Barcelona Escapade

Chapter Twelve: Recital

Chapter Twelve
Recital

"Al, Jayden likes you too. I know you've said it already but in case you don't know, he has your name tattooed on his chest."

Confusion dawned in my face while I stared at my phone as this voicemail plays. Ilang beses kong pang pinaulit-ulit para siguraduhing hindi ako nagkakamali ng rinig. When it stopped, I repeated it again and again. It only addled my mind.

"What's the meaning of this, Hailey?"

Hailey sent me this last night. Ngayong umaga ko lang napansin dahil hindi naman ako nag-eexpect na re-replay-an niya ako. The last time we talked, she only marked my message read. Now, she'll greet me with this voicemail I wasn't even anticipating. Matapos kong malamang may gusto si Jayden kay Hailey, guguluhin ako nito.

I have my name as a tattoo on his chest. Matapos niya akong i-reject, nandoon ang pangalan ko? What nonsense does this all means? How can I interpret this vague thing? Does that mean... it's really him? The one who promised me before? Ugh, I don't get it! What's the use of all denying when this is what will greet me with?

I took a deep breath. I can't assume yet. Jayden doesn't seem lying when he rejected me. And this... I don't trust Hailey's words from the voicemail. Pinapaasa niya ba ako dahil sa sinabi ko noong nakaraang araw?

Both my curiousity and confusion led me to call Hailey. Nang ilang beses kong tinawagan at hindi sinagot, si Chloe na ang tinawagan ko. I don't know if she knows something but at this point of time, I think she knows his brother well enough.

"Chloe," tawag ko.

Ito ata ang isa sa mga pagkakataong natawagan ko siya. Kadalasan kasi, kay Hailey ako tumatawag. Chloe's just always out of reach. Siguro dahil kasama niya naman ang kailangan niya.

"Hey, this is Zywon," iba ang bumati. "Chloe's doing laundry with Hailey."

Napatango ako sa hindi inaasahang sumagot. Nevertheless, that should be better. After all, I've been yearning to talk to Hailey's best friend. I wonder if he's aware about Jayden's affection towards Hailey. If the four of them are together, could they possibly know something?

"I should talk to you, then," sabi ko kay Zywon.

"I also planned to," aniya.

His notion struck me. I cleared my throat before speaking up.

"What about?" tanong ko. "Go first."

Narinig ko siyang bumuntong-hininga. By the sound of it, I felt like we're thinking of the same topic. Naupo ako sa dulo ng kama ko para pakinggan siya.

"About Hailey."

It didn't surprise me. Right, the best friend already speaking up for her. Siguro ay kahit sa Hong Kong ay naipapakita talaga na hanggang doon lang silang dalawa. Should that make me happy for Hails?

I don't even know now.

"What about Hailey?"

Zywon took moments before dropping his words. I was there waiting for him to hear what he has to say kahit ang posibilidad na hindi ko magustuhan ang rinig ay naroon.

"You're both a friend to me," panimula niya. "And I think it's best to sort things out with you."

Hinintay ko siyang magsalitang muli.

"You both developed a liking towards Jayden," he concluded.

From the mirror reflecting my face few feet away from me, I noticed how my expression turned serious. Suminghap ako ng tahimik habang pinoproseso ang sinabi. Hindi ako nagulat pero hindi ko rin inasahan.