Bakas sa Dalampasigan

15

August 2,2024

A week later, Mavi decided to return to Manila. Ever since she received a call from Lynsaie's girlfriend, she was restless. She knew that she had to fix all the things that she kept running away from.

"Are you sure you'll be able to make it alone? I can go there if you want me." A soft voice from the other line pulled her out of her deep thoughts. Mavi and Avi discussed that the latter should just stay in Cebu.

"Of course. Don't worry about me. I can handle this. I'll go back there as soon as I can." She tried to match the softness of her voice. Even though there are a lot of things that have troubled her mind.

"I'll believe you for now.But once I found out you were having a hard time there. Whatever you are doing. I wouldn't hesitate to follow you there." Avi assuredly said. Mavi smiles slightly.

"Sure. I'll go now." Mavi lovingly said as she hung up the call after their goodbyes.

_
Mavi went to her condo to rest. It's already night so she'll just stay there for now. Then tomorrow she will meet up with Shayne.

But before she lay down on her bed. She grab her phone on the bedside table.

to: unknown

Tomorrow,10 am at
the cafe near your
workplace.

Sent.

She stares at her phone for a while before putting it down. She sits on her bed.

" You know you can always lean on me. I will never let you down."

"Come on, Mavi. I'm your best friend there's no way I will leave you."

"What's the matter now? You miss her? Let's go out?"

"Mavi love Lynsaie, forever, always,in all ways."

It feels like everything happened yesterday. Her friend's voices were still fresh in her mind. The laughter that comes out of their lips. Every tear that touches their cheeks. The hugs that are not as They've been together for a long time. That's why she couldn't figure out why she believed what Shayne was telling her. Maybe it's because she already knew that there's something wrong. But she just didn't want to believe it. She was blinded by the care and love that Lynsaie made her feel. And neglect her own instinct.

"How could you do this to me?" Her voice that is full of pain and resentment echoes in the room.

*RING

A loud ringtone of her divert her attention. Crystal's photo appeared on the screen. She got up from the bed as she grab her phone and made her way to the balcony.

"Ate." she answered the call with her hoarse voice.

"What do you think you're doing?" a stern voice pierced through her ears.

Mavi remain quiet as she was trying to figure out how does Crystal find out.

"You're making it more complicated." Then again Crystal spoke with the same tone.

"I am doing this for my own good." Mavi said, all the emotions seemed to disappear from her eyes. Crystal, however just let out a helpless sigh.

"But Mavi, you have to understand this is not something you can decide over night. We can't risk anything that we've been trying to hide. We've talked about these things, haven't we?" Crystal set aside her emotions as she try to understand Mavi's situation.

Mavi on the other hand, chose to be quiet.  Her eyes soften as she can feel the genuine concern on Crystal's voice.

"Please, think about it for now." Crys coax her gently.

"I understand." Mavi immediately ended the call.

"But I will regret this forever if I won't this take opportunity to know the truth." she thought as she grip tightly on her phone.

_

August 3,2024

The morning she had been waiting for had arrived, but his mind seemed restless. She took one last deep breathe before going down from her car.

She looks around as she enters the cafe and chooses the farther seat from the door.

The waiter took her order but she refused to make an order because Shayne hasn't arrived yet. The door made a sound indicating someone walked in.

Then she saw the a woman who seems familiar but she just can't remember who. The woman made her way towards Mavi's table.

"I'm really glad, you came." Shayne, pull the chair across Mavi then sit.

"No need for casual talks, tell me what I need to hear." Mavi became stern. Shayne just nodded.  Mavi watches her while she is getting something from her bag. Then Shayne place an envelope on the table the slowly push it infront of Mavi.

"Since I really don't know how to explain this. I  decided to collect all the things you need to know. Just to warn you, I am doing this because of sympathy okay? I won't ask anything from return but to keep this secret between us." Shayne started to explain.

" I do love Lynsaie but what she did was unacceptable." she said, the sadness in her eyes.

Mavi didn't show any emotion as she slowly pick up the envelope on the table.

"I was right"