Nakita ko nanaman silang masayang magkasama. Everyday nalang, uh? Naramdaman ko naman ang mahinang pagtapik ng isa ko pang kaibigan na si Rica sa aking balikat.
"You okay, Mari?" I heard her ask. I gazed at her and nodded. "Magkasama nanaman pala sina Vera at Apollo." she added.
Bumalik naman ang tingin ko sa dalawa na konti nalang ay pamunugaran na ng mga langgam. Nakaramdam muli ako ng selos at sakit sa aking puso. Huwag siya.
Bukas ay magkikita kami ni Vera para sa isang project na aming gagawin. Magkabukod and lalaki at babae, kaya kaming dalwa ni Vera ang magkapartner just like the old days. Ito na rin ang pagkakataon ko para malaman ang tunay na namamagitan sa kanila ni Apollo.
Habang pauwi na ay iniisip ko ang mga itatanong ko sa kanya bukas. Matagal ko ng kaibigan si Vera. Maging si Apollo ay naging matalik din naming kaibigan sa loob ng ilang taon. Ngayon, nahihirapan ako sa aming sitwasyon. Mahirap talagang ma-fall sa isang kaibigan.
Napatalon naman ako sa gulat ng biglang may bumusinang sasakyan sa aking likuran. Bwisit!
"Mari!" the voice shouted. My heart races. Kasabay ng pagrigodon ng puso ko ay ang pagbalik ng lahat ng selos at sakit na saglit kong iwinaglit sa aking puso.
"Apollo,"
"Where are you off to?" he asked.
I composed myself, hiding all the emotions inside. "Pauwi na ako." I uttered.
"Hop in. I'll ride you home." he offered.
Tatanggi na sana ako dahil ayoko munang masaktan kahit ngayon lang, but I guess we really badly need to talk.
"Palagi mo nalang kasama yung friend mo na si Rica, uh?" he said, breaking the silence.
Palagi kasi kayong magkasama ni Vera. "Selos ka naman, palit tayo." sabi ko. Narinig ko pa ang malutong niyang tawa, that irritated me so much. I rolled my eyes. I looked at him, nervously asked, "K-kayo naba ni Vera?"
He stopped the car, quizzically stared at me, and grinned. "I knew it!" later on, he said.
I blushed, kept silent until I got home. Nakakahiya talaga, ugh!
"Mari, I miss you!" Vera squealed, hugging me tight. I hugged her back. I missed my friend, too. "Nakakatampo ka! Pinagpalit mo na kami ni Apollo kay Rica!" she added.
"Baliw! Kayo nga diyan eh." I paused. Naalala ko nanaman yung mga araw na lagi silang magkasama, nagkakamabutihan at tipong nakalunok ng Nutella sa sobrang sweetness. At ako, ako na pinagmamasdan lang sila sa malayo. Palihim na nasasaktan. Patagong unti-unting nadudurog ang puso sa kalungkutan. It hurts. Seeing your love one happily talking, smiling or laughing not because of you, but because of someone else. Masakit makita ang taong mahal mo na may minamahal na iba.
I plucked up my courage and asked, "Vera, do you like Apollo?"
"Mari-"
"J-just tell me."
Her face turned from white to red. She closed her eyes and nodded. "I love him." she uttered. She tilted her head and glanced at me. "I really am sorry, Mari. Sasabihin ko naman talaga sayo, kaso naghahanap lang ako ng right timing. You know.. Alam mong gusto ko siya noon pa. P-please do understand."
I yanked my hand free. This is too much to hold. "Vera," I said, cracking a voice. "Huwag siya." tears started to fall down from my eyes.
"Sorry, Mari." she paused. "Kami na."
I felt a thousand of thorns suddenly grew in my heart. A pang in my heart. Masakit. A tear escaped out of my eye. Followed by another, and another tear. I couldn't say anything more. My words were choked by sobbing.
I saw Apollo rapidly running towardd us. Sadness was shown n his handsome face. "Vera, Mari," he uttered.
I wiped my tears and gestured him to stop as he tried to walk over me. "Apollo," I called out his name.
He remained silent. I saw Vera turned around, wiping her tears.
"You have always been a good friend to me. You were always there when I needed a hand. You're a brother, a friend, and yea, my rival. Now, I am letting you two free. I should be the one who say sorry. Alam kong ako lang naman ang pumipigil sa inyo." I paused. "I love her. I love Vera, and I am setting my feeling for her free. Take good care of Vera, Apollo."
I saw Vera glanced back at me. Smiled and mouthed, "Thank you."
I turned my back and left them. I am leaving my pains and heartbreaks, too.
Ilang araw na matapos ang nangyari. Masakit parin, but the pain is bearable. Hindi katulad noon. Iba talaga pag nailabas mo ang feelings mo. Kapag nasabi mo ito sa taong gusto mo. Masarap sa pakiramdam, kahit may kalungkutan.
We three are cool now. Apollo loves Vera so much and the latter feels the same way.
Nagulat ako nang may kumulbit sakin. Nilingon ko ito and I saw Rica, my friend, widely smiling. Matagal ko na din siyang kaibigan, pero di siya ganun kalapit kay na Vera.
"Tulala ka nanaman." she said.
"Wala, may iniisip lang." I uttered.
"Si Vera." she stated. She knew everything. She's always there for me, too. I just smiled.
"Huwag siya," she whispered.
"Huh?" I asked.
She looked at me and held my hands, "Huwag siya." she paused and flashed her sweetest smile. "Ako nalang."
