Concealed Truth

21

“ Kala ko naman okay na lahat.” sabi ni Tri. I asked him and Alex for a few drinks. Di naman mahagilap si Rex dahil may flight na naman ito.

“ Akala ko din eh.. Jho and I were okay but things just have to happen and eto ako ngayon, gulong-gulo na naman yung utak ko.” sabi ko sabay tungga ng beer na hawak ko.

FLASHBACK

We went inside the car to have a talk. Dito ko lang siya makakausap ng kaming dalawa lang saka pag kase nasa loob nila kame eh inuutusan siya kaya baka hindi ko masabi ang dapat kong sabihin.

“ Okay ka lang ba?” she asked me. Napasinghap ako and shook my head.

“ Akala ko okay ako. I tried really hard Jho. I just… I don’t want to hurt you…”

“ Ivan h--hindi kita maintindihan. Ano bang nangyayari sayo?” pagtataka niya.

I heaved a deep sigh before I looked at her. Jhoanna was the one I want. Or so I thought she was…

“ Akala ko dahil sa galit ko sa kanya, mawawala yung pagmamahal na nararamdaman ko. Akala ko, kapag binuhos ko lahat sayo, makakalimutan rin ng sistema kong mahal ko siya pero bakit ganun? Tangina in just a snap of a finger bumabalik lahat ng nararamdaman ko para sa kanya.”

I was already crying when I notice that she was also crying with me. Sobrang sakit na makita yung babaeng gusto mo na nasasaktan dahil sa kagaguhan mo. Pero kung itatago ko naman yung ginawa kong kagaguhan sa kanya, mas matinding sakit pa yung pwede niyang maranasan dahil sakin.

“ Kagabi… she came to my place and was crying. Lasing na lasing siya at ayaw magsalita kung anong problema niya. Nagulat na lang ako when… I was shocked when she started kissing me. Jhoanna.. I’m not saying this things para saktan kita, God knows that I really like you. Pero I’m saying this dahil ayokong sa iba mo pa malaman dahil alam kong mas masasaktan ka, Jho, believe me. Gustong gusto talaga kita. Pero ngayon kase, naguguluhan ako sa mga nangyayari sakin. I’m looking at you right now pero Maddie was the one whose on my mind. I’m sorry if I hurt you. I guess I’m not the man you truly deserve dahil sa mga issues ko sa buhay…”

EOFB

“ You know what sucks?” Tri asked. Napalingon kami ni Alex sa kanya and he just shrugged and continue.

“ Love.”

“ Love?”

“ Oo. Kase tamo ha, Ivan loved Maddie. Wala namang tangang di alam yun. But his attention was diverted when he met Jhoanna. They got along just fine and he even started courting her, ayun na yun eh. Makakamoved-on na dapat tong unggoy na to. And in just a few more notch, mamahalin na rin nila ang isa’t-isa pero Maddie came back to the picture and had to fuck things up especially with Ivan’s head. Sempre what do we expect to happen? Yung love ni Ivan para sa kanya na akala niya nawala na, ayun! Mas mabilis pa sa pagragasa ng baha pag may bagyo. Tangina bakit kase ang rupok-rupok mo dun sa taong yun eh bulag naman.”

“ Aminin na kasi natin dude. Na no matter how many girls Ivan tries dating, his love for Maddie will never be gone. Na kahit anong galit yung maramdaman niya towards her sa kanya pa din rurupok to. Diba he was travelling abroad for 7 years, pero anong nangyari when he came back? Si Maddie pa din naman yung mahal niya ah. So what made us think na mapapantayan ni Jho yung feelings ni Ivan for Maddie?” Alex said. Natahimik lang ako while he and Tri was discussing about this matter.

“ Pero Lex, di naman pwedeng si Maddie na lang lagi.”

“ Alam ko yun Tri. Pero it’s Ivan’s feelings naman eh. He should be in control of what he wants. Kung sa point of view natin, he should just go and pick Jho, paano naman kung si Maddie pa din yung gusto niya? Diba?”