If people fall in love with your flower and not your roots, they don't know what to do when autumn comes.
- unknown
******
"I hate you!" Sigaw ko kay Gwen sabay lakad palayo sa kaniya. Hindi ko pinapansin ang pagtawag niya sa akin. Tuloy-tuloy lang ako sa paglalakad.
We were caught in a heated argument about a topic where we both have different perspectives. It's supposed to be just a normal throw of opinions, but it led to a misunderstanding.
Naramdaman ko na may humawak sa braso ko kaya napatigil ako sa paglalakad. "Don't go too far. Hindi tayo magkasundo ngayon, but that doesn't mean na ayaw kitang makita."
"Let go of me." Madiin kong sabi.
"I will," she let go "pero stay within my sight. I still want to make sure na you're okay."
Hindi na ako nagsalita pa. Una akong naglakad kesa sa kaniya. This time, hindi ko binilisan ang paglalakad dahil sa sinabi niya.
Gwen didn't say anything. Tahimik lang siyang naglalakad sa likuran ko. I know she's still following me. She always does that. Making sure I'm safe.
"Ice cream?" Tanong niya na naging dahilan ng pagtigil ko sa paglalakad. Tumalikod ako para tignan siya.
I saw a smug smile from her knowing that she got my attention. I rolled my eyes at her pero hindi parin nawawala ngiti niya.
"Ako na lang bibili. Mukhang ayaw mo, eh." She casually stated sabay lakad papunta sa may ice cream stand.
I pouted my lips and glared at her back that is now facing me. "Sandali!" Parang bata kong sabi. She turned around to face me. She extended her arm and opened and closed her hand as a gesture. I ran towards her then held her hand.
"You and your ice cream obsession." She commented playfully.
"Hindi parin tayo bati." Mataray kong sabi.
"Sure, baby. Sure."
*****
"Did you know na hiwalay na si Stephanie and Jayson?" Bungad kong tanong kay Gwen pagpasok ko ng bahay namin.
She's doing the dishes when I arrived. "Yes. Naikuwento sa akin ni Steph two or three days ago yata? I can't remember exactly when." She replied.
"How dare you!" I offendedly asked that made her see me. "Hindi mo sinabi sa akin?! Anong klaseng asawa ka?"
"Whoa.. first of all, bakit nadamay ang relationship natin? Second, I never thought na invested ka sa love life ng pinsan ko."
"It's major news! Jayson cheated on her. I embarrassed myself kanina sa chat ng tinanong ko si Stephanie kung kamusta sila ni Jayson."
"So it's my fault?!"
"I'm not saying it's your fault pero sana diba sinabihan mo ako para hindi naman ako walang alam sa nangyayari." Katuwiran ko.
Parehas kaming natahimik. Pinapakalma ko ang sarili ko dahil sobrang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko. I'm annoyed. I'm pissed. Pero part of me knows na hindi naman obligation ni Gwen sabihin sa'kin lahat ng nangyayari sa family niya.
"Do you wanna see the receipt? I have the screenshots." Biglang tanong ni Gwen. I bit my inside cheeks to hide my smile, but it failed me.
Gwen immediately wiped her hands using the dish towel then rushed towards me. She grabbed her phone from the counter and started to look for the images.
"I'm telling you, baby, you'll want to murder Jayson after this." She excitedly stated then showed me the pictures.
******
