This is Love

Chapter XI: The Set-Up

I decided to put away Xander's information, first. There's a lot of things more important than Xander. I have to prioritize.

And Xander is not a priority.

It's been weeks since that day. And you know what? Ismael and I are fighting over Paula. And it's been weeks na hindi kami nagkikita. Hindi sya naniniwala na nilalandi sya nung tao. Siguro nga maaga pa para magjudge ako ng tao. I'm just scared that I might lose him. Nung huling away namin over the phone hindi pa natapos kasi binabaan nya ako dahil busy daw sila ng groupmates nya. Habang nakakasama nya yung Paula na yun, hindi ako makakampante. Ang ahas palihim kung umatake. Aba! Malay ko ba kung anu- ano na ang sinasabi nya kay Ismael.

"I've found something." Biglang umupo si Grace sa tapat ko. Nasa library kami, dala dala nya yung tablet nya. "And when I said 'something' its really something."

"Just say it, Grace. Ano ba yang nakita mo?" Tanong ni Jenny.

"She is Paula Cipriano. 17 years old. Birthdate, January 23. Ayon sa mga nakita ko, may-ari ng shipping company ang pamilya nila tsaka railways company. Nagkaroon na sya ng 12 ex's, two of them seryoso and the rest good time lang. Sa recent tweets nya, napansin ko na meron sya nagugustuhang lalaki kaso may girlfriend na. Tumpak! Si Ismael yun at ang girlfriend ay ikaw, diba?" Grace wiggled her eyebrows. I looked at Jenny.

"What do we do now?" She asked.

"Nothing." That's what I said. Nothing. Because I don't freaking know what to do also.

"Anong ibig mong sabihin by 'nothing'?" Sabi ni Grace na mas malakas pa sa natural nyang boses. We have to silent her down. "Hahayaan mo lang ba na matuklaw si Ismael ng ahas? Hannah naman! Boyfriend mo yun. Hindi mo ba sya mahal?"

"Syempre mahal ko yun, kaya ko nga boyfriend kasi mahal namin ang isa't isa. " I put emphasis in what I said. Dahil mahal nga namin ang isa't isa, alam kong hindi sya magpapatuklaw. I gathered my things and stood up.

"Saan ka pupunta?" Sabay na tanong ni Jenny at Grace. Bigla namang nagvibrate ang phone ko. An unknown number was calling me. Mabilis akong lumabas ng library, sinundan naman ako nung dalawa. Pagkalabas namin, pinakita ko sa kanila yung natawag sakin.

"Not familiar." Sabi ni Jenny. Umiling din si Grace. I gulped and swipe the green button.

"H-Hello?" I said. I can't hear nothing from the other line. "Hello?" Napatingin ako kila Jenny at sinenyasan sila na walang sumasagot.

"Si Hannah Torres ba'to?" A guy's voice asked. Medyo makulot yung boses.

"Speaking. Sino po sila?" Tanong ko ulit.

"Elise.." And now a deeper and familiar voice said. "Ako 'to."

"James?" Nanlaki parehas ang mga mata namin ni Jenny. Si Grace halatang confused.

"Yeah. That's me." Sabi ni James na balik sa nauna nyang boses. Napatingin ako kay Jenny. I was so shocked that I'm speechless.

James Orlando.

Hinding hindi ko makakalimutan ang pangalan na yun. Kahit na siguro tumanda ako, never kong makakalimutan ang pangalan na James Orlando. Sya lang naman ang naging boyfriend ko bago si Ismael. Actually, may past din naman kami. Niligawan na nya ako nung 2nd year HS tapos malaman-laman ko nakatuluyan nya yung friend kong si Joyce na naging bridge naming dalawa. Diba nasabi ko na binago ako ni Jenny? Simula nun, 3rd year HS, binalikan ako ni James. Hindi naman daw naging sila ni Joyce. Edi I gave him second chance. I gave 'us' a second chance. And then, when everything's felt like magical. I found out that he's a gay. A GAY! Gosh. He used me as cover up to his 'gay'ness hole. God, I fell for that. After nung accident ko (nang dahil sa kanya) bumalik ako sa school at nadatnan syang naglantad na. I never talked to him since then. He transfered school after that school year and I never saw him again.