Boss Lady #3: Gold's Impurity

XXI. Emotion

UPON seeing the breaking news on TV about Erika's old photos from her college years, Gold immediately turned the TV off then took her phone from the coffee table and dialed Patch's number.

"Tangina, Patching!" bungad niyang wika sa kaibigan nang mag-hello ito.

"Why? What happened?" tanong ng kaibigan.

"Have you not seen the news?!"

"Mars, buong araw akong nakatutok sa pag-design at tahi ng gowns. Anong meron?"

Gold frantically sighed as she walked back and forth her living room. "I don't know how, pero nasa balita kanina 'yung old college photos ni Erika. Mga photos na pinapakitang patay na patay na siya kay Trey noon pa!"

Patch gasped. "Holy shit!"

"I know! Holy shit talaga!" Gold exclaimed. "Okay, what are we gonna do?! She needs us! Baka umiiyak na 'yun ngayon! You know how much of a softy our best friend is!"

"Okay, let's plan this well," Patch said. "Do you have a gig today?"

Gold shook her head even though Patch cannot see her. "Wala, I'm free for the rest of the week."

"Okay, good. Call Erika after this, ask her where she is. I can't attend to her right now dahil puno ang sched ko today," wika ni Patch. "Can Erika stay with you for now? Baka dumugin kasi siya ng media sa condo niya eh."

She hummed in agreement. "Of course, she has a room here."

All of her best friends, even her sibilings and Nay Coring, can stay at her mansion if they want to, kaya niya sinigurado na may sapat na kwarto roon para welcome ang mga ito anytime.

"Okay, good ulit. I'll fetch her from her condo then bring her there. I'll make sure to call her during my free time so I can ask about her whereabouts," tuloy ni Patch.

Gold sighed, worry etched in her voice. "Nag-aalala ako kay Erika, mars. She definitely didn't want Trey to know about it this way."

"Oh, I know. I hope she's feeling okay despite this," Patch sighed too. "Sige na, let's do our role as her best friend. Call or text me na lang, Gold."

"Yeah, I will. Bye and see you, Patching."

When their call ended, Gold immediately called Erika. Hindi pa nakakailang ring ito pero sumagot na ang dalaga.

"Mars..." Gold whispered, not really knowing what to say to Erika.

"You saw?" tanong nito.

"I did. I told Patch too," pag-amin niya. "How are you?"

Erika sighed, her sigh hinting that she is doing her best not to cry. "I don't feel fine. I'm currently at a shoot so I have no choice but to absorb it all without crying. Let's talk about it later, please. 'Wag muna ngayon."

Gold's heart hurts for her best friend. She knows now how much Erika loves Trey and seeing her struggle because of the revelation is too much. Erika does not deserve any of it.

"Oh, Erika..." she sighed. "Patch and I talked and we want to help you in any way we can. Stay here with me muna while the issue is still hot, then susunduin ka ni Patching mamaya sa condo mo."

Erika took a deep breath then said, "That would be perfect, Gold."

"Patch will contact you later, busy siya ngayon sa studio but she will call or text. Coordinate with her about your location para magkasabay lang kayo ng dating sa condo mo, alright?"

"Yes, all good," Erika stifled a cry. "Thank you sa inyo ni Patch. 'Di ko talaga alam anong gagawin ko, buti andyan kayo."

"Girl, ano ka ba?! Best friends mo kami kaya dadamayan ka talaga namin no matter what," Gold told her. "O siya sige na, I'm sure you need to continue your shoot. I'll see you later, okay? Stay off social media please!"