TGIWS: Phoenix Ryler Velasquez's POV (Completed)

Part 12

"Wow, nandito ka pala Nix. Hi, Tita," bati niya kay Tita Grace.

"Hi, Iris," ngiti ni Tita.

"What is she doing here?" bulong ko kay Lala.

She shrugged, confused. Nag-aya nang maupo si Tita Iza kaya wala akong nagawa kundi ang maupo sa tabi ng dalawang kapatid ko. They were too confused why they are here, ang akala nila ay kami kami lang ang magla-lunch.

"Pasensya na if we shared a one table, ito kasing si Iza ay nag-aya!" Tita Grace informed. Mukhang nahalata niyang nagtataka ako. "Anyway, are you still studying in GFS, Iris?"

"Yes po, Tita. After graduating, I am planning to take a BS Tourism," Iris smiled then shifted her eyes at me. "How about you, Nix?"

Hinintay nila ang sagot ko. "I still don't know yet."

"Then you should think about your like, I mean kung sa ano mo nakikita ang sarili mo," Tita Iza said, nakatingin sa akin. "Anyway, medyo matagal pa naman but I think it's better if you are prepared."

I don't know where my future will go. I didn't respond. I felt my phone vibrating. Trevor's name appeared on my screen. Hindi ko sinagot ang tawag. I messaged him instead.

To: Trevor
I'm at the restaurant. Having lunch. Just stay at Dash's room.

"May girlfriend na itong si Nix!" Dinig kong sinabi ni Tita Grace, tapping my shoulder. "First girlfriend niya 'yon, hindi ko pa nakikila pero pakiramdam ko ay mabait. Teka, anak iyon ng Tito Dylan mo, ano?"

Right, girlfriend raw kita, Darlene? Sana totoo nalang, damn. I can't take this delusion of mine.

"Opo, Tita. Kapatid rin ni Darius," sagot ko sabay tingin sa kanila.

Iris' eyes suddenly filled with irritation. She tried to smile at my Auntie but when her eyes looked mine, halos kasuklaman niya na si Darlene. How funny, wala namang ginagawa sa kaniya 'yong tao.

"Really, kaibigan mo si Darius, 'di ba, Iris? Madalas ang batang 'yon sa amin. Ang akala ko pa nga ay sila nitong si Iris, paano ba naman kasi madalas kong makita sa patio na magkasama, magkahawak pa ng kam—"

"We are just friends, Mom. And it was before, we are considering ourselves as friends. Besides, hindi ako pumapatol sa mga user." Humigpit ang hawak ni Iris sa knife.

Suddenly, all of them became curious about what she's talking about. Nahinto na rin si Lala sa pagkain para makinig. My phone vibrates once again. Hinahanap na nila ako sa Hospital.

"Mauuna na po ako, Tita. My friends are waiting at the Hospital." I kissed Tita Grace's forehead then Phoebe and Lala. Tinapik ko naman ang balikat ni Preston. "Tita Iza, I'll go now. Thank you for having lunch with us." Nilingon ko si Tita Grace. "I'm going now, excuse me." I smiled then excused myself.

I know what Iris' talking about. She's saying that Darius used her. Alam ko naman 'yon, iyon ang ginawa niya noon. Ginusto ni Darius na masira ako—kaming lahat by using Iris before. And I think he did. He really broke us. But what happened to me and Iris are different, totoong minahal ko rin siya noon. At masakit na ginawa niya lang 'yon dahil sinabi ni Darius. He really just used her just what I did to Lara, I guess?

Darius and I are really best friends, huh. Marunong gumamit ng tao para lang gantihan ang isa't isa.

"What does it feel to know that Darius is a user just like you, Phoenix?" Iris suddenly blocked my way.

Tiningnan ko siya. "What the fuck are you talking about?"

She gave a smile, a plastic one. "Yes, you and Darius are a user, Nix. You heard me, pareho kayong manggagamit ng kaibigan mo. All I thought na mahal rin ako ni Darius noon kaya pumayag ako sa gusto niya. Na kapag sumunod ako sa kaniya baka pwede niya rin akong mahalin katulad ng ginagawa ko. Pero mali pala, hindi niya rin pala ako kayang mahalin pabalik dahil mula noon hanggang ngayon... iyong namatay niyang girlfriend ang mahal niya. Na ginamit niya lang talaga ako para magantihan ka, dahil katulad niya... you are a user too. Ginamit mo iyong girlfriend niya para lang gantihan siya." She breathed heavily, trying to stop her emotions.