A Change of Heart

XXIV

"Paps, sana tinawag mo ako nang naabangan natin sa labas ng subdivision! Akala niya kung sino siya ah! Para naman kinorner niya si Jane nun! Asking her if he can court her in a live interview? Syempre hindi makakatanggi si Jane!"

"Yun nga Kiv eh. Pero good thing for Jane hindi siya nagpadala sa pressure ng reporters. Hindi siya sumagot."

"Mali Paps! The thing is her silence can be interpreted in many ways. Bakit nalang hindi siya sumagot ng derecho?

If she doesn't want Ponce to court her, edi no na agad. Baka mamaya hindi siya sumagot kasi... Aaah! Ewan! Kuya, another bucket nga dito. Lalo akong nauhaw," biglang iwas niya sa topic.

While his team mates and very close friends were arguing about Jane and Jerome's controversial interview this morning, Alvin was just keeping everything to himself, as if he can't hear all of the arguing around him. Just like Alvin, they were all irritated by the turn of events during the interview.

"Kiv, tumahik ka na nga lang. Let's just drink and unwind. We had a rough week. All of us. Soooooo... Let's party!" sabay hatak ni Arnold sa mga kasamahan niya sa dance floor.

They were at their usual hang-out place, an exclusive famous bar in the metro. Alvin had no intentions to mingle with people tonight after what happened, pero sadyang makulit lang mga kaibigan niya and his Kuya thought he needs some fresh air too. Kaya naman napilitan din siya sumama. They're right, he thought. Kailangan niya umalis para sandaling makalimot. If he just stayed in his room for the rest of the night, paniguradong hindi siya patutulugin ng mga iniisip niya. Images of this afternoon's interview kept on bugging his mind.

He can't forget how that guy looked at Jane as he's smitten. He can't forget how he sat very close to her as if ayaw na niya lumayo sa kanya. And he can't erase the happy faces of everyone around them, that finally, yung matagal na nilang tinutukso na love team ay may progress na.

Damn! Their management team must be too happy. This kind of publicity means more projects for them.

But most of all he can't shake off this jealousy that is eating him right now. He kept asking himself, ano kaya nararamdaman ni Jane while having the interview? Was she as surprised as him nung sinabi ni Jerome na mahal na niya si Jane? Or does she know all along? This can't be good right?

"Paps! Uy.. kanina pa ako salita ng salita dito hindi ka naman pala nakikinig."

His train of thoughts was interrupted by his friend," Sorry Paps. Akala ko sumama ka sa dance floor. Ano nga ulit yun?"

"Sabi ko ano na balak mo? That guy seems to be a tough competition. I mean Jane has a lot of admirers and as you told me before andaming gustong manligaw pero she refused them right away. But this Ponce, he's different. Maybe kaya hindi makasagot agad si Jane kasi nga they were in front of media. Aaah! Ewan! Nababaliw na din ako kakaisip!"

Napailing nalang si Alvin sa kaibigan niya, "Bro, just go there and have fun," sabay inom niya ng beer. Kiv was just staring at his friend for few minutes. Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit sobrang naapektuhan ang kaibigan niya dahil sa iisang babae. Yes, he understands that Jane is his best friend, and he is in love with her. Pero just like other guys courting girls, kung sa tingin nila na basted na. Then they should back out and find another girl. Besides, for his friend, hindi siya mahihirapan humanap ng babae.

"Paps, you can't be too bothered about it. If courting Jane is giving you too much headache. Then quit. Tell her you'll stop. Para sa wakas wala ka na iisipin na problema," Kiv said confidently. "Wala naman mawawala sayo diba? You are The Jeron Alvin Teng of Linfield Univeristy. All of the girls go crazy over you. Yung iba nga masaya na ngitian mo lang eh. So if Jane is giving you this pain. Drop it.. She is just Jane. You are Jeron Alvin Teng. Remember that!"

He lets out a soft chuckle.He definitely doesn't know anything about it. "You don't get it, Paps," he said with a bitter smile. "Jeron Alvin Teng will be nothing without plain Jane."