The CHEATER & The FIGHTER: Sino ang mananalo?

Chapter Seven: Hotseat

A/N: Sorry kung late yung UD. Dapat nung Friday pa talaga kaso nagkatopak yung Wi-Fi namin kaya ngayon lang ako naka-update. By the way, salamat sa paghihintay ninyo and I really appreciate that. Enjoy reading~ -Aira (Unicorn)

***

"..."

"..."

"..."

*gulp*

Halos mamaga na yung lalamunan ko sa kakalunok. Base on my calculation, 1 million or billion or trillion times na akong napalunok. Of course! Who wouldn't be nervous? Kung titigan naman ako ng mga kaibigan ko, 'one wrong move and you're dead' ang kahihinatnan ng buhay ko. Parang 'Talk Back And You're Dead' lang, ako yung patatas doon.

I was playing with my fingertips so I can avoid eye contact with them. I thought diverting my attention would buy me some time as I wait for them to say, "Joke lang, bes! Plastikan ulit tayo!" But, seriously, I can't take it.

"Ehem." I stiffened and slowly looked at them.

"Speak." Hailey said, full of authority. I gave her a confused look.

"About what?"

"Just explain yourself, Naomi." Jaira said.

"Yeah, explain." Alicia.

"I-I-I don't really get you guys."

Grabe naman ang mga 'to. Daig pa si Boy Abunda kung mag-interview. Ano ba ang dapat kong ipaliwanag? May mga tama ba 'to sa ulo o meron?

Uso ang hindi maging tanga. Sabi ni inner self.

Sorry naman inner self. I'm not that perfect kaya please huwag mo akong awayin. Huhuhu...

Tss... baliw na nga, baliw pa.

Kita mo na! Isa ka rin naman eh!

Napabuntong hininga yung dalawa tsaka tumingin sa akin ng diretso sa mata. Parang pinapahiwatig ng mga tingin nila na nagmamakaawa sila na gawin ko yung gusto nila. Why they're doing this?

"I know that you understand what we mean, Naomi, but we're not doing this for nothing... its for your own sake. You don't deserve him and he doesn't deserve you either." Hailey said calmly.

"And even though he's your boyfriend, you may not know him that much. Hindi mo alam kung ano ang maari niyang gawin sa'yo." Jaira added.

"They're right." Alicia agreed.

I want to believe in them but... I don't like this feeling. Hindi naman ako ganito dati pero bakit bigla akong nakaramdam ng inis sa sinasabi nila? There's a part of me that want to protect Ken from their harsh words.

"Guys..." I take a deep breath. "Kung may nangyari mang hindi maganda sa pagitan ninyo ni Ken... ako na ang humihingi ng tawad. Kilala niyo naman ako, hindi ako lalapit sa taong alam kong bad influence sa akin. Ken is a nice person and I know him very well. Hindi naman kami aabot sa ganito if I didn't put my trust in him. I understand your opinions but telling me to break up with him? I'm sorry, I can't do that."

"Then give us a one valid reason." Three of them said in unison. Feeling ko binuhusan ako ng malamig sa sinabi nila.

I stayed calm in front of them, na kahit sa loob-looban ko ay nagwawala na ako sa paghahanap ng maaring isagot. Kung option lang ang magpalamon sa lupa... kanina ko pa ginawa 'yun.

Ang tanga mo talaga Naomi! Nag-drama ka pa kasi eh hindi ka naman artista! Pero infairness, havey yung speech mo. Oh ano na ngayon? NGANGA?

Nagulat nalang ako ng kusang nagsalita ang bibig without thinking.