"You look so blue, love." pagpansin sakin ni George na kanina pa nakatambay dito sa kwarto ko at ginagawang unan ang hita ko.
"I am so not looking blue," agad na sabi ko saka nag-scroll down para sunod kong mabasa ang susunod na parte ng binabasa kong article tungkol kay Zhang Chuanfu. "My skin color is natural like Erika's kaya, there's no way I look blue."
"Pilosopa," George rolled her eyeballs at me before shutting her eyes and heaved a deep sigh. "I and Belle argued,"
"Yeah?" I asked as I read the continuation of the article.
Zhang Chuanfu, a murderer on the run for almost a year has been arrested after he drunk-drive his BMW around the city with minors na nagtratrabaho raw bilang prostitute sa pinuntahang club. Zhang Chuanfu was about to drop the minors when he accidentally changed the gear into reversed and sh-it happened. Nasagasaan ang isang sasakyan na nakaparada lang sa labas ng isang kakabukas lang na diner. The funny thing is that the owner of the car is one of DEA's Special Agents. Talk about coincidence and fate.
"She's been comparing me to Erich, love," ramdam ko ang lungkot sa boses ni George kaya naialis ko ang paningin ko sa cellphone ko and looked at Geroge na nakasara pa din ang mga mata. Her breathing is steady and calm, but her voice ain't hiding the pain she feels with what happened between her and Belle.
I put my phone down and heaved a sigh. "Is it about our engagement again?"
"Yeah, it is about it again." napatawa nalang ako dahil kapansin-pansin ang frustration ni George. "Oh, don't laugh at me, Rins! Help me!"
"I told you naman diba? Kagagawan mo yan, I had enough of helping at umako lahat ng consequences. I am tired, babe."
"I know, I also know that I can tell you what's running inside my mind." umalis si George sa pagkakaunan sa hita ko saka tumabi sakin. Resting her back against the wall, gaya ng posisyon ko ngayon. "It hurts."
"We can just call off the engagement officially, George. That'll sol—,"
"I had enough of Belle, why would I settle for less?" tinitigan ko ng maigi si George. She's hiding it, she's at it again. "I am the George Acquitan. Big cheeses are after me!"
"But they aren't Belle."
George heaves a sigh. "Yes, they aren't Belle. I hate her."
"Nagtatampuhan lang kayo. Nagtatampo lang yun sayo, panigurado. Kailan mo ba balak sabihin sa angkan mo ang tungkol satin? My family knows about it from the very beginning, we can just ignore the media for now."
"Hindi ko alam, Phina. Hindi ko alam. If they knew about us lying—about me lying about us, they would send me off to some cock-old rich businessman."
Traditions. George was spared by his Nonno, but then George was a stupid young lady who does stupid things because she's stupid enough to stupidly do stupid things. Yes, she's stupid. George is stupid despite her being almost perfect. The stupid word is abundant I know, but what can I do? She's stupid.
Kakamatay lang ni Lolo non when I was harassed by reporters and the media. They were foreign reporters. I was in a state of shock. Like, why the hell would foreign reporters fly from different countries just to interview me? To interview a Filipina-nobody.
Imagine, foreign reporters and their media flew from abroad to the city I lived in just to interview me about my relationship with George, and if the news were true about the Gambino's heiress affairs with someone's wife.
George is not a simple woman despite her living here in Cagayan de Oro City. Hindi pa sya pinapakilala sa media sa pagkakaalam ko, Acquitan din ang dinadala nyang apelyedo dahil sa kagustuhan ni Tita Roselle, ang mommy ni George. Pero dahil sa kalokohan at katangahan ni George, nakilala sya ng media because someone confirmed George's identity as the Gambino's heiress.
George had sex with a married lady. Ayos sana kung pwedeng maiareglo nalang para agaran matapos, e di sana wala kami sa ganitong sitwasyon. Kaso hindi e. George was stupid on a higher and different level when she was stupid enough to have sex with a mob boss' wife and was stupid enough to get caught because their videos were leaked and sent to the woman's husband.
The mob boss was nice enough to talk to George's family nicely, with no guns pointed in their temples. The mob boss even offered a deal with them, but George said no and offered loyalty instead. Dinamay pa nya ako by saying that I, too, will offer my loyalty to them. Only George, her family and the mob boss ang nakakaalam kung ano talaga ang pinagusapan nila. George spared me the little details and just told me the summary.
Gagawa gawa ng krimen e nagpapahuli naman. Tanga talaga.
"It's your fault in the first place, if you were thinking back then, hindi ka magiging alanganin ngayon." paninisi ko sa kanya. Alanganin din naman ako, baka awayin din ako ni Belle paguwi ko doon dahil sa letseng engagement namin.
George groaned in annoyance. "You're not helping, Phina."
"I know. I've been helping you ever since naman kasi, so kahit ngayon lang di kita tutulungan."
"Phina!" napatawa nalang ako saka binuksan ulit ang cellphone ko. I'll message Ota. "Come on! Help me!"
"Anong gagawin ko ba? Mag-explain din kay Belle? Please, George, is it just about our engagement? Or is it about something else?"
"Both," biglang ini-snatch ni George ang cellphone ko. "You never liked plain wallpapers and phone themes. Why the sudden change?"
"Yan ang theme ko the past few months, you just never noticed because you are busy with Belle. I changed my wallpaper to a plain one because my and Lolo's picture makes me cry every time I look at it. Di ko pa din matanggap,"
"Really? Or is it just one of your excuses?"
"Nah," I snatched my phone from George and composed a text for Ota. "You know how hurt and wounded I am. This is between my faith and unanswered questions."
"And your Yubi rubbed salt on your wounds." sinamaan ko ng tingin si George na tumawa lang and then nudge my arms. "Who is pikonin now?"
"Hindi ako pikon, excuse me. And Yubi ain't mine, so she is not my Yubi."
"But you would have been happy if she was yours, right?"
Would I be happy? If she were mine? If we were meant to be together? Maybe. "Nah,"
"Liar!" dumampot ng unan si George at hinampas sakin nang kay lakas. "When did you learn to lie about your feelings?" patuloy pa din sya sa paghampas sakin but her force was gentle, clearly making sure it doesn't hurt me. "You were damn expressive!"
Inagaw ko ang unan na hinahampas nya sakin. "I was! Past tense, b-obo!" I, then, tackled her down the bed and started tickling her sides kaya para syang uod at tangang pilit kumakawala sakin at sumisipa to get me off of her.
"Stop it, Phina! That tickles!"
Patuloy lang ang kulitan namin sa kwarto ko. I really had a good laugh, had a great time with George. We shared stories and stuff. Until Lola knocked on my door and called me to the sala.
When I got out with George, I was greeted with a man in suit. Maybe older than Mama for a couple of years. He looked nice and formal. He looked like from another country. He looked like a English man.
"Nak," napalingon ako at nakita si Mama na may dalang tray na naglalaman ng isang pitcher na orange juice at iilang mga binake na cookies ni Mama kahapon.
"Ma, sino?" tukoy ko sa lalaki na nakamasid sakin habang may malumanay na ngiti sa labi nya.
Inilagay ni Mama ang tray sa coffee table bago humarap sakin. "I have something to tell you, anak." bigla akong kinabahan nang makitang kinakabahan din si Mama while holding my hands. "I and Edward," kita ko ang pagsulyap ni Mama sa lalaki na nakangiting nakatingin lang samin. "Are getting married."
"I and Edward are getting married..."
"I and Edward are getting married..."
"I and Edward are getting married..."
"Getting married..."
"Getting married..."
"Getting married..."
"Married..."
"YOU WHAT?!"
