Mirae

Kapitulo 25

Kapitulo 25

Truths and Choices

There was no day in Adiel's life that his heart hadn't broken since Cyra came back. It was ironic because he still saw her as his source of energy. He saw her as his source of energy and tiredness. How the two conflicting feelings are simultaneously alive in him, he'd never understand.

"Pare, ano? Kumusta?" Dory asked Adiel while their beers arrived.

It was the occasional drinking session of the barkada, and the star of the night was Adiel because of Cyra. Wala pang naging usapan ang magkakaibigan tungkol sa nangyari no'ng birthday ng anak ni Gwyneth dahil hindi pa sila nagkakaroon ng oras, bukod sa ngayon.

Adiel smirked and held his cold San Mig Light. At the table were Dory and his wife, Francis and Gwyneth, Khian and Alyssa, Min and her husband, Delphine and her husband, and Summer and her husband. Niki was absent because she was sick. Ever since the wedding of Adiel and Cyra, all have become close friends. They were in an open drinking place in Ortigas called Ang Pulo. Freshly cooked bangus and pizzas were on their table apart from the alcohol.

Friday night was a good time to loosen up. So, they scheduled a session like tonight every time everyone was free on a Friday night.

"Saw her recently," Summer said. "Nag-iba itsura ni Cy. Pumayat din siya."

"Oh, nakita mo na pala siya?" Gwyneth said while munching a slice of pizza. "Sexy nga ni Cy, e! Parang 20 uli siya sa katawan niya!"

The others looked at Gwyneth. Walang ni isa ang nagkukumento ng maganda kay Cyra simula nang umalis ito dahil na-witness nila ang pagkakasira ni Adiel. Ang hirap ipagtanggol ni Cyra.

"Oh, bakit?" Gwyneth asked innocently. "I really missed her. Mabuti at pumunta siya no'n at nakabalik na."

Delphine was the first to talk. "Gwen, ba't ang saya mo na bumalik siya? Nakalimutan mo na bang iniwan niya si Diel no'ng nahihirapan sila? She left us too, without a word."

The table instantly felt on edge. Yet, Gwyneth wasn't offended. She merely smiled. "I remember, Delphine. 'Di ko nakakalimutan 'yon." She glanced at Adiel. "Sorry, Diel, na-miss ko lang talaga ang kaibigan ko, kaya masaya ako no'ng pumunta siya ng birthday ng anak ko. Nagalit ka ba sa 'kin?"

Adiel horizontally shakes his head. "Of course not. Labas naman kayo sa nararamdaman ko sa kaniya, e. I'm glad you've forgiven her enough to be happy when you saw her, Gwen."

"Well, I haven't forgiven her," Delphine declared. "Kasi pati tayo, iniwan niya ng walang paalam. Tapos, biglang babalik. Walang paliwanag man lang."

Gwyneth smiled more. "So, gusto mong magpaliwanag siya? E, hindi n'yo nga siya pinansin, e. Si Alyssa lang bumati sa kaniya. Paano siya magbibigay ng explanation kung hindi kayo makikinig?"

Summer takes a slice of pizza, too, and begins to eat while her husband is drinking. Alyssa is a little sleepy, leaning on her husband's shoulder; Khian pats her lap under the table.

"Nakapag-usap na kayo, Diel?" Khian looked at the only one without a partner.

Umiling si Adiel. "Hindi ko pa kaya, e. But she's been trying to talk to me. I just... can't right now. Palagi akong nagagalit, laging inis. I look at her and I" Summer stares at him, "get so mad."

Dory's wife interjects. "Where does she live now? With you? In the house o hindi?"

A waiter comes to their table to drop off the fruit juices of the pregnant ladies.

"No'ng una, sa bahay siya. Pero hindi ko siya kayang makasama, kaya aalis sana ako, hahayaan ko siyang tumira sa bahay. No'ng nalaman niya, nag-volunteer siyang aalis. Kaya, mag-isa lang ako, she lives nearby, in an apartment, sabi niya," ani Adiel bago lumagok ng alak. The cold bitter drink reminds him of Cyra's tears in the master's bedroom.