Euphonies of Bleeding Strings

Chapter 5

"Eschalles Usha Asmarind!" Aniya habang tumawtawa parin. "This is the first time I heard you curse! Impressive! Ulitin mo nga!" 

"Tangina mo Glyde!" Malutong na mura ko sakanya.

I can't help it! This is the only way to burst my anger. I do not want to curse but this is too much.

Glyde were still laughing. Yung tipo ng tawa na mahahawa ka talaga kaya imbes na magalit ako, hindi ko mapigilan tumawa rin. At nang wala na kaming magawang tawa dahil sa kakapusan ng hininga ay sumandal kami sa upuan sabay hingang malalim.

"I was just teasing you Challes. I know! Yung ganda mo hindi pang third-party no."

Wait, what? "So you mean they broke up?" 

Kinuha niya ang pink niyang tumbler sa bag niya at uminom ng tubig. While drinking, she slowly nodded. "I heard they broke up three weeks ago." Aniya habang tinatakpan ang tumbler niya. "Shanelle keep insisting there was a third party, but clearly there's none. Hindi niya lang talaga matanggap na hiniwalayan siya kaya naghahanap ng masisisi." Giit niya sabay sulyap sakin. What's that glance for?! "You know that guy Rubid. He was never serious! He do not take relationships seriously. Para sakanya, ang relasyon ay para lang isang palaman sa buhay." 

So for him relationships are just like stuffing in bread? Kasi kahit walang palaman, the bread could still be eaten. Kahit walang babae sa buhay niya, he could still go on with his life. He's the worst. "And I do not even have the slightest intention to be linked with him. The car's tire was flat, and he's there in the shop." I explained, tinaasan lamang ako ng kilay ni Glyde. "So I hop in on his motorbike to arrive at school on-time!"

Pinanliitan niya ako ng mata. I chuckled. "Akala ko ba naniwala ka na hindi ako ang other girl?" This liar-evil girl.

"I mean, yes I believe you in that case! Pero I doubt your reason. You could have ride a tricycle."

I rolled my eyes. "I tried! Pero puno ng pasahero lahat ng duamaang tricycle. Saan mo ako pauupuin ha? Sa gulong?" I laughed with the thought if me sitting on the tire. 

She sighed. "Fine. Reason justified!" she exclaimed. "Wait, but why did you asked me how much is the fare?"

"He told me there was a fare Glyde! Hindi raw yon libreng sakay."

And we both laughed.  

"That was funny," she uttered in the middle of her laughs.

I rolled my eyes. He is funny.

We decided to change the topic and discussed the examination. "I studied so much for that fucking exam. Kapag mababa talaga scores ko magrerebelde na ako." Banta niya.

"Ako nga rin eh. Hindi ako sure if mataas ba makukuha kong scores. Final examination pa naman, malaking impact ito sa grades natin. For sure, they'll compare my scores with Joan na naman." I sighed. Kailan pa kaya nila ma re-realize na Joan and I are different? We excel in different fields. Joan is Joan. Challes, is just....Challes.

"Hoy, speaking of Joan. Magkatabi kami kanina sa exam diba?" 

I nodded and asked why.

"I can sense that she was having a hard time with the examination." Nakangisi niyang banggit. This girl is so mean, what's good about that anyway? "She even asked me for answers!" Hindi makapaniwala niyang sabi. "I cannot believe it! Joan the number 1 is asking Glydale the number 8 for answers?" She said with disbelief.

"Glydale. Don't talk like that," Saway ko sakanya. "And you did gave her the answers?"

She nodded. Thank God! Nakakaawa naman si Joan, siguro stress na sya sa dami ng extra-curricular activities niya kaya hindi niya na magawang mag study. 

"Joke lang! Ano ako si Challes na tanga? I told her I do not know the answers." Ang sama talaga nito. "Challes wake up! Kayang kaya mo naman siyang lamangan no."

My phone beeped. I received a text from Joan. 

From: Joan

Manong is here na. Wru?

Nilingon ko si Glyde. "I do not want to build a competition with my cousin, you know that." Seryoso kong sabi. Kah

Ngumiwi siya. "But there has always been a competiton between you two from the very beginning. She keeps on winning because you always let her. Tapos naglulugmok ka sa lungkot?"

I'm afraid to admit that Glyde's right.

Since then, my parents would look up on Joan and would look down on me just because I always got the second nor third spot, and there's Joan who were always the first. Joan always got the compliment and I got the discouragement. Minsan sumasagi sa isip ko na sinasadya din ni Joan. Naririnig naman niya lahat ng pagkukumpara sa aming dalawa pero bakit hindi siya umiiwas? Pero alam ko, alam ko din sa sarili ko na hindi yun' gustong mangyari ng pinsan ko. It's just that my parents were too much. 

"I heard something about you and Rubid.." ika niya habang nakasandal sa windshield ng sasakyan. She were playing her phone, I think  it's a cooking game. "Ang hirap naman ng level na to'!" She shouted out of frustration.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. "What have you heard about me and..." I gulped. Bakit parang ang hirap banggitin ng pangalan niya ngayon? "Rubid.." I am curious if just like Glyde she would say that I am the third party.

Pinatay niya yung phone niya at humarap sakin. "Well, manong already told me the truth.." aniya sabay sulyap ka manong na nag da-drive. "Siguraduhin lang nila talaga na wala akong ibang maririnig na mas worst sa chismis nila tungkol sayo." Napakurap kurap ako sa sinabi niya. 

She's really like a big sister to me, kaya ayoko magtanim ng sama ng loob sa kanya. "I am maintaining my prim, classy, and proper image. Once they got the single nerve on me, concerning you with this issue, hindi ako magdadalawang isip na sabunutan sila." Aniya sabay halakhak.

"There's no need for you to do that Joan. It's fine! Kung ano man maririnig mo then do not let it bother you. Lilipas din naman yan." I gave her a sweet smile as I assured her.

She rolled her eyes and mimicked me. "You know me Challes," she paused for awhile and smirked "Hindi mo ako mapipigilan sa mga ganyang bagay, lalo na pag dating sayo." Giit niya sabay pisil ng pisngi ko.  

Now tell me, how can I hate her?