Heiresses to Gangsters

Chapter 36: For our friendship

CHRIS

"Our? Don't joke around, Miss C."

"You think I'm just joking? Can't you see this face? We look alike."

Biglang sumeryoso yung mukha niya. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at hinila patayo. He started walking and I followed.

Pumasok kami sa loob ng elevator at nakita ko naman na bumaba kami sa 6th floor. It's not underground world for nothing.

Pumasok kami sa loob ng isang kwarto na mayroong tatak ng sigarilyo at fedora. Bumungad sa akin ang isang lalaking naka gray t-shirt. Broad shoulders, hazel brown colored hair, at least 180 cm tall. Nakatalikod ito kaya di niya kami nakikita.

"Dad, she's here."

"Who?" Umikot ito at nanlaki ang mata niya ng makita niya kami. Siguro nagulat siya dahil magkamukha kami. The same old bastard.

Galit. Oo, galit ang nasa isipan ko kanina pa. He looked fine, parang wala lang sa kaniya ang nagyari. Hindi ba na-guilty sa ginawa ng mga kagrupo niya sa sarili niyang asawa? Oo, alam kong 3 months na silang hiwalay; divorced noong mga time na namatay si mommy. Pero, kahit isang konsensya manlang, wala siyang naramdaman? Fuck.

"Anak," he called with the same low and intimidating voice of his.

I stepped back, "Anak? Who are you kidding?"

"It's not what you think, Chris. Yung nangyari kay Cassandra-" Is he trying to explain now? Kung kailan nagtanda na ako at madami nang taon ang nagdaan?

"So sinasabi mo bang mali lahat ng nakita ko? Ilusyon lang lahat?! Tell me! Ilusyon lang ba?! Dahil kahit anong gawin mong explanation, we're in reality! Alam ko ang nakita ko. Pinatay ng Saber Tooth ang mommy ko."

Hinawakan ako ni Christian sa balikat, "Chris, let him explain-"

I glared at him. "'Wag kang sumabat!"

"Let me explain-"

"Ano pa bang i-eexplain mo, ha?! Noong twelve ako, nakita ko kung papaano siya namatay, kung papaano siya binugbog bago pinagbababaril at kung paano siya bumagsak sa malamig na semento! Eight years! Eight years kitang hinintay, pero wala akong narinig kahit isang hi man lang! Nag-eighteen na ako, wala pa rin. Kaya nga ako sumuko. Kaming dalawa ang nasaktan, dad. You're the one who stabbed me from behind, so don't act like you're the one who's bleeding."

I saw him clench his jaw.

Naramdaman ko ang nagbabadyang luha na pumatak. I looked up, "Excuse me," Just being there is suffocating. I don't think I can hold myself from crying if I stay.

I was crying. I didn't want them to see me this weak so I exit the room

Then a thought came in my mind. How are they in the Philippines? It's been two years, wala pa rin akong nakakausap kahit isa sa kanila. Is Sohe studying medicine now? Eh si Bea? Is she studying architecture already? Si Jaz? Kinuha niya na ba ang kursong tourism? I skipped two years. Nagsimula ako sa 3rd year college hangang sa makagraduate ako ng Interior Designing. Although, I don't have any job as of now.

I actually miss them. The laughters, troubles, fights, everything. Nagsisi ako dahil I pushed them away. Bakit gano'n? Kung kelan nandiyan sila, lagi ko silang timutulak. Tapos ngayong umalis na sila at napagod, gusto ko silang kaladkarin pabalik. What they said are right. You only know their value when you lose them.

I need the gang back.

JAZ

2 years, huh? Alam kaya niya na magkakaibigan na ulit kaming tatlo? Ano na kayang ginagawa niya sa nagyon? Sus, bakit ko ba pinoproblema ang taong sadyang natulak sa akin paalis? Wag kang magpadaloy sa stupidity, Jaz. That is so not you.

Bumalik na ako sa opisina ko nang tumawag si Bea.

"Hai?" I laughed, "Oh, silly me, I meant to say hello?" Kahagaling ko lang sa Japan kahapon kaya nasanay ako na magsalita ng japanese.

"We found her." Narinig ko ang tunog na parang nagtitipa. Kasama niya si Sohe? "We found Chris."

I smiled. Took them long enough. But I have to keep the act. "And so?"

"For Pete's sake, hindi mo lang ba siya kakamustahin?"

"Who the hell is Pete and why would I do it for his sake? I don't even know the guy," I heard Bea's frustrated groan.

"Okay, then. For Chris' sake, hindi mo lang ba siya kakamustahin?"

I let out a chortle, "Why would I?"

"Kasi best friend natin siya?"

"Anong best friend? Past is past. Wala nang namamagitan sa aming dalawa. One more time we are strangers, but this time with memories."

"Luh, hugot siya o." Ibang boses ang sumagot. Napatawa ako nang marinig ko ang boses ni Sohe. Am I on loud speaker?

"You've changed, really," ani Bea. "Ikaw na ang nagsabi. Past is past, kalimutan mo na lahat ng nangyari and forgive."

"People change. Oo, past is past, pero ayokong magsorry-yung ako yung una. Kalimutan? It's not that easy as 1 2 3, Kim Bea. Sino ba namang hindi magagalit at masasaktan ng todong todong when the best friend na tinuring mong kapatid ay ang taong itutulak ka rin naman sa huli?"

"Hell yeah it's easy as one two three." Narinig ko ang boses ni Sohe.

"Fuck no—"

Then the phone call ended. Kumunot ang noo ko. Maya-maya ay may tumatawag ulit. I was shocked when I saw it.

Tandang Chris...

Funny. I call ourselves strangers but I haven't deleted her number.

Am I going to answer it? Alam kong madami siyang gusto ipaliwanag. Ako rin, maraming gusto itanong. There's a part of me na gusto ko siyang bigyan ng second chance dahil kapatod na ang turing ko sa kaniya. Pero never mawawala yung part sa sarili ko na nagsasabing wag na siyang bigyan ng chance dahil sobra sobra ang ginawa niya.

I've decided.

I'm going to answer it.

For the sake of the gang, and for our friendship.