Love of France (Friend Series #3)

Epilogue

"Ang ganda niya 'no?" Step asked me first that question fifteen years ago.

Ang tanging naisagot ko lang sa kaibigan noon ay kibit ng balikat habang tinitingnan namin siya mula rito sa second floor ng Engineering Building. Naglalakad siya sa field at malayang nakikipagtawanan sa mga kaibigan niyang lalaki.

I've never seen her different from my girl friends and the other girls I have met. They're all pretty. Kung maganda siya ay maganda rin ang lahat ng babae para sa'kin.

What makes her different is her devil-may-care attitude.

Naalala ko bigla sa kanya si Rain nang makita siyang lasing kasama ang mga lalaking kaibigan niya o kakilala. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero parang gusto ko na lang siyang protektahan.

This is why I really don't want girls getting drunk with men. Nag-iisang babae pa. At sa loob pa ng unibersidad nakipag-inuman!

And I don't trust their faces—looks in general. I am being judgmental as I ended up concluding that they're bad guys because of the earcuffs and studs on their ears. Plus the tattoo they're trying to hide in their uniform.

I just hate those dirty things people put on their body. And she has those piercings on her ears. Ang sarap tanggalin. Nakakainis.

I am fully aware of her reputation in St. Joseph—her being a playgirl isn't new to me. Laging siya ang laman ng usap-usapan ng mga kalalakihan kaya bakit hindi ko siya makikilala?

Now, that I am seeing how she really communicates with boys irritated me. Associating herself with these kind of people will do her nothing.

I didn't exactly know when did she become my responsibility. Parang nagising na lang ako isang araw na kasa-kasama siya. Had never thought that this feeling responsible for her would go this far.

"Iba!" Rain said when she handed her the check. Iwinagayway nito ang tseke na kaagad ding pinigilan ng asawa na nasa kanyang tabi.

"Itakas na natin 'to mahal." Rain whispered to him. I chuckled when she only received a glare from her husband.

Bumalik ang tingin sa amin ng kaibigan.

"Ga'no ba kalaki kinikita mo sa pagmomodel at nakakaya mong ibigay ang ganito kalaking halaga na parang wala lang?" namamanghang tanong niya kay Love.

It was her plan to donate a large sum of money to St. Joseph. I know she's already rich, far from the Love I've known before. But every time we were together, I realized that she wasn't just rich. She's the richest. I always get overwhelmed by her luxury and I think I will never get used to it.

I intently looked at her. I know and I can tell that she's being uncomfortable. Talking of her wealth is an off topic for her. Napansin ko iyon sa mga nakalipas na linggong kasama siya. At kagaya ng palagi niyang ginagawa ay idinaan niya iyon sa tawa at pasimpleng paglayo sa paksa.

"Bakit? Gusto mo na ring mag-model? Willing kang mag-resign sa trabaho mo?"

Humalakhak si Rain.

"Wag na uy!" Rain waved her hand. "Baka mawalan ka pa ng trabaho kapag pinatulan ko 'yang sinasabi mo."

Kung anong ikinahamak ng babaeng nasa tabi ko ay siyang ikinayabang ng kaibigan. I couldn't help but smirk with her boastfulness.

Love volunteered to fund the approaching projects of the University. Hindi ko alam kung anu-ano ang mga iyon pero alam kong marami. Sa ibinigay niyang pera ay puwede nang makapagpatayo ng tatlong bagong gusali ang unibersidad.

This woman is really...

"Bakit?" she asked when she caught me gawking at her.

I shook my head and rested my hand on her thigh. I pulled her chair closer to me, like it wasn't close enough. Pinadausdos ko ang ilong sa kanyang buhok hanggang sa ibaba ng kanyang tenga.