That Unfaithful Night (Completed)

Chapter 34

"Si Phil!!!" sigaw ni Maria. Lumabas si Phil sa dulo ng hallway at mabilis na sumugod sa'min.

Si Phil. Hindi si Dan. Bumaba ang mga balikat ko.

"Hi Ana! Or Liana!" kaway nyang hello. "Ano ba? Ana? Liana?"

"Kahit ano yan. Ako Ana lang para two syllables lang," sabi ni Maria sa kanya. "O sya maiwan ko na kayo. Bye Phil! Nice seeing you."

"Bye Maria," paalam din ni Phil sa kanya.

"Uy, kumusta?" tanong ko. Sinabayan nya 'ko ng lakad. May kasama ka ba? Si Dan perhaps?

"Well, as you know, not doing too well. All of my best friends are not in speaking terms, well, more than that actually. We kind of hate each other so... not great," matipid nyang ngiti. "Eh ikaw, how are you? We now know about you... and Dan."

"How's he?" tanong ko.

"Not great. But at least I still have him as a friend you know? We still have each other. Kearn? Forget about him. Say? Well, I don't know. Liv? Ugh, no. You'd think Ted and Joyce will be around for us pero they're dealing with more important matters: their family. Buti pa yung ganun 'no? Maayos na talaga yung lagay nila kasi they're married. Graduate na sila sa complications."

Tumango ako. "Ganun ba? So..."

"The wedding's not going to happen," sabi at tapos nya para sa'kin. He smiled. "Kaya sana you can make Dan happy? Go back home, surprise him and, you know, make him happy," sabi nya. "He's down and I'm also down with what's happening kaya iniwan ko na rin sya. He's draining the last bit of energy that I have sa pagka-negative nya. Sana you can see him?"

Ngumiti ako. "You think he'd be happy to see me?" tanong ko soliciting his support.

"I think so. I know he loves you. He was looking for you like crazy after that parking incident," sabi nya.

Sige na nga! Ako na! Ako na pupunta sa kanya! Eee! Makikita ko na sya!!! "I think I will. Sige! Uuwi ako!" sabi ko sa kanya.

Natuwa si Phil. "Great! Soon? When can you go? Kasi my Dad and I are just here for a quick vacation, bond time lang. He's with his buddies, casino, business and stuff. Sumama lang ako kasi naka-break pa 'ko eh."

"Magpapa-alam ako mamaya. I'll book a ticket for tomorrow? Sana payagan ako na mag-leave ulit!" excited kong sabi na hindi ko na naitago sa kanya. Natawa ako sa hiya na ikinatawa nya rin.

"He'll be glad," sabi nya.

Nakapag-paalam naman ako ng maayos pero two days lang na bakasyon, Emergency leave lang. Tinawagan ko agad si Phil. "Phil pinayagan ako!" sabi ko.

"Great! I'll book us flights. Sasamahan kita," sabi nya.

Maaga ang nakuha ni Phil na flights pabalik ng Manila. Sinundo nya ako sa tinitirhan ko ng five in the morning. Pinipilit kong bayaran sya pero ayaw nya.

"Para 'to kay Dan," sabi nya. "I'm doing this for him kaya okay lang. Sagot ko na 'to. Ready for Manila?"

"Ready for Dan!" sagot ko.

Sumakay na kami sa kinuha nyang taxi papunta sa airport. "Wala kang dala?" tanong nya.

"Two days lang kasi eh," sabi ko.

"Dapat dinala mo na lahat ng gamit mo. Feeling ko AWOL ka na. I'm sure 'di ka na pauuwiin dito ni Dan," he said.

Tumawa ako. "Binilin ko naman kay Maria ang mga gamit ko. Ipapadala nya lahat yun kung magka-ganun."

Sya naman ang tumawa. "Galing, galing."

Sa plane nag-usisa ako tungkol kay Dan bilang isang kaibigan. "Ga'no kayo ka-close ni Dan?" I asked.