Knowing HEZEKIEL (Completed)

Chapter 36

"Zoe?" muntik ko nang matapon ang phone sa sobrang gulat ng magsalita si Chloe sa likod ko. My heart is beating erratically as she takes a step towards me. I can't seem to move when she look at the phone I've been holding.

"May signal na ba?" she ask politely. Kinakabahan man ay nagawa kong umiling. "Patingin nga." Then she snatch it hurriedly. Para na akong masusuka sa sobrang kaba. "Ay. Lowbat pala to. Come on! Let's eat first. Gutom na talaga kasi ako."

I don't know what to do. Tahimik lang akong kumakain kahit parang hindi ko nalalasan yong pagkain. Rylle's text kept on echoing on my mind. Should I ask Chloe where is Rylle? Or should I ask her why Rylle texted that? Para kasing napaka absurd eh. Did they fight or something? Hindi kasi mag te-text si Rylle ng ganun-ganon lang. Ugh! I don't know what to do. Ni hindi ko alam kong maniniwala ba ako o kung ano bang ibig sabihin ng text na'yon.

"Zoe." I almost jump on my seat when she talk. Napahawak pa ako sa didbdib ko sa sobrang gulat. "Whoah! You're weird. May nangyari ba sayo?" tumawa siya at nagpatuloy sa pagkain. I managed to shake my head and pretended to be fine.

"Wala. Nag-aalala lang ako kung paano tayo makakauwi."

"Don't worry, Cedric will help us. He's such a cutie, right?" then she giggle and almost pinch my cheek. Just like how she acts every time she saw some cute guys. Chloe is still the same. She's still the friend I used to know. I know I can trust her. Baka nag-away lang talaga sila ni Rylle at nag text ng ganun. Hindi ko lang kasi maatim na pag-isip ng masama kay Chloe. She's a good friend, I knew it.

"Chloe?"

"Hmm." She hum while chewing something. Hindi rin niya ako tiningnan dahil busy siya sa pagpili ng ulam.

"What do you think about Rylle?"

"Rylle?" she asks, looking at me. Tumango ako saka ngumiti. Heto na naman ang kaba ko. "Yong pabebe mong boyfriend? Naku!" umakto pa siyang binabatukan niya si Rylle. Nalukot din ang mukha niya. "Ay ewan ko sa lalaking yon. Moody kasi yon eh, bigla-bigla na lang nagagalit. Buti ka pa nga napag tya-tyagaan mo yon. He's a jerk sometimes. You know, hindi na ako mabibigla kong mamaya o bukas galit na yon sakin. He never trusted me kasi maldita daw ako. Lokong yon!"

DON'T TRUST HER.

"He doesn't trust you? Why?" I kept on chewing, but this time it's my lower lip that I'm biting.

"I don't know." She shrug and continued to eat. "He always says "Never trust her". Chloe put her two hands and sign a quotation mark. "Ganon. I'm crazy, according to him."

And I was like. . Thank God! Parang nakahinga ako ng maluwag sa narinig. So, it means that Rylle text was a normal thing. He doesn't mean anything and Chloe is a friend, right? Baka nagtampo lang yon kasi nawala si Chloe at naiwan siya. He must be very worried right now. Tama! Hindi ako dapat mag-isip ng hindi maganda. We are safe. I am safe and I will go and see Hezekiel tomorrow.