A Close Second

Twenty Fifth

Rewritten. 

--

BEATRICE

I wasn't sure how I got roped into the mess that was Jacob and Andrew's fight.

"Ano ba kasing nangyari dun? Bigla bigla nalang nanununtok, ganoon?"

Tinignan ko si ang mukha ni Jake na nasa tabi ko. Medyo namumula na yung gilid ng labi nyang sinuntok ni Keith. Isang suntok lang yun and I could only imagine how strong it was to leave a mark.

"Hindi ko rin alam." Nico says at us.
"Ano bang ginawa ko sa gagong yun?" Naiinis na tanong ni Jake.

Meanwhile, si Ate Olive naman naglabas na ng maiinom namin na mga softdrinks.
Ipinatong niya ito sa table, giving me an ice bag. I thank her bago ako tumayo at inilapat ito sa pisngi ni Jacob.

"Wala naman akong ginawa na alam kong ikagaglit noon ah." Jacob continues to rant.

I looked meaningfully at Nico and Greg, who didn't say anything. Tinignan din ako ng dalawa, knowing fully well that Andrew wasn't just mad at him for Thea. Jacob continues to be oblivios, letting me put some ice on his face, running a hand sa buhok niya and then looking at his watch for a bit. He then takes out his phone, texting from who I saw was Nina, asking if Thea was back home safe and sound.

It had been at least thirty minutes since the whole debacle kanina and I'm still puzzled as to why Andrew had done that.

Alam kong nandito si Thea kanina, and I knew fully well why. Yun ay para linawin na ang lahat sa kanya. Tungkol sa akin at sa amin ni Jake.

"Siguro napuno na dahil sayo." Sabi ni Jake, making us all stop and look at him in surprise. "Akala niya siguro ginagago ko si Beatrice."

I sighed in relief internally. I thought he already knew.

"Pero pare, alam niyo naman na hindi talaga kami ni Beatrice hindi ba?"
Tinignan ko sila Nico. "P-pano mo naman nalaman?"
"Gago, edi matagal niyo n asana akong pinaulit sa paulit ulit kong kagaguhan." Jacob say, irritated. "Alam kong pinapamanmanan moa ko, Gregoryo.. Pakisabihan naman yung PI mong magtraining pa. Pag si Thea ang nakakita sa kanya, hindi ko alam kung anong ospital yun aabutin."

Natameme ako sa sinabi niya. Nico and Greg though, were sharing identical smirks. Hindi ko ba alam ang takbo ng utak ng mga ito.

"Teka teka. Alam mo all this time?" tanong ko sa kanya.
Hinilot lang ni Jake ang sentido niya. "Malamang."
"Kahit yung—"

Nagring yung phone niya, and he answers it for a second, leaving me to look at Nico and Greg, who shrugged. This time, naglabas ng bill si Greg mula sa wallet niya, handing it to the smirking Nico.

Walang hiya, nagpustahan nanaman pala itong dalawang ito.

"Kailangan kong umuwi. Si Mama may pinapagawa sa akin."Sabi ni Jake, going back at us. "And aayusin ko na rin once and for all itong gulo kay Thea. Ikaw ba, may problema pa ba kayo ni Andrew sa sitwasyon natin?"
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko."Uh..."
"Who am I kidding."

He sighs, eyes on his phone. Nakatingin lang ako sa kanya, not knowing what to say. Kahit sila Nico at Greg, nasa kaibigan din ang tingin. Did he know about Keith and I?

"If you also encounter problems with your guy, let me know. Ako ang haharap sa kanya. I'll meet him to clear everything. " He says, pocketing his phone, obviously distracted. "I'll go ahead. Pare, kayo nang bahala kay Beatrice."

Napabuntong hininga ako sa mga sinabi niya. He doesn't seem to notice this though saka naman umalis na rin. Iniwan ako sa mga kaibigan niya. That was a close call.