Moonlight Serenade (Complete)

Chapter 33

Ang pangalan ng babaeng nakatitig sa kaniya ay Tiara Reina Selestales. Isang anak ng Kapitan ng Dayhagon. Maganda. At naging kaibigan niya... dati. Pero ngayon, nakatingin ito sa kaniya na para bang wala silang pinagsamahan. Ang mas masaklap, nakatayo sa gilid nito si Sheena, na nakangisi sa kaniya.

"Tiara, can we talk?" aniya.

Umiling-iling si Sheena. "Mangubat, she's not Tiara anymore. She's Reina. Don't you know that?"

"I'm not talking to you," pabalang niyang saad kay Sheena. Sumeryoso siya at tumitig kay Tiara. "I know what you've done two years ago. That's why I'm here."

"Hazel texted me. I know you already cut your ties with her. That's good," sabi ni Tiara.

Pagak siyang natawa. "I know it do good to you. You're first to cut ties, wasn't you? Or was it Gabbi?"

Umirap si Tiara. "Why do you care? Just keep your distance away from me and we're good, Jewel Laine Mangubat."

"I will keep my distance, if we can talk right now."

Nangunot ang noo ni Tiara at nagbaba ng tingin sa relo. "Fine. I have my vacant now."

"Reina!" saway ni Sheena.

Patay-malisyang bumaling si Tiara kay Sheena. "Mae, I'll do it fast. You should go, may exam ka pa ngayon."

Pinandilatan siya ni Sheena bago inis na nagmartsa paalis ng Domesticated Forest. Inalis niya ang hibla ng buhok na tumabing sa mukha niya at inipit sa tainga. Binitawan niya ang walis at naupo sa isang malapad na bato sa lilim ng isang puno.

"Why did you do that?" tanong niya.

Humalukipkip si Tiara. "That?"

"Simoen made a portrait of me. He planned to give it in our first monthsary. So, why have you stole it?"

Ilang segundong natigilan si Tiara bago nag-iwas ng tingin. "I don't know what you're saying."

"Will you stop lying? I know now the truth. Tang told me."

"Tang?" Natawa si Tiara. "And who's that? Come on, you're making stories, aren't you?"

"Am not!" Huminga siya nang malalim. Ano nga ang tunay na pangalan ni Tang? Naging isang linya ang mga labi niya. Hindi niya alam.

Umikhim nalang siya. "You'd stole it. And tomorrow that night, you came back to your house in Dayhagon with the portrait. Your father threw a party and you put it outside while you're having fun inside your house. Later, a man approached you to ask for the portrait. And you gave it to him. That is the truth right, Reina?"

Napaatras si Tiara. "H-How did you... it doesn't matter." Lumunok ito. "The portrait is gone. And that man is gone now." Humalakhak ito. "You can't accuse me of something without an evidence, Jewel Laine."

Nagkibit-balikat siya at dinukot ang cellphone sa bulsa ng pencil cut skirt niya. "The thing is... I'm so sorry, Reina. I've got an evidence for you."

Pinakita niya ang selfie niya habang nasa likuran si Tang at ang malaking portrait. Malawak ang ngisi niya sa picture at halatang masaya, kabaliktaran sa mukha ni Tiara na kaunting kalabit lang ay iiyak na.

"No! That's edited!" sigaw nito.

"I haven't seen the portrait so why would I bother myself making edited photos if I don't know what it looks like? And how do I know that there was a portrait for me if this picture is not true?"

Walang masagot si Tiara. Natawa siya.

"Alam mo ba kung anong nilabag mo sa rules and regulation ng UDM?" Kumurap-kurap pa siya at tumango-tango. "You're right, Reina. You have stole a good and marvelous portrait from the nephew of the campus director. A two weeks suspension plus a good community service from the Discipline Committee. And we don't know kung may ipapadagdag si Mr. Saavedra sa punishment mo, knowing that malakas kaya siya sa office, right?"