Through Secrets Unveiled

Chapter Twenty-Eight - Extra Mile

"STOP acting tough now, Stacey. The show is already over. He cannot read minds. He cannot read between your lies," mahinahong patuloy ni Sondra, mapang-unawa kung magsalita.

"Lies?"

What was Sondra talking about?

"I know you," matamlay nitong ngiti. They have been together for many years, Stacey knew that that smile was only Sondra's way of masking a creeping tension inside her.

Sondra continued, "You always act or behave in a way that you think Renante will like. Pero sa tagal niyo nang magkakilala, pagkatapos, you're both living together na, imposibleng hindi niya mahalata ang ginagawa mo. That's like lying to him, Stacey. You, pretending to be something that you're not, because you think Renante will like you if you act like someone you think he likes... when you act in ways you think that will meet his standards."

"Oh, shut up," she scoffed, looking away.

"Bago ka pa pumunta rito, sinabihan na ako ni Kylie."

Gulat na napalingon siya kay Sondra.

"Nakiusap siya na... ako ang pumunta rito ngayon para sa 'yo. Hindi kasi siya makakapunta rito."

Ayaw niyang maniwala. Dinampot ni Stacey ang cellphone na iniwang nakakalat sa mesa at sinilip iyon.

Walang text messages, chats, o missed calls.

"Kylie could have told me first, kung hindi siya makapupunta."

"Maybe, she did not tell you. Kasi baka hindi ka tumuloy kapag nalaman mong ako ang makakausap mo. And I bet, she's worried you'll do something crazy, if you find out beforehand na hindi siya makapupunta rito... na wala kang makakaramay. Lalo na at si Renante na naman ang pinoproblema mo."

Tumalim ang nagdududa niyang tingin kay Sondra.

"Ni hindi ko nga na-mention kay Kylie kung bakit gusto ko makipag-meet sa kanya."

"Look," Sondra smiled faintly again, "Kailan ka ba dalasang nagyayayang makipagkita kay Kylie all these years? Hindi ba, kapag siya lang ang available na pwede mong makausap tungkol sa problems mo kay Renante?"

She suddenly felt bad. The aftertaste gave her a mix of resentment and guilt.

"Why do you all have to always vilify me? I just confronted you about Renante before, ako na agad ang masamang kaibigan. When you go crazy in nightclubs, ako ang laging pinapagalitan ni Maximillian at Renante, kasi ako itong pabayang kaibigan. Kaibigan na nagtotolerate ng mga kalokohan. Isang bad influence. And now, you're implying that I am what? A user? Na nakikipagkita lang ako kay Kylie kapag may kailangan lang ako sa kanya?"

"You don't have to raise your voice, Stace," malumanay nitong pakiusap.

"Why can't I? Am I not allowed now to have emotions?" Stacey seethed.

"Hindi sa ganoon, Stace—" Sondra was cut-off by her own gasp upon seeing Stacey stand up from her seat. "Please, Stacey, don't go."

Humigpit ang pagkakahawak ni Stacey sa kanyang smartphone habang inuusog ng likuran ng mga binti ang upuan bago lisanin ang mesa. Mabilis siyang hinabol ni Sondra.

"Stacey, I didn't want to argue with you or anything. Pakiusap naman, confide with me! Akala ko ba okay na tayo?"

Before she reached the stairs that lead to the ground floor, Stacey stopped. Hinarap niya si Sondra.