Love in a Rush II (LR 2)

54

PALAKAD NA SINA GERARD AT PERCIVAL PATUNGO SA CENTRO BAR NANG MAPANSIN ANG PAMILYAR NA BABAENG KAUSAP NI KATNISS SA TAGONG PARTER NG CENTRO BAR.

"Insan, sunod ako sa'yo." Aniya na nakatitig pa rin sa direksyon ni Katniss. Napatigil sa paglalakad si Percival at napatingin din sa direksyon ni Katniss na tila nasa mainiti na pag-uusap sa babaeng bahagyang nakakubli sa mga matataas na punong pumapalibot sa private pool.

"Isn't that Angela?" Percival stated, trying to narrow his eyes.

Hindi kaagad sumagot si Gerard, ngunit batid niya sa sariling matalim na ang kanyang tingin sa dalawang babae. He hoped that his suspicion was wrong that Katniss and Angela knew each other, because he remembered that Katniss came in after Angela's force resignation.

"Insan, who referred Katniss to you?" baling niya kay Percival.

Saglit na napaisip si Percival. "Katniss was referred by Uncle Gerard's friend, Senator Alfredo. He said nahihiya kasi si Senator Alfredo sa ginawa ni Angela noon, kaya kumuha siya ng kapalit ni Angela, and that's Katniss."

Napabuntong hininga si Gerard at napailing.

"Matiwala kasi si Uncle Gerry dahil matagal din niyang nakasama sa partido si Senator Alfredo."

Napailing na lang siya, at tinapik naman ni Percival ang balikat niya. Perhaps, Percival knew what he thought. Alam nitong may namumuong pagdududa na sa kanyang isip.

"Let's find out." Percival suggested. He just nodded his head as he stared at the two women.

They discreetly went near where Katniss and the partly hidden Angela, and eavesdropped on their conversation.

"The point is you're not doing your job!" They heard Angela squeaked, as if having a tantrums.

"I already did what you told me, Angela. Ayoko na!"

"No! You can't do that! I want you to do something para masira si Shayla kay Ardy!"

"Stop playing this game. This is pointless. You're just going to ruin their family, and I don't want to be part of it. Pumayag lang ako sa'yo noong una because I owe your family a lot. Pero mali na'to!" Naiinis na sagot si Katniss.

"Bakit? Close na ba kayo ni Shayla?" Angela taunted. "Hindi na ako ang best friend mo?"

"No," sagot naman ni Katniss. "I mean Shayla and I are not close. Pero si Ardy..."

"What about Ardy?" mataray na tanong ni Angela. "Huwag mong sabihin sa'ken makikipagkompitensya ka na ngayon sa'ken?" galit na tanong ni Angela. "You know I want him! Do you want him too?"

"Angela," Katniss sounded upset. "He loves Shayla. And believe me, hindi mo mapaghihiwalay ang dalawang iyon. And do you want to be a homewrecker now?"

"Just answer the fucking question." Angela demanded.

"What question?" Katniss said unsure.

"I am asking you if you like Ardy?"

"Yes! I like him, but no the way you do! I've fallen in love with him. He's a good man! Hell, he has all the traits of a man I want to spend the rest of my life with!" Katniss admitted, and was about to cry. "Pero alam kong hindi puwede, dahil may alam siyang iba. Dapat tanggapin mo na rin yon, Angela, dahil wala ka din pag-asa kay Ardy!" Katniss tried to walk out, but Angela pulled her hair.

"You can't do this to me! Do what I say! Do something to wreck them apart!" Angela tried to scratch her face and pushed her. Napaupo siya sa sahig, at sasakyan naman siya ni Angela para muling saktan, pero mabilis silang lumapit sa dalawa at pinigilan ni Percival si Angela, samantalang siya naman ay inalalayan tumayo si Katniss.