The Songs Of Us

Chapter 15

"What was that Dale?" si Ellyze na sinundan pala siya sa ladies room matapos makilala ang nobya ni Edward. She needed to leave for a moment kung ayaw niyang magmukhang kawawa dahil sa nagbabantang luha sa kanyang mga mata.

"What?" nag mamaang-maangang sabi niya na binigyan ito ng pilit na ngiti.

"It's nice to meet you? Seriously?" may inis sa tinig na pahayag nito. "That's your love rival, how can you be so nice to her?" patuloy nito na tinaasan siya ng kilay matapos humalukipkip sa may gilid niya habang siya ay nakaharap sa salamin mg ladies room.

"C'mon Lyze, what's between me and Ed was over a long time ago." she looked at her in the mirror. "He had moved on and have found new love. Sino ako para ipagkait sa kanya iyon? And besides, Sussen seems to be a nice lady. You don't expect me to be rude to her." she let out a small and disbelief laugh.

"Ay ewan ko sayo." napairap na sabi nito bago napatingin sa ceiling ng banyo. "10 years ago you didn't accept his love because you said it was for his own good. And now that there's still a chance for the both of you, ipapaubaya mo naman siya sa iba? My friend hindi na uso ang martir ngayon ha?" patuloy na litanya nito, hindi napansin ang pagyuko ni Dale at ang nagbabadyang luha sa mga mata nito.

"Look Lyze, I've left 10 years ago because of some selfish reasons." she said slmost whispering. "When I left, I know I've lost Edward already. I've said hurtful things towards him and even disregarded our friendship. I have no right to demand for his love 10 years after just because I'm back. He deserves better than that, better than me. " mahabang sabi niya. Amg pinipigil na luha mula pa kanina ay unti unti ng kumakawala, bahagya naring namaos ang boses niya.

Si Ellyze ay saglit na natigilan, at gustomg kastiguhin ang sarili sa pagiging insensitive. She reached for Dale's shoulder at humingi ng paumanhin

" I-i'm sorry Dale. I didn't mean to insinuate-"

" It's okay lyze, I know you're just concern about me." putol niya sa sasabihin nito bago pinunasan ang luha sa mga pisngi at binigyang ng matamis na ngiti ang kaibigan. "But, please. Let's just act like before. Iyong walangang ilangan, I don't want to ruin this night, please?" she begged.

Nakakaimtinding tumango naman si Ellyze bago siya niyakap.

"I understand." sabi nito.

"Thank you." she replied trying to calm herself from crying.

"Are you okay now? Let's go back?" concern still in Ellyze voice pero marahang tumango si Dale.

Tiningnan muna siya ni Ellyze bago napapabuntong hiningang binuksan amg pinto ng ladies room at inakay siya palabas.

Ng makabalik sila sa ukupadong mesa nila ay kapansin pansing si Macky lamang at si Kirsten ang maingay, nakikisali di  si Marco pero lahat na ay nakikinig lamang. Si sussen ay natatawa sa kakulitan ng tatlo pero nanatiling tahimik si Edward, Cora at Jinri.

"What took you so long?" si Cora na bakas ang pagaalala sa mukha. "Are you okay Dale?" tanong nito sa kanya na ikina bigla niya.

"O-of course I am." nauutal na sagot niya bago binigyan ng matipid na ngiti ang kaibigan. Napayuko siya ng mapadaan ang tingin kay edward na mataman pala siyang pinagmamasdan.

"Ewan ko ba diyan kay Cora, nakatanggap lang mg tawag ay naging paranoid na." si jinri matapos sumimsim ng wine sa wine glass.

"It was Conner." si Cora na nakatitig sa kanya ng matiim. She swallowed pakarinig sa pangalan ng kaibigan.

"W-what did he say?" she stammered.

"Can I talk to you alone?" instead, cora asked her seriously. Wala siyang nagawa kundi pumayag. Segurado siyang may sinabi dito si conner. Bakas ang pagtataka sa mga mata ng mga kaibigan ng tumayo sila ni Cora para lumipat sa pangdalawahang upuan may ilang dipa ang layo mula sa mesa nila. Si Edward ay napatiim bagang.

Ng marating nila ang upuan at makaupo ay agad na inabot ni Cora ang mga kamay niya.

"How do you feel? Do you have your medicines with you?" bakas ang matinding pagaalala sa tinig na tanong nito.

"He told you didn't he?" bakas ang panlulumo sa mga mata at boses ng dalaga.

"What? You intend to keep it a secret from us?" may hinanakit sa tinig na tanong ni cora. "Conner is just concern and very worried especially ng sinabi kong may dinalang babae si Edward. He had no choice but to tell me the truth." she explained.

"Cora, I don't want you to feel pity on me." malungkot na ngumiti si Dale.

"I don't pity you Dale. I'm mad at you for keeping this from us for 10 years!" namumuo na ang luha sa mga mata sa sabi ni Cora. "When do you plan on telling us this huh?" tanong nito sa pigil na pagiyak.

"Cora..." she tried to calm her.

"Tell me. What is your real condition? Conner wouldn't give me full detail. You tell me." she knew she's determined to know the truth.

Napayuko si Dale bago napabuntong hininga. She took a deep breath bago muling Tiningnan ang kaibigan at pinisil ang mga palad nito.

" Two years Cora... " she started." I only have two years left according to my doctors." she bravely said. A sad smile formed her beautiful lips.

Shoked. Iyon ang nakita niyang itsura ni Cora. She was unable to speak for a whole entire minute bago sunod sunod na pumatak amg mga luha nito napailing ng sunod sunod.

"No Dale! That's impossible, look at you. You're as healthy as a carabao! How could that be?" she said not believing her.

"Cora, please. Maliban sa mommy at daddy, kayo lang ni Conner ang nakakaalam nito. I don't want them to know this, especially Edward." may pakiusap sa tinig ni Dale. "Please, don't tell them."

"But you're being unfair Dale! They deserve to know, Edward deserves to know." sabi nito sa kontroladong tinig.

"Please Cora, I beg you."

Tinitigan lang siya ni Cora ng ilang sandali bago tumayo at inabot amg bag nito.

"You can lie to them for all you want Dale. I won't tell them also. But you cannot expect me to lie just like you. If they ask me, I'm not going to lie to them." malamig na sabi nito bago umalis at iniwan siya. Hindi narin ito nagpaalam sa mga kaibigan nila na ikinagulat ang biglaang pagalis nito.

Dale tried to stop herself from crying. She have to kung ayaw niyang malaman ng lahat ang totoong kondisyon niya.

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Please bare with this very short update.

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