SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION [Cloud and Skye Story] (Completed)

CHAPTER 34 - HEART ATTACK VERSUS BROKEN HEART

CHAPTER 34 – HEART ATTACK VERSUS BROKEN HEART

“Would you please befriend Ghem? Like real befriend her? We both know what happened before...between the two of you...pero ewan ko ba, nung nakita ka niya ulit, parang nakalimutan niya yung mga nangyari dati. Sabi ng doctor, it was probably because of her too many maintenance medicines.”

“What!?” Tama ba narinig ko? Did Cloud really ask me to befriend Ghem?

“ I mean...Ghem really wants you to be her friend...” Cloud explained, “kaya lang sabi niya, you seem so distant and everything...That is why I am here...”

Ha-ha! This is unbelievable! Yung ex ko, pinapakiusapan ngayon yung ex niya na kaibiganin yung recent girlfriend niya!? Seriously!?

“Bakit Cloud? Is she tired going somewhere with you? Naboboringan na ba siyang kausapin ka kaya mo sinasabi sa akin na kaibiganin ko siya??? Wala ba siyang ibang kaibigan whom she could run to...”

“Skye, that’s not what I mea—“

I cut him. “No, listen, I am not the right person to talk to right now, Cloud. I am not the right person whom you could run to to ask favors like this...”

“Why not? It’s just a simple reques—“

“A simple request??? Do you really think about what you’re asking me to do!?” Right now, I really don’t care if we’re shouting at each other. I just don’t understand him. I don’t understand myself. I just don’t understand everything!!!

“Rain, she wanted you as her friend. Simpleng bagay lang naman yun ah. She’ll be a really goof friend to you as well.” Page-explain niya.

“She could ask me herself! Bakit ikaw pa yung kailangang humingi ng favor sa akin!? You know what, I have a lot of things to do at wala akong oras as of the moment to befriend someone like her.”

I turned around and about to sit on my chair when he spoke once again, “Yun lang ba talaga rason ha? Tell me it’s not because of the past...Tell me, Rain...Why are you acting like this?”

“You want to know the truth!? I don’t want to be friends with anyone from your past! Especially Ghem because I am not ready!!!” Did I...did I really say that!? Oh my fvkin mouth!

“Ready about what???”

“Cloud, ganyan ka ba ka-sensitive para hindi mo maramdaman!? You know she’s the reason why I had to sack myself to Paris and mourn for the things I just realized were not even mine! You clearly knew what happened!” He didn’t answer me. “Kailangan niyang matuto na hindi lahat ng gusto niya ehh makukuha niya!”

Tumalikod ako para itago yung mga luhang unti-unting nagbabadyang tumulo mula sa mga mata ko! Fvck! I wanted nothing but to curse everything around me! Sobrang hindi ko na maintindihan ang sarili ko. Why all of a sudden I feel so ruined and... broken...once again!?

“She’s sick...” Mahinang sabi ni Cloud.

Bigla naman akong napaharap sa kanya. “Ano’ng sabi mo?”

“She’s suffering heart attack  for almost 6 years now...Sabi ng doctor niya, napakaswerte niya para tumagal ng anim na taon. And withproper caring...from those people that she loves...baka mas mapahaba pa yung buhay niya...” He explained.

Ganito na ba katigas ang puso ko para tanggihan ang gusto ni Ghem? Paano naman ako? Bigla naman atang naging mahirap ang heart attack versus broken heart. What!? Did I really say broken heart?

Rain, you just have to be friends with Ghem. Yun lang. Labas naman si Cloud dun diba? You can hang out with Ghem na hindi naman kasama si Cloud...Oo tama, ganun nga ang dapat mong gawin.

Without further thinking I said, “I’ll try.”

“Thank you.”

At nung malapit na siyang makalabas sa pinto ng opisina ko, I asked him, “Does Gerald know?”

“No. Not even her father. The only ones who know what she’s going through were her mom and I. So please, don’t tell them. She didn’t want them to worry about her.” And then he was gone.

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Saktong 2 o’clock, lumabas na ako ng opisina. Sakto namang palabas din si Ghem ng opisina ni Cloud. Hays. This is it.

“Hi Rain!” Ngiting-ngiting bati ni Ghem.

“Hi.” Sinubukan ko rin ngumiti pero mukhang plastic ata ang labas? Anyway, I didn’t think she saw it.

“Pwede ba tayong mag-mall this weekend? Gusto ko kasi makasama ka! I learned from Cloud that you’re a fashion designer and that those clothes that we all wore from yesterday’s photoshoot were all your designs! OMG! I really love them!!! Maybe you can show me your style? Or at least share me your style? So what do you think??? Saturday???” Tuwang-tuwa siya habang nagsasalita that it literally feels like it would be a sin to reject her.

So I said, “Yes. Sure. See you on Saturday, then. Gotta go.” I didn’t wait for her answer and dashed off.

Ano ba itong napasukan ko!? Ang sobrang sungit at sobrang well-controlled na kagaya ko ehh magiging instant sweet friend to my former kaagaw/karibal. Is my life getting any worse???

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Nandito ako ngayon sa isang bar. Parang ang tagal na rin ata since the last time I went to the bar to get drunk. Right now, I just need someone to talk to. Alam ko naman na hindi pwede si Gerald after what happened last night.

Should I go to Ghem? Hell, no!!! I’m literally going crazy!!!

Medyo marami-rami na rin akong nainom kaya medyo tinatamaan nako.I think I was going hysterical when I heard someone call my name. “Rain???”

“What?” Look, I even answered! Ha-ha! Am I crazy?

“Rain!”

I turned around and there was...”Karvy?”

“Yeah, it’s me! Oh! Ang dami mo nang nainom ah!” Patungkol niya doon sa mga empty glasses of wine na nasa harap ko. “I called you many times pero hindi kita ma-contact! Kagabi pa! Buti na lang na-track kita through my iPhone! Hahaha!”

“I’m sorry that Gerald has to send you home last night...” I said apologetically as I drank the last gulp of wine from my glass.

“Ano ka ba! He was right, I should never do things na ginagawa ko sa kanila. Ganun kasi ako lagi sa mga kaibigan ko ehh...kaya pasensya na if I took advantage of your kitchen and sala...”

I looked at him and smiled. Then I motioned the bartender to give me another glass.

“Apology...accepted! Cheers!!!” Natatawang sabi ko sa kanya sabay abot nung bagong alak na inorder ko.

“May problema ba???” He asked.

“Alam kong hindi mo maiintindihan kasi wala ka namang matinong love life kaya ikukwento ko na sa’yo...” And then I went on with my story...Si Karvy naman ayun ewan ko kung nakikinig or what. Umiinom din kasi siya. Sinasabayan niya ako. Until everything turned to black.