A Setback Beauty

Kabanata 26: REAL TALK

Real Talk.
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AWTOMATIKONG tumaas ang kilay nang bumungad sa'kin ang bihis na bihis na si Aina nang pagbuksan ko siya ng pinto sa sala.

"Good morning, CC," alanganing ngiti niya. She may be thinking na hindi ako natutuwa na ganito kaaga siya nanggulo sa'kin.

I sighed violently. "It's just 6:00 o'clock in the morning, Ains. What brings you here?"

She grinned. "Wala lang na-miss lang naman kita."

Blangko ko lang siyang tiningnan. I'm still groggy dahil kagigising ko lang. Although I was able to wash myself before going down, the thought of sleeping again is enticing me to return to my bed.

Mas lalong ngumisi siya sa'kin. "Mukhang puyat na puyat ka, ha? Hmm...ano kayang ginawa mo kagabi?" 

I frowned. "What are you saying?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Papasukin mo muna kaya ako? Ang lamig kasi rito sa labas."

Nilakihan ko ang pagkakabukas ng pinto at gumilid para bigyan siya ng daan. Mabilis naman na pumasok si Aina.

Sinundan ko siya ng tingin nang dumiretso sa couch at prenteng umupo roon. Sinara ko na ang pinto saka ako naglakad palapit sa kanya.

"How was your vacation at Boracay after reuniting with Jake?" I started asking as I sat beside her.

Hindi kami nagkita o nagkausap ng ilang araw dahil hindi nga nasa bakasyon rin siya kaya hindi ko na mapigilang nagtanong. Kahit papano ay na-miss ko rin siya. 

"It's great. Masaya."

"You sure? But you sounded like you weren't." Kunot-noong tingin ko sa kanya.

She laughed. "Masaya ako, okay? Mahal na mahal ko kaya si Jake, so paanong hindi?"

"Alright, as you said." I just agreed.

"Since nagtanong ka tungkol sa'min ni Jake, pwede bang ako naman ang magtanong sa'yo?"

My brows furrowed again. "Anong itatanong mo?"

Malawak siyang ngumisi. I have a bad feeling about it.

"Well...I just returned yesterday nang makasagap ako ng tsismis..."

My eyes rolled automatically. "My gosh, Ains! Ang aga-aga...tsismis!"

"And guess who? It's all about you..."

Lumalim ang pagkakakunot ng noo ko. "What is it about me?"

"I heard na ilang araw na nilang nakikita ang lalaking ito na madalas pa ring pasulpot-sulpot sa resort. And as of yesterday, he gave you flowers with a note..."

"H-How d-did you know that? W-Who told you?" I rattled.

"Basta..." To stare at me amusingly, Aina is putting me in an embarrassing situation.

"Care to tell me what's going on between you and that man? If you ever forgot, I'm your bestfriend, Calleiah Clarity."

Napahilamos na lang ako sa mukha ko. I was right after thinking that Ains would not come to see me for no reason.

"CC..." aniya na parang naiinip sa kahihintay na magsalita ako.

Hindi inalis ni Aina ang nang-iintrigang tingin niya sa'kin hanggang sa bumagsak na lang ang balikat ko habang nagbubuntong-hininga.

She's leaving me no choice but to tell her everything. We've been together for a decade, and once she shows me those attitudes, it means... I need to tell her everything...