My Boyfriend's Bestfriend

F I F T E E N (1/2)

"Ano bang problema, Devin? May pasok pa ako. Ano bang nagawa ko, ha?"

Tuloy lang siya sa pag-iwas sa 'kin kahit sunod na ako nang sunod sa kaniya. Mula pag-gising niya, hindi niya ako kinakausap. Pumasok sa banyo, lumabas ng banyo, lumabas ng kwarto, pumunta sa kusina. Kanina pa ako sumusunod. Pagsabi ko kanina ng 'good morning' puro tingin lang ang sagot niya.

"Devin. Isa."

Humarang ako sa dadaanan niya. Nahuhulaan ko nang palabas na siya sa kusina kaya bago pa niya matuloy, dadaanin ko na sa pilitan.

'Sapakin mo. Ewan ko kung hindi ka pansinin niyan,' panunudyo ni Aego.

"What do you want me to say?"

Napairap ako. "First thing in the morning that you speak, and that's the only thing in your mind?"

"What else should I think?" Marahan niya akong tinabi at saka siya dumaan para bumalik paakyat sa kwarto niya.

As usual, sumunod na naman ako. "Devin, ano ba? Ayoko nang ganito. Pwede bang sabihin mo na lang kung may problema ka ba or what? Hindi naman ako manghuhula, e!"

Finally, hinarap niya ako. "Ayaw mo na ganito tayo? Rain, I asked you to do one thing. Stay with me. I opened my eyes last night and the next thing I knew, wala ka na pala."

"And I was here before you wake up this morning, right?"

"Waiting for me to fall asleep, leaving when I was unconscious, and showing up before I opened my eyes in the morning, is different from staying with me the whole night."

"Dahil lang diyan?!"

"Dahil LANG dito?" He scoffs. "That says a lot about how you value my feelings, Rain. Big deal sa 'kin 'to. I was expecting you to be there. I only asked for one night. One night, Rain."

"I'm sorry, okay?" Lumapit ako sa kaniya. Hindi siya pumalag no'ng niyakap ko siya, unti-unti ko ring naramdaman na kumakalma na siya. "I'm sorry."

"Just tell me why you left."

"Kumuha lang ako ng damit, babe."

"You have a closetful of clothes here, Rain."

"I know. I'm sorry. I just needed a time away and it seemed like the perfect timing. Ang dami kong iniisip."

"Okay, I forgive you."

Kumalas ako sa pagkakayakap at tumingin sa kaniya.

"Matitiis ba kita?" pahabol niya pa.

I'm just sorry that Devin has to suffer for each action I choose to take

.

Pagpasok ko sa office, nag-aabang na kaagad si Jen sa pinto ko.

"Ms. Alonzo, may nag-iwan po ng isang gift box sa reception kanina para sa inyo. Safe naman daw po sabi ng guards kaya nilagay na namin sa table niyo."

Nilapag ko sa table 'yung coffee na binigay ni Jen kanina at binuksan 'yung green na wrapper ng box. "I'll let you know when I need you," sabi ko kay Jen bago buksan 'yung box. Halata kasing makiki-tsismis pa.

Nakaramdam naman siya at lumabas na. Pagbukas ko sa box, may laman na maliit na indoor plant na pwedeng ilagay sa table. May kasamang card.

"I know you need answers. Lunch time. Spiral Restaurant. Seat #34."

- Spring Breeze Larqueza

+639 17 812 2010

Nagbilin ako kay Jen na kung ano man ang mangyari sa 'kin, she has to keep track of my phone. Kapag hindi Spiral Restaurant ang naging destinasyon ko, she has to report it immediately. O kaya kung hindi ako nakabalik after an hour or two, dapat tawagan niya ako. Because truth be told, I need answers, too. At ayokong maging biased. What I'm not sure of is, what questions should be asked? At saka maniniguro na rin ako, baka kung ano pa ang mangyari sa 'kin sa daan.

'Bakit hindi na lang sa Something Fishy tutal mukhang wala namang magandang intensyon 'yan,' ang opening line ni Aego sa kaniyang pagbabalik.

"Table #34," sabi ko upon entering.

"For Ms. Larqueza and friend?" tanong ng waitress.

Ngumiti na lang ako at sinama naman niya ako sa isang table malapit sa bintana at hagdan. Nakita ko agad na may nakaupong isang babae sa table na 'yon. She's wearing black lacy dress na above the knee with black killer high heels. Ngayon, nakikita ko na 'yung similarities namin sa fashion taste. I'm in for sexy outfits and stilettos. Parehas pa kaming naka-black ngayon.

"Hi. Thank you for showing up in such short notice," bati niya sabay tayo at beso sa 'kin. She smells like a sweet combination of cucumber and melon.

Napansin ko rin na naka-contact lenses siya na brown. Ang weird nito, parehas pa kami na brown ang napiling kulay.

Ganito 'yung iniisip kong mga normal encounters sa babae. Hindi 'yung mga awkward na handshakes or titigan gaming.

"It's okay. What's on our plate?"

May nag-serve sa 'min ng pagkain na choice of food ko rin kung sakaling ako ang nag-order. Parang feeling ko, hindi lang kami sa choice of outfit nagkakapareho.

"Let's cut to the chase. Go on. Ask me anything," she says with a sweet smile.

Ngumiti rin ako. "For starters, what makes you think I have questions of any sort? Questions that you think only you can answer, to be specific."

"Well, for one, you showed up. Two, you're still here. So naisip ko, baka meron talaga. You just have to figure out what to ask, Rain."

Napataas ang isang kilay ko. "How about you just tell me everything you're prepared to say if it concerns me?"

"Simple lang," simula niya. "I made an appointment with you to say that I'll be taking back what's rightfully mine. You may not know it, but I was affianced to Devin. Kung tutuusin, wala pa nga kaming break up."

Literal na napanganga ako sa sinabi niya. "What did you just say?"

'I told ya,' panunumbat ni Aego.

Humawak siya sa pendant ng kwintas niya habang nakangiti. Nakita kong parang sa likod ng mala-anghel na ngiti niya ay nagtatago ang isang mala-hudas na persona. Kung alam lang niyang mas hudas ako sa kaniya, baka kabahan siya sa mga pinagsasabi niya.

"Devin and I had an argument six years ago. I pushed him away. I just learned that after all this time, hindi pa rin siya nakaka-move on. The way he looked at me, the way he tensed under our gazes, I'm sure you noticed that."

Sumandal ako palikod habang nagko-cross arms. Biglang nawala 'yung amor ko sa pagkain. Feeling ko, bawat lunok, may kasamang lason.

"And the fact that he kept coming back to that special place in our forest where we used to hang out? That's something."

'Gaga pala 'to, e! Pigilan mo 'ko,' pambubuyo ni Aego.

"What is this, then? You offer me something in exchange of my boyfriend?" I ask, returning her sweet smile.

"I'm not offering you anything at all."

"Well, then let me give you an equally sweet response. Stay away from Devin. You're messing with the wrong girl."

"One of these days, maghihiwalay rin kayo, Rain. And once you do, that's when I come into the picture. You'll finally see how Devin was before and how he never was with you. I want to give you a front seat ticket to that day."

"You misunderstood, Bree. In case it isn't clear, I'm threatening you. And I have every bit of power to honor my threat if you ever think of laying a hand on my relationship," nakangiti pa rin na sabi ko.

"Too late. Actually, let me ask you something, instead. Since you do not seem to have any questions for me, where were you last night? Kasi ako, I was in his house. Taking care of him in the absence of his temporary girlfriend."

Unti-unti kong naramdaman ang pagkawala ng ngiti ko. "What?"

"Oh, now you're asking? Okay. If you insist. He called me yesterday. How he managed to get my number, I don't know. And last night, when he woke up, he asked if I could accompany him since you left him alone and injured."

"And yet you say I am the temporary girlfriend. Is that why he only calls you when I'm not available?"

Nawala na rin 'yung ngiti niya. "He just needs you as a cover up. An excuse to say he's okay. If he's still holding on to our oath, then it must say something about how he feels for me. Don't you think?"

"Excuse me." Tumayo na ako. "Whatever you say, hinding-hindi mo kami mapapag-hiwalay ni Devin. We're unbreakable. You can never get in between us. I'm leaving." Lumapit ako sa mukha niya. This time, we're eye-to-eye. "Thanks, but... the ceviche is actually better than your attitude."

"I didn't say I have to do it. Don't mistake me to be someone who'd play the evil role. I have a handful of people who'd save me the dirty job." Tumayo na rin siya. Mas matangkad siya nang konti sa 'kin. "My sisters, for example."