Torn in Two (Elite Girls 2)

Chapter 49 - Choice

Bullsh*t. And she expects me to believe that? Bakit hindi siya nagpaalam sa akin na lalabas lang siya? Napaka-random naman na bigla na lang niyang naisipang magpahangin.

Heck. I am not that stupid. They planned to meet, that's the truth.

"Damian said he got worried ever since he saw me crying at our party. He demanded to know what happened and I ended up telling him. Hindi ko sinasadya pero nung nahulaan niya, hindi agad ako naka-react and that somehow confirmed his theories. He was so angry at you, gusto ka niyang sugurin, but gladly I managed to calm him down. I told him I just overreacted and that's when you called my phone."

Tuwing naaalala ko ang nangyari nang gabing iyon ay nagagalit ako sa sarili ko. That was a first for me. I had never done that to any of my ex girlfriends. Kahit kailan wala akong natakot at nasaktang babae, si Iris lang.

I find it hard to forgive myself because of that.

"Say something. Please," pagmamakaawa ni Iris.

I exhaled. "I already know you met him."

She lightly gasped. "H-how?"

"Kakagaling ko lang sa CR nang tumawag ako sa'yo. Pumasok pa ako sa loob upang i-check ang mga cubicles. You weren't there but it didn't cross my mind that you were lying. I was naïve to even think that maybe there are other bathrooms at the area. Aalis na sana ako nang makita ko kayo mismo ni Damian."

Biglang kumatok ang mga maid nila na may dalang juice at merienda. Pinatong nila iyon sa table na namamagitan sa amin ni Iris ngayon, pagkatapos ay lumabas na rin sila.

"Why didn't you say something? Bakit nung bumalik ako, tahimik ka lang?" nagtatakang tanong niya.

"What do you want me to do? Argue with you in front of everyone?" Huminga ako ng malalim dahil tumataas ang boses ko. "Iris, talaga bang hindi mo kayang layuan ang kapatid ko? Are you so in love with him that you're willing to throw us away?"

Iris stood up to sit beside me. She held my hands as she shook her head. "Trust me, I've been avoiding him with the best that I can."

"Then why were you with him?!"

"I told you, he followed me. But I told him to leave. At nang hindi niya ako iniwan ay ako na ang naglakad palayo."

Inalis ko ang pagkakahawak niya sa mga kamay ko. "Paano ako maniniwala sa mga sinasabi mo e simpleng bagay kung nasaan ka, nagawa mo pang ilihim sa'kin?"

"I'm sorry if I lied. Natakot kasi ako sa pwede mong gawin. You once lost it, Dash. For a few minutes, you forgot who you're with. You forgot who I am in your life. Ang tanging nasa isip mo lang ng gabing iyon ay malamangan si Damian. Pumasok sa isip ko na kapag nalaman mong magkasama kami, baka hindi lang ako ang masaktan mo."

Mas lalo yatang naginit ang ulo ko. "You're that worried about Damian?"

"No, I'm worried you might hurt yourself too."

Tumayo ako at lumayo sa kanya. I looked out their huge wall window to calm my nerves.

Ewan ko. Gulong gulo na ang isip ko. Pwedeng nagsasabi siya ng totoo pero pwede ring hindi.

I stayed silent for a couple of moments before I decided to talk to her again.

Nang lumingon ako sa kanya ay kalmado na ang pananalita ko.

"Naaalala mo nung nagaway noon dahil hindi ko sinabi sa'yo na kasama ko ang ex ko sa Academy? Natatandaan mo pa ba 'yung mga salita mo na dapat wag kitang pinapangunahan? Sabi mo sa'kin, bakit ka magwo-worry kung wala naman kaming ginagawang mali ni Charmaine. I remember your words clearly. You're asked me not to lie again and so I did but why can't you do the same? Paulit ulit tayo nang nagiging problema, Iris."