Honne; Tatemae

Prologue

"This is so stupid, Lis! Let's go home!" I didn't try to hide my annoyance while sitting comfortably as I glance once more on my Audemars Piguet watch.

Elise slightly lifted her gaze from the laptop she's working on before throwing me another warning look.

I can't help but to bit my inner cheek.

Right! I'm the one who begged her that I badly need a sweet escape from all the things that I'm going through.

Tris just turned me down, saying we better off friends. And I don't really know how I could still face her without looking so pathetic in her eyes once we see each other again. Ang masaklap pa ay ilang araw na din kasi ako nitong iniiwasan. Siguro ay iniisip nito na mas lalo lang akong mahihirapan pag nakasama ko pa sya ng mas madalas. Lalo pa at bali-balita na nagkabalikan na nga daw ito at si Elle.

Damn it. Elle na naman.

Elle is one of our closest friends. Pero simula noong ginamit nito si Tris noon para pagselosin si Rainey ay literal na mainit na talaga yung dugo ko dito.

And heck, I know it's bad to celebrate one's heartache. But I am really glad when Harrice left Elle for good. Mas mabuti na din iyon kesa naman magkatuluyan ang mga ito.

Pero siguro talagang masama na maghangad ng hindi maganda sa kapwa dahil wala pang ilang buwan ay kumalat na agad yung balita na nagkabalikan na nga daw ito at si Tris.

And Tris. That stupid woman! She's not even affirming nor denying it.

Talagang nagawa pa nito na balikan iyong Elle na yon na para bang hindi sya tila basura lang na tinapon nito nung wala na syang pakinabang?

Damn!

"Anong oras ba talaga darating yung kausap mo, Lis? Halos twenty minutes na tayong naghihintay."

"Just few more minutes, Lee. Patience."

"I am not cut to wai-"

Napatigil ako sa pagsasalita ng bumukas yung pintuan. A wispy scent of sweet sugarcandy and bubblegum suddenly filled the air.

Before I could open my mouth to say another word, someone emerge from the room.

Someone tall. Skinny, like a freshly-emerged model from the centerfold magazine. Her hair is so strikingly beautiful, mid-waist streaks of white and ash gray hair that's curling on ends. She's wearing a navy blue dress that's cinched on her impossibly tiny waist.

"I'm sorry." The woman spoke. "I'm really sorry. I just got stuck in the traffic and I swear I hurriedly hailed a cab but luck choose to dump me. So I had to ride a train going to the nearest stop where I can easily catch a cab to g-"

I totally lost it.

My attention is not in the words she's saying. I am more caught at the way her cheeks turned red as she explains the reason of her delayed arrival. Like a kid being sorry for arriving the class late and was asked to see the principal after class.

"It's fine." Elise waves her hand as if dismissing the topic. Tiniklop nito yung laptop nito at itinabi sa gilid ng mesa. "Have a seat. Take a few breaths so we could start now." Imuwestra nito yung couch na katapat ng inuupuan namin.

Tumango naman yung kadarating na babae at saka pasimpleng sumulyap sakin bago tila nahihiyang nagbawi agad ng tingin ng mapansin na nakatingin din ako sa kanya.

Mabilis na dinampot nito yung baso ng tubig nang tuluyan itong makaupo. Pagkatapos ay sunod-sunod na nilagok yung tubig na laman niyon.

I winced at how unlady-like that was. Hindi talaga lahat ng maganda, may manners.