TWENTY-FIRST
Pinapasok sa bahay ng mga Lacerda si Eze. Kilala na siya ng mga kasama sa bahay rito kaya naman hinayaan siya ng mga itong magtuluy-tuloy sa loob. Kanina’y hindi sigurado si Eze kung nasa bahay nga si Damien kaya pinuntahan muna niya ang mga maaari nitong pagtambayan at nang wala ito sa mga lugar na iyon ay dumiretso na siya sa bahay nito.
“You can’t even answer your phone now?” saad ni Eze sa sarkastiko nitong tono nang makita si Damien sa playroom nito. Nag-iisang anak lang si Damien sa napakalaking bahay ng mga Lacerda kaya naman iba’t ibang kuwarto ang mayroon siya sa bahay na ito.
Hindi sumagot si Damien. Nagpatuloy siya sa paglalaro ng bilyar pagkatapos uminom ng alak. Sandali siyang pinanood ni Eze maglaro at saka muling nagsalita.
“Why didn’t you play?” Eze’s voice is calm. He genuinely wants to know why. Damien has always loved playing. Back in high school, he played basketball during the intramural even though he had a fever, that’s how much he loves playing.
“She was there.” sagot ni Damien ngunit hindi pa ito tapos sa sinasabi. Pagkatira niya ay muli siyang nagsalita at tumingin kay Eze.
“But she was there for Nereo.”
Uminom si Damien ng alak at saka ibinalik ang tingin sa pool table. “I didn’t want to steal the spotlight for Nereo. I didn’t want XZ to be disappointed.”
“Engineering lost.” Balita ni Eze kaya agad na nabalik ang tingin ni Damien sa kaniya.
“WHAT?!” hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Damien. Damn that Nereo! Magda-drama pa sana siya kung paano niya hinayaang makuha ni Nereo ang spotlight ngunit pinatalo lang pala nito ang buong College of Engineering.
“Seamus already told the both of you to get it together for the game but you didn’t listen.” Pagpapaalala ni Eze.
“Why do you sound like you’re scolding me? I wasn’t the one who screwed the game up and isn’t this what you want? CAF won.” sagot ni Damien at ibinababa na ang cue stick. Wala na siya sa mood maglaro.
“I don’t care if CAF wins the basketball, volleyball, or even football. But I do care if you, my friend—Damien Wes Caspian Lacerda, are not being yourself.”
“You have to get used to this, Eze. XZ became a part of me and I will never be the same without her. I will never be my ‘old self’ again. I think you know how it works.” Damien poured himself a drink.
“Let’s be real. XZ’ not coming back to me.” Inom ni Damien sa alak niya kaya sasagot sana si Eze ngunit sinenyasan niya ito na patapusin siya.
“There’s no stopping her and Nereo now. XZ is perfect and what else could you possibly look for in a guy if you already have Nereo Del Fierro? The only reason they would break up is if one of them cheats and we both know that will never happen.” saad ni Damien kaya sandaling hindi nakasagot si Eze. Everything that Damien has just said is true.
“What if XZ’ memories come back?” tanong ni Eze.
“There’s no guarantee that she’ll come back to me even if that happens. Nereo is a good guy. I’d say... he’s a better man than I will ever be. XZ has every right and reason to choose him over me.” malungkot na sagot ni Damien ngunit pinilit pa rin niyang ngumiti, isang mapaklang ngiti.
“Are you... letting XZ go?”
“Hell, no!” agad na sagot ni Damien kaya naguluhan si Eze.
BINABASA MO ANG
Lost Stars
Teen Fiction[SMUG Series #1] XZ Martinez is a smart young woman. She was born to a rich and famous family but she doesn't seem to like it. Unlike her older brother, Valentine, XZ is and will never be used to the attention people are giving her but she guesses t...
