Flames and Vengeance (South Series # 1) COMPLETED- To be published

Chapter 48

Nauna kaming umuwi ng New York, one week lang namin sinamahan si Kylie kasi pare-parehas kaming hindi pinayagan na  i-extend ang leave. Lahat kaming apat sa isang apartment na tumutuloy, balak naming irent na rin ang isa pang unit sa kaliwa namin, kaso baka next month pa daw aalis ang nakatira.

Audrey was watching TV when we went in. Ngumiti siya sa amin.

"Hi, bitches!" She said. "OMG, ganda mo, Trin, sino ka diyan?"

Natawa ako kaya napayakap na lang ako sa kanya. "I missed you, bitchy."

"By the way, Jandrei Atlas, friend namin," sabi ko kay Audrey. "Drei, si Audrey friend din namin."

They become close in an instant. Dahil mas malakas sa firm si Drei, siya ang naki-usap sa HR na i-hire si Audrey bilang associate niya din. Marami pang aayusin na papers, pero mas madali kasi may kilala kami.

"Kulang na lang si Niko at Ry," sabi ni Audrey. "Kumpleto na tayo dito."

"Ang drama mo," komento ko. Sa tatlong taon na naiwan namin siya sa Pinas, walang nagbago kay gaga, ang daldal pa rin. She told us what we missed, including her wedding kasi ang biglaan lang noon, tapos hindi kami makauwi na tatlo.

Hearing stories of home, just like the nick of time, felt like a whisper to go home. How long should moving on last? Or will it ever end? I heard a friend say, "You don't move on from the things and people that hurt you, you just learn to forget gradually and live a new chapter without them."

But can I really find my way home again? All the shuttered dreams kept me in a tunnel of despair, can I really find the end of it? He left me a big scar, I can't even look at other guys the way I did with him. The fear of failure, of another broken relationship lives with me.

"How's your date?" Cliff asked. After another year, I tried dating again. I made a note to never date a coworker, and I'm sticking with that. I dated guys with no connection to my family, natatawa pa si Jandrei na nag-background check ako bago pumayag.

"I don't know," I mumbled. "I didn't feel any."

Cliff hissed. "You know what, Trin? Stop looking for him in every guy you're dating. Siya pa rin ang basis mo."

"Hindi kaya!" Depensa ko.

"Talaga? I don't believe you." He said. Jandrei agreed with him, minsan sa dalawang 'to parang pinagtutulungan ako.

On my 4th year of stay, I bumped with Dominic. He was so apologetic with me, he told me that Jessa was obsessed with Calix, una pa lang daw ayaw nang tanggapin 'yon ni Calix na secretary, pero naawa daw siya kasi naki-usap din daw si Angeliquè na kunin na nila para may pang tustos ng tuition. Late na nilang nalaman na nahihibang na si Jessa, she's currently admitted at a mental institute.

He told me it was Jessa who screened my number before, sinasadya din daw pala niyang ibahin ang mga schedules ni Calix dati para hindi ako mapuntahan, siya rin daw ang pumatay ng mga tawag ko kay Calix dati. At lagi daw niyang pinipilit na isama siya sa mga convention, Dominic knew her condition, pero hinayaan niya, I got mad at him.

And on that day that they went home, kasama daw si Dominic na nagpunta sa unit ni Calix. He confirmed it with me na sa kabilang unit sila ni Calix dumiretso, kaya imposible daw na may nangyari kay Jessa at Calix, kasi nandoin din daw siya sa kabilang unit. Sinabi rin niyang nadamay siya sa galit ni Calix, since mataas shares ni Calix sa firm, he got Dominic fired. Hindi ko naisip na kaya niyang gawin 'yon sa kaibigan niya.