He Was My Cousin

Chapter 16

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Chapter 16
Candy

"Should we watch a movie?" tanong ni Evo nang bumalik na sila ni Hazel sa may living room. He directed the question towards me. Siguro ay napansin niyang para akong loner sa single seat sofa na kinauupuan ko.

"Kayo bahala..." sabi ko na lang. Uuwi na rin naman ako maya-maya. May pasok pa bukas. I'll also talk with Rochelle tomorrow and I need to have the energy to do so. Baka kaya pa naman namin siya kumbinsihin ni Lance.

"Ay, Aya!" tawag sa akin ni Vienne na para bang ngayon lang niya naalala na nandito nga pala ako. "Kumusta pala?" Akala ko tapos na 'yung kumustahan phase namin.

"I'm okay," sabi ko nang naka-ngiti.

"If I knew you'd go here, I would have invited you to our outreach program!" Ngumiti siya. "Para rin magkakilala kayo ni Mommy. Gusto ko kasi sana makipag-partner sa school mo para sa tech voc programs na gusto naming i-launch for PWDs."

Agad siyang sinaway ni Aries. "Nagsisimula pa lang ang school niya. She has to take it slow. Ni hindi pa nga siya nakakahanap ng pamalit na accountant. You'd just make her head ache, Vienne." Thanks, Aries. It would have been harder if it was I who had to explain that to her.

"You need an accountant?" tanong ni Vienne.

"Yeah, her accountant resigned with a short notice," sagot ni Paolo. "We want to help her, but we can't find someone decent enough."

"Si Jasper!" maharot na hinampas ni Vienne ang braso ni Paolo. It was as though she thought Paolo missed out on that best choice.

"Jasper? 'Yung kaibigan mo?" Kumunot ang noo ni Paolo. "Noooo," he winced.

What?! Again?

"Tangina, Paolo? HR ka ba ni Aya?" tawang-tawa na sabi ni Nico.

"He's really experienced with private accounting, Aya," sabi ni Vienne. "I'll give you his contact number."

"I said no, Vienne," matigas na sabi ni Paolo.

"What's your problem, man?" tanong ni Jethro. "Kanina kay Jake, ngayon naman sa kaibigan ni Vienne. Lahat na lang ayaw mo. Ikaw na lang kaya ang maging accountant niya?" Nagtaas ng kilay si Jethro.

Paolo looked away. "That Jasper is a dumbass. Tapos parang lagi siyang naghahamon ng away 'pag tinitignan ako. Of course I need to find someone who's good. Tito June will kill me if I recommend a trash to Aya."

"He's not a trash!" apila ni Vienne para sa kaibigan.

Kinagat ko ang labi ko. We'll get to nowhere. Huminga ako ng malalim. "Okay lang," sabi ko sa kanila. "'Wag niyo nang problemahin 'yon. Si Lance na ang bahala ro'n. We'd find someone soon for sure," I smiled to assure them.

--

"Alam mo ba si Ynna, buntis na?" tanong ni Vienne kay Paolo. Narito kaming anim nina Riyu, Ate Sky, Aries, Vienne at Paolo sa may garden.

"Ynna?" Paolo repeated. "Sinong Ynna?"

"Ynna Fuentes! Wow, nakalimutan mo na siya?" she asked, her voice playful. "Samantalang dati no'ng nasa auditing firm pa tayo, hinahabol-habol mo 'yon kahit ibang cluster na siya dahil naalala mo kamo si Candy sa kanya."

What the fuck? Parang bigla akong nabuhusan ng malamig na tubig. Now there's Vienne. Tapos may Ynna, then Candy raw. Who are those people and how many girls did he have after me exactly?

Agad ko rin namang sinaway ang sarili ko. Alam ko naman. I didn't have the right to complain. Ni wala nga akong karapatang makialam. Maybe I just find it unfair that while I was crying for him, he was mingling with other girls. But then again, I remembered it's I who left him after all.