And Then He Cheated

19

"Do you believe me now?"

Hindi ko siya pinansin at nagmamadaling lumabas ng room namin. Ilang beses akong tinawag nila Dianne pero ni isang lingon ay hindi ko ginawa. Alam ko ding hinahabol nila ako. Nakarating ako sa garden at hindi ko na napigilang bumuhos ang mga luhang kanina ko pa pilit na tinatago. I'm down on my knees while crying. Wala akong pakealam kung may ibang taong makakita saakin dito. I just want to cry until I'm tired. But I guess I won't get tired.

"Aviane!" hingal na hingal na dumating ang mga kaibigan ko. Tuluyan na akong nanghina at napasalampak nalang sa damuhan.

"Hey, what did that woman told you?"

"Come on, tell us. Ano'ng pinag usapan niyo? Bakit ka bigla nalang tumakbo?"

I looked at them and smiled faintly. I can still feel how my heart is aching, how the butterflies in my stomach slowly dying. How I'm out of breath. This day is just too much to handle! This is the worst.

"Alam niya din yung tungkol saamin ni Nathan, pero hindi yan ang problema at dahilan kung bakit ako ngayon nagkakaganito" I sobbed.

"Then what is it?" Dianne pushed.

"N-athan's cheating on me, I don't want to believe her but the evidence is serve in a silver platter. I saw a picture of him with a girl" nanatili silang walang imik at parang hindi din makapaniwala.

"A girl? Sino?" umiwas ako ng tingin kay Derrek.

"M-y sister.." saying those words tasted bitter to my mouth. How could she do this to me? Yun ba yung dahilan kung bakit ayaw niya ito para saakin? Is it because they're now together? Siya pala yung ex niyang hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa niya nakakalimutan?

"Ate Analia?!" halos sabay sabay silang tatlo. Tahimik akong tumango.

"Holy shit!"

"I can't believe this! Of all people, why her?" Dianne is hysteric, Derrek is speechless but looks very angry while Rosie is just silent.

"Ayokong maniwala," I whispered to myself. It's so hard to believe it, I trust them both. Alam kong ayaw din nila akong masaktan. But the picture says it all.

"Ano'ng plano mo?"

Yan ang kailangan kong pag isipan nang mabuti. If that photo doesn't make me believe then I will do something to prove it. Umuwi ako sa bahay at nagbihis. I waited for the right time and texted Nathan to meet me in my sister's café. When I received his reply, I immediately drove off.

Nagulat yung ibang staff nang makita ako pero wala ni isa akong pinansin. I walked towards her office, mindless about the people around staring. I didn't knock and entered without saying a word. I saw how her eyes widen when she saw me. I smiled bitterly.

"Hey, Ate" she blinked twice and forced a sly smile.

"Y-ou didn't tell me you're gonna be here" aniya.

"Surprise!" I chuckled.
"I just want to invite you to a dinner, with my boyfriend? You know, trying to conceal our issues" maarte kong saad.

"H-uh?, a-h oo sige.." pinigilan ko ang sarili kong umirap. No I won't conclude things just by looking at her reaction now. No.

"He's on it's way, sa labas lang ako Ate.. I'll wait you there"

Hindi ko na siya hinintay na makapagsalita, deretso akong lumabas ng opisina niya. Sinabihan ko yung isang waiter nila na kunin ang order ko. Umupo ako dun sa may malapit sa pintuan para makita ako kaagad ni Nathan. I waited for about a minute before the waiter finally went to me.