Isla Verde #2: The Sweet Escape

Kabanata 6

I just sighed.

"For now, pahinga ka na dahil alam kong pagod ka rin sa school. Eat, first. With rice, baby... hindi ka magdadiet." he warned. "Pag maliligo ka, warm water lang, huh. Then, drink milk before bed."

I giggled like a kid. He's always like that before we'd end our call, he'd always tell me what to do before going to bed and sleep. That was my daily routine-before-bed, nasanay na rin ako na ganoon ang ginagawa.

Pagtapos magpaalam sa isa't isa ay ginawa ko ang mga sinabi niya. We were texting, pero hindi ako umaasa na mabilis siyang magreply dahil nagdadrive siya. Ayos lang naman sa akin.

While waiting, I opened my Facebook app. I was brushing my hair, I won't blow dry my hair tonight. Hindi naman kailangan dahil matutulog na rin ako.

Napanguso ako nang makitang online si Reidjan. Radjine, also. But could I sent them a message? Kaya ko ba? Hindi ba nakakahiya? It's been six long months, kinalimutan na ba talaga ako ni Radjine?

I feel sad when I visit her profile, her featured photos had changed. I'm no longer included there, masakit man makita ay natutuwa rin ako na meron na siyang mga bagong kaibigan ngayon.

Hindi ko nakitaan doon ng pictures na nasa bars sila o nag-iinuman, kadalasan sa mga litrato niya ay sa ibang bansa o di kaya'y sa condominium. Her friends are all foreign and looked like they came from a decent family.

I envied.

Damn, I feel like crying while swiping her photos. Dati may album pa kaming sarili doon at may title na 'sisters for life' but now? Wala na iyon. Wala na akong bakas sa kahit saang social account niya.

My heart ached.

Radjine Demetria Cordóva: New friends, new environment. Having a cup of tea with these decent girls.

I shut my eyes tightly.

Decent...

Why does she have to mention that word? Hindi ko alam kung talagang mga disente ang mga iyon o talagang pasaring lang iyon sa akin. Lahat ng nababasa ko sa kanyang post ay puro tumatama sa akin.

Finally, I have a set of educated and decent girls.

Throw what's bad. They won't do anything good for you...

Some palymates were a dirty player. You should know them first and play unfair.

I breathed in, my chest is tightening. Bakit ang sakit, Radjine? Hindi ako nag oopen ng social accounts ko for the past months. Nawalan ako ng oras doon, at alam kong may ganitong mga pasaring si Radjine.

I know her, she would do anything just to feel better. Ngayon kahit hindi niya sabihin ay alam kong apektado pa rin siya sa paghihiwalay namin bilang matalik na magkaibigan.

She may be happy with her new friends and environment, but I know she loves me that she couldn't get over with what just happened between us.

Miski ako naman ay hindi makaalis sa iniwan niyang sakit, pero anong magagawa ko if she hates me now? She hates me to the point that she wants to hurt me, sa mga sinasabi pa lang at pasaring niya ay masakit na sa akin.

She intended to make me feel like I wasn't good enough for her. That I ain't worthy, that I am a bad influence to her and that she could have friends who are way better than me and decent girls.

Iyong hindi siya yayayain sa bars, hindi siya papainumin ng alak at hindi magiging bad influence sa kanya.

Tears pooled my eyes. I bit my lower lip to avoid the tears coming.