KIANNA's POV
"So, how are you and Jho?" I ask Bea while she's driving. Nilingon niya ako saglit at hindi man lang sumagot "Should I just ask her?"
"Subukan mo."
Natawa ako sa sagot niya. Ibang-iba na talaga siya ngayon.
"You know, mas madalas ka na magtagalog ngayon."
"That's because we're in the Philippines, K." she said in a as-a-matter-of-fact tone. Lalo tuloy akong natawa.
"But I'm seriously asking you, kasi. How are you, two?"
"Good" she glance at me before continuing "Friends."
"ooh.. still in getting to know each other stage? Hina mo naman."
"Hindi ka talaga titigil ano?"
"Not until you tell me everything."
"What do you wanna know?" She ask sounding so annoyed.
"Everything. You know B, I have eyes. Halata naman na there's something going on beetween you and her."
She let out a sigh, that got me more curious. She glance at me as we stop at the red light.
"Actually.." She stop and let out another sigh "I do have something to tell you."
"What is it?" I quickly asked
"Last time I was with Jho, remember we had breakfast?"
"That day you cooked for her? Of course, feeling jowa ka that time eh." I laugh and she just rolled her eyes and continued.
"Her lola told me something. She said that Jhoana used to have a friend who writes letter to her."
"OH MY GOD!" napasigaw ako at nahampas ko pa siya sa braso kaya napasigaw din siya. "Siya nga si J? Bakit ngayon mo lang sinasabi sakin 'to?!"
"Because she's not, J."
Napahinto ako sa pagpapanic at agad na tumingin kay Bea.
Hindi na siya nakatingin sakin dahil nagda-drive na siya, pero ramdam kong bigla siyang nalungkot.
"What do you mean, Bei? Paano mo nalaman na hindi siya?"
"Because of this." Inabot niya sakin ang phone niya kaya nagtaka ako "Look at my recent messages."
I followed what I was told and napatakip nalang ako ng bibig ko.
"Oh my... she texted you. Pero baka naman si Jhoana yan, ibang number lang?" I tried to cheer her up pero umiling siya.
"I was with her when I received that. I was looking right into her eyes, ready to ask the question and then.." she sighed "And then.. that happened."
"Bea.." I held her arm.
"It's okay. I'm okay. Don't worry about me, K. Huwag kang maawa." tumawa siya pero halata namang pinipilit niya lang.
"Hindi naman ako naaawa sayo." we stopped at another red light and she quickly faced me. I smiled and reach for her hand. "I'm happy for you, Bei. You're finally happy.."
"What?"
"You like her. You can't deny it. You like Jho so much that you want her to be J. And it makes you sad that she's not."
Bea did not answer and she really doesn't need to. Kasi kahit anong sabihin niya, her eyes tells me the real thing.
****
