Euphoria: Dosage of Rhapsodies

Chapter 25

"Israel, buhay ka?" Hindi makapaniwalang nilapitan ni Eli ang gulong-gulo na si Israel, and he's inspecting Israel's body.

Ako naman ay walang magawa para pigilan si Eli. I'm still shocked that he saw me with Israel.

"Excuse me." Bahagyang lumayo si Israel. "Do I know you?"

"Nagbibiro ka ba? Paanong hindi mo ako nakikilala-"

"I mean, kilala naman kita, Eli. Actually, fan n'yo akong dalawa ni Corrine. But what I'm curious about is that... How did you know me? Nagkita na ba tayo before? Sa fan meeting? Sa concert mo?"

"You must be kidding me, bro."

"Huh-"

"Siguro nalito lang siya. Huwag mo na lang pansinin ito, mauuna na kami." Sumingit ako sa usapan nilang dalawa bago ko tiningnan si Eli. "Let's go."

"I'm still talking to him-"

"Bye!" paalam ko kay Israel tiyaka ko hinatak paalis doon si Eli.

Nagpupumilit pa siya na makawala sa akin pero hindi ko 'yon hinayaan. Nang makapasok kaming dalawa sa kotse niya, sandali kaming binalot ng katahimikan.

"Could you please explain everything to me?"

I let out a heavy sigh before I started talking, "I'm very sorry for hiding the truth to you."

"Na buhay si Israel? Kailan mo pa alam? Kailan mo pa ako niloloko, Corrine?!"

"It's not like I'm fooling you!" I blustered out of frustration. "Hindi pa gano'n katagal no'ng nalaman ko ang tungkol sa kanya. Nagulat din ako na makita siyang buhay, and the first thing came in my mind is you.

I'm concerned about your reaction once you knew he was alive. Ang point ko, oo, masaya ako at alam kong magiging masaya rin kayo na malaman na buhay si Israel, but don't think that I'm not aware that for all the years we've spent together, you kept competing with him... just because of me."

Tears began to stream down my eyes for which I couldn't handle how heavy the pain I felt inside my system. "Have I forgotten to remind you intermittently that you don't have to treat Israel as a burden to our relationship? My feelings for him are completely gone, but you still can't help utilize his existence as a threat. Kaya masisisi mo ba ako kung hindi ko kaagad sinabi sa iyo ang tungkol sa kanya? I'm just afraid of wrecking our relationship."

"You should've told me despite that, Corrine! Kaya lang ano ang ginawa mo? Hinintay mo pang ako mismo ang makaalam ng katotohanan, 'di ba? If you are truly concerned in our relationship, you'll never hide any single thing from me." Ilag na ilag ang tingin ko sa kanya. Natatakot akong tingnan siya dahil alam kong galit na galit siya ngayon.

"But why are you with him?"

"He's my boss, the one I mentioned before."

I heard him tsked. "Why are you with him during working hours... at a mall?"

I clenched my fist, holding back my wrath. "He asked me to go with him, para turuan akong magtali ng necktie-"

"School for tying necktie na ba ang mall ngayon?"

"Cut the b*llsh*t, Eli! Kung ayaw mo akong paniwalaan, edi huwag! Alam ko namang nagsinungaling ako sa iyo for not telling you about Israel, but this time I'm stating the truth for Pete's sake!"

I swiftly unfastened the seatbelt. "Mag-ta-taxi na lang ako."

"Hey! Corrine!" Sinubukan niya akong pigilan pero nagmatigas ako't lumabas ng kotse niya. Tumakbo ako palabas ng parking lot at pumara ng taxi.