his actions.

After about 10 minutes, Chicky joined him in the car and strapped her seatbelt. “Let’s go!” she happily said. Joey started the engine and drove silently to the park. “Hey Joey Cruz. What’s the problem?” when Chicky completes his name seryoso na siya.

“Huh? Ah! Wala!” he replied.

“Anong wala? Come on! I know something’s bothering you.” She said trying to decipher his emotions.

“Wala. I swear!” he said feeling kind of guilty with what he’s been thinking. Joey parked his car and still silent got out.

“Let’s go!” he said in a happy mood. Chicky followed him. They both walked still silent.

“Uy! Cotton Candy! Di ba favorite mo yan? Teka I’ll buy."

Chicky forgot all about her feelings. Nag enjoy na lang siya. Magaling naman siya sa pagtago eh. Saka may cotton candy na. Joey returned with 2 bags of cotton candy and said, “Here!” he happily gave her one. “Thanks!” was all she could reply. “Uie! May bench tara upo tayo!” he said.

Aba tahimik parin! Umupo na sila sa bench. Habang kinakain ni Chicky yung cotton candy niya, he spoke, “Hmm.. Chicky?..Uh I..have.. something..to.. tell you..”

“Huh? Sige go ahead.”

“…Wala. Wala 'to”

Grabe makahawak itong si Joey sa bench. OA sa kaba.

“Oh. Okay ka lang ba? Bigla kang namutla?!” she reached for his forehead.

“I’m fine!” at tinabig ang kamay ni Chicky.

“You’re not! Tell me what’s wrong.” She said as she stopped eating.

“Wala. Swear!” he swore.

“Don’t swear, because I know something’s wrong. You never buy me cotton candy unless wala kang sasabihing importante.” She said in a matter-of-fact tone.

“Why do you question everything? Ha?! Don’t I have the right to buy you anything I want or you want?!” nagalit bigla.

“Wala akong sinasabing ganyan.” She said.

“Yeah! But your actions tell you so.” He said sarcastically.

“Why can’t you just trust me? We’ve been best friends for 5 years now, wala bang halaga friendship natin at balak mo pang isolo yang problema mo?! Don’t you know na it bothers me so much?! Sobrang nasasaktan ako..” Galit na siya pero she controlled her voice.

“Bakit do you think na ikaw lang nasasaktan?! I’ve kept this for a long time na and you don’t know how much it hurts!” galit na si Joey.

“Speak for yourself!”

“Let’s just drop it okay?” mahinahon na sabi ni Joey.

“Whatever! I’m not talking to you!” sabi ni Chicky.

“Ano ba yan?! Para ka namang bata eh! Act your age!” sabi ni Joey na may boses na medyo napapagod na sa away nila.

Chicky kept silent. Her eyes were filled with tears threatening to pour. She looked away and said quietly, “You didn’t even know that I’m hiding something from you for a long time now.”

“Chicky! Just listen. Okay? I don’t have a problem. Really.” He said still feeling guilty about the situation.

“Sabi mo eh. Pero I can really feel it..” she said sadly.

Joey remained silent. Then Chicky broke the silence. “Can we just go now?”

She got up and headed towards the car with Joey following behind.

“Chicky,” he said as he got her hand. “You can’t really understand it.”

“You told me to just drop it. Okay fine done!” she said as she continued walking. “I’m not pestering you about it okay?”

“Wag ka namang ganyan.. I just couldn’t tell you.”

She faced him, “See edi lumabas din yung totoo. You HAVE a problem.”

“Kasi..”

“You can tell me naman eh..”

“Aish, Chicky?!”

“Fine..”