When Our Wives Are Not Around (Set B)

CHAPTER 363 - ROSE

“Actually, batchmate kami ni Akihiro. Sabay kami na gum-raduate. Iyun nga lang, sa magkaibang course. Aki’s on engineering while ako naman, Mass Communications. Same with Kirin. Uh, I even saw your proposal to Aki during the graduation. It is quite unique to see a girl proposing to a guy. Nice one, Rose.”

Rose smiles as she nodded. Lance introduced his self to her and she was able to absorb everything he had said on her. Naibaling niya ang kanyang tingin kay Kirin. Hindi ito makatitig sa kanya. She finds it weird. Parang may tinatago si Kirin sa kanya. Kirin seems to be holding back.

“Kirin, is Lance your boyfriend?” tanong ni Rose dito.

“Ha?” Bumakas ang pagkabigla sa mukha ni Kirin. Tila wala ito sa sarili.

“Ah yes,” sagot ni Lance. Hinawakan nito ang kanang kamay ni Kirin na nasa ilalim ng table. “I’m his boyfriend.”

Tumanggo ulit si Rose. Napatingin siya kay Nikki na nasa tabi niya. Nakita niya ang pagaalala sa mukha nito. Sobrang nalalayo na sila sa totoong pakay nila ngayon.

“Uh, Kirin and Lance. This is my friend…” Sobrang nahirapan si Rose nang sabihin niya ang salitang iyun bilang pagpapakilala kay Nikki. Friend? They’re not even close. Pero ayos lang, that’s only for formalities. Ayaw niya rin naman ding ma-out-of place si Nikki sa usapang ito lalo na’t pareho lang naman sila ng pakay ngayon. Ang malaman kung sino ang kabit ni Aki at Helix.

“She’s Nikki. Housemate din namin siya. We’ll dati. Aki and I are planning to move kasi.”

Parehong napatingin si Kirin at Lance kay Nikki. They bow a little infront of her. Ganoon din naman ang ginawa ni Nikki.

Nagkaroon ng panandaliang katahimikan sa pagitan nilang apat. Walang may alam kung ano dapat ang susunod na sasabihin.

“Uh, Kirin.” Rose initiates. “The thing I asked you on the call….” Natigilan siya when Lance cuts her off.

“I have heard everything you ask from my girlfriend,” ani Lance. Napatingin si Rose kay Kirin. Yumuko lang ito. Napatingin siya sa may baba nilang dalawa ni Lance. Rose perceives that Kirin is holding tightly the right hand of her boyfriend. Tila pinipigilan nitong magsalita pa ng magsalita si Lance.

“Miss Rose, I know this may sound impolite, but I hope you won’t ask Kirin the same thing again. It’s yours and Akihiro’s problem. I hope you and him will solve it alone.”

Nakagat ni Rose ang ibabang labi niya. Kumurap-kurap ang mga mata niya. She feels very embrassed.
“Kirin, Lance.” Tinaas niya ang mukha niya. Nakasalubong ng mga mata niya ang nagaalalang tingin ni Kirin at pati na ang desididong mga titig ni Lance. “What would you do when your partner confessed to you that they had been cheating on you? Pero ayaw niyang sabihin sa inyo ang dahilan kung bakit niya ginawa ‘yun at kung sino ang pinalit niya sa’yo? It might be very shameful to admit pero iyun ang nangyayari sa amin ni Nikki ngayon. Aki admitted that he been cheating on me at ganun ang asawa ni Nikki na si Helix. And it is just very odd because Helix and Aki had become closed friends lately at sabay pa silang nanloko sa amin.” Huminga ng malalim si Rose “Pero ayos lang. Mali ko rin naman talaga na humingi ako ng tulong kay Kirin. She’s just 17 years’ old. That’s why I understand your stance, Lance.”

Lance nodded. “I hope you’ll fix you issues with your partners. At kapag nalaman niyo na kung sino ang mga kalaguyo nila, I hope you’ll already abandon them. Ang mga manlolokong katulad ni Helix at Akihiro ay hindi dapat binibigyan ng pagkakataon. I can attest to that because I grew up from a father who is a cheater. My mother gave him a chance pero paulit-ulit lang nitong sinisira ang tiwala niya. Thank you for the lunch.”