Weather the Storm (LOTUS SERIES 1)

CHAPTER 17

Wala kaming imikan nang bumalik kami sa Manila. He dropped me off my building without saying anything. There's no calls or texts from him as well. Of course, I refuse to contact him first. We both stand on a side. Siya, sa pinakamamahal niyang Solenn. Ako, sa kaibigan ko. 

Palagi kong iniisip ang possible na nangyari. Bakit umiiyak si Solenn. Bakit nasabi ni Evander na ganoon nga ang nangyari. I wasn't there. I can only think of situations and eliminate the possibilities of each one. I don't want to be biassed. Kung mapatunayan nila na victim siya ng ganoong krimen, hindi ko ipagtatanggol si Aj. Pero wala silang proweba. Hindi ko tatalikuran ang kaibigan ko. 

A week passed by without hearing anything from Evander. I understand if this would be the end of us, I won't chase after him. Si Solenn ang victim sa paningin niya, ano'ng laban ko ro'n pagdating kay Evander? And this relationship is bound to be broken from the very beginning. It's not like I expected so much from this. It was fun, but this is as far as it can get. When it comes to Solenn, our relationship is fragile. 

But I still want to know. 

Nakatitig lang ako kay Aj habang sumisimsim sa juice ko gamit straw.

"Kung hindi lang kita kilala, iisipin ko na may gusto ka sa akin. Simula nang umupo tayo rito hanggang sa matapos tayong kumain nakatitig ka sa akin," 

"I'm contemplating," 

"Contemplating what?" 

"Questions and situations," 

Nangunot ang noo niya at natawa. "So… have you contemplated something? Is it for me?" 

Tumango ako. "Magiging honest ka ba?" 

"Yes, but I don't know if you still need my truths," 

Napaayos ako ng upo dahil sa sinabi niya. He knows what's in my mind. "I believe in you," 

Muli siyang natawa. Uminom siya ng tubig at tumingin sa labas. Ilang sandali siyang tahimik bago nagsalita. Bumuntonghininga siya bago muling tumingin sa akin. 

"Tell me what you know first and what you want to know," 

"I know what Evander knows. I want to know if it's true," 

"I don't even know what your boyfriend really knows, Davi. How am I supposed to answer your question?" 

Umawang ang bibig ko. For real. These guys. Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga bago sumagot. 

"Totoo ba? Na tinake advantage mo si Solenn?" 

Tumaas ang kilay niya. Ilang sandali siyang nakatingin lang sa akin bago dahan-dahang tumango-tango, his lips in downward position. My question didn't shock him, he knew. 

"I see. Ayon na talaga ang pinaniwalaan niya. I don't care whether you'll believe me or not, but I didn't. Solenn and I both wanted what happened. And it wasn't the first time that we did it when your boyfriend caught us." 

"He said Solenn was crying. Bakit siya umiiyak?" 

"That's between us. There's no way I'll force a girl to do it with me. That's a crime. Hindi pang preso ang itsura ko." 

Napabuntonghininga na lang ako sa huli niyang sinabi. Talagang nasisingit niya ang itsura niya sa kahit anong usapan. 

"I believe you, J. Pero bakit hindi na-clear ang bagay na 'yan?" 

"Tingin mo hindi ko sinubukan? Para akong babaeng naghahabol sa boyfriend mo para lang magpaliwanag kahit hindi ko naman 'yon obligasyon dahil wala naman akong ginawa. He was my friend. But I guess he loves her more than he loves me?"