Between the Rainbow (Strawberries and Cigarettes Series #1)

Chapter 7

Difference

"Wala ka namang kwentang kaibigan!" Sadie's high-pitched tone resonated all throughout the gym as soon as she stepped her foot in.

Malakas ang suntok ko sa punching bag na yumanig nang nagmartsa siya palapit sa akin. I did some kicks of its sides using my leg while I could see in my peripheral vision that she was upset.

"Sinabi kong ilakad mo sa akin, pero bakit napapabalitaan kong magkasama sila ni Verena na nawala sa gabing iyon?! Wala ka talagang kwenta, Brent!" she ranted more while crossing her arms.

I stopped throwing punches and walked to the bench where I had left my things. I crouched down and opened my duffel bag as I pulled the towel out.

"Pag dating ko, wala kana rin! Inuna mo pa mambabae! At ano, si Jade na naman?! Akala ko ba tapos kana roon?! Ano 'yon, nagpapalit palit kana?! Tingnan mo, wala ka kasing kwenta kaya kinakarma kana!" Sadie's high pitched voice kept ring against my eardrum.

But my own thoughts were so loud and defeaning that I couldn't hear a single word she uttered. That's not important anyways...

Sa sobrang iritasyon ko na umalis sa condo unit, halos ilabas ko dito sa gym.

I reached for the mineral water and opened it. Tinungga ko iyon ngunit biglang sumabog ang tubig sa mukha ko at pumasok pa yata sa ilong ko kaya nauubo ko iyong inilayo.

"Ano?! Ano?! Nakikinig ka ba?!" sigaw niyang muli.

Sadie squeezed my water! Minsan nakakalimutan ko talagang babae ang isang 'to. Maliit naman sana pero lagpas sa katangkaran ko ang ugali.

"You know what? I'm still regretting why I didn't punch your crush in the face earlier. Inaahas ako," I said in a thick voice.

Her eyes widened. "Huh?! So... totoo 'yung sa kanila ni Verena?!"

"You think I'd allow it? Subukan niya nang sira ang mukha niya sa'kin..." pagbabanta ko at nakita ang mukha niya sa isip ko.

I'm not even sure if I could punch that face of his. Makinis. Parang ako pa yata ang manghihinayang kung magkakapasa. Imagine those soft lips having a cut. It's... an... eyesore.

Mas lalo akong nairita sa iniisip at nilagok ang natitirang tubig na muling pinisil ni Sadie kaya halos maubo ako. Papatayin pa yata ako ng isang 'to.

"Anong sira?! Suntukin mo 'yon at lagot ka sa akin!" She glared at me.

Tingnan mo na ang dwendeng ito. Akala mo talaga at may magagawa kung sinuntok ko 'yon. At pasalamat siya, ayokong magkapasa ang mukha niya. He must thank me for having this little patience every time he's in his demonic mode, or else he'd have gotten a broken nose right then.

Sadie didn't stop bugging me. Parang asong buntot nang buntot. She really likes that fucker, huh. At mas mabuting silang dalawa ang magkatuluyan nang mawala sa buhay ko na rin itong babaeng ito dahil yamot na yamot na ako. Sometimes I would question why we're close, but then our friends said she's my counterpart, my girl version. Am I this damn annoying?

"Kasi akin lang dapat siya," she demanded as soon as we went into a nearby coffee shop, and she was behind me whispering like a devil.

Problemado pa nga ako sa allowance ko, dumagdag pa ito.

Umiling ako sa sarili habang naglalabas ng pera para bayaran ang order niya na strawberry cake. Kaya siguro gusto niya si Shiloh kasi parehas sila ng hilig. I could imagine them as a couple. They would pass like those corny couples I cringe at a lot on social media.

"Kaya ako ang ilakad mo kung ayaw mong si Verena ang punta nang punta sa condo mo!" she ranted more.

It irks me. Lalo na't ang huling sinabi ni Shiloh, respetuhin ko raw kung hindi ako gusto ng babae. Anong respeto? Ipipilit ko ang sa amin ni Verena magkamatayan man.