Cost of Taste (Published)| ✓

Kabanata 28

Kabanata 28

Kumalat ang balita na hiwalay na kami ni Adren. At parang mga bubuyog na hayok sa bulaklak, dinagsa ito ng mga opinyon ng tao.

"Malandi kasi, malamang hindi makukuntento sa isang lalaki 'yon."

"Adren is a catch. Maswerte lang si Arrisea na maganda siya kaya nagkaroon sa kanya ng interes 'yung tao."

"But a pretty face cannot hide her rotten personality!"

Hinintay ko na humupa ang tao sa restroom saka ako lumabas ng cubicle nang wala na akong marinig na mga boses. I decided to tie my hair, binuksan ko ang gripo at pinakiramdaman ang malamig na agos ng tubig galing dito. I used it to washed my face, to freshen up.

Bumuntong hininga ako bago lumabas. I could feel people looking at me. Sari-sari ang kanilang mga ekspresyon, it's either pity, disgust or happiness expressed through their faces. Depende siguro sa bersyon ng kwento na narinig nila.

I forgot that no matter how little his social circle was, Adren is an influential person. Dagdag pa na kaibigan niya si Gio, kaya naman madalas ay maraming nakakakilala sa kanya.

"Hey, Arri."

Lumingon ako kay Gio na mukhang may gustong sabihin pero hindi makapag-salita.

We were currently at the chapel, nagdadasal ako nang taimtim nang dumating itong si Gio.

"Bakit?"

"Ano bang nangyari sa inyo?" He asked and kneel beside me. "Tell me, may ginawa ba sa'yo si Adren nung nag-Subic kayo? Kasi kung ganoon, I won't tolerate my friend. Pero kung ikaw naman ang may ginawa, I won't be taking your side too."

"Ayoko na kasi sa kanya." Pumikit ako habang nakayuko, hands clasped in prayer.

Gio rose an eyebrow. "That's it?"

Umiwas ako ng tingin."Oo, kaya tulungan mo na lang siyang mag-move on."

"He still loves you," Bumuntong hininga siya. "For what it's worth, you were probably the only person he loved."

"He'll find another o-one, eventually. Maraming babae sa mundo, Gio."

Gio sighs, "You're right, there are a lot of other people to love yet you can't have the same love twice."

Tumayo si Gio at nagpamulsa. Nag-sign of the cross siya bago lumabas ng chapel. Sumunod naman ako at humingi pa ng kapatawaran dahil nag-sinungaling na naman ako.

"Sumalangit ka na, Etienne." He said before completely departing the chapel.

"Gagio." I chuckled when we were heading to Bonanza Area.

The following weeks were hell for me. Before I broke up with him, nagpakita muna ako ng mga motibo na nagsasawa na ako. He chase after me when I told him I wanted us to be done. Flowers and expensive food was always on my table, pero pinapamigay ko lang ito. The last time we've talked was probably the last straw for him.

"Akin na lang talaga, Arrisea?" Franny asked, pertaining to the chocolates and flowers. "Babaita ka, kawawa 'yung tao. Seryoso talaga 'yata sa'yo 'yon."

"Pabayaan mo siya, magsasawa rin 'yon..." I kept on writing on my notebook, kahit wala naman talaga kaming sinusulat. Ayoko lang malaman ni Franny ang totoo kong nararamdaman.

In the back of my mind, I was also doubting my decision. Paano kung kaya naman niyang patunayan na karapat-dapat naman talaga siya mamahala sa mga negosyo nila? But I was a constant dirt on his clean reputation, I will always be someone who's not fit for him.