All or Nothing [Fin]

Twenty-five

Two straight days, Ailee was out clubbing with her friends. She shut her phone off, told her parents that she'll be out of town but the truth is she's staying at Elisha's place for two days now.

"Aalis ka nanaman?" tanong ni Elisha nang dumaan siya sa living room nito.

Umupo siya sa tabi nito. "Yup, sama ka?"

Hinarap siya ng kaibigan. "Kailan ka babalik sainyo?" kunot-noong tanong nito. "Nagkita kami ni Vaughn kanina."

She was taken aback when she heard his name. Kunot-noong tinignan siya ni Elisha. "He was asking about you, questions about your whereabouts. Tell me, did you two fight again?"

Nagbuga siya ng hininga. Nang magsabi siya kay Elisha na sakanya muna siya tutuloy, hindi naman ito nagtanong pa kahit na kita niya sa mga mata nito ang kyuryosidad.

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Then you have to find somewhere else to stay." sabi nito.

She gaped at her friend. Hindi siya makapaniwala na pinapaalis siya ni Elisha!

"Look Ailee, I don't know what happened this time, but hiding from him is not the solution. Kung nakita mo lang kanina si Vaughn habang tinatanong ka sa'kin, baka pagsisihan mo na iniiwasan mo siya."

"I.. I'm not avoiding him!" defensive niyang sagot.

Tinaasan siya ng kilay ni Elisha. "Really? If that so, you can leave my place." mapaghamong sabi nito.

"You would really throw your friend out?!"

Mariin siyang tinignan ni Elisha at humalukipkip ito sa harap niya. "Yes. I won't tolerate your stupidness."

---

Padabog na inilalagay ni Ailee ang mga damit niya sa loob ng travel bag niya. Masama ang loob niya kay Elisha dahil totoong papalayasin siya nito. She thought that she was just bluffing but knowing Elisha, she really is serious about this.

"Wag ka magalit sa'kin Ails, gusto ko lang na marealize mo na hindi maganda sa isang relasyon ang pagtakbo sa problema. You don't even communicate with Vaughn."

Huminga siya ng malalim at isinara ang travel bag. "It's fine. I'm going." tipid niyang sagot.

Lalagpasan niya sana si Elisha ng pigilan siya nito sa braso. "I'm sorry, nag-aalala lang ako sa'yo." she said with her soothing voice.

She turned to her friend. "I'm not mad, Eli. Just a little shocked that you could possibly throw your friend out!" she blurted out.

Elisha hugged her and laughed. "You'll be okay. So since hindi ka galit sa'kin, may isa pa akong sasabihin."

She looked at her friend suspiciously. Nakangiti ito sakanya pero alam niyang may tinatago ito sakanya.

"Elisha.." she said in her warning tone. "What did you do?"

Alanganing ngumiti sakanya si Elisha. "Uhm.. I- ah.. si..ano.."

"Spill it." she panicked. She has an idea to what Eli is about to say but there's a part of her that doesn't want to believe it.

"Vaughn's here."

Parang bombang sumabog yun para sakanya. She went back inside the room she's occupying. Hinagis niya ang travel bag niya sa kama at nagpalakad-lakad sa loob. She was fidgeting her fingers.

"Elisha! Bakit mo siya pinapunta?! Oh my God! Ano'ng gagawin ko?!" she was still pacing the room thinking hard on how to face Vaughn.

"Just talk to him." narinig niyang sagot ng kaibigan.