Mizpah: Jillian

Chapter 19

I decided to go to the salon today for a manicure and pedicure because I noticed that my nail color was fading. I checked my phone before I went out and saw Chad's message.

From Chad:
Bukas na ang balik ko sa Riyadh. May despedida party mamayang gabi sa bahay. I'm expecting you to come, Jill :)

I replied him.

To Chad:
Hi Chad! Sure, I'll be there.

Ang bilis ng panahon. It was like yesterday I met Chad and he will be leaving tomorrow. Hindi ko rin namalayan na it's been three weeks since I've been here, running away from home.

But what if I hindi ako pumunta dito sa La Union? Would things be different? Ano kaya ang mangyayari sa akin? Hindi ko ba makikilala si Vaughn?

Hindi ko pa gustong umuwi sa bahay. Gusto ko muna dito.

Nakababa na ako sa jeep. I opened my phone and checked the map application since I don't know all the locations here.

After I walked for a minute, nakita ko na 'yung salon at pumasok sa loob. A female attendant welcomed me.

"Good Morning, Ma'am! Anong service po ang gusto niyo?" She smiled.

"Mani and Pedi," I answered.

"Dito po, Ma'am."

The lady escorted me towards the area only for manicure and pedicure. A familiar woman caught my attention. It's Marigold. She's having her nails done.

Our eyes met. She stared at me for a second before she flashed a smile. Biglang nag-init ang dugo ko nang nakita siya. I still remember what I saw last night when I stalked her account. The picture of her and Vaughn.

"Jillian! Tabi tayo," she pointed the chair beside her using her lips.

I faked a smile and went to the chair beside her. May lumapit kaagad na babae sa akin.

"Ma'am, ano pong style ang gusto niyo?" She asked.

"Nude shellac for both," I answered.

"Okay po, Ma'am."

The woman started to do my nails at nagtawag pa siya ng isang kasamahan para gawin ang pedicure ko. Binalingan ko ng tingin si Marigold nang bigla siyang nagsalita.

"Babalik na si Chad bukas sa Riyadh," she said.

"Yeah. He texted me a while ago."

"Nakakalungkot nga dahil... Excuse me."

Naputol ang sinabi ni Marigold dahil may tumawag sa cellphone niya.

"Hello, Vaughn!"

She looked at me. She smirked as the cellphone rested on her ears. My chest tightened. What's that smirk for?

"Oo. Nasa salon ako. Malapit na akong matapos. Sunduin mo ako dito. Samahan mo akong mamili ng damit para mamaya sa despedida. Ano ka ba. Wala na kasi akong masuot. Sige, hihintayin kita dito. Please be careful sa pagda-drive. Bye."

She hung up and chuckled a bit. Bigla akong nainis sa maliit na tawa niya. Ano bang nakakatawa?

"Ah, sorry. Bigla kasing tumawag si Vaughn," nakangiting sabi niya.

Hindi ko siya pinansin at tumingin nalang sa palabas sa TV dito sa salon.

"Palagi akong sinusundo ni Vaughn kapag may lakad ako. Naalala ko tuloy noong nag-aaral pa kami," she chuckled. "Hinahatid-sundo niya ako noon. He's very protective."

Hindi naalis ang tingin ko sa TV dahil baka madagdagan ang inis ko kapag tumingin ako kay Marigold.

"Everytime na pumupunta ako sa bahay ni Chad noon, palagi kong makikita si Vaughn doon that's why we became friends. At mas lalo kaming napalapit sa isa-isa nang tumira siya sa apartment about a year ago. Siya palagi ang nilalapitan ko if ever nahihirapan ako sa mga lessons ko. He's very smart. Sayang lang na hindi siya nakapagtapos," she said. "Kahit hindi nakapagtapos si Vaughn, I know he will be successful someday. I will always support him like what he always did to me."