Melodious

Verse 17

Sabi na nga ba there was something wrong with Jerald eh.

Pansin kasi ni Maine ang pagpupumilit nito na sumama sa kanila ni RJ. The latter didn't seem to fancy the idea, but Jerald was relentless.

"Sisiguraduhin ko lang na hindi na tayo matatagalan," Jerald had said.

Maine didn't believe him.

"Paps, you're pouting," Jerald smirked. "If I know, naiinis ka lang kasi hindi mo na naman masosolo si Menggay."

"Shut up, o itutulak kita palabas nitong sasakyan," RJ grumbled.

Maine, though amused with their banter, had been zoning out every now and then. Hindi maalis sa isip niya yung pag-uusap nila nina Patring kagabi.

Does she really love him? Talaga ba?

She spent the first two years hating him, that was true. Noong ikatlong taon she told herself she didn't care. Mataas naman ang possibility na hindi na talaga sila magkita noon. What she didn't know was that their fates were basically tied with each other. At dahil doon, hindi siya gaanong nakatulog kagabi-- buti na lang RJ presented to drive, dahil baka makatulog siya sa daan.

And this morning didn't help. Masyado niyang sineryoso yung sinabi niyang babawi siya-- he was the first one who greeted her in the morning, pulled her seat from the breakfast table, served her tocino and eggs, and even poured her drink. Kung hindi niya napigilan baka nga sinubuan pa siya nito. Siyempre inasar sila ng mga kaibigan nila.

Kanina rin, bago sila umalis, at matapos magbilin ng Lola Doray ni Meng, masinsinan pa nitong kinausap ang binata. Gusto na nga ni Meng tanungin kung ano pinag-usapan nila, kaya lang sumama naman si Jerald and she kinda wanted to ask it to him alone.

"-- Meng, nakikinig ka ba? Huy!"

Maine blinked and glanced at Jerald, who had his arms slung over the other two's seats. "Ha? Ano ba 'yun?"

Jerald snickered. "Ikaw ah. Masyado mong iniisip si Paps. Hindi ka na nakikinig sa iba."

"Ewan ko sa'yo," Maine scowled at him and turned back to the window.

"Joke lang! Baka hindi mo na ko tulungan."

"Tulungan sa ano?"

Jerald and RJ glanced at each other before the former sighed and took his phone out of his pocket. "Help me win Valeen over."

"I don't know, Je. Kilala mo si Valeen. Kapag nagdesisyon na siya, hindi mo na mababago ang desisyon niya. She's stubborn when it comes to this."

"So okay lang sa'yo kahit magpakasal siya sa maling lalaki?"

"What are you talking about? Hindi mo naman kilala si--"

Jerald shoved his phone in front of her face. It was opened on Instagram, on a girl with a boy's arms around her, foreheads pressed together in a too-romantic cheesy picture.

Except Maine knew that guy; it was Valeen's fiancé. None other than Jacques Beaumont.

"Holy fu--"

"Maine!"

"-ck! Je, saan mo nakuha 'to? How did you know who Jacques is?" Hindi maipaliwanag ni Maine ang nararamdaman niya. Paano niya ito ipapaliwanag kay Valeen? Ano nang mangyayari?

"I... Palagi kong tinitignan 'yung IG feed ni Valeen noon. Madalas laman ng feed niya yung photos ng hilaw na pusit na 'yan."

"Pusit?"

"Bakit? Mukha namang pusit ah! Ang haba ng galamay tapos ang lapad lapad ng noo." Jerald ruffled his hair and sighed again. "Yung babae sa picture, kaibigan ng pinsan ni Jordan."

"Hindi ko na itatanong kung paano mo nakita yung account ng kaibigan ng pinsan niya." Maine inspected the photo closer. "Paano natin 'to sasabihin kay Val?"

"Ako na bahala 'dun," Jerald took the phone back from her. "Basta help me get Valeen alone."

At this, Maine raised an eyebrow. "Just what are you planning, Jerald Napoles? You're not possibly using this situation to your advantage, are you?"

"Kailan ba English din sagot?"

"Napoles/Je!"

"Joke lang. I don't want to use this situation to my advantage. And Valeen's as important to me as she is important to you. Pero I want to consider this as a start. I'm going to win her back."

It was the determination and sincerity in Jerald's eyes that made Maine smile. "Alright. I'll help you."

"Ayun! Ayos, salamat!"

"Oh? Bakit ka umaatras?"

"Ah... Eh, nagdudugo na ilong ko eh. Nahirapan ako mag-isip ng sagot. Naprito ata utak ko."

"Halata nga eh, lumabas sa balat mo eh."

"Bwisit ka Faulkerson."

"Ikaw din, Napoles."

***

Ito na ang puntong dapat akong magtanong: do you trust me?

Charot. Kapit. Malapit na tayo magtapos. 😊