Within Seven Days

WSD [34] - Zambales

Chapter 34

Fatima’s POV

Bumalik na sila Ivy galing sa labas. Oh my, why do I feel a big tension? Pagkarating kasi nila, dumiretso sa kwarto si Ivy. We looked at Jhonel and he just shrugged.

Only pounder and I know the real story. You know, yung past nila. Since I was the first one to become Ivy’s friend, I witnessed everything. Yung closeness nila before, yung trato nila sa isa’t isa, the way they look at each other . . . iba talaga. But now, wala na. Things really do change.

Tumingin ako kay Jhonel, I know he’s also miserable. I can’t blame him for two timing Ivy, though. Well it’s not really ‘two-timing’ since they weren’t together that time. They just made that stupid promise. Umasa tuloy si Ivy.

I’m still civil with Jhonel, though. Parang patay malisya lang. The fact na ayaw ni Ivy ipaalam na may nakakaalam sa nangyari, so I just went with the flow. Ayoko naman ipamuka kay Jhonel na ang sama-sama niya kasi pinaasa niya bestfriend ko pero totoo namang masama siya. Paasa kasi siya.

I excused myself and went in our room. Pagkapasok ko, yung wall clock agad nakita ko. 11:30 pm, it says. 11 o’clock na pero nandito pa rin yung Niggas. Haay.

“Pal,” I began. “Ok ka lang?”

I saw Ivy on her bed, nakadapa siya so I can’t see her face. She looks dead, honestly. Hindi kasi siya nagalaw. I sat beside her then consoled her. I feel sorry for her, sa totoo lang. Mahirap ipakita sa harap ng marami na ayos ka lang when you’re not really ok.

“Just cry it all out,” I said. “You’ll be fine.”

Then, she sat and faced me. Darn, her eyes are swollen! Sobrang obvious na umiyak siya!

“You look horrible,” I commented.

“Wow, thanks. What a good friend,” she said while rolling her eyes.

I laughed a bit, “Just tryin’ to make the ambiance lighter.”

I looked at her with a hint of concern. “Alam mo if you can’t handle his presence, I’ll make an excuse to your mom naman, eh. Or better yet, I could come with you.”

She slightly smiled, “Timang ka talaga. Pano studies mo? Pano si Palicpic? I don’t want to pull you into my own problem. I could manage, really.”

“Own? What’s yours is mine, too, pal,” I said. “Kahit problem pa yan.”

She hugged me.

--

I woke up in a bewilder. Today’s what? Ivy’s departure? I don’t want to think about it pero hindi maiiwasan.

Jhonel said they have to leave early because that’s what Tita ordered. Napagbigyan na daw sila once, and hindi na sila pwede pa mag-extend. We understood it naman.

I was half-awake when I went downstairs. Lahat na sila nasa may living room, ako nalang pala hinihintay. Niyakap ko kagad si Ivy when I spotted her. I became emotional after. She’s my closest sa 1week tapos . . . aalis siya?

“Just update me through facebook,” she whispered.

“Bibisita kami,” I assured her.

“I know.”

We broke the hug, tapos she took her baggage, then they left.

We fell silent afterwards. I couldn’t seem to digest that just because of ditching her class could be a big mistake. Once lang naman yun, diba? And I can’t call it terrible since it doesn’t look like that to me. Siguro ganun talaga kapag parents, sobra kung mag-react.