"I'm really sorry, hindi ko lang talaga magawang magsinungaling sa harap nila," Francis said as he leaned against the passenger door of his Vios, "Alam mo naman sila, botong-boto sa'yo simula dati pa. But you don't need to worry about it, alright?"
She gave a slight nod. "Pero.. sabi mo sa'kin hindi mo na ko gusto? Sabi mo, naisip mong balikan si Irish?" Miho questioned him in a tiny voice as she looked behind, making sure that nobody was around them.
"It was just a joke." Napayuko ito saglit at tumingin uli sa kanya, "I lied. Alam ko kasing lalayuan mo ko kapag sinabi ko 'yon at baka isipin mong guguluhin lang kita. We're still good friends, aren't we?" Tinapik nito ang balikat niya at ngumiti.
Hindi naman siya nagalit sa narinig dahil naiintindihan niya ito. Nag-alala lang siya dahil nakakasakit parin pala siya ng damdamin ng iba.
"Oo.. pero hindi ba 'yon mas mahirap? Hindi ba mas okay kungー"
He took her hand and caressed her fingers with his thumb.
"Lalayo ka? Nope," a short pause before he continued, "Anyway, tuloy ka ba kay Pat? Just tell me his address, I'll figure out how to get there."
Pagkabigay niya ng address kay Francis, he took his phone and checked its location on the map. Hindi naman raw ganuong kalayo sa kinaroroonan nila. On their way to Pat's unit, Miho thought of calling him. Bigla niyang naisip na baka mamaya wala ito duon kahit sinabi nitong diretso na itong uuwi mula sa reception.
A few rings before someone answered; to her surprise, it was a woman's voice.
"Hello?"
Si Georgina ba iyon? Hindi naman nito iyon kaboses. O baka naman ang pinsan nito? Hindi kaya si Ria? Pero mukhang hindi rin naman.
"Umm, Si Pat?"
"Lumabas siya saglit, naiwan niya 'tong phone niya. Do you have a message for him? Ako na lang magsasabi..or will I just tell him to return your call?"
Napakunot-noo siya. Hindi niya naiwasang isipin na nag-uwi ito ng babaeng kalandian.
"Ahh, wala, di bale na lang. Sino po pala sila?"
"I'm Kath, his friend."
Kath? Friend? But from the sound of her voice and the way she spoke, she didn't sound like a friend. O baka naman masyado lang siyang mapanghinala.
"Tatawag na lang uli ako. Thanks."
She dropped the call before she could hear her speak again.
Francis stole a glance at her. "He's with someone?"
"Oo," she replied. Naiinis na naman siya sa sarili. May karapatan ba siyang mainis? The girl must be really Pat's friend. Baka masyado lang siyang nagdududa.
"Babae yung sumagot?"
"Oo, friend daw," she replied in an annoyed manner which made Francis chuckle. "Anong nakakatawa?"
"Obviously, you're jealous. Malay mo kung talagang kaibigan lang niya 'yon. Will you still visit him now?"
Natahimik siya saglit at nag-isip. Sa huli, nagdesisyon siyang daanan si Pat. She's unsure whether she chose the better option, pero bahala na.
---
Pagdating, pinaakyat lang si Miho agad ng mga guwardiya; it was because Pat has already instructed them before to allow her to do so without the need to inform him.
She began to feel nervous when she reached the tenth floor.
BINABASA MO ANG
Yo te Cielo
Historical Fiction{ sequel of ikaw na ang huli } Will Pat and Miho's encounter lead to the fulfillment of a promise that was broken in the 19th century?-or shall their past lives still dictate their destiny to remain as star-crossed lovers until the present time? ...
