"Puta pare, ano, it's been what? 2 years?" singhal sa kanya ng kaibigang si Patrick ng gabing iyon. The anxiety brought them to a drinking session at his home, at 10pm.
"1 year and eleven months." Sabi ni Daniel at muling lumagok mula sa beer-in-can na hawak.
"Wow, bilang na bilang?" Biro ni Pat sa kanya. Inirapan niya lang ito at tumingin sa kawalan. What he did to Kath was really unforgiveable. But he gave it a shot. Baka kasi pwede pa. Baka pwede na.
"Ano ba bro, wag mo ngang ina-asar si lover-boy, kundi, ikaw magliligpit dito." Diego commented.Patrick, on the other hand, scoffed, seeing the sight of their messy table for the night.
"Asan ba kasi si Marco? Siya lang ata matino kong makakausap." Biglang singit ni Daniel.
"Aww, nandito naman kami, bat ka naghahanap ng iba?" The two said in unison. Tumawa ang mga ito. Until Daniel's phone rang.
"Shit. Pare." "Oh My God bro." the two said again. Pati si DJ ay nagulat.
"Si Ysabel yun no? Si Ysabel? As in Ysabel, Ysabel..." Diego said, trying to make a point. Ngunit bago pa man masagot ni Daniel ang tawag ay naputol na ang kabilang linya.
"Hala, nagmumulto na ang nakaraan." Diego decided to break the silence. But Daniel was busy remembering the last time he ever had a phone call with the person earlier. Kelan nga ba yung huli?
"Hoy. Since wala naman si Marco, ako na magsasabi sa'yo. Man up, DJ. Wag ka nagpapalamon sa what if's mo. Kasi, kung hanggang dun ka nalang, hanggang what if ka nalang, san bagsak mo? Wala, diba?" Pat said, still not hearing from their friend.
"Kasi, naiisip ko kasi lagi yung nangyari dati, di ko maiwasan na, alam mo yun?"
"WOW. Sugatan na sugatan ha? DJ, for the record, ikaw ang gumawa ng kasalanan, ikaw ang—" Bago pa man ituloy ni Pat ang sasabihin ay natigilan ito at tinungga na lamang ang alak.
"Uh, Kath, free ka naman tonight, diba?" Kath read the text of her boyfriend while she is at the office. She smiled while typing a reply. Finally, after a week and a half ay magkikita na sila.
3:26 pm, 8/14/14
Yes, babe. Pick me up?
3:41pm, 8/14/14
Sorry, I can't. Pero babawi ako. Okay? Let's meet at Wolfgang?
"What's up with this guy?" Kath said to herself, frowning.She kept her phone and started doing the works she needed to accomplish. But she can't get herself into it. So she decided to leave the office earlyto refresh herself. Nag-ikot muna siya sa mallbago dumiretso sa restaurant na pagkikitaan nila ni Daniel.
Her boyfriend was already there, still on his uniform, parang may iniisip.
"Hi!" Nilapag ni Kath ang bag niya at naupo sa tapat ni Daniel. He smiled and then kissed her on the lips.
"So, ano na? Let's order?" Kathryn said. Daniel agreed and called for the waiter.
"Bakit dito pa tayo nagmeet? Magluluto si mama mamaya ng specialty niya pa naman." Kath said in a low tone, but still smiling.
"Uhm, kain muna tayo?" DJ smiled before picking up his utensils to eat. Kathryn, on the other hand, knows that there is something wrong. SOMETHING is definitely wrong. Through the dinner, Kath would ask questions to initiate a conversation, and then DJ would answer short replies.She gave up and continued on her food.
Baka pagod lang.
As she was taking down on her last bite, Daniel straightened up. He held her hand.
"Kath, I have something to tell you." He said, not smiling. Mukhang kinakabahan.
Oh My God. Is he gonna propose? Is he gonna ask me now? Kath said to herself, almost panicking. She felt a lump on her throat, nevertheless.
"Ano yun?" she said, trying to hide the nervousness.
"Kath..." DJ tried to say.
"Yes, DJ?" she said, smiling at him. Hindi pa nito binibitawan ang kamay niya.
"Sorry sa lahat ng ginawa ko. Hindi ka dapat nandito sa ganitong sitwasyon. I'm sorry." Sabi ni Daniel sa kanya, his eyes full of regret.
"DJ, ano ba yun? Kinakabahan na ako—" She was cut off.
"I'm cheating." There. He said it. Kath's universe seemed to suddenly stop. For five seconds, she sore to herself, she was not able to feel anything. She was numb. It took a while before everything started to sink in. Binawi niya ang kanyang kamay at uminom ng tubig. Unang lunok. Pangalawang lunok. She dropped her glass on the table hard, making a sound.
"Ikaw?" sabi niya, habang tinuturo ang kasintahan. "You're cheating on me?" sabi niyasa mababang tono. Wala siyang nakuhang sagot ditto. Nakayuko lamang si Daniel. It took a while before he dropped the real bomb of that night.
"I'm cheating on someone else. With you."
Note:
OMG! I'm back guys, please bear with me :-( let me know what you think, okay?
