Below The Tide (Charity Series #1)

• Twenty Seven •

Betina Tiara

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Panay ang ikot ko habang nakaupo sa swivel chair, naghihintay na matapos na ang araw ko rito sa trabaho. Sa totoo lang, gusto ko nang lumakad para umalis at makarating sa tinext na restaurant sa 'kin ni Kayecie. Gusto ko nang makita sila, makausap muli.

Ilang beses ko rin ulit binalikan ang mga sasabihin ko kina Olyn at Jannie. Sigurado, magkakaiyakan kami nito.

20 minutes before 5 o' clock, I decided to answer some guest emails. Katunayan ay dapat, may meeting ako ngayong gabi sa isang guest pero dahil sa tingin ko, mas importante itong pag-uusap namin nina Olyn-- pinagpaliban ko muna 'yun na siyang naintindihan naman ng guest.

Saktong pagtayo ko sa upuan ay tumawag sa phone ko si Zen. Ang alam ko'y nasa workshop siya ngayon at ngayon palang din ako magpapaalam sa kan'ya.

"Zen."

"Hi, Betina. How's your day?"

"It's fine. Still in there?"

"Yep! Late na kasi nagsimula sa workshop dahil nakipag-meeting pa 'ko sa director. Oh, it's 5 already. I'm sorry I cannot fetch you I'm still stuck on our workshop."

"No it's okay. Uhm, Zen..."

"What is it?"

I sighed inwardly, "I'm sorry if it's late but... I'll have to go somewhere. It's Jannie's birthday today and I was invited by Kayecie to come."

"Kayecie? Jannie?"

"...they are my old friends--- behind my issue on the social media."

I heard him gasped, "Why do you have to come? And you all alone? How can you make sure you'll be safe? I can't let you go on your own it's still dangerous, Betina."

"It's in Montego Hill so I'll be fine, Zen. I'm going because I know this is my chance to apologize again and fix our friendship," I quickly protested.

"What if they hurt you again? Like the one who hurt you at the hospital? Betina..."

"No they won't. I trust them, I trust what Kayecie said... it's going to be alright."

"I'm coming with you."

Na-alarma tuloy ako sa narinig. Hindi ako pwedeng magdala ng artista ro'n! Pupunta ako ro'n para makipag-ayos at ayokong pagkaguluhan si Zen doon.

Hayy.

"Hey! Don't you trust me?" natatawang tanong ko.

Natahimik siya ng ilang sandali, "That's not the issue here... I'm worried, Betina. What if the person who took in the apartment showed up and take you away? God, just thinking about it makes my heart sick..."

"You don't have to," saad ko, "Please just this once... sandali lang ako at i-a-update kita bawat oras, please."

"If it's not me, then take Gavin or Seven."

"No need. I'm not bringing anyone, I'll be fine. Please, Zen? Gusto kong magka-ayos kami ni Olyn, gusto kong bumalik ang pagkakaibigan naming apat. Please... this is my only chance and now they'd given it to me, I won't waste it--- just like how you don't want to waste that big project you have..."

"Betina..."

"Please, Zen?"

Wala na 'kong narinig na sagot sa linya. Sa isip ko ay malamang, alalang-alala na ang mukha n'ya. Pero wala akong choice, ayoko magdala ng sino man doon dahil nahihiya ako... sa kabila ng pagpapahiya sa 'kin sa mga tao at sa social media, nahihiya pa rin ako.