Midnight Memories

Ego Pt. VII

CHAPTER VII

I WAS EXPECTING it would be something more dramatic, like si Stoen ang nasa labas ng pintuan tapos ay pupunta sya dito to confirm that it was her on the other side of the line last night, that Jeho and her indeed have been doing some hanky panky shit behind my back, tapos ay magsasabunutan kami tapos dadating si Jeho out of nowhere tapos ang masasaksihan nya ay ako ang umaaway kay Stoen because I got the upper hand tapos he'd take her side kasi sya ang napuruhan kasi mas may advantage naman ako at mas dehado sya sa akin, tapos the end na talaga for Jeho and I— I was thinking about that, but then I realized I wasn't on Wattpad, I'm in reality and reality is far different than fiction.

"What are you doing here?" Tanong ko kay Alec pagkatapos ko syang pagbuksan ng pintuan.

Ngumiti lang si Alec at pumasok na. He settled himself comfortably on the sofa. He looked like he doesn't belong there. Hindi bagay sa kanya kasi mukhang-mukha syang out of place. The couch looked incredibly cheap the moment the Alec "RK" Rivera sat on it. "You should already know why I'm here," agarang sagot nya na syang ikinatingin ko agad sa kanya. "The rest are on their way."

"The rest?" Nagtatakang tanong ko.

"The rest of the wolves. I had my driver around that's why I immediately went here."

"Bakit?"

"I'm here as back-up."

Mas lalo akong naguluhan sa sinabi nya. "Back up for what?" Tanong ko ngunit imbes na sagutin ako ay pinuna lang ni Alec ang hitsura ko.

"You've been crying," he said, pointing out his observation. At kung kanina ay friendly na friendly iyong mukha nya nang harapin ako, ngayon ay mukhang seryosong-seryoso na sya. "Hindi mo rin sinasagot ang mga tawag ni Jeho sa'yo. I'm here as his emissary habang wala pa sya, to make you understand the things that you refuse to understand, the things that you decided to turn a blind eye to."

Napaismid ako. Magaling sa salita si Alec, and I would've been swayed already, kung hindi lang talaga matigas ang ulo ko.

My phone was turned off. And it's not as if it would make any sense if I ever accept any of Jeho's calls. I'm done, ayoko na ng ganito. And what happened last night and my confirmation this morning sealed the deal. I've made up my mind. I know what I've witnessed and what I've heard is enough for me to wind up into a decision. I don't think magbabago pa ang desisyon ko. "I'm done with him," I replied dismissively. "Bahala na sya sa buhay nya."

Alec's piercing eyes were intently watching me. "But there are so many things you've been misinterpreting." Hindi nakalampas sa akin ang paniningkit ng mga mata nya. H e looked quite intimidating when he's in this serious mode. "You had your judgments even when you still lacked the evidence to accuse Jeho."

Natigilan ako. Mukhang nasabihan na sya ni Jeho, pero ano na naman ito ngayon? Would this be an alibi? Would this be something to cover Jeho's unwarranted deception?

"I don't need this talk right now, Alec—"

Alec stopped me before I could say any more. "You're very much willing to let go of my friend. That easily. Ni hindi mo man lang hiningian ng eksplenasyon tapos susuko ka na agad. 'Yung totoo, mahal mo nga ba talaga ang kaibigan ko, Rain?" He asked as if he was taunting me and I can't help but to fall into his trap.

I stiffened the moment I heard that. My heart was hurt because Alec straightforwardly questioned the love that I have for his friend. Nakakasakit ng damdamin, and even my ego was bruised too. How dare he.

Natawa ako ng pagak. But Alec looked unamused, even I was, too. He indirectly insulted me. Sa tingin nya, masasaktan ba ako ng ganito kung hindi ko mahal ang kaibigan nya? Isa pa, this isn't the real issue here. Ang issue ay ang pangangaliwa ng kaibigan nya, at ang pagkahuli ko niyon.