Pursuing My Nemesis

Forty Five

Chapter 45

EIGHTEEN MISSED CALLS, thirty seven text messages, and twelve emails. All came from Nathaniel Felan in just a day after I broke up with him. Wala ni isa sa mga iyon ang sinagot ko. I even had the urge to block his number in my phone, pero alam kong mas lalo lang niya akong guguluhin kapag hindi na niya ako ma-ko-contact pa. So I just let his calls and messages be collected in my logs.

"This can't be happening! I never doubted his way of looking at you, Nems. He loves you!" Freeda said and motioned her finger at me.

"Baka naman may rason," sabi ni Triton.

Channing scoffed and rolled his eyes. "And you expect us to forgive him if he has a reason?"

Freeda raised her brow at Channing. "Bakit mo sinasali ang sarili mo? Kung patatawarin siya ni Nemmie, tapos ikaw, hindi, wala na kaming pakialam doon."

"Bakit mo kinakampihan si Aniel, Freeda? Si Nemmie ang best friend mo. Sinaktan ng best friend ko ang best friend mo. Huwag mong kampihan 'yong nanakit sa kaibigan mo."

"Now that you mentioned it, hindi ba dapat ikaw ang kumakampi kay Aniel? Ikaw na ang nagsabi na best friend mo siya. You should know the reason why he did that to Nems."

"There is no reason. At gaya ng sinabi ko, kung mayroon man, hindi no'n maaalis ang sakit na nararamdaman ni Nemmie ngayon."

"Or we can invite him over and listen to his explanation." Natahimik sila Freeda at Channing sabay baling kay Triton. Napatingin din ako sa kanya dahil sa suhestiyon niya. "What? I'm just curious about his reason."

Channing sighed. "There is no reason."

Freeda glared at him again. "So, ano? Talagang sinadya niyang lokohin at paglaruan si Nemmie? You can think of that about your own best friend?"

"Hindi dahil kaibigan ko siya, kilala ko na siya nang buo."

"You literally grew up together!"

"People change, Free. Ikaw na lang yata ang hindi."

"What!?"

I closed my eyes and tuned them down for a second. Oh, my goodness. Maling desisyon yata na papuntahin sila rito para samahan ako. Kung hindi lang sana ako nag-panic kanina nang matanto kong nag-o-overthink na ako tungkol sa nangyari sa amin ni Aniel, hindi ko sana papupuntahin 'tong tatlong 'to rito sa condo ko. They're so loud, but I prefer their loud voices than the loudness of the silence enveloping my whole unit. Wala akong tiwala sa sarili ko sa mga oras na 'to. Pakiramdam ko talaga ay masasaktan ko ang sarili ko kung hahayaan ko lang na mag-isa ako.

I needed distraction, and luckily, these loud people were giving it to me.

Wala kaming office work ngayong araw. I was also planning to send a letter to Miss Jemma about my proposal to do work from home for the meantime. Hindi ko kasi kayang pumasok sa trabaho at magpanggap na walang nangyari. Mabilis kumalat ang balita. Alam kong alam na ng buong ASDG ang naging sagutan namin ni Aniel sa loob ng planning room. Alam na rin siguro nila ang dahilan.

I cursed when I realized that the letter should be sent to the head of our department for its noting approval bago iyon maipasa sa HR. Tangina. Gusto ko lang naman sanang umiwas sa kanya, pero bakit kailangan pati paraan ng pag-iwas ko, dapat noted niya?

"But seriously, Nems." Tumabi sa akin si Freeda nang magsawa na siyang makipagsagutan kay Channing. "Wala ka talagang balak pakinggan ang paliwanag ni Aniel?"

I looked at her. I saw Channing shaking his head like he's disappointed with Freeda and her hardheadedness. I bit my lower lip and looked down on my lap.