"I'm going to tell you something later." Mahinang bulong ni Shinea na nakapagpakunot ng kaniyang noo. Sinundan niya ito ng tingin ngunit binigyan lamang siya nito ng misteryosong ngiti. What is this girl up to? I'm hoping it won't affect my relationship with Aki. Especially now that I'm trying to make our relationship work.
He unconsciously looked at his girlfriend beside him. He observes her every move which makes him adore her even more. She is incredibly thoughtful, genuine, charming, and kind. No wonder why Raven likes her.
Curiosity got the best of Ron, and he peered at Aki's phone. He wanted, no, needed, to know why Aki was giggling to herself while looking at her phone. Nang makita niyang group chat ito nilang magkakaibigan ay agad niyang iniwas ang tingin dahil ang gusto niya lang naman malaman ay kung sino ang ka-chat nito at hindi ang kanilang pinag-uusapan. After a few minutes of giggling and typing, she talks to her friend, Mikaesha, who is sitting beside her. When he realized what and who they were talking about, he raised his eyebrows. She honestly looks cute tittering while chattering with her friend. He thought.
When Aki turned her head to face him, and noticed him hearkening, she leans in and says 'chismoso,' which made him chuckle. He squashed her cheeks before letting her go because her phone is begging for her attention once more.
"Ron." Nag-angat siya ng tingin kay Shinea na tumawag sa kaniya. "Let's talk."
"We can talk here." He calmly said. Ron knew Aki was skeptical and uneasy around Shinea, so he asked her to speak to him in front of Aki. Shinea cast a meaningful glance at Aki, which annoyed him. "It's private." Nakita niyang kumunot ang noo ni Aki sa sinabi nito at dahil siya ay iritado na, pinisil niya ang kamay ni Aki para kuhain ang atensyon nito at nagpaalam. Ngunit bago pa man siya makapagsalita ay tumango na ito na parang naiintindihan nito ang nais niyang sabihin.
"I'll be back." Ron kissed her forehead before he stood up and followed Shinea.
"What do you want to talk about that needed privacy?" Kalmado niyang tanong kay Shinea na nakapangalumbaba sa kaniyang harapan. Tinungo nila ang isang malayong lamesa sa loob ng Musnetic kung saan kakaunti lang ang tao.
Tumitig lang ito sa kaniya at hindi nagsalita kaya muli na namang bumalik ang inis na nararamdaman niya para rito. "Are you going to talk or am I going to leave you here?"
Tatayo na sana siya nang bigla itong nagsalita. "She's back." Natulos si Ron sa kaniyang kinatatayuan bago muling hinarap si Shinea na hindi man lang nagbago ng posisyon. "What?" Nalilito niyang tanong. Hindi alam kung dahil ba sa naguguluhan siya sa ibig nitong sabihin o umaasa siyang iyon nga ang nais nitong sabihin.
"She's back. A's back. I mean... Your original A, Ron. The Aerin Querencia of your life. She's back here in the Philippines."
He's been so preoccupied all night that answering Aki's questions isn't one of his top priorities. There are a lot of thoughts racing through his mind, mostly about Aerin. When did she come back? Sinong kasama niya bumalik? May asawa na kaya siya? Anak?
"Ron, please talk to me." Napatingin siya sa kamay na nakahawak sa kaniyang braso. Saglit siyang bumuntong hininga bago binalingan si Aki na masuyong nakatitig sa kaniya.
"Are you okay?" Malambing nitong wika. Unti-unti siyang nakaramdam ng pagkainis sa sarili. Here is the person who has never stopped loving him, who has always understood him, and who has never left him, but he is thinking of the person who abandoned him years ago.
"Please say something, Ron. Is there something wrong? What did Shinea say to you? Nagkaganito ka lang naman pagkatapos niyong magka-usap, 'di ba? Nag-away ba kayo?" Kinalas niya muna ang kaniyang seatbelt bago siya lumapit at niyakap ang naguguluhang si Aki. Niyakap naman siya nito pabalik at hinaplos ang kaniyang likod na para bang pinapakalma siya.
