DDLFM #1: The Journalist's Secret

CHAPTER ONE

RELATIONSHIPS

TG: Mentions of attempted suicide, self-harm and etc. 

"YOU have to see this, Anny!" Cecilia came running to the girl, sitting beside the window while reading a book.

"What the heck do you want? Nasa library tayo, 'yang bunganga mo Cecilia!" Kunot noong pag paalala ni Annika sa kanyang matalik na kaibigan. But to no avail, Cecilia didn't care.

Tiningnan niya ito at napabuntong hininga, "sit first." Annika said while looking bored.

Parang asong sumunod naman si Cecilia sa kanyang utos. Tagaktak ang kaniyang pawis at mahahalata talaga na tumakbo ito papunta kay Annika.

"Nag date kayo ni Evan kahapon, right?" tanong ni Cecilia. Her eyes were curious, so Annika could tell that something was bothering her friend... Potentially, It involves Evan.

Annika closed the book in her hand like a strict professor, then placed it on the table before turning her full attention on Cecilia.

"Yes, and why?" Annika whispered while cautiously looking at the librarian. Ang lakas naman kasi ng boses ni Cecilia. Nanlilisik na ang mga mata ng librarian sa kanila.

Cecilia seemed unbothered about their current location, which made Annika nervous. That means Cecilia was about to tell her something very important.

Despite her concerns, Annika maintained her resting bitch face as if she were facing someone she despised. May tampo parin ito kay Cecilia, kahit na lumalapit na ang kanyang loob muli sa dating kaibigan ay nandyan pa rin ang distansya sa gitna nilang dalawa. Cecilia left when she needed her the most.

Her friend frantically took her cellphone out. "Look!" Kulang nalang ay ibaon ni Cecilia ang cellphone sa pagmumukha ni Annika.

"Calm down, I can't see if it's that close!" Sa una ay natawa ang babae but Annika's anxiety is starting to build up, her childhood best friend doesn't usually act like an aggressive angry dog.

"What the fuck?" mahinang bulong nito nang makita niya ang litrato sa cellphone ni Cecilia. She can't help but gasped in disbelief.

It was a 'my day' of a girl named Allison, her 'my day' is a picture of Annika's long time boyfriend holding a bouquet of flowers while his other hand was kissing a girl's hand and it was posted ten minutes ago with a caption 'date with my favorite guy' and 'I love you, mahal.'

Fury starts creeping in Annika's insides. "He said, may family dinner sila ngayon kaya kahapon kami nag date, nag advanced d-date kami. W-what the heck is this then?" her voice cracked. Her emotions are overwhelming her, it's starting to suffocate her.

"I'm sure she isn't his relative." she murmured.

"H-hey, let's go to my dorm." Nakita ni Cecilia na malapit na umiyak ang kanyang kaibigan kaya hinila niya ito sa braso at tumakbo sila papunta sa dorm niya.

Annika is still processing the shit she just saw.

"Here," Cecilia offered a handkerchief to Annika and sat beside her.

Nakatulala lamang si Annika at hindi alam kung ano ang kanyang gagawin. Will she confront him or just let it slide? Uunahin niya ba ang nararamdaman niya o papakinggan niya muna ang rason ni Evan?

May maibibigay pa ba siyang rason dito?

Dahan-dahan itong lumingon kay Cecilia at pumikit nang mariin bago magsalita. "M-maybe she's a relative, right?" She smiled bitterly, kahit nakita niya na ang ebidensya ay hindi niya pa rin kayang tanggapin.

Alam niya naman sa kanyang sarili na hindi iyon kamag-anak ng kanyang nobyo ngunit pinipilit niya itong paniwalaan.

Evan and Annika met in their first year of high school, they were classmates and their first relationship was friendship.