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"I'll call you back," he was calling Gio.
     
    
   
We we're on our way to Vian and Chloe's dinner venue. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit naisipan ni JC na ituloy 'to pero I was so nervous the whole ride. He was still holding my hand while driving.
       


"Are you not mad?" I pursed my lip.
      


"I am but," nabaling ang tingin niya sakin, "I'm choosing not to."
          
 

"Why?" Does he not care? Is that really all it takes to make him calm?
        
 
  
"Stop overthinking love," he kissed my hand. "Besides, it was all a misunderstanding."
        
   

It was. Bakit ba parang siya pa ang may kasalanan kung bakit hindi siya nagooverthink? Pasalamat nga ako at madali siya huminahon 'e. I texted Vian na pahabol na kami.
    
    
  
From: Vian
| Timing. Nacancel na namin 'yung booking e. |
      
     
      
To: Vian
| I'm so sorry talaga Viannn. Hindi ko alam na cancelled na pala. :( |
     
     
    
From: Vian
| Seriouslyyy? Okie lang. Don't think about it. |
    
     
    
Nang makarating na kami, biglang bumalik lahat ng kaba na naramdaman ko. I texted him again that we we're here. Sinundo naman niya kami sa entrance ng hotel and guide us papuntang venue.
         


"Nasampal ako ng kahirapan ah," bulong sakin ni JC.
    
    
    
We both laughed. Napatingin ako kay Vian na busy na busy sa tinatawagan niya. Mukhang ayaw sumagot.
     
    
  
"Sorry," I whispered to him nang ibaba na niya ang telepono niga.
    
     
"No worries." He smiled.
      
    
    
Nakarating na kami sa floor and I saw Chloe standing infront of the receptionist. I was star-struck.
     
    
   
"Chow," Vian pecked her and held her waist. Arte may pa ganon pa ba talaga?
   
   
   
"Vian," she peck his cheek back. "Full na talaga sila." 
   
    
   
"Still?" He worried. "Tumatawag na ko for booking sa ibang resto pero close na ata sila."
    
    
    
I was also kinda stressing out hearing that. Napalingon ako kay JC, he looked really uneasy.
   
     
    
"Are you okay, love?" Tanong ko. Napatango lang siya and kept on ignoring eye contact. I knew we shouldn't have gone here.
   
    
  
"Madds," tawag sakin ni Vian. "Baka may alam 'kang resto or bar or," he pursed his lips, "anywhere. Fully-booked na raw sila."
    
   
  
Nakita ko ang naiinis na mukha ni Chloe. Naalala ko na nasa bar pa pala sila Gio. Maybe puwede naman kami makisalo. Ay shit, I remembered that they know Vian, lalo na si Shan.
   
   
   
"Wala ba dito 'yung kanina 'mong kasama? Kakacancel lang namin tapos full na agad, parang imposible naman ata." Chloe was really scary when she's angry.
    
   
    
"Marami po talaga kasi ang nagdidine dito Madam," pagpasensya nung receptionist.
    
   
  
Napabuntong-hininga si Chloe. "Call me nalang if there's seats pa."
    
    
   
"Calm down chow-chow," Vian tapped her shoulder. "Let's go to my place nalang, ha?"
    
    
  
They're so touchy for what? I don't wanna hate on Chloe pero they act like couples. Sinabihan ko si Vian na we could go to a bar na nandoon ang mga friends ko. Chloe and him agreed kaya naman bumaba kaming apat sa parking lot.
  
   
   
Chloe was with Vian. Sinundan nila ang kotse namin papuntang bar. JC's eyes kept gazing in the rearview mirror. Kanina pa siya naiilang.
  
   
  
"Maddie!" bumeso sakin si Erika dahil tinext ko siya na hahabol kami sa gimmick nila. She was waiting for us sa lounge.
   
   
    
Nanlaki ang mata niya nang makita si Vian at Chloe. Oh ha, nastar-struck din yarn?
   
   
  
"Nasan sila Bea?" I asked.
   
    
  
"Hinihintay kayo," she just smiled. Halatang kabado.
   
   
  
Nakita ko sila Gio na nakaupo sa curved tables.  They were shock to see Vian, lalo na kay Chloe. Napahigpit ang hawak sakin ni JC.
    
    
   
"Ah, dito ka lang baby," pinaupo ko siya. "Hanapin ko lang sila Bea."
   
   
  
Tumango siya and sat beside Gio. Nahugot ng ilan sila Vian para magpaselfie at magpavideo greet. Sikat nga pala sila.
   
   
  
"Namiss ko kayo!" I hugged them nang makita ko silang nagkukumpulan sa dance floor. I noticed Kaie wasn't here. "Asan si Kaie?"
  
   
  
"Ay, tanong mo kay Shan." Erika rolled her eyes.
   
   
   
Yumakap sakin si Bea. "Namiss kita," her eyes were kinda swollen.
   
   
  
Napatanggal ako ng yakap. "Ayos ka lang?" I held her face.
   
   
  
Tumango lang siya and invited me to shot. Umayaw ako at nagpaalam bumalik kila JC. I stopped walking towards them when I saw him starring at Chloe.
     
   
  
Napaupo ako sa tabi niya which made him sit properly. "Grabe dating ni Chloe, noh?" Bulong ko kay JC. Nalungkot ako bigla.
   
   
 
"Yeah," he just agreed. I felt even more sad. Akala ko naman kung ano sasabihin niya.
   
   
  
Ayoko naman umiyak sa harapan nila kaya umalis ako sa kinauupuan ko. I went to the balcony to wipe away my tears.
   
  
  
"You look lonely," sambit ni Vian. Inakbayan niya ko nang lumapit siya sakin. "You good?"
  
  
  
"I don't get it Vian," my voice weakened. "Bakit siya ginusto ng lahat?" She has Vian's heart won, pati pa ba kay JC papanalunin niya?
   
   
   
"Hey hey," nilipat niya kamay niya sa ulo ko. "Don't worry, you're perfect."
   
  
  
I didn't want to cry over little things pero the thought of JC finding another woman stunning doesn't sit right to me.
   
   
  
"Am I pretty, Vian?" I looked at him.
   
   
  
We both faced each other. He tuck a strand of my hair behind my ear. "A goddess type of pretty."
   
   
 
Napangiti naman ako. I felt my heart calming down. Yayakapin ko sana siya pero nakita ko si JC. Shit, not like this.
   
  
  
"Really, love?" Was the last words he said bago niya hinatak si Vian at suntukin.
    
   
  
"Dude, chill." Napahawak si Vian sa pisngi niya. "Alcohol lang 'yan."
   
   
  
"Vian, okay ka lang?!" I was so shocked pero I couldn't bother looking at JC.
   
   
  
"Eh ako Madds?" Sambit ni JC. "Why?" Mukhang nakainom na nga siya.
   
   
  
"Madds, are you two dating?" They both looked at me. I felt so pressured hindi ko na nasagot at bigla nalang sinuntok uli ni JC si Vian.
   
  
  
"Ano 'bang problema mo?" Vian's anger started showing.
   
    
  
"Nananadya ka 'ba o sadyang hindi ka lang marunong rumesto ng magkarelasyon?" Sigaw sakanya ni JC.
     
     
     
"'E Hindi nga kita kilala tapos manununtok ka? I can file a restraining order from you."
   
  
   
"Vian, please." Umiling ako sakanya.
   
    
    
"Problema? Ikaw 'yung problema." Tinuro siya ni JC. "Stop fucking around with my girlfriend."
    
    
   
Hindi ko alam pano sila tigilan. I started crying. Nakita nila ako umiyak at tumigil sa pakikipagsapalaran sa isa't isa.
    
   
   
"Uuwi na 'ko." Saad nalang bigla ni JC.
    
   
  
"Don't worry about him Maddie," inayos ni Vian ang buhok ko nang umalis si JC. "Are you okay? Is he hurting you?"
    
   
  
"Vian, I'm sorry," I started crying more. Gusto ko siyang pagalingin pero mas nagaalala ako sa boyfriend ko. "I'm really sorry pero I have to go."
   
   
  
I didn't bother looking back to him. Tumakbo ako papuntang parking, luckily he was the only one there. I saw him standing infront of his car. Nakatungo lang. Tumakbo ako sakanya at niyakap siya sa likod. He was sobbing so much it hurts me.
   
   
  
"I'm sorry my love," muling lumabas uli yung mga luha ko. "It's another misunderstanding."
   
   
  
"Love," hinawakan niya yung kamay ko na nakayakap sa dibdib niya. "Why can't you stay away from him every once in a while?"
   
   
  
Umiyak ako lalo. "I'm trying, baby."
    
    
   
"Why do you need to try? Is it so hard for you?" His voice was cracking. Napaharap na siya sakin but I couldn't look up to him.
    
    
   
"He's my friend," is the only thing I could say. Hindi ko rin alam sa sarili ko kung bakit hindi ko magawang iwasan si Vian. It wasn't because I like him too, is it?
    
   
  
"That's the same thing you told Shan when he asked you," huminga siya sa kakaiyak, "about me."
   
    
    
"You we're different," napasandal siya sa kotse niya habang yakap ko pa rin siya. "I love you but I don't love him."
   
    
   
"Kung hindi mo mahal, bakit hindi mo kaya saktan?" His tears kept on going. "Mas pipiliin mo ba 'ko saktan kaysa sakanya? 'E ako yung mahal mo."
   
   
  
"Baby, please stop," hinarap ko na rin siya sa wakas. "Walang meron 'saming dalawa."
    
    
  
"'Yan din ang sinabi sakin ni Chloe dati," he scoffed.

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:)

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