BEHIND the SCENES (DarLentina version)

Chapter 51: Elle's goodbye

“Hey!" Tinapik n'ya ang balikat ni Narda sabay upo sa metal stool na katabi ng kinauupuan nito sa harap ng bar counter.

"Hmmm! Want some?" Alok nito sa kanya sabay kuha sa bote ng tequila.

"Nah! I'm fine." Nangalumbaba s'ya sabay titig sa direksyon nito.

"Why are you here?" Tanong nito sabay tungga sa laman ng basong hawak.

"I've waited for you but seems you weren't really coming to the condo so I ask your driver about your whereabouts."

Napatungo ito at tumitig na lang sa basong pinuno na ulit nito ng alak.

"Sorry! I didn't mean to be offensive earlier. Sorry for sounding bastos. I haven't controlled my temper, muntik ko ng maibunton sa'yo ang sama ng loob ko." She glanced at her and by that look, alam ni Elle na problemado ito.

"May problema ba, Narda?"

She look at her and glance away, hesitant to tell her about how she's feeling at the moment.

"Come on, Narda! I'm listening..."

"Promise me na hindi ka maaawa sa akin."

Kumunot ang noo ni Elle sa sinabi nito. "Maaawa?"

"And promise me na kahit ano'ng mangyari, you'll stay as my bestfriend. Bestfriend lang."

"Oh-kay? I'm being friendzoned and I get it. Now spill the tea."

"Regina's married for real."

“Hmmm? Why that’s not a hot news. Hindi ba kasal naman talaga s’ya kay Noah? Kaya mo nga inaagaw, ‘di ba?”

“Hindi ko nga pala nakwento. She told me she lied about being married that’s why I had high hopes na magkakabalikan kami at sa akin na s’ya forever. But she lied again. She told me she is really married to Noah and they have a son.”

Napakamot sa batok si Elle. “Jezz! Now I know kung bakit nagkakaganyan ka umagang-umaga. Sumuko ka na sa panunuyo? Nawalan ka na ng pag-asa on winning her back?”

“Paano mo naman ipaglalaban ang taong wala namang planong ipaglaban ka? And worst, lying to get what she wanted. Bakit pa ako magtitiwala sa kanya?”

“Hmmm, so akin ka nalang?”

Sinamaan s’ya nito ng tingin na ikinatawa lang n’ya. “Relax! Don’t bite me. Hindi pa naman ako masyadong ulyanin para hindi maalala na kakafriendzoned mo lang sa akin.”

Tumungo lang ito. “I don’t know. I thought about making my revenge. Gusto kong pasakitan s’ya sa ginagawa n’yang ‘to sa akin pero nawawalan ako ng lakas para magloko. I love her so much that I can’t afford to betray her even if she isn’t around and she doesn’t deserve this loyalty. I hate myself for being weak because of her.”

“Weakness bang matatawag ‘yan, Narda? Honestly, i’m glad you didn’t fall into that demons trap. Kasi kung gaganti ka na naman, may tao ka na naman na madadamay at masasaktan. Kawawa lang ‘yong taong ‘yon kasi iba ‘yong mahal mo, iba ‘yong laman ng puso mo. Never mabibigyan ng chance ang sinuman na mahalin ka kasi sa tingin ko galit ka man ngayon pero s’ya lang talaga ang kaya mong mahalin.”

Tahimik lang itong uminom at hinayaan lang n’ya ito sa ginagawa. Nasasaktan s’yang makita si Narda ng ganito pero wala naman s’yang magagawa para tulungan ito. Ayaw naman n’yang makitang bumalik ang dating ugali nito. Ayaw n’yang maging cold at marahas ito.

“Alam mo ‘yong feeling na dati sising-sisi ako why I dragged Regina into this shitty relationship with me? Kong sana hinayaan ko nalang s’yang manatiling straight at tuparin ‘yong gusto n’yang magkaroon ng asawa at maraming anak hindi sana ako nasasaktan ng ganito. I should have stayed at a distance. I should have kept my hands to myself.  Hindi sana naging komplekado ang lahat. Maybe i’m still inlove with you, maybe I should have been happier.”