Palabas pa lang ng bahay si Maddie, she has been trying to call Bea, still can't be reached. She decided to go straight sa LGV para nya malaman kung asan kaibigan nya.
But she arrived, as she expected, kulang ang sasakyan sa garahe, she knew.
She rang the doorbell at dali dali naman lumapit kasambahay and told her na wala sila dun.
"Si Bea?" She asked
"Kasama po nila sir sa Batangas."
"Sige, Manang, thank you."
"Ma'm, 2 linggo po daw mag stay si Ma'm Bea dun."
"Sige, okay lang, ako na pupunta sa kanya."
Malayo pa, Bea recognized Maddie's car kaya sinalubong na nya.
"What are you doing here?" Pasigaw na nagtanong si Bea.
Maddie just gave her a stop sign.
Bea signalled where she can park.
"Ano na, how did you know I'm here."
"Galing ako sa inyo eh, sabi ng maid andito ka daw."
"Miss mo na ako, noh?"
"Miss ka dyan, Beatriz, you have a lot of explaining to do!"
"What did I do?" Bea asked her, confused.
"Pwede ba papasukin mo muna ako, ang layo ng nidrive ko para lang kita puntahan dito!"
"Tara, what do you want to drink, I can make something for us."
"Talaga ba, Beatriz, ano bartender ka na sa kakalimit mo sa mga bar."
"Ayaw mo naman kasi ako samahan."
They went straight to Bea's room.
"Asan sila Tito?" Maddie asked her.
"Nasa stable siguro, something with ponies."
"Kelan ka babalik ng Manila? Sabi ng maid 2 weeks ka daw dito."
"Of course not me. I think sila Mom will be staying her for awhile pa. Hapon na, stay for the night na, bukas na tayo bumalik ng Manila."
"Talagang bukas na tayo uuwi. You have a lot of explaining to do talaga."
After dinner, bumalik na sa kwarto ang dalawang magkaibigan sa kwarto.
"Ano, ayaw mo talaga uminom?" Bea asked mddie.
"Yes, sure na ako. Kailangan tayo magusap ng maayos."
"About what nga?"
"What have you been doing? Tinawagan ako ni Anton, ung asawa mo parang sinakluban ng langit at lupa."
"Asawa? Wala ako nun."
"Kaya nagdadala ka ng lalake sa bahay nyo?"
"It's just a one night stand." Bea said defensively.
"Beatriz, may asawa ka na!"
"Mads, are you forgetting, it's just out of convenience, an arrangement. Kung sineryoso ni Thirdy un, that's not my problem anymore."
"Isipin mo naman ginawa mo, sobrang bastos nun. And it happened, twice, Bea, twice!"
"So, give up na ba sya?"
"He likes you, Bea, love you even."
"Diko nga problema un. Sino namang tanga ang mag invest sa arranged marriage? Kala ko naman matalino sya."
"Stop treating him like crap, Bea, I know he'll be worth it if you will only try."
"Try what?"
"Ano ba yan, Bea, open your eyes na lang. At alam ko na sasabihin mo, kaya please lang, wag ka mag pilosopo sa akin."
"You're supposed to be on my side, Maddie."
"I am, kaya nga hindi ko kinukunsinti mga mali mo!"
"Ako kaibigan mo, hindi si Thirdy."
"Alam ko, hindi ko nakakalimutan yan, Bea, but wag mo naman abusuhin ung tao."
"Hindi ko sya inaabuso, this is just me."
"Then wag naman garapal, Bea."
She looked at her friend, straight into her eyes. Bea knows her friend was waiting for her reply.
It has been a week since that talk between Bea and Maddie. It's officially the end of the work week.
"Friday night out?" Bea called Maddie.
"Dami pa ako backlogs, Bei, pass muna. I think you should rest, too."
"Tagal mo na ako hindi sinasamahan, are you mad at me?" Palambing na tanong ni Bea sa kanya.
"Ano ba naman tanong yan, part? You know naman how things are done around here. Madami talaga trabaho that I need to finish. Promise, pag natapos ko lahat ito, ako mag aaya." Maddie assured her.
Bea went to the bar by herself. Nothing unusual, she does this on most days.
Thirdy at home, prepared a meal for them. The previous days, paguwi ni Bea from the farm, wala usapan about them.
Naguusap sila as if nothing happened. Thirdy decided it was best for him to set aside whatever pain he was feeling, it wouldn't make sense na makipagaway kay Bea, ke knows, she don't care.
He fixed the table with the foods he ordered and some he prepared and cooked, nag ayos din sya ng flowers for her
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2 hours have passed, still no Bea.
He was torn between calling her or just wait for her.
"Sir, gusto nyo po ba initin ko ung pagkain?" One of the helpers asked.
"Okay lang, Manang, magpahinga na kayo, hintayin ko na lang si Bea."
" Gisingin nyo na lang po kami kung may kailangan kayo."
"Thank you po, Manang."
4 hours, still no one arrived.
He looked at his watch, it was almost 3 am.
He heard the gate open and he peeped through the window.
