The Mistress of the Game (Book 2) COMPLETED

Chapter 3: Happy Birthday

“Hey Brent, where you at?” I heard Ricci said when he picked up the phone. I smiled devilishly as I enjoy the moment just like when I got home from France. Ganitong ganito ang eksena na tinawagan din ni Ricci si Brent para tanungin kung nasaan siya. That was way back college when they’re busy training for their upcoming competition.

“On my way, medyo natagalan lang kasi may sinundo ako.” Sagot ni Brent at isang nakakalokong ngiti ang nasa mukha niya habang nagd-drive siya. Napailing ako sa kanyang ginagawa pero hinayaan ‘ko siyang makipaglaro.

“Another girl, oh come on Paraiso!” kantyaw ni Ricci na nagpataas ng kilay ‘ko. What happened to Sherlyn?

“Don’t blame me coz you chose to support Marco, Ricci. Please don’t come too clean.” Bakas ang iritasyon sa boses ni Brent na tinawanan naman ni Ricci sa kabilang linya.

“Brent, you know I just don’t like Sherlyn anymore for you because she cheated on you. He chose Marco over you.” Paalala niya na mas lalong nagpataas ng kilay ‘ko. Nagsalita nga naman ang isang santo na walang nagawang kasalanan at kalandian sa talang buhay niya.

“Whatever bro, I have a guest tonight.”

“A date?” kantyaw ni Ricci at nakita ‘ko ang nakaka-intrigang ngiti ni Brent habang nakaharap siya sa daan.

“Yes, a very beautiful date.” Sagot ni Brent. “I’m driving. See you guys.” Sambit niya at ibinaba na ang tawag. Kahit na tapos na sila mag-usap ay pinaghalong pagkapilyo at pagkainis pa din ang kanyang ipinakita sa buong byahe. The deafening silence enveloped us like it’s abnormal for us to have that kind of aura.

“May I know what happened to you and Sherlyn, if you don’t mind me asking?” tanong na halos hindi ‘ko na nga ata gustong sagutin ni Brent dahil saksi naman ako noon sa kung paano niya mahalin si Sherlyn. Brent has always been a loving and a charming partner to Sherlyn. I never saw him flirted with other girls or even talked to them.

He heaved a sigh and faked a smile when he answered me. “We broke up because she cheated.” He confessed and I felt my heart fell because of what he said. “She chose Marco over me because Marco has more time for her than I do.” He said the last word almost a whisper and I know it’s not easy to act normal dahil ‘yon ang ginagawa ‘ko sa nakalipas na ilang taon na pakikisama ‘ko sa mga tao. Acting normal and pretending that you’re okay is one of the most painful thing to do. Because you just don’t tell people and show them that you’re okay, hence you try to portray and keep a straight face to everyone and keep the problems and burdens to yourself. And that’s much harder than being in pain and showing it to everyone. It’s much harder to be in a state of calmness even your whole system is on chaos.

Hindi na ako muling nagtanong pa dahil tulad niya ay gusto ‘ko ding repsetuhin ang desisyon niya at ang sarili niyang mga rason. I see myself in Brent… he’s a very charming, loving and a happy person. But deep inside him lays a very fragile and sensitive man waiting for someone to love him back and take every love he can offer. I guess love is really a fictional thing after all. You can’t get love in this world full of foolishness and hatred. You can only get and feel love by yourself. You can only feel and say that is love if you’re being a person who you want to be. Love is an understatement to define the things that makes you smile and make your heart flutter like it has been electrified. Love is just a word for non-believers and learners as well.

Ibinaling ‘ko sa ibang usapan ang buong byahe namin papunta sa Pasig kung saan naandoon ang bahay nina Ricci. Nakita ‘ko ang madalas naming dinadaanan na kalsada at panay ang turo ‘ko sa mga lugar na kadalasan ay pinupuntahan namin noon. Maiigi din pala na minsan ay balikan mo ang nakaraan, dahil doon mo lang maaalala na minsan sa buhay mo ay umayon sa’yo ang lahat at naging masaya ka. Na minsan sa buhay mo ay handa ka palang gumawa ng isang bagay na hindi man lang pinagiisipan; that you can do things without thinking about its repercussions.