Monasterio Series 8: Nights in Casa Vallejo

Chapter 12

Pinangdilatan ko siya ng mga mata, natatawa rin naman. Nagpaalam na ako at tuluyan nang tumalikod. I went to the comfort room. Pagpasok ko pa lang ay natanaw ko na si Ruth na nakaharap sa salamin at nagpapahid ng pulang lipstick sa labi niya.

I know for sure that she has already seen me through the mirror. Kaya lang... ayaw niya akong pansinin at alam kong si Terrence ang dahilan.

Huminga ako nang malalim at dumiretso na sa pagpasok. Wala namang tao kung hindi kaming dalawa lang. Kung mag-usap man kami, walang makakarinig.

"Are you mad at me?" I asked.

I stared at my own reflection doing nothing. Habang siya, nakatitig lang rin sa sarili niya sa salamin.

"Why would I get mad? Kasi nagkarelasyon kayo ng lalaking gusto ko?"

I sighed. "Whenever you're telling stories about the man you like so much, I admit that I didn't pay too much attention. Hindi ko naalala ang pangalan, wala akong natandaang detalye, Ruth. Nang makilala ko siya at sabihin mo sa akin na nasa Baguio rin ang Terrence Monasterio na crush mo, wala pa kaming relasyon noon. We were just plain strangers who happened to share the same room."

Tumaas ang kilay niya at sa wakas ay tiningnan na ako sa salamin.

"Shared the same room? Two strangers? What are you then, fuck buddies?"

Hindi ko alam kung paano ko ipapaliwanag sa kaniya ang naging simula namin ni Terrence. At nakakainsulto man ang katotohanang madaling may nangyari sa amin, naiinis pa rin ako sa paraan ng pagkakasabi niya.

"The point here is that I didn't remember that he's the guy you are crushing hard on when he asked me to be in a relationship with him-"

"Wait," she laughed. "Are you seriously telling me that he was the one who wants that relationship you are talking about? I mean, that's Terrence Monasterio! He won't settle to-"

"To an older woman?" taas kilay na tanong ko. "Maging ikaw na kaibigan ko ba ay iinsultuhin ako dahil lang boyfriend ko ang lalaking gustong gusto mo? Are you that shallow and close minded, Ruth?"

Nagbuga siya ng hangin at tuluyan na akong hinarap. Ganoon rin ang ginawa ko. I can clearly see the anger and envy rolling on her smoky eyes. She even placed her hand against her waist as if she knew something that I don't and she's proud of it.

"We are friends for years, Priscilla. I care about you and you know that. Gusto ko man si Terrence pero hindi ibig sabihin ay pag-aawayan na natin siya. I'm not the cheap type, puwede ba..."

Talaga? Pero hindi ba at gagawin mo nga ang lahat para lang mapansin niya?

"I'm sorry if you feel betrayed that I'm in a relationship with the man you adore so much. Pero wala ka rin naman dapat ikagalit dahil labas iyon sa karapatan mo. You are a smart woman, Ruth. Alam kong alam mo iyan." sabi ko.

She swallowed, her lips even pursed. Ramdam ko ang galit na pilit niyang pinipigilan. Am I invalidating her feelings? I don't think so. Nauna siyang nagkagusto pero ako ang mas naunang makilala siya.

Damn it. I hate that we have to argue just because of a man.

"For sure. We're not going to ruin our friendship over this, right?" she smirked. "But let me you tell this, Priscilla. A friendly advice because I'm concern..."

She ambled towards me, closing our distance. Huminto siya sa mismong harapan ko, magkakrus ang mga braso.

"Terrence is a notorious playboy. His women were always playing around his age. Hindi pa ako nakarinig na nakipagrelasyon o landian siya sa mas matanda sa kaniya."

Ngumisi siya na bumuhay ng inis ko. She doesn't look concerned. She's obviously insulting me. At hindi ko lubos maisip na magagawa niyang umakto ng ganito dahil sa nagseselos siya.

I don't want to invalidate her feelings but she was too... immature!

"Please don't let your hopes high, Priscilla. Ayaw kitang makitang umiiyak nang dahil sa kaniya. Dahil iniwan ka niya at pagkatapos ay lalapit ka sa akin. I hate to think it but maybe... he's just seeing you as a challenge. A new flavor he wanted to taste. At sa bandang huli, pagsasawaan rin."

Coming from a friend? That fucking hurts.

I stepped forward, our faces were just a few inches away from each other.

"Ano man ang maging resulta ng pakikipagrelasyon ko sa kaniya, masaktan man ako, labas ka na doon. At kailan ako lumapit sa'yo? Ni minsan ay hindi kita ginulo sa tuwing may problema ako. Wala kang naririnig sa akin. Huwag kang umasta na para bang isa akong malaking abala sa'yo dahil hindi iyon kailanman nangyari..."

Ngumiti ako sa kaniya lalo pa nang makita ang iritasyon na bumabalot sa mga mata niya. I held a few strands of his iron curled hair and twisted around my finger.

I smirked.

"Your dream finally came true. You met him personally," the smirk on my lips grew wilder. "Can I get a thank you?"

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