Stonehearts 7: Ruby

Fourteen

I gave what he said a thought. Damn, kailangan ko rin ng kasama dahil malamang sa malamang malulungkot lang ako. I mean, the reason why we planned this is to completely forget about Bryce.

"Hindi ka ba busy?" I segued.

"May karapatan din naman akong magpahinga, ano?" he sarcastically replied.

Now, it's my turn to roll my eyes at him. "Okay, sige. Pero dahil napipilitan ako at dahil wala akong choice."

"You really know how to bruise my ego, don't you?" he muttered which I answered with a giggle.

We both enjoyed our meal after. Me, shoving away the remaining memories of Bryce in my mind, while Sage, maintains his silence.

When it's time to get the bill, I argued with Sage to split it but of course being the arrogant, millionaire that he is, hindi niya ako pinayagan.

"Ano bang plano niyo sa Baguio?" tanong niya nang pabalik na kami sa opisina.

Napakibit-balikat ako, "Wala, actually. Aly said that we can go in there blind and just enjoy every moment of it."

Napatango siya, "Ano ba kasi ang iniiwasan mo na hanggang ngayon hindi mo pa rin lubos matakbuhan?"

Sandali akong napatigil sa paghinga at napalingon sa kanya. Pinagbuksan kami ng pinto ng guard at sabay kaming pumasok sa lobby area.

"H-ha?" I croaked, my attempt in acting dumb about what he said.

"Anong ha? I've been observing you for quite some time now. Don't you deny it Ruby Carianne."

I huffed my resignation and lowered my head, "You sound like Aly right now."

"Is it something about that friend you met the night before?"

I felt a bubble of trepidation rose to throat. Buti na lang, people started to greet him as we made our way towards the lift, so I had enough time to stall.

I am dreading that he might push the conversation and go big-brother mode on me but to my surprised he respected my silence over the matter.

"Whatever you're going through, I hope you leave it all in Baguio." he said once more before he left for his office.

I slumped my butt on my chair and stared at the pen I placed on my organizers. 'Di hamak naman na mas maayos ako bago kami nagkita ulit ni Bryce. Everything was so simple then. Sa simpleng pang-sta-stalk lang sa Facebook at Instagram niya solved na ako.

Bakit pa kasi ako nangarap ng higit pa?

I huffed out a sigh and continued with my tasks. When my shift is over, I went straight home since Aly is there waiting for me.

She volunteered to stay with me for the time being, hanggang sa makauwi si mommy galing America. Medyo biglaan din kasi ang alis niya, ang sabi niya lang may kailangan silang ayusin ni daddy.

"Welcome hoooooooooome. . ." bungad sa'kin ni Aly. May hawak pa nga ng basong alak.

"Alyyyyyyy, alak nanaman." Suway ko sa kanya sabay agaw. Sumimangot siya pero hinayaan niya lang ako. "May nangyari bang dapat kong malaman?"

"What made you say that?" she said after she dumped herself on the couch. She patted he space beside her which I immediately claimed.

"Because you only drink when you're upset."

Napabuntong-hininga siya. "I'm upset because I can't go with you to Baguio. Ako pa nag-aya tapos ako 'yong hindi makakapunta."

"Don't beat yourself over it. Naintindihan ko naman."

"Yan 'yong isang nakakainis sa'yo, Arcie. Lahat iniintindi mo, kahit hindi dapat." Pagmamaktol niya.

I shook my head and punched her lightly in the arm, "Eh kasi nga, wala naman akong magagawa. Saka sasamahan naman daw ako ni Sage, kaya hindi na ako mag-isa."

She snapped her head at to me, studying my reaction. ""Yong kwinekwento niyo ni Tita na kalaro mo noon? Mabait ba 'yon? Baka manyak 'yon ah!"

I laughed at her before hugging her tight, "Sage is the big brother I never had. Hindi lang ako nasanay mag-Kuya dahil hindi 'yon uso sa ibang bansa."

"Bakit? Ilang taon na ba 'yon?"

"Twenty seven."

Napatango lang siya. Binalot kaming dalawa ng katahimikan hanggang sa binasag 'yon ng pagtunog ng cellphone ko. Mabilis namang naabot ni Aly ang bag ko sa mesa para halughugin ang phone ko roon.

Pagkakuha niya, parehas kaming natigilan ng nakita ang pangalan ni Bryce. Ito na lang ulit ang pagkakataon na kinontact niya ako.

I was itching to grab my phone, but Aly scowled at me, "Don't you dare, Arcie!" She hissed before she declined the call.

Akala ko matatapos na 'yon doon pero muli nanamang tumunog, at si Bryce pa rin ang tumatawag. Limang beses na ganoon at limang beses din siyang binabaan ni Aly.

"Persistent, motherfucker." She cussed under her breath.

She's about to place my phone back on my purse when it chimed, and again it was Bryce trying to reach out.

Bryce: Rubs, I'm really sorry for the series of calls. I know you've been busy, but I don't know why you're avoiding me. Baka may nagawa akong hindi mo nagustuhan pero hindi ko napansin. Kung ano man 'yon, gusto kong mag-sorry. I respect your decision, but tonight, I really need you. Nanliligaw na kasi si Ferris kay Aya. I feel so. . . broken. Ikaw ang unang pumasok sa isipan kong kwentuhan. Pasensya ka na kung naiistorbo kita.