Against All Odds, Still You

Odd 25: She or She?

A S H

I encountered a girl last January, right after the first day of New Year. I guess she's a teen and she insisted that I know herㅡthat she's my best friend. She even hugged me in a public place!

"Yngrid, hindi mo ba talaga kilala 'yung Jane Piarre na 'yon? Pa'no niya ba 'ko nakilala? Gano'n na ba 'ko katanyag?" I asked her the same question in the past months. Hindi na naulit 'yung aksidenteng pagkikita namin ng batang 'yon at hindi ko pa rin malaman-laman kung paano niya ako nakilala.

"I don't know that kid too, Asharlie." and she looked so pissed now.

"Yngrid, nagtataka lang namanㅡ"

"Hindi ko nga alam, okay?! Stop asking ne that damn question! Just fucking forget it!" inis na inis na sagot niya sa 'kin. Tumayo siya at lumabas ng kwarto ko. Ugh. She's mad at me again.

I decided to go after her. Susuyuin ko lang. Baka hindi na naman ako niyan kausapin hanggang bukas. And I can't stand that thingㅡmy girlfriend being mad at me.

Yes. Girlfriend ko na siya. Sinagot ko siya two months ago, February 10.

"Yngrid, sorry na. Curious lang naman ako." I apologized. Her back is facing me dahil nagtitimpala siya ng kape. At gaya ng dati kapag galit siya, hindi niya 'ko pinapansin. "Kendrick naman e."

"O, LQ na naman kayo?" tanong ng kadarating na si Ate. Nilingon ko siya at tumango. "Hmm. Because of whom?"

"The kid I encountered last three months." I answered sadly. Ngumiti si Ate at tinapik ako sa balikat.

"Baby sis, kaya ganyan ang girlfriend mo, dahil ang batang 'yon ang magiging lead para magkita kayo ng kaniyang greatest rival."

"Shut the fuck up, Dhane!" nagulat ako nang biglang sumigaw ng pagkalakas-lakas si Yngrid.

"Ate naman e. Mas ginalit mo pa siya." nanlulumo kong bulong sa kaniya.

"Do you love your girlfriend, Ash?"

"Oo naman po, Ate. Mahal na mahal ko siya." okay? What's with my sister?

"Kahit maalala mo 'yung mga nawala mong alaala?"

"What? Anong nawalang alaala? Teka ngaㅡ"

"Just answer the question." matigas niyang utos. Hays, I'll just pretend that I really lost my memories.

"Whatever it is on my past, I guess I will leave it there. Kung konektado pa rin ako sa mga 'yon, e di puputulin ko na." mas lumawak pa ang ngiti ni Ate na nakatingin pa rin kay Yngrid. At ang huli ay tila nagulat. Okay?

"See, Alezandra?" medyo humakbang na 'ko paatras dahil alam kong magkakasagutan na sila. "There's nothing to worry about. Nagtagumpay ka. Kasintahan mo na siya ngayon at sobra siyang in love sa 'yo."

"Hindi mo 'ko naiintindihan, Dhane! She's her first! She's the one who originally holds her heart! There is no certainty if I still remain in her heart when she sees the first person she fell in love with before some of her memories disappears! I'm fucking afraid, Dhane! I'm afraid that she'll leave me because her feelings for Yanna does not changed!" Yngrid bursts into her emotions. Her tears are freely flowing from her beautiful eyes down to her soft cheeks. Pero sa halip na intindihin ang umiiyak kong kasintahan, tumatak sa utak ko ang pangalang Yanna. Who the hell is that?!