Nasa loob na kami ng cafeteria sa ground floor ng building ngunit wala pa rin sa amin ang nagsasalita. Nakatingin lang ako sa kape na nasa aking harapan na tila malalim ang iniisip. At kahit hindi ako mag-angat ng tingin ay sigurado akong mataman niya akong tinitingnan.
"How are you?" tanong ni Will nang hindi na siya nakatiis.
"Right now?" tugon ko.
"What I mean is, how have you been? I haven't heard anything from you in a long time."
Tama siya. Simula nang nagkahiwalay kami ni Ram ay hindi ko na sila nakita pa. Nirespeto nila ang desisyon kong lumayo na sa kanila. Maliban kay Lester na naging makulit at pursigido. Hanggang hinayaan ko siyang makapasok sa buhay ko at kalaunan ay naging magkasintahan kami.
Yes, I loved him. I've learned to love him. Hindi naman kasi siya mahirap mahalin. Ngunit ngayo'y pinagsisihan ko na nahulog din ang loob ko sa kanya. Tulad ni Ram ay sinaktan niya rin ako. Sa magkaibang paraan man ay pareho pa rin ang epekto nito. Totoo nga ang kasabihang birds of the same feather flock together.
"I'm doing well. Thank you for asking." sagot ko sabay dampot sa tasa. Humigop ako ng kaunting kape at saka inilapag muli sa mesa.
"Look, I don't know what's going on between you and my two friends but I am here to listen. I wanna know--"
"You absolutely know why I hate that friend of yours." putol ko.
"Who? Pierre?"
"Of course." I rolled my eyes.
"You're right. And believe me, I do understand what you feel towards him. What I don't understand is, why you feel the same with Jim? What did he call you? Love?" sunod-sunod niyang tanong. Bakas sa kanyang mukha ang pagkalito.
"He was my boyfriend." diretso kong sagot.
"What?! H-how--" bulaslas nito.
"I don't wanna talk about it." putol ko.
Wala ako sa mood para magkwento. Mauungkat lang ang lahat. Mananariwa ang mga sugat na matagal nang naghilom.
"Does Pierre know about this?" sa halip ay tanong nito.
"I don't know and I don't care." mataray kong sagot.
"Don't you think that's probably the reason why he's treating you bad?" seryosong saad nito.
"Huh?" kunwari'y naguguluhang tanong ko.
Obviously, he had an idea why I am upset. Marahil ay narinig na nila ang pagtatalo namin ni Ram bago pa man sila pumasok kanina sa opisina ng kanilang kaibigan.
"Maybe he found out you had a relationship with his best friend. A-and..."
"And what?" taas-kilay kong tanong.
"He's jealous."
Tumawa ako ng mapakla. Pinagkrus ang mga bisig sa aking dibdib.
"You've got to be kidding me. Besides, he doesn't have the right to get jealous."
"That's just my speculation." pagtutuwid nito.
"Anyway, enough of him. Let's talk about Jim. Tell me why you're mad at him." pangungulit nito. Pilit ibinabalik ang usapan tungkol sa isa pa niyang kaibigan.
Nagpakawala ako ng malalim na buntong-hininga bago isinalaysay kung paano naging kami ni Lester hanggang sa umalis siya papuntang Canada.
"So, you're mad at him because he left you just like what Pierre did?"
BINABASA MO ANG
Surrender Your Heart (Hidden Agenda)
Storie d'amoreShe has a gigantic hatred towards him. She made a huge mistake in the past because she trusted him. He shattered her heart into pieces by breaking his own promise. She was able to cope up through the years. Until one day, she was stunned to see him...