The World Among Us

Night 4

"Mission mo ba in life maging kambing?" tanong ni Aria sa akin. Kanina pa kasi ako buntong-hininga ng buntong-hininga.

Magmula nang i-store ang katawan ni Chanel sa specimen, kanina ko pa naiisip yung paghagulgol ni River sa harap ng katawan niya.

Nakakapagod isipin na baka may gusto pa siya kay Chanel at naging panakip butas lang ako. Matagal na silang hiwalay pero bakit pakiramdam ko mahal pa rin siya ni River.

"Aria, Ridge had exes, 'di ba?" tanong ko kay Aria.

"Ako first serious girlfriend ni Ridge so wala," sagot niya.

I smiled weakly. "Ang swerte."

"Bakit? What's bothering you?" she asked.

"If ever Ridge does have an ex and he cried for her, anong mararamdaman mo?"

She stopped what she was doing and thought for a while. "Masasaktan? Pero kasi it really depends on the situation. Paano kung matalik na silang magkaibigan? Natural lang naman na iyakan ang isang kaibigan."

I sighed. "Did he cry as a friend though?" I whispered to myself.

"Is this about River? When he cried for Chanel?" she asked before proceeding to her task.

"Is it wrong for me to feel this way? Ang masaktan? Magselos? Is what I'm feeling invalid?" tanong ko.

"No. May right ka naman talaga kasi you're his girlfriend after all," sagot niya. "River is just probably confused. Ngayon lang kasi siya nagkakaclosure kay Chanel, 'di ba tapos biglang ayun na nga," she said, referring to Chanel's death.

"Anong kailangan kong gawin?" tanong ko. Hindi ko na talaga alam kung paano ako makikipag-interact kay River. Hindi ko rin alam kung maganda pa bang idea na naging kami.

"For now, let each other breathe. Avoid him as much as you can so that he can think properly. After that saka kayo mag-usap and magdecide if keeping the relationship is still the best option," she advised.

I nodded before closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. "Okay, I'll do it."

★・★・★

"Shit! Bakit andito siya?" I said to myself when I saw River at the entrance of the office.

Plano ko sanang kumuha ng pagkain kasi nagugutom na ako kaso iniiwasan ko rin si River.

"Adara," tawag niya sa akin nang makita ako.

Nagpanggap lang akong di ko siya narinig bago lumiko papuntang admin para iwasan siya.

"Hey, kumain ka na?" tanong niya sa akin nang hawakan ang braso ko. Pumasok na rin siya sa admin.

"Bakit hindi ka pa natutulog?" I replied, coldly.

"Hindi ako makatulog. I kept thinking if you have been taking care of yourself properly," sagot niya.

"Kaya ko ang sarili ko," sabi ko bago hinugot ang braso mula sa pagkakahawak niya.

"Okay." He nodded before giving me a small smile. "I got this for you in case you get hungry." Inabot niya sa akin ang isang snack mula sa vending machine.