Taken For Granted

CHAPTER 10: Facing Reality

AND so I'm back! Gotta go finish my homeworks. Nasimulan ko naman na yun. I arrived still having enough time to be done. Besides, hapon pa naman ang class ko bukas. Noontime, actually.

As I finished doing assignments... I think of what I'd do if I see them. If I see Nina. Para kasing hindi ko kayang maglihim sa kanya. She is one of my best friends after all. But I shouldn't be talking to her now about it. I guess I better tell Joanne first. Makahingi lang ng payo, kumbaga.

I called Joanne and asked her to come over if she isn't busy. 

She lives just accross our house. Kaya mabilis lang siyang nakarating.

When she came inside,

"Sis. Hiiiii! Thank you for coming over."

"No problemooo!!! Bakit pala, you said may sasabihin ka? About what? Or should I say, about who?" - Joanne

"Whaaaat?! (Pansin nyo ba, fave expression ko yun. HAHA) Who ka jan."

"Nako ha Ms.Lauchengco. As if I don't know you! Adrian, tama ba?"

"Where the fish did that come from?"

"Come on. Umayos ka nga! I know, of course. Kahit di mo sabihin. I am your best friend nga diba! But I don't know everything. Go on, tell me. "

"Well, yeah that about. You're right. It is actually about Adrian and Nina. Uhm. I guess, Nina told you? I mean, alam niya ba? Kasi nga, I dunno what to do. Teka, alam mo ba?"

"Ano ba? Ang gulo mo. Can you just say it straight ahead? Tsaka, one at a time, okay? So, anong alam ko?"

"Ewan ko sayo magulo ka. Sabi mo alam mo tas ako tatanungin mo kung ano yung alam mo. Haaaayst! Ano?"

"Yung kay Adrian ba? Kasi nga, wala. Assuming lang ako. Nag-conclude lang. Kasi sabi ni Nina, nagbago si Adrian sa kanya. Para daw kasing may iba yung baby niya. Yun nga. Feeling niya daw is, cold sa kanya si Ian."

"So, she told you na she feels I am the  'other girl'?"

"Hindi naman! Bakit, tama ba ang hinala ko? Ako lang nga nag-isip na it has something to do with you. And I guess I am right. Oh my... I am so awesome talaga! HAHAHA"

"Hay nako Joanne Ysabelle."

"[mimicking me] Hay nako Samantha Denisse!"

" Stop it! Ginagaya mo naman ako eh. -_-"

"Stop it! [laughs] Seriously, friend, totoo ba? Am I right?"

"I guess? Maybe? Kinda? Ewaaaaan! Parang gsnon kasi o baka assuming lang din ako at namana ko yun sa'yo?"

"[acts like she's thinking] Aaaaah. Cow nga. Pwede eh"

"COOOOW?! Ano? You said, ako? Anong ako?"

"Bingi lang Sam? O pagong? Bagal mag loading ng brain cells? Friend naman!"

"Isa pang ganyan mo sasakalin kita! Ano bang sinabi mo?"

"Kainis! Nasira punchline ko dahil sa mala-traffic sa EDSA na galaw niyang utak mo [in a kidding tone]! Sabi ko, COW nga. As in C-O-W!!! Ayan ah I spelled it out para gets na gets mo. Hay nako -_-"

"[answered after a minute] Uhm. Bakit COW?"

"SAMANTHAAAAAAAA?!!!!!"

"Naaaaah. I'm just messing with you. [laughs annoyingly] I got it. COW as in BAKA. You meant to say, BAKA nga. Hahahaha. You're such a witty friend!"

"Hehe. [sarcastically] Anyway, seriously speaking, I see and feel naman that Ian is different with you now. Duh! I am your bestest friend among the bestfriends! Alam ko kung may nagbabago sa kilos mo, sa ngiti mo pag kasama mo siya. Kaya lang, friend, alam mo naman siguro na boyfriend siya ng kaibigan natin...ni Nina...isa sa mga BEST FRIENDS mo, ko. I know you are matured enough to know the consequences kung sakali man na iba na din ang nararamdaman mo. Talk to Ian. Tell him to talk to Nina. Pag okay na sila, I mean, nakapagusap na, you go and talk to Nina too. Tsaka mo ayusin lahat with Adrian. Para wala kayong maaapakan, para malinis, maayos lahat. Higit sa lahat, magpasintabi kayo kay Nina kung ano na talaga. Okay ba yun, ha?"

So I guess I asked the right person.

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It's a Monday. The day to face reality whether I like it or not. Hindi ko naman maiiwasan si Ian. Kaklase ko siya eh

Nung makaakyat na ako sa 5th floor, I went straight to find my room...West Wing Room 18. Habang naglalakad ako, not that far away na lang from the room, I saw Ian. He smiled at me. Syempre ngumiti din ako. I'll play unaffected. Because I don't know what else I can do now. Awkward, yes.

Upon going in and taking a seat, he approached me and said...

"Hey. You walked out on me. I'm sorry if nabigla ka sa sinabi ko. I didn't mean to make you mad or what. Can we talk? If not now, maybe some other time?" - Adrian

"Maybe next time. [smiles and put the earphones in]"

Adrian then take his proper seat.

I think he understands. It was a tough blow for me. Since it is the first time it happened  and the first time I thought about it...about a relationship.