Unchosen [Baguio Series #2]

38

38:

It's been a week since Kuya's birthday. Ngayon ko lang naalala ang picture naming dalawa ni Mary sa Café in the Sky. I sent it to Gian using my IG since I don't like using Messenger.

@benitezgian: How did you meet her?

@tori: Accidentally. I was celebrating my kuya's birthday

@benitezgian: Did she tell you something?

I sent him a shaking head GIF as an answer.

@benitezgian: Saan na raw siya ngayon?

@tori: Ewan. Last week pa 'yan

@benitezgian: You should've texted me when you saw her there, you know?

"Wow, kasalanan ko pa, ha?" I told myself when I read his reply with an eye role emoji.

I replied.

@tori: I forgot, eh. And I don't have any intentions on telling her that I know you. Excuse me lang, Benitez. You ghosted her. Duh

@benitezgian: Yeah... I know. I wanted to explain but she won't let me

@tori: Wala kasing kwenta ang explanation mo. Tapos may girlfriend ka na after you came back to Zambales. Wow

@benitezgian: Tsss, I know that I'm an asshole ok, you don't need to rub it in my face

@tori: I need kasi I met her and she's a genuine person. She's pure! She doesn't deserve you

@benitezgian: I know, hay

@benitezgian: But she's pretty, right?

@tori: Oo naman! Duh

@benitezgian: And she won't believe you even after so many times you told her that. She'll never believe you

@tori: I know. She didn't believe me either

@benitezgian: Aaaahh. I really wanted to be with her but I don't think I feel the same anymore. I'm sure that still like her, tho

@tori: Don't you ever come back to her, she doesn't deserve someone like you

He sent me a crying GIF. Hindi ko na siya ni-reply-an kasi naiinis pa rin ako sa kaniya. Mas okay pa si Maverick kasi mas valid ang reason niya na nakipaghiwalay siya sa akin.

One of the worst things that you can do to a person is to leave them hanging—without a word.

I didn't get to talk with Mary anymore. Nakalimutan kong i-message siya at i-upload ang pictures namin dahil pagkahatid sa akin ni Kuya sa bahay ay nag-aral na ulit ako.

I posted Mary and I's photo together with the caption "so nice to meet this saint ♥" and tagged her. She thanked me on the comment section and I clicked the heart button to like it. I messaged her and asked for her number. Mabuti na lang at ibinigay niya.

I went back to studying again after that.

***

March came, patapos na ang second semester ng fourth year namin. Gian called me and asked me to go to bar. Mukhang problemado na naman ang lolo mo, buti nga sa kan'ya.

"So, what?" I asked the moment I sat beside him on the high chair in the bar counter.

"I had a talk with Mary," he said before drinking the Tequila straight. Nagsalin ulit siya at muling uminom nang uminom. "I made a mistake." He heaved a sigh.