Chapter 10
Renz's POV
As I stepped in in our condo, I saw Asha sleeping in the couch at the living room. Bigla akong naguilty. Hinatid ko pa kasi si Fay dahil sobrang lasing na nito, buti na lang at wala si Marcus sa bahay nito. Gabi na nang nakauwi ako. Pinatay ko rin ang phone ko para makapag-isip ng maayos, para pag-isipan ang mga sasabihin ko. I walk towards Asha and I carried her to our room. Asha is not that heavy kaya nakakayanan ko siyang buhatin. Ilang taon na kaming nagsasama pero hindi ako magsasawang gawin 'to sa kanya araw-araw.
Pagkababang-baba ko sa kanya sa kama ay bigla naman siyang nagising. Her eyes got widened and she immediately hugged me. Her shoulders start shaking. I patted her back to calm her.
"I'm sorry Renz. I should consult you first before I did that. I'm being immature again. Gusto ko lang kasing tulungan si Marcus at Christine. I've been into Christine's situation. Alam mo naman 'yon diba?" She paused for a moment. I know her past and I told you that I accept her. "...Ayokong umabot sa point na baka maisipan ni Christine na ipalaglag na lang yung anak niya. I know what it feels na hindi ka panagutan ng nakabuntis sayo. Gusto ko lang mapalapit kay Marcus at makumbinsi siya na panagutan si Christine.Iyon lang talaga Renz, patawarin mo ko..." And she starts to cry again. I kiss her forehead para naman kumalma naman siya. Mas lalo niya lang hinigpitan yung pagyayakap niya sakin na parang ayaw na niya kong pakawalan. "I'm really sorry, kung hindi ka talaga papayag sasabihin ko kay Marcus na umuurong na ko. Sorry Renz. I'm really...sorry." This time I hugged her tight. Ayoko siyang umiiyak nang dahil sa kagaguhan ko. As much as possible I want her to stay happy as long as she's with me. Ilang minuto bago niya niluwagan ang yakap sa akin at snubsob niya lang ang mukha niya sa balikat ko. Hinaplos ko lang ang buhok niya papunta sa balikat nya habang umuupo ako sa gilid ng kama.
"Ayos na sa akin. Pinag-isipan ko lang talaga ang mga sasabihin ko kanina kaya nagtagal ako. I'm sorry too if I didn't understand you. I had you at your worst. Alam ko yung nararamdaman mo noong hindi ka pinanagutan ng walang hiyang nakabuntis sayo. I know your sufferings ang malaman mong nakunan ka. I accept you for who you are. It's okay if you still accept Marcus' offer. After all, Marcus' is a friend. We should help them pero hayaan mo silang magdecide on their own. Don't control things that involve them. Is it okay?" I said at naramdaman ko namang tumango siya. Nanatili lang kami sa ganong sitwasyon.
Asha got pregnant while we're on a relationship. Nabuntis siya ng college friend namin. They go out on a date at my back. Galit na galit ako noon nang malaman kong nabuntis siya at ayaw siyang panagutan ng lalaki niya pero hindi ko siya magawang iwanan kahit sinasabi niyang dapat iwanan ko na siya. Inako ko na rin ang pagiging ama para sa kanila. I love her so much and I don't want to lose her. Then something happened, nalaglag yung bata dahil sa sobrang stressed si Asha. Nalaman ng nanay niya yung nangyari sa kanya and decided to cut her allowance. Kaya ganoon na lang ang pagkagsto ni Asha na tulungan si Christine kahit na minsan niya pa lang ito nakikita.
Asha lifted up her face and gave me her sweetest smile. I smiled at her too and claimed her lips.
I'm lucky to have her.
***
It's been a week but Marcus and I rarely talk. I agreed to their set up because I know that Christine and Marcus rarely see each other kaya minsan lang umaalis sa condo si Asha para makipagkita kay Marcus. When we talked, it's all about the preparation for the wedding of his friends. And today is the most awaited day for them. I prepare my suit; I wanted to be formal as well even though I'm a photographer.
"Asha! Are you done?" I said as I start fixing my camera.
"Yup, almost!" She shouted from our room. Asha is fixing herself because she will be one of the bridesmaids. I can't wait to take pictures of her.
As she stepped out of the door, my eyes glimmered in amazement. Her make-up is so simple yet she's very attractive with her sapphire blue long gown. It fits to her body perfectly. Her long wavy hair got braided that adds more elegancy on her outfit.
"You look gorgeous babe." I said almost out of breath. Lumapit naman siya sa akin at hinalikan ang pisngi ko. I smiled and blushed like a teenager here.
"We look compatible, how I wish ikaw na lang yung partner ko.: she said while pouting her lips a little bit. I cannot help myself to taste those lips again so I make a swift move to claim it. It was just smack but she laughed a little.
"Oh, wait!...Wait! Let's take a picture first. Sayang naman 'tong suot natin kung wala tayong picture together." She said at biglang kinuha niya sa akin yung camera na hawak ko. Sinet nya yung timer habang nakangiti lang ako rito sa harap at hinihintay siyang bumalik. Nakakatuwa 'yung ganitong side ni Asha na may pagkachildish. I can tolerate this side of her.
"Okay na." She said and hurriedly went to me. She hugs me and I kiss her forehead. Good thing she didn't wear high heels. And then we heard the shutter sound of my camera.
***
Akala ko hindi na talaga kami makakapag-usap hanggang matapos at celebration pero akala ko lang pala iyon. Sinundan niya ko hanggang sa kotse ko para ilagay yung mga gamit namin ni Asha. Gumamit lang kasi ng comfort room saglit si Asha kaya nauna na ako.
"Renz, can we talk?" He said. I face him with my poker face.
"What is it? I already agreed. Ano pang pabor ang hihingin mo?" I smirked. Natahimik naman siya bigla at bumuntong hiniga ng malalim.
"First, I'm sorry for doing that to your girlfriend."
"Yeah and I want to punch you again for reminding me that scene." Napayukom naman ako ng kamao ko sa narinig ko. I treated him as a friend and he will do that to me. Bros before hoes? Whoa! I'm still mad at him.
"I'm really sorry." He said and he looked away. Iniiwasan niya talaga ang mga titig ko sa kanya.
"I did forgive you and I cannot forgive that. Remember that I'm still mad at you."
"I know." He looked then smiled bitterly to me. "I wish I can undo things. I'm sorry, hope we could still be bros after what I did... but I guess, it's a no, right?"
I decided not to answer him. I'm still mad and I don't want to make a decision that I will regret.
He smiled again and tapped my shoulder. "I got to go Ms. Toledo."
Ilang minuto na siyang nakaalis pero bakit ayaw mawala ng epekto ng pagtawag niya sa akin bilang Ms. Toledo. I'm not offended since that's a formal way to call a person pero may something talaga. And I don't know why it bothers me. I don't know my reactions now. Maybe, I still value our friendship. Dumating naman na si Asha at napagpasiyahan na naming magpaalam na sa bagong kasal. Nang papaalis na kami ng venue, Fay approached us.
"By any chance, nakita niyo ba si Marcus? Kanina pa ako naghahanap sa kanya pero hindi ko siya nakita." So hindi na siya bumalik dito after nang pag-uusap namin? Saan naman iyon pupunta?
"Hindi Fay." Umiling na lang si Asha at biglang tumingin sa akin. "Ikaw ba babe?" Umiling na lang ako habang nakatitig ng maigi sa mata ni Fay. Sana kagatin niya nag pagsisinungaling ko. Tumango naman sa amin si Fay.
"Sige ah mauna na ako. Baka kung saan saan na naman nagpupunta 'yung batang yun." And she leaves us.
***
Nang makauwi kami ay parehas kaming nagulat ni Asha sa nadatnan namin sa may labas ng building ng condo namin. Nakaupo si Marcus habang mukhang batang nawawala sa mall. Hindi ko alam ang dapat na ireact o sabihin ko sa kanya. Maawa ba ako o maiinis ako sa inaakto niya ngayon? Pati tak ko naguguluhan sa sitwasyon namin ngayon. Naiinis din ako sa sarili ko, pwede namang hindi ako pumayag sa set-up nilang dalawa kaso naawa naman ako kay Asha.
Nagulat ako sa biglaang pagtulong ni Asha kay Marcus. Sa loob ng isang linggo ganito na ba sila kaclose? Hindi ko pa kasi nakikitang ganyan umalalay si Asha sa ibang lalaki. Pinagpagan niya pa ang suot nitong damit at pinapasok sa loob ng building habang kausap yung gurad.. Nakatingin lang ako sa kanila at saka ko lang naramdaman na nagseselos pala ako. Nakatingin lang din sa akin si Marcus na parang hinihintay ang sussunod kong gagawin pero sumabay na lang ako sa pagpasok nila sa building.
"Uh...Renz and Asha, pwede bang sa inyo muna ako makituloy ng dalawang buwan?"
