Cannot Be

Chapter 13

Chapter 13: Opening

I hurried to my car. I wasn't crying but I feel really heavy. I feel like I betrayed Patrice without even knowing it and I think I am the one to blame.

Anong klaseng kaibigan ang hindi man lang alam kung sino ang gusto ng kaibigan niya?

Nang makarating ako sa bahay ay dali-dali akong umakyat sa kwarto ko at nahiga. How come I missed the signs? Palagi niyang hinahanap si Tristan for fuck's sake! How come I did not see it?

Probably because you like him as well. I shook my head lightly para maiwala ang naisip. My eyes landed on the teddy bear he gave me from the mini basket-ball yesterday.

I was about to grab it when my phone vibrated. Tinapunan ko ng tingin iyong teddy bear at saka kinuha ang cellphone ko na nakahiga sa bedside table.

TRIS

Hey, wru?

I bit my lip, kasabay nito ang pagbilis ng heartbeat ko.

Mabilis akong nagtipa ng sagot. "Sorry, I had to go home. Bawi ako." Ilang beses kong pinabalik-balik ang mata ko sa natype ko dahil baka may mali akong nasabi.

Mabilis rin ang reply niya which made me smile, mabilis ko ring inalis iyong ngiti ko. I don't want to like him more now.

"Ah, okay ka lang?" Hindi, pero kaya ko bang sabihin sa kanya 'yon? I can't be a weakass bitch. Most importantly, ayokong isipin niyang lalayuan ko siya dahil sa kanila ni Patrice kahit na iyon naman talaga ang gagawin ko. I cannot betray Patsi, I can't betray a friend.

"Yes, I'm okay. Just tired." I can't believe I'm doing this.

I was about to lock my phone pero bigla naman itong vibrate. I checked it only to find Tristan calling. Damn it!

"Oh? Napatawag ka?" panimula ko.

"Do we need reasons to call each other?" pahalakhak niyang sabi.

Ilang mura ang nasambit ko sa aking utak. His laugh is enough to make me go weak at sinamahan pa ng mga ganung linya, that's gonna be the reason of my death.

"Well... I was actually going to sleep..." Ipinikit ko ang mata ko. Take the hint!

"Wow!" sabi niya, amusement was audible in his voice.

"Bakit?" I asked as I sat down my bed.

Matagal siyang natahimik sa kabilang linya. "Wala, you're more grumpy than usual."