TWO EACH HIS OWN

9: The Truth Hurts

LEANDRO

I saw the shocked expression on Louie's face nang sabihin ko sa kanya ang tungkol kay Grace.

"May nangyari sa amin... Naka one-night stand ko sya." Deretso kong sabi sa kanya.

"You what?" He asked again.

"You heard it. Don't make me repeat it."

"Tangina, bro. Tell me you are just pulling my leg." He gritted his teeth.

Umiling ako at nakita ko na umigting ang panga nya pero di sya nagsalita.

"Naalala mo noong gabi na hinanap nyo ako dalawang araw after Megan rejected my proposal? That was the night I met her."

He shook his head.

"No, nagkakamali ka lang. Maybe a mistaken identity. She didn't even recognize you and I know Grace is not that kind of woman! You are wrong." I could feel his dismay as a muscle in his jaw twitched.

"Bro, listen to me and try to be logical about this. Di ba I told you na kilalanin mong mabuti ang babaeng yun? Are you sure she doesn't really recognize me or she is just pretending na di nga nya ako kilala?" I insisted.

"I don't believe you!" he snarled.

I forced my voice. "Louie John, makinig ka sa akin. Ayoko na mapahamak ka. Ayoko na maloko ka. Iwasan mo na habang maaga pa."

"Tangina mo, Leandro! Baka ikaw ang may gusto sa kanya!"

"Stop cursing and be logical. Sinasabihan lang kita ng totoo. Kung ayaw mong maniwala, depende na yan sayo, but I warned you already."

"Bakit wala kang sinabi noong sinabi ko sayo ang tungkol sa kanya? Bakit hindi ka kumibo nang ipinakilala ko sya? Alam ni Jake, ano? Kaya sinamahan ka nya hanggang dito?"

Tumango ako sa kanya.

"I was not sure then, pero hindi ko rin makalimutan ang mukhang yun. Hindi mo ako kaaway, tol. Alam mo yan. You just don't know how hard this is for me too!"

"Fuck!!!" He cursed again and this time he stomped his feet out of frustration and dismay.

"Bro, can you stop being angry first? Let's talk."

Louie was dismayed and I knew it hurts him. Gustong-gusto nya si Grace and I know masakit yung nalaman nya, lalo na at galing pa sa akin yun.

Louie looked at me at sa sa pagkakataong to, hindi ko alam kung ano ang iniisip nya sa akin.

I felt bad na nangyayari sa amin to, but to my defense, hindi pa naman nya kilala si Grace noong mga panahong naki pag ONS sa akin. So my conscience is clear, I didn't betray him.

And it was just a one night affair. Ni hindi ko nga nalaman ang pangalan nya.

"Bro, listen to me. I am really sorry that it has to be this complicated. I am really sorry that it has to be me. It was just a one-night affair, it was no big deal. I didn't expect to see her again, how much more na magugustuhan mo pala sya. Please don't take it against me. It was not my intention to hurt you."

Louie clenched his jaw, the thing we do when we are suppressing our anger or our emotion.

He remained quiet so I continued talking.

"That was 4 years ago, bro. and we were both so drunk. Walang may kasalanan sa aming dalawa, and I am telling you this kasi ayoko na may tinatago tayo sa isat isa. You know how important you are to me, bro. Trust me, it was no big deal. We didn't even bother to ask each other's name, kasi wala naman kaming plan to have a commitment or any connection after what happened to us." I explained.