It doesn't Matter

Chapter One

CHAPTER ONE

The Lost Soul

THREE months… three months na silang walang communication ni Rafael, ang kaklase noong high school ng kaniyang bestfriend. Subalit, hanggang sa mga sandaling iyon ay ito pa rin ang sanhi ng kaniyang pagmumukmok.

            She quit her job because of him. When did she last comb her hair? That she doesn’t remember.

            Hanggang sa mga sandali ring iyon ay hindi pa rin niya batid kung ano ang dahilan kung bakit bigla na lamang nitong pinutol ang kanilang ugnayan.

            Tonight, she ought to know the truth.

            Gamit ang facebook account ng kaniyang bestfriend ay na-access niya ang account ng kaniyang ka-mutual understanding—dati! Bawat kasuluksulukan ng account nito ay ginalugad niya, hanggang sa mapadpad siya sa note section ng account bito.

            Hindi niya napigilan ang biglang pagpatak ng luha mula sa kaniyang mga mata.

            I miss those times we used to laugh about nonsense things… the way we contradict each other’s sentences… the way we always debate like it’s a never-ending argument. Our performance last August when both of us were sick but still we managed to sing. That moment when we first held hands when you were slowly confessing your so-called love for me. The moment you hugged me when we were rushing our CD for the “Buwan ng Wika” performance.

            It’s definitely not her. Ang masakit pa ang setting sa naturang entry ay noong mga panahong nagkakalabuan na sila hanggang bigla na lamang siya nitong iwan sa ere.

            “Drat that guy!” marahas niyang pinahid ang luha sa kaniyang pisnge.

            “Are you crying ate?” marahil ay napalakas ang pagmumura niya at narinig ni Mariana. Mula sa connecting door ay bumungad ang pigura ng kaniyang kapatid. Magkanugnog lamang kasi ang kwarto nilang dalawa.

            Broken family na matatawag ang pamilyang kaniyang kinalakhan. She was just three-years old when her dad left them. During those times, Marissa Barrameda was pregnant with her second child Marilla. But her mother managed to support the two of them single-handed.

            She was thirteen-years old when her mom met her second husband. One year later, she gave birth to a lovely baby named Mariana.

            Mariana is eight years younger than her. Kasalukuyang high school student. Her closest sibling.

            “No, I’m not!” nag-iwas siya ng tingin. Her gaze fixated on the picture beside her desktop computer—a picture of her and Rafael, taken two months ago.

            “Funny, but I saw the tears.” Umupo ito sa jelly bean bag sa tabi niya. Her sister is younger than her yet very rational.

            “Fools… those who are in love are fools!” aniya, her sister lightly laughed. “E, tanga ka nga ate!” gatong naman nito sa kaniyang sentimyento.

            Fact, sadly!

            Tinitigan niya ito ng masama imbes na bigyang tugon ang pahayag nito. “Opps! Sorry!” Then, there’s silence.

            “So, move on ate.” Maya-maya’y basag nito sa katahimikan sa kanilang pagitan. She peered on the monitor of her computer, where the note is still showing. Mariana tsked.