Genius in Distress

Test of Friendship

Test of Friendship

Aia was surprised when her schoolmates and classmates approached her asking how she was doing, if she was okay, that they were happy she'd recovered. Before, lagi siyang binu-bully nang mga ito at parang isang outcast ang tingin sa kanya.

But now, they were actually nice to her and were very worried when she just frozen in her seat inside the cafeteria. Nakakapanibago.

Aia shook her head, "People." Kailangan pang may mangyaring masama sa kanya para itrato siya nang mga ito nang mabuti.

She was now looking for Eva. Ang nag iisang tao na alam niyang genuine at sincere ang concern sa kanya. Papasok siya nang cafeteria. Alam niyang doon ito lagi nakatambay. Nakita niya itong naka upo sa mesang laging pinu-pwestuhan nila sa loob nang cafeteria.

Nilapitan niya ito, "Eva," bati niya dito. Ngunit hindi siya nito pinansin. Nanatiling nakayuko ito at nagbabasa nang notes nito. Hindi siya nito pinapansin. "Eva, may problema ba?" tanong niya dito. Wala siyang naalalang pinag awayan nila para magalit ito.

Wala pa ring tugon mula dito.

Aia grabbed the notebook from Eva's hand and put it aside. Tiningnan siya nito nang masama at tatayo na sana nang pigilan niya ito sa kamay. Bumalik ito sa pag kaka-upo. Masama pa rin an tingin sa kanya.

"Eva, galit ka ba sakin?" tanong niya dito.

"Matalino ka, dapat makuha ka sa tingin," Eva snapped at her.

Aia was caught off guard at Eva's outburst. "Eva naman, let's talk. Magkaibigan tayo diba?" she tugged at her but Eva shrugged her off.

Tumawa ito nang pagak, "Friends?"

"Oo," mabilis niyang sagot.

"Siguro nga, magkaibigan tayo. Pero sa ating dalawa, ako lang ang totoo."

Umiling siya, "That's not true, Eva. Naging totoo ako sa'yo."

"Really?" she said, sarcastically. "Kasi parang hindi eh. You lied to me, Aia."

Was it about her security detail? Did she found out already? Oh God!

"Friends don't lie to each other, Aia. They just don't. Oo, pwede tayong magtago nang sekreto sa isa't isa pero iyong magsinungaling, hindi katanggap-tanggap iyon," sabi nito na pinipigilan lang ang maiyak. "And do you know what's worst? Iyon 'yong grabe ang pag aalala mo sa 'yong kaibigan tapos hindi mo siya malapitan." Tumulo na ang luha nito. Agad naman nitong pinahid iyon.

"Do you really believe I would deliberately lie to you Eva without any valid reason?" It was now Atlantis speaking on behalf of Aia. "I myself really hated to lie. It's not my thing. But under my circumstances it is the only choice I have. Just to have a normal life. Just to stay alive."

"Yeah. Yeah," sabi nito na hindi naniniwala sa sinabi niya. "Miss First daughter."

"Eva, just because you're my friend you have the right to insult me.  I'm trying to say sorry here. Wala kang alam sa mga pinagdaanan ko kaya bago ka bumitaw nang masasakit na salita hear me out first," my diin ang pagkakasabi niya. 

Napipilan naman ito at hindi na nagkomento pa.

Napapikit siya at napahinga nang malalim, "Look, I'm sorry, Eva. I have my reasons for hiding you my connection to the Phil. Army. I don't want to broadcast to the whole campus that I'm having a security detail. What for? For me it was no big deal as long as they stay invisible. Ayokong maka agaw nang atensyon dito sa loob nang campus. And I'm sorry kung pinigilan ka nilang dumalaw sakin. I didn't know. Kilala mo 'ko Eva. Hindi ako ganuon. My life is a roller coaster ride and I don't have the control over it."