My Greatest What If - Gio Ortega (Published)

Chapter 11

"Anong sinasabi mong video, Shey?" I asked as soon as I stepped inside my cousin's unit. "Because I do not remember posting a video."

"It's an audio in video format. Basta walang mukha mo, puro boses lang. Pero, alam kong ikaw 'yun. Kilala ko ang boses mo."

"Wait..."

"I can't. Naiinis ako sa'yo! Seriously, what the hell, George? Anong pumasok d'yan sa utak mo at naisip mo pang tumawag kay Leslie?"

"I did not call Leslie—"

"You did, you idiot! Tinawagan mo s'ya! She and Denmark apparently recorded that conversation! And you're wondering now kung bakit gan'un na lang 'yung pangmamanyak n'ung hayop na 'yun kay Moira? Dahil alam nilang dalawa 'yung set-up n'yo! At kaya gan'un kayabang si Leslie ay dahil sa pagkakaalam n'ya, dahil 'yun ang ipinaalam mo, ay binabayaran mo si Moira para magkunyaring girlfriend mo!"

I stared at my cousin in disbelief. "Pero, imposible—"

Sheila growled at me before she grabbed my hand and then slapped her mobile phone into my open palm. "'Ayan panuorin mo 'yung pagpapakatanga mo! I downloaded the video for you!"

I looked at the phone I was holding with dread before I swiped the screen with my thumb.

"I can't believe you're ruining this, George—"

"Teka lang," I said before I sighed. "Sandali lang, pwede? Hindi ko nga matandaan na tinawagan ko s'ya, eh. Much more kung kailan 'yun—"

"But it still does not change the fact that you called her! You not remembering calling her does not also change the fact that she is bitchy and low-class enough to record the whole thing and post it online! Naiintindihan mo? What if Moira sees this? What if Leslie rubs this stupid video on Moira's face? Anong gagawin mo, aber?!"

"Sheila, h'wag mo naman akong pagalitan. I feel stupid as it is kahit hindi ko matandaan 'yung tawag."

"Paanong hindi kita pagagalitan, eh, hindi mo ginagamit minsan 'yang pagiging Summa mo! Ang tanga, tanga, tanga mo!" my cousin barked.

I lowered my head for I knew that she was right, it was a stupid move if I did call Leslie. "Anong sinabi ko sa video?" I asked.

Sheila made a rude sound. "Panuorin mo na lang."

"I don't think I can—"

"You should! Hindi mo pwedeng takbuhan 'yan! Harapin mo 'yan, George, at ayusin mo! Alam mo, hindi ako magagalit sa'yo, eh, if there's no other person involved. Kung kayong tatlo nina Leslie at Denmark lang 'yan dahil matatanda na kayo at alam naman ng lahat kung paano ka nagpakatanga sa babaeng 'yun at kung paano ka ginamit ng mga hudas na 'yun. Pero, kinuha mo na si Moira, ginawa mo na s'yang parte ng buhay mo kaya masasaktan s'ya rito kung sakaling malaman n'ya, at d'un ako galit!"

"Hindi ko sinadya—"

"Tapatin mo nga ako, George. Magsabi ka nga ng totoo, Couz, are you really over Leslie? Kasi d'un sa video, parang hindi pa, eh. Umiiyak ka. Ramdam ko kung gaano kang nasaktan. Are you just using Moira to get Leslie back?"

"No, of course not!"

"Sigurado ka ba d'yan? Kasi kawawa naman s'ya kung ginagawa mo lang s'yang panakip-butas. I am on your side but I know how being used feels. Ginawa sa akin ni Harold, 'di ba, at ang sakit, George, sobrang sakit. Hanggang ngayon tangang-tanga pa rin ako sa sarili ko because despite how hard I tried to convince myself that it was my fault for hoping, I knew that he, too, led me on. Pinaasa ako ng tarantadong 'yun. Kaya, please lang naman, h'wag mong gawin 'yung ipinaranas sa akin ni Canlas sa iba. Most especially Moira. Grabe na 'yung pinagdaanan n'ung bata, maawa ka naman sa kanya."