Heartbreak Hotline [ON GOING]

Chapter VI - For Keeps

From: Regina

Andito kaming lima sa garden. Meet us there. XOXO.

Binigay ko rin ang bago kong number kela Regina. They asked for it. Buti pala bumili ako ng bagong SIM.

Naglalakad ako papuntang garden and all eyes are on me! Literally!

"Hey, Brynn!"

"Brianna ang ganda mo!"

"Say hi to Regina for us, please?"

"OMG, how did you get friends with Regina and the others?"

Nakayuko lang akong naglakad. I can't look them in the eye. It's making me uncomfortable.

Nakarating na ako sa garden. Walang tao. Pero kita ko sa di kalayuan sila Regina. Mukhang kami lang ang tao rito.

Ang ganda dito. Ang linis. Ang sarap ng hangin at ang daming magagandang bulaklak. This place is amazing.

"Good. You're here." Biglang sambit ni Gretchen nang mapansin ang presensya ko. She seems...mad. "Brianna please tell me there's an explanation to this. I believe you're a nice person. How can you do this to me?"

"G-Gretchen.. What are you talking about?" Tanong ko. Do they know?

"Brynn, why would you do that? We thought you're our friend!" Biglang sigaw ni Angelica.

"What? I am your friend!" Sigaw ko. Baliw ba sila? Kaibigan talaga nila ako 'no. Kinampihan ko nga sila nung nag-away kami ni Mary eh. I am trying my best to fit in!

"If you are our friend, you won't flirt with Gretchen's boyfriend! Friends don't do that, Brynn." Sigaw ni Carylle. They know.

"Look, I.. I am not flirting with Axl. Hindi na nga kami nag-uusap eh!" Tears started to form around my eyes. They knew. How did they found out? I was trying my best to keep this private. I don't wanna hurt Mary and Harmony, and all other people who love him.

"Kung ganon bakit ikaw ang wallpaper n'ya?" Napatingin ako kay Regina. Ngayon lang s'ya nagsalita mula kanina.

"A-Ako yung wallpaper n'ya? I can't believe he did that." Hindi makapaniwalang sambit ko.

"Yeah, actually hindi lang ikaw eh. Picture n'yong dalawa 'yon. What is with you two!?" Sigaw ni Michelle.

Napatingin ako kay Gretchen na iyak ng iyak. Napapikit ako at naramdaman ko nalang ang pagkawala ng mga luha ko mula saaking mga mata. Mary will never forgive me when she finds out about this.

"A-Axl.. He was my boyfriend. We started dating a long time ago. It was the summer before 8th grade nung niligawan n'ya ako. Dahil gusto ko rin s'ya, sinagot ko s'ya agad. Kahit na alam kong maraming hadlang. Umpisa pa lang ayaw ko na but Axl proved how much he loved me. And I thought it was worth it. We kept our relationship hidden. Ayokong malaman ng mga tao, lalo na ni Mary at ni Kuya Brix. Sabi sakin ni kuya, lumayo ako kay Axl kasi babaero s'ya. I told him that I don't like Axl and we're not dating. Si Mary, araw-araw nag-kukwento sa kung gaano s'ya kapatay na patay kay Axl. Harmony.. She said she doesn't want her brother to date someone. So we hid our relationship. Ang galing nga eh. Isang taon naming natago 'yon. And then, 9th grade, Gretchen happened. It was really funny. Sabi n'ya hindi n'ya na kayang itago yung relasyon namin. Sabi n'ya mahal n'ya daw ako pero tingin n'ya hindi ko pa kayang maghandle ng relasyon kaya nakipagbreak s'ya sakin. Sabi n'ya kaya s'ya nakipagbreak, para hindi na ako masaktan at mahirapan. Haha. But I don't believe him. Naisip ko na baka kaya n'ya lang naman ginawa yun kasi may iba na s'yang nagugustuhan. And heck yeah, I was right! Because 1 week after we broke up, he started dating you, Gretchen. But I made him promise na wag sabihin sa iba na naging kami. So yeah, I stole him from you Gretchen, I stole him!" I said sarcastically. Nagsimula na akong humagulgol. Ako ang nauna pero ako ang nang-agaw? Wow. I can't believe I'm telling this story to them.

"Oh my God, I am so sorry, Brianna. Hindi naman namin alam eh..." Angelica said.

"Brianna... Axl still likes you. You like him too, right? Please don't break his heart. He never stopped loving you. Baka nga kaya lang naging kami kasi gusto n'ya akong pagbigyan eh. What he told you was real. He broke up with you because he thought you need it. Give him a chance, Brynn." Sambit ni Gretchen, pinipigilang umiyak.

"P-Pero.. Please. Itago natin 'to. I don't want anyone to know about us. Mary and I got into a fight recently and if she finds out that I'm lying to her for more than one year, she may never forgive me. Baka magalit rin sakin si Harmony. Please. You have to help me. Keep this a secret for me. Please. I'm your friend, right?" Pagmamakaawa ko. I really hope this stays hidden. I'm trying to forget it.

"Okay. We are gonna keep this a secret. We're doing this because we consider you as our friend, Brynn. Sana kaibigan rin ang tingin mo samin. Please don't listen about what people say about us." Regina said.

Hindi ko alam na matino palang kausap ang R Squad. Akala ko, magagaling lang silang manakit, hindi ko alam na nasasaktan rin pala sila. Today, naramdaman ko na parang tinatrato na talaga nila akong parte ng squad nila. All I need to do is to trust them. I think they're good friends too. Probably better than Mary.

End of Chapter VI...