Hazel's Sweet Revenge

Kabanata 25

*** Sabrina's ***

'Cause Memories Tend to Hurt

"So... are you going to quit your job?" Celine asked me while we were having our lunches.

I told them about Hazel's outrage in the office earlier. Sinabi ko sa kanila na I was at fault. I should never speak that way to the person in charge. Hindi naman ako ganoon makipag-usap kay Miss Naomi.

Pero sabi sa'kin ni Celine, I have every right to complain. Now she's slightly pressuring me about whether I should quit my job or not.

Kaya ko lang naman nasabi 'yon dahil sa frustrations ko. When I saw her with Gavin, I was beyond surprised. Hindi ko talaga maintindihan sa una hanggang sa unti-unti kong inalala ang nangyari noon kung bakit kami naghiwalay.

Gavin became our bridge. He would feed me information about Hazel. He told me nothing but things that made me worry more.

Ngayon ay napapatanong ako, ano kaya doon ang totoo at ano ang hindi?

"Hindi ka naman affected, diba?" Sumulyap sa'kin si Ed. "Pero bruha ka hindi mo man lang sinabi sa amin na ang nililigawan pala ni Gavin ay 'yong bestfriend mo!" Ginisa naman nito si Celine.

"At first, I didn't know who she was," Celine explained. "Sorry, Sab, but I have to say this."

"It's okay." I said so that she could go on.

"Bago pa kasi kayo mag-break, I noticed he constantly sent Hazel messages, minsan pa nga ay nagvi-video call ang dalawa. It was fine 'cause they're friends, diba? It's normal. Pero one time sinilip ko kung ano ang pinag-uusapan ng dalawa, hanggang sa nakita ko ang pictures na ni-sent ni Gavin about Sab joining the protest."

"So it was him?" Diin ni Ed sa seryosong boses. Nakinig lang ako na tila pino-proseso pa ng utak ang lahat ng nalalaman.

"Siya nga, sino pa ba? Some of his friends had joined the protest as well, kaya may alam siya. Habang tayo dito walang kaalam-alam. We didn't even know what happened to Sab hanggang sa nabasa nalang natin sa dyaryo, diba? She would never tell us. Hihintayin pa siguro nitong makita nalang natin sa obituary ang name niya bago pa natin malaman." Celine gave me a venomous stare.

"I really have no plans to tell you." I reasoned out.

"Well, guess what my friend? This jerk told your girlfriend. Masasabi mo pa kaya 'yan sa amin even if your secret was no longer truly a secret?" Bwelta rin ni Ed.

"Not only that, I truly believe that Gavin even had the audacity to create lies para mag-break kayo." Celine added a bit furiously.

After what Celine just said, naalala ko ang pinakita ni Gavin na mensahe na galing daw kay Hazel. It was too stupid of me to believe that, but I couldn't also blame myself because my mind wasn't capable of being rational after all the misery I'd been through.