what could be

085

jiya

bahagyang napakibot ang labi ko habang nakatitig sa phone kong nakapatong sa bed side table.

i'm staring at roseanne's number. i already told her that i will call. but my mind kept on wandering around thinking if am i not really a burden?

or baka masyado ko lang talagang kinikimkim yung nararamdaman ko to the point i burst out and i can't control myself but cry.

damn timotheo.. what did you do to me?

napailing ako sa naisip at kinuha ang phone sa kung saan ito nakalagay. i pressed call.

roseanne
ringing...

"hello.." mahina kong sambit. i heard giggles from the background. i gently smiled.

"gaga, i-loud speaker mo dali!" it was lily.

"where will we meet?" pormal kong tanong saka tumayo para pumuntang banyo at tignan ang sarili sa salamin.

"you're so formal, jianna.." jane exclaimed. napatikhim ako at bahagyang tumawa.

"we're here sa coffee club, ji.. we'll wait for you!" roseanne said.

i nodded as if they're here. "i'll be there in 10 minutes. hanap lang akong isusuot ko.." she said okay and ended the call.

i chose a simple outfit na pasado sa vibes ng coffee club. i wore my sling bag. bahagya kong inayos ang buhok ko saka lumabas.

nakarating ako ka agad sa sinabing location ni roseanne. i saw them immediately nang marinig ko ang malakas na tawa ni lily.

jane and roseanne pouted while lily came to hug me.. tight. sumali rin sa yakap yung dalawa.

"i.. i missed you three.." mahinang sambit ko.

i indeed missed them. sobra.

"upo na dali!" jane said and sat beside
where i sat. "i ordered your favorites." she smiled at me.

"so.. while waiting.. mind telling us what happened?" roseanne added. napatitig ako sa kanya. her gazes soften. "please jianna.. don't think you're a burden to us. we aren't your friends for nothing.. we'll always be here for you. alam mo yun." aniya saka lumapit pa.

i told them everything. lahat lahat. mula sa pag iyak ko, pagdadahilan ko para lang hindi ulit tumama sa paningin ko ang imahe niya at nung babaeng kasama niya.

he started to not talk to me and just be with faith.. "suddenly, i felt like all my love, care, concerns were nothing for him." theo started to treat me like i am not his best friend. his ever caring best friend. the one who'll do everything for him.

i sighed and felt my eyes watered.. again. mabilis kong pinalis ang luha ko saka tumititig sa kanila isa isa. i smiled.

"you like him, don't you?" i stared at jane. napatitig ako sa tinuran niya.

lily interrupted. "let me rephrase that, jane. she loves him." aniya, correcting lily.

correct. right. dahan dahan akong tumango saka yumuko. roseanne giggled and hugged me. "i thought you wouldn't realize you do love him.." aniya saka tumitig sa akin at ngumiti.

"halata naman sa kilos mo noon." ani lily. "you just don't want to realize na mahal mo talaga.."

"enough.. i'm not planning to tell him anyway." their eyes widened. "what? it'll eventually go away.."

"why not?" roseanne asked. she sounds sad. kahit noon, they love to tease me and theo.

"he's happy with faith. saka i don't want to ruin his happiness kaya.." i told them. "you know i only want what's best for him.."

jane shook her head. "you're his best choice, jiya.." napalingon ako sa kanya. "out of all the long list of options he has. i am sure you're his number one choice... i'll make sure of that."

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