A Six-Word Story II

Chapter 13

Chapter 13: "She thought of their lost love, and was hurt all over again, stabbed by the knives of memories. But while she was remembering the taste of his lips, he was memorizing someone else's." 

                                  -excerpts of a book I'll never write. (A little bit edited)

While I was relaying to Maki what had transpired between Phem and I, he just stared at me, and took in the details quietly. I raised my brows when he just remained doing so after I was done. I found it a tad weird because he was always quick to put into words his thoughts. That's why he was the first person I shared it with. Nag-video call agad ako sa kanya.

"So? Any comments?" Again, he didn't say anything and kept on staring at me. "Maki!" untag ko sa kanya.

He sighed and folded his arms. (I'm just wondering.)

I raised my brow. "Wondering about?"

(I'm just wondering what you'd do if Phem was indeed telling the truth.)

Hindi ako nakahuma agad. Pero ng makabawi ay nagpakawala ako ng maikling tawa. "Of course it's not true. Jeck has moved on. He's happy with her. He's no longer in love with me!"

(What if it were true? What would you do?) 

I just let out another ridiculous laugh. "It's not."

(Let's say, hypothetically, it's true. Ano ng gagawin mo?"

I shook my head. "Hindi pwede na maging totoo iyon. Masaya na siya. I saw it with my own two eyes. For pete's sake! He's even thinking of settling down with her!" sabi ko na ikinumpas pa ang mga kamay. 

(That's not what I asked, Xie-xie. Anong gagawin mo kung totoo nga na may feelings pa si Jeck sa'yo?)

Napalunok ako. What would I do if were true? "I don't know," I muttered after a while. 

Maki just sighed. 

I kept stealing glances at them. It still freaking hurt to see them together. But I just had to look at them and see if what Phem told me was true. I just had to know if he were still in love me. It was for my piece of mind, I guess?

Pero kung para doon lang, bakit ang bigat ng loob ko habang napapatunayan ko na mali si Phem sa hinala niya? Nakikita ko ang ibang ngiti na ibinibigay niya kay Phem. He was also all eyes on her. 

"Lucky bitch," I muttered.

"Is she?"

Gulantang na napatingin ako sa likod. My lips parted when I saw DJ's fiancee. She gave me a small smile and glanced at the people I had been staring at. I cleared my throat and looked away.

I breathed out. "Forget I said that," I said than walked away. 

Nag-island hopping kaming lahat. Habang nasa bangkang de motor ay tatlong tao na ang hindi ko matingnan. Nakakailang ang klase ng tingin na ibinibigay sa akin ng fiancee ni DJ. It was like she could see through me and I hated it. 

"Hey, what's with you?" J asked.

I shook my head and gave him a small smile. Pagdating sa isang isla ay nagkatuwaan na magkatuwaan muna sa dagat. I took off my cover. Naka-two piece swimsuit na lang ako tulad ng iba. 

"Let's all jump!" hiyaw ni Vash. "You jump, I jump!"

"Gago!"

Natawa na lang kami ng bigla niyang niyakap si DJ at isinabay sa pagtalon niya sa tubig. Hinawakan ni J ang kamay ko at nakangiting sabay kaming tumalon. Si Tamara ay takot na nakayakap sa asawa niya. Hindi nga pala siya marunong mag-swimming.