The Ruthless Game

Chapter 23

Chapter 23: "All at once. You broke my heart, all at once."

GP pulled the guys to the dance floor to dance. Nakakatuwa silang panoorin habang nakapabilog sila at sumasayaw. Some of them could dance, and some couldn't so they were just doing some funny steps. Nakadungaw kami ni Addie sa kanila dito sa second floor.

"They are crazy!" tumatawang sabi niya.

"Yeah," malamyang balik ko.

"Look at your boyfriend, he's the only one who could really dance well."

Tumaas lang ang sulok ng labi ko. She had been trying to strike a conversation with me but all I gave her were short, dry responses. I couldn't force myself to converse with her like we were friends because we're far from that.

She cleared her throat. "Uhm, Sandy, can we talk?"

Sinulyapan ko siya. "About what?" 

She suddenly looked hesitant. "Well.." She took a deep breath. "I would like to apologize for what happened last time. Hindi ko rin ginusto na mahuli si Dy sa pagsundo sa'yo. He was just being nice that's why he took me to the hospital, and partly because he felt responsible for what happened to me. I'm really sorry."

While I was looking at her face, I just wanted to curse her for being nice and sincere. It would've been a lot easier for me to hate her, if she had treated me bad. 

"Dylan loves you a lot. Lagi niyang sinasabi iyon. Ikaw nga yung lagi niyang bukang bibig kapag nagku-kwentuhan kami."

"You two seem pretty close."

Ngumiti siya ng may tunog. "Tropa kami non." Bigla siyang bumungisngis. "Sorry for the kanto word. Iba iba kasi yung mga kaibigan ko kaya kung marami rin akong napi-pick up na words. May gay lingo, kanto words, at kung ano-ano pa! One time, gumamit ako ng jeje word nung ka-text ko si Dylan, nandiri siya eh!"

 I wanted to yell and tell her to stop. Mas ginugulo lang niya ang utak at nararamdaman ko. She was making me want to hate her more for being this nice. Dahil mas ipinapakita niya sa akin ang mga katangian niya na maaaring magustuhan ni Dylan sa kanya.  

"How did you two become close?"

"Ah.. Hindi naging madali kasi suplado yang jowa mo eh! Pili lang yung mga kinakausap pero nagkakausap na din kami pero naging close lang kami talaga nung natalo sila sa quarter finals. 1-2 na yung standing non eh. Isa na lang matatalo na sila so he was quite devastated. He was actually trying to call you at that time, pero busy ka yata non kaya hindi na niya sinabi sayo na natalo sila."

Natigilan ako sa narinig. He was trying to call me because he needed me but I wasn't there for him because I was busy with my presentation. Hindi rin niya sinabi sa akin ang tungkol sa pagkatalo nila. Nalaman ko lang kina Patty. When I asked him about it, he acted fine. At nakapasok din sila sa semis kaya hindi ko na rin ginawang big deal. 

"Ayun, kinulit ko na lang siya tapos pinakain ng street food. Nagustuhan naman niya. Dun na kami naging close." Hindi ako kumibo. She cleared her throat. "Sana okay lang sayo yung friendship namin. Parang magkapatid yung turingan namin. Pareho kasi kaming only child."

I suddenly felt suffocated. "E-excuse me!"

Nagmamadali akong bumaba at lumabas ng bar. I had to inhale and exhale a few times before I could breathe normally. Nagsisikip ang dibdib ko sa sakit habang pinapakinggan ko siyang nagkukwento ng tungkol kay Dylan. Tumingala ako para pigilan ang pagbagsak ng mga luha ko.

Natigilan ako ng may biglang tumayo sa tabi ko. I had to look up because he was quite tall like Dylan. He was very handsome. He had this serious and intimidating aura but I could also feel that he was a nice guy.