Nagpaalam saglit si Raven para bigyan sila ng oras na mag-usap ni Patricia.
"What if totoo talaga yun?" dudang tanong nito.
"I told you, Pat, it's just a joke." she answered before she take a sip of her Mcfloat.
Pat shrugged her shoulders.
"Alam mo, Faith, duda lang talaga ako sa lalaking yan."
She sighed. Patricia always had a doubt on Raven ever since he became her boyfriend. Lagi nitong sinasabi na lolokohin at sasaktan lang siya nito lalo na nung malaman nitong one week lang siyang niligawan ni Raven. If you're thinking she's an easy-to-get person, well she think she is when it comes to him. Who would not fall for someone like Raven? He's got that charm every girls just can't resist. Including her. Ayaw niya lang talagang maniwala kay Patricia sa mga pagdududa nito. She's not that quick-to-judge type of person kaya hangga't maaari ay ayaw niyang pagdudahan si Raven. She love the guy to bits and so far in their two months of being together, she haven't seen any motives of cheating or whatsoever related to it. She's confident enough he would never do that to her.
"Pat, please, I don't wanna talk about it." tanging sagot niya sa kaibigan.
"Okay. Sorry, Faith. I just want the best for you," wika nito.
"He's the best for me, Pat." nakangiting sagot niya.
Ngumiti ito pabalik saka nilamon ang hawak na fried chicken. Kumain na rin siya. Sa sobrang gutom niya, naparami siya ng kain.
"I wonder kung bakit hindi man lang niya naisip na dalhan ka ng pagkain. What an irresponsible boyfriend," napapailing na wika ni Pat.
"Nakalimutan lang niya siguro," depensa niya.
Patricia rolled her eyes.
"Ever since naging boyfriend mo siya, hindi ko man lang nakitang dinadalhan ka niya ng pagkain dito."
"Pero nililibre naman niya ako sa Starbucks, ah."
"That's a different thing. Iba pa rin yung dinadalhan ka niya ng malalamon dito. Hindi yung siya pa palalamunin mo." she remarked.
"You know, you are so harsh." she sighed deeply.
"Only when it comes to him," Pat replied.
"Whatever!" Tumayo siya para iligpit ang pinagkainan nila.
Pagkaraa'y may kumatok sa pinto. Agad na nagtungo si Pat sa pintuan para buksan ito habang siya nama'y abala sa pagliligpit.
"Oh, hi, Patricia!"
Narinig niya ang boses ni Raven. Pero hindi niya narinig na nagsalita si Pat at alam niya kung bakit. Her best friend never was fond of talking to him even just for saying hi or hello.
"Nasaan si Faith?" tanong ni Raven kay Pat.
"Sa kusina," tipid nitong sagot.
Pagkatapos niyang magligpit ay dali-dali siyang bumalik sa sala pero nakasalubong niya si Raven na may hawak na box ng Krispy Kreme. Great. Her favourite. She wonder kung ano ang reaksyon ni Patricia dito. Kakasabi lang nito kanina na hindi siya dinadalhan ng pagkain ni Raven but now he did. She mentally mocked her best friend.
"Hi, babe!" he greeted warmly and kissed her on her left cheek.
"Akala ko hindi ka na babalik."
"Of course, I will. Bumili lang ako ng paborito mo," sabi nito sabay buhat ng box ng donuts sa harap niya.
"Thanks, babe, pero busog pa ako. Nagdala kasi si Patricia ng pagkain," wika niya sabay sulyap sa best friend niyang nakaupo sa sala at nagbabasa ng magazine. Pero alam niyang nakikinig ito sa usapan nila.
"Aw, it's okay, babe. Kainin mo na lang mamaya kapag nagutom ka." Ipinatong nito sa mesa saka lumingon sa kanya at hinapit siya sa baywang.
"So, feeling better now?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Raven.
She nodded and he kissed her forehead. They heared Pat cleared her throat from behind.
"Faith, I think kailangan ko na umuwi." wika nito.
Kumalas siya sa pagkakahawak ni Raven at lumapit kay Pat.
"Salamat sa oras, Pat. At pati na rin sa pagkain," tumawa siya at pati na rin ito.
"No problem, best friend. Just be careful with that jerk," seryosong wika nito sabay tingin ng matalim sa direksyon ni Raven.
Pilit siyang ngumiti. "I'm in good hands, Pat."
"Well, I hope so. Bye, Faith!" niyakap siya nito bago lumabas ng pinto.
"Ingat ka!" pahabol niya. She waved her hand at her until she disappeared.
Binalikan niya si Raven na nakaupo na sa mahabang upuan sa sala. Tinabihan niya ito.
"I know your best friend doesn't like me for you," panimula nito.
She looked at him apologetically.
"I'm sorry, babe. Just try to understand her."
"Yeah, and it's okay, Faith. I can't please everybody." saad nito.
He was right. We can't please everybody. There will always be that one person who would go against us. And whatever we do, people will always have something to say.
Hinawakan niya ang kamay nito at pinisil.
"I hope someday she will come to accept you."
"I honestly don't mind, babe. Like I said, I can't please anybody. If she doesn't accept me for you, so be it. Ang importante, tanggap mo ako at ang buong pagkatao ko," paliwanag nito.
Tumango siya bilang sagot. Hinila siya nito palapit at niyakap siya sa mula sa balikat.
"I love you, Faith."
Lihim siyang napangiti sa kilig. Those precious words really meant a lot to her especially when he says it. Napapalundag sa tuwa ang puso niya kapag naririnig niya iyon mula sa kanya. He says it right from the bottom of his heart, hindi yung basta-basta niya lang sinasabi para pakiligin siya. He's full of sincerity every time he says it. Now how could she doubt this guy's love?
"Babe?" pukaw nito sa atensyon niya.
Tumingala siya dito at ngumiti ng matamis.
"I love you, too, Raven."
Pinisil nito ang ilong niya at hinigpitan ang pagkakayakap sa kanya. She also wrapped her arms around him as she snuggled close to his hard chest. She never felt so safe like this before.
~~
