Who do you Love (A Rastro fanfic)

Truth Between the Lines

"Pwede magbreak, walang nagbabawal sayo"

wika ni Batchi

2 days na din kaming walang kibuan ng bestfriend ko after naming magkainitan. Kaya hirap din ako ngayon dahil wala si Batchi para umalalay sakin. The good thing about her is sya yung unang nag aapproach sa amin everytime nag aaway kami, kahit madalas ako ang may kasalanan. Sobrang humble ni Batchi, at dun ko sya hinahangaan.

"May lakad kaba after?"

tanong nya

"Dadaan lang ako ng Eastwood bago dumiretso ng bar"

"May lakad ba kayo ni Kathleen?"

"Wala kaming lakad. May kinocollect na toy si Miggy and I called the Eastwood branch if they have the item. Good thing at meron so I'll just pick it up then diretso nako sa bar"

Nakatingin lang si Batchi sakin. I dunno what's with her na she can make me talk about what I feel at di ako makapagsinungaling sa kanya

"I was going to tell her the truth about Jade. I'm just caught in the middle on meeting her dad, mali lang ang timing. But I guarantee you, walang something saming dalawa"

"I get your point Althea. But I gotta tell you that you need to fix this and avoid Kathleen. I don't wanna see you and Jade get hurt. Tsong, gulo yan pag nagkataon"

xxx

"Ma'am may bisita po kayo"

si Leo habang kausap ko si Ahya sa phone.
I just nod at him while I approach my office. Si Ahya, wala paring tigil sa pagsita sakin dahil sa pagturn down ko sa isang proposal na gusto nya.
I got inside my office at natigilan ako when I saw Kathleen sitting on the couch

"I...I understand. Alright, alright. Ahya I will review again the documents"

I ended the call and a long sigh escaped

"Ahya is still harassing you?"

tanong nya. Napangisi lang ako

"Nothing has changed"

sagot ko.
Tumayo si Kathleen at lumakad patungo sakin. Tumayo sya sa harapan ko at hinawakan ang mga kamay ko. Tumingin ako sa mga mata nya at ngumiti sya sakin. Binitawan ko ang mga kamay nya at lumakad sa glass window

"Anong ginagawa mo dito?"

"It seems like you don't wanna see me Althea. Are you avoiding me?"

Bumuntong hininga muna ako bago humarap sa kanya

"Kathleen, look. You're a nice person. I know you're expecting something in return. I can't give that back, I'm sorry"

"Is there something wrong? Kasi we never discuss this seriously what we have, ngayon lang. Is there someone else?"

I look into her eyes and saw her eyes were filled with tears.
Kathleen was the person who stood beside me and made me realize how happy it is to live. She was kind enough to look after Miggy everytime she's in the country. I know the day will come na she'll be expecting na I'll return her feelings, even she says that she's happy doing me a favor. She hugged me so tight and tears gushed from her eyes

"I know I don't deserve you Althea, but I can love you more than that"

I broke the hug. I lower down my head and hold on her shoulders. I know I'm going to hurt her

"You need someone better than me. Someone who's gonna..."

she locked her lips on mine before I knew it, pulling me closer to her.
I was astounded. Next thing I noticed was Jade and Batchi were nailed on the ground, looking confused.
I was stricken by Jade's look. Kathleen saw me in awe and turned her back facing them

"Jade, what a surprise"

Kathleen smiled at her

"Kathleen"

the only uttered word by Jade while staring blankly at me and Kathleen

"Send this back to me after reviewing it"

Jade handed the folder to Batchi and walked away

"Jade, let me explain"

as I run outside chasing her

"Althea, wait"

Kathleen grabs my hand, but Batchi managed to grab Kathleen on the other

"Stay away from her"

"What the hell are you talking about Batchi?"

"Alam mo naman from the beginning kung sino ang mahal ni Althea. Wag mo ipilit ang sarili mo"

xxx

Para kaming nagwo walkathon ni Jade sa paghahabulan. All you can hear is the clicking of our 4inches. Alam kong darating ang araw na malalaman nya ang tungkol kay Kathleen, but I didn't expect na sa ganitong pagkakataon. I grabbed her hand to stop her

"Jade, pakinggan moko please"

Jade paused for awhile before facing me

"Kelan pa sya andito?"

I looked at her

"Two weeks"

tiim bagang ko syang sinagot

"Two weeks? Two weeks and you hide it from me?"

"No Jade. I was about to tell her about you and..."

"And what? And then you kissed her?"

"I didn't kissed her Jade"

"So what do you call that?! At sa opisina mo pa talaga ginawa"

Tears broke into her eyes and it hurts me seeing her in that state. I tried to hug her, but she raised her hand to stop me

"I thought you were different, but I was wrong. You're still the same Althea, you never changed"

She turned her back on me and walked away. I can hear her sob. I held my hand on my face

"What have I done"

I muttered and she's gone

xxx

Pinihit ko ang knob ng pinto at pumasok sa opisina ko. Isinara ko ito at isinandal ang ulo ko sa pinto

"Anong nangyari Althea?"

tanong ni Batchi. Humarap ako at nakita kong di pa umaalis si Kathleen. Sumalampak ako sa couch at ipinikit ang mga mata ko. Tumayo si Kathleen sa harapan ko

"So, it's Jade. Si Jade parin ang dahilan bakit di mo maayos ang buhay mo"

Tinignan ko lang sya at pumikit muli

"Answer me!"

Kathleen on top of her lungs

I opened my eyes and stood up

"I was trying to tell you awhile ago, but you refuse to listen. Pinapakinggan mo lang ang gusto mo"

She gritted her teeth and slap me right across the face. Batchi ran towards our direction para sawayin si Kathleen ngunit pinigilan ko sya. Tinignan ko lang si Kathleen

"Masaya ka na?"

Akmang sasampalin na naman ako ni Kathleen pero napigilan na sya ni Batchi. Nagpupumiglas sya

"How dare you Althea! I didn't come this far to give up. I will not give you up!"

Tinabig nya si Batchi at nagwalk out