Sabi nga nila, life doesn't revolve around people who are irrelevant to your life. For my own sanity and peace, I decided to cut off what's between us-me and Pearl. Cutting off toxic people like Pearl is never easy, especially when there's a long history of friendship. Pero kailangan ko i-prioritize ang peace and well-being ko, kahit na mahirap bitawan yung taong naging malapit sa'kin.
So, distance is my new response. Hindi na ako nakikipagtalo, I just remove myself.
I have no regrets na hindi na kami nag-uusap ngayon.
Right now, I'm with Jacques. Kinuha niya ako sa bahay at inaya na gumala. Sabi niya, marami daw siyang to-do list na kailangan niyang gawin with me.
"Our outfit is cute, huh?" sabi ko habang tinitingnan ang brown accent outfit namin.
"Yup, and I like it," sagot niya, smiling.
Habang nasa biyahe, nagke-kwento lang ako sa kanya. I told him about Pearl and nakikinig lang siya, detail by detail.
"She didn't say sorry?" he asked.
"Yes, tama naman si Yoshi eh. Baka napipilitan lang siya sa sorry niya kung sakaling sabihan pa siya ni Gab," I mumbled. Narinig ko siyang napabuntong-hininga habang nakangiti sa'kin.
"Mia, cut them off if they treat you insensitively," sabi niya in a serious tone. Napayuko naman ako at napaisip sa sinabi niya. Totoo kasi, nanghihinayang din ako sa friendship namin. We've been friends since 8th grade, pero she really did me wrong. Madadala pa naman sa usap 'yun eh, but she chose not to.
I don't tolerate rudeness and disrespect, even if you're the closest.
"Don't be terrified of losing someone if they're clearly the problem, okay? So what if she is a close friend? Simply because they have a substantial impact in your life doesn't mean you should tolerate their rudeness and shitty attitude." That made me reflect on the things she's done.
She already knew about it. Why did she accuse me then? Naiintindihan ko na galit siya kay Brielle, pero yung sa akin? I don't think so.
"About that, Brielle?" Napalingon naman ako sa naging tanong niya.
"They're good. Tatlo silang magkakasama every break time or recess. Okay na sila eh," sabi ko habang natatawa.
Kung dati apat kami na magkakasama, ngayon dalawa na lang-ako at si Yoshi. Yoshi insisted not to hang out with them. Naiinis rin siya sa dahilan ng rason-petty reason, honestly. Naiinis siya kay Pearl dahil sa naging asal niya, simula pa noong unang tampo hanggang sa naging rason ng away lately.
"What?" tanong niya na hindi makapaniwala.
"Sumasama naman si Brielle sa'kin pag hindi siya inaaya ni Pearl," natatawa kong sabi dahil kapag inaaya siya ni Pearl, Brielle tends to roll her eyes as if she's annoyed by her presence.
"[Naiinis ako, di man lang nag sorry sayo? Sayo nga may pinakamalaking kasalanan. Attitude niya talaga! Ang squammy!]" sabi ni Brielle sa kabilang linya.
"What are you saying?" My jaw dropped. Kanina lang ay magkasama sila, and I was left alone while the three of us were walking, tapos ngayon sinasabi niya 'to? What's with them?
"[She's a fake, kaya wag kang mag-mukmok kung hindi siya nag-sorry sayo. I am a kind person, pero pag ginago talaga ako, ay gagaguhin ko rin, duh!]"
And then she told me the reason for her sudden hate towards her, although she's been hanging out with her lately; that's because she heard Pearl backstabbing her after Pearl said sorry to her. That was vague.
But I still feel bad.
I can't imagine Pearl doing that to us.
Technically, Brielle's friendliness is all an act.
