Stuck At The 9th Step

CHAPTER 58 : CAPS

Ren Delgado doesn't have balls. He let himself lose. Wala pa sa dulo ng laban, bumitaw na agad. Tumindi ang pagkaayaw ko sa kanya. I'll make sure Rhea wouldn't choose him. Di baleng sa ibang lalaki basta hindi sa kanya.

So, I went back to Cambridge. Pumupunta rin ako sa California. I got closer to Anne Martin because of Rhea. Minsan, tumatawag si Rhea na magkasama kami ng bestfriend niya.

"Hindi ko inakalang magiging close kayo ni Rhea." Anne told me. "I mean, hindi 'yon mahilig makipagkaibigan sa lalaki. Sa kahit kanino. She was an anti-social. Piling tao lang ang nilalapitan."

"You know her well, huh?"

Anne smiled cheekily. "Of course. Bestfriend ko, eh."

"Tell me more about her. Does she hate guys?"

Anne chuckled. "She wants to be a guy actually but she hated just one particular guy back then."

"Who?"

"You know who. Her ex. But eventually, nahulog siya sa taong pinakaaayawan at pinakaiinggitan niya."

"I don't want to talk about that asshole."

"Wala kang magagawa, Shinn. Her story was 70% filled by Ren Delgado. He has a great part in her life." Oh, I already know that. If that's the case, forgetting is next to impossible. No wonder, Rhea didn't force herself to get him out of her system. I could recall the times na binanggit niya sa aking gusto niya na magmove on pero hindi niya kailanman sinabi sa akin na kakalimutan niya ang ex niya.

Bumalik lang ako sa New Zealand nang malaman kong balak pauwiin ni Tito Robi si Rhea sa Pilipinas. Rex told me first. Saka lang ako sinabihan ni Rhea nang dumating ako sa New Zealand.

She gets better but I know she's not totally over him. The improvement is finally noticeable but her doctor gave me warnings. It may only last for days to months. Hindi daw pangmatagalan ang pagbawi ni Rhea. It's all temporary. Maaaring magbago ito kapag nakita niya na ulit si Ren, ang taong dahilan ng depression niya. I kept in touch with the Ramirez guy. Madalas siyang makibalita tungkol kay Rhea and I gave him enough details. Kahit papaano ay may pakinabang ako sa kanya. The man cares.

I want to confirm her doctor's prognosis. Kung totoo man, gusto ko na ring magharap ulit sila ni Ren. Baka sakaling matauhan ang taong 'yon sa ginawa niya kay Rhea. I really hope she could make a better impression. I believe she's tougher than before. Dapat magsisi ang taong gumawa no'n sa kanya.

We planned to go  in the countryside pero hindi natuloy dahil nga uuwi na siya sa Pilipinas. Her father keeps on convincing her to work permanently in Phil.

"You don't want to go back? You don't want to see your father?"

"Anong klaseng tanong 'yan? Of course, gusto ko makita si Papa, Shinn. But my work is here. Kuya Rex is here. Gusto ko nga sanang si Papa na lang ang pumunta rito. I'm currently busy."

"Yeah. But you can't deny that Tito Robi's offer is quite good and the deal will raise your firms digit. That's fair enough."

She gave up a long sigh. "Nasanay na ako rito, ngayon pa ako aalis?"

"You should go back." She stared at me for a long moment. I grinned.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Nothing. I just want you to go back."

Face your fears now, feisty. It's time for vengeance. You should face him now. At certain times, she could really convince me. Pero iba pa rin ang sinasigaw ng instincts ng taong tulad ko. If she can't fight, then I will. I'm not very forgiveable. Kung sana ay hindi na lang pumunta ang taong 'yon, walang tsansa na magtagpo ang landas namin at hindi sana ako manggagalaiti sa kanya. Hindi ko nakalimutan yung gabing walang ni isang ginawa si Ren Delgado para maitama ang mali niya. He just left. That's it.