Map of the Lost

36

"Sab! Ang tagal mo!" Pag punta ko sa venue, ang galit na sigaw agad ni Myrene ang bumungad sa akin. May taste testing kasi kami ng food para sa reception ng kasal niya at nalate ako sa oras na usapan namin. Busy kasi sa restaurant ngayon!

As soon as I dropped my things and sat down with them, Erin had already given me my spoon. There were already a few things Myrene liked. May napili na siyang salad at main course na Grilled Filet Mignon.

Pagdating sa cake, ang hirap pumili dahil masarap naman 'yung lahat na flavors. "Ano tingin mo, Sab?" Tanong ni Myrene sa akin.

"Ako, gusto ko 'yung raspberry and white chocolate!" Erin excitedly exclaimed. She was even raising her hand like a student wanting to be called during a recitation. Tinulak naman ni Myrene ang mukha niya. "Si Sab tinatanong ko!" Masungit na saad niya.

Natawa na lang ako kasi nagsisimula nanaman itong dalawa. "Okay rin ako sa raspberry and white chocolate cake, and I think it suits your liking more too. Kung hindi, okay din 'yung carrot. 'Yung chocolate caramel naman parang masyadong matamis." Tumango tango sila parang umaagree sa akin.

We discussed them further more, helping Myrene make a decision. Si Kian late kasi may inasikaso pa siya sa work pero nakasunod rin naman siya.

'Yung hinire ni Myrene na gagawa ng cake, kilala na namin siya kaya nakipagkwentuhan pa kami sa kanya. Natutuwa ako tuwing nagkikita kami. Mahiyain kasi 'to tapos dinadaldal ko. Maya maya kinakailangan na niyang umalis dahil may date daw siya.

"Gagi, nabusog ako doon." Erin leaned more to her chair and she even unbuttoned her pants! Si Kian nakasandal ang braso sa upuan ni Myrene habang pinaglalaruan lang ang buhok niya. Nagkwentuhan pa kami noong nililigpit na 'yung mga pagkain.

"Ano pala, may nakalimutan ako ikwento..." Luminon kami kay Erin and listened to what she had to say. "Nagsset up nga kasi sila mommy ng blind dates for me, diba? Sa restaurant sa mall kami magkikita ng date ko tapos habang hinihintay ko siya, nagkasalubong kami ni Miguella."

Intrigued with the topic, we leaned closer to her para bang uhaw kami sa chismis. Natawa naman si Erin doon at umiling iling. "Wala naman nangyari. Awkward actually, nagtitigan kami ng ilang minutes doon tapos nag hi na lang din ako tapos ayun na 'yun."

Tumango tangi si Myrene. "At least you're civil. Are you still mad at her?"

Erin paused, sunddenly in deep thought. "Hindi? Ewan ko, I mean nasaktan ako kasi she was my bestfriend pero matagal na kasi 'yun. And besides, I have you two and that's more than enough for me." Nginitian ko siya at inabot ang kamay at pinisil. She did the same but then faced me properly, obvious that there was something she wanted to ask me.

"Itanong mo na," natawa ako.

"Ikaw? Galit ka pa?"

What happened to me and Miguella was something I can't just erase in my past. To be honest, the whole situation with us impacted me negatively. Hindi kasi ako makapaniwala na isa sa kaibigan ko na higit kong pinagkakatiwalaan ay gaganoonin ako. Natakot tuloy ako bigla. I became hesitant in meeting new people and became distant with my current friends. I built this tall and firm walls around me, determined to not let anyone in anymore. I let my guard down before and never did I think that anyone would use my vulnerability against me so I promised I would protect myself more.

Alam kong napansin din nila 'yun but they chose to understand me and be patient with me. And I'm glad they did because at least I got to use the chance to breathe on my own and redeem myself. Ang daming nawala sa 'kin sa mga panahon na 'yun, pero ayokong tuluyang bumagsak. So I worked extra hard with academics. Hinabol ko ang mga kailangan ko pang habulin. I survived until the end and graduated with flying colors.