24 Hours Challenge: EX EDITION

XII. Snippets

"Dammit!" he exclaimed after a while. Napagtanto niya siguro na hindi ako magpapatalo.

Tumigil kaming dalawa. I glared at him while he gave me a defeated stare. Matapos ay nagpakawala siya nang buntonghininga.

"At least hear me out."

That's his bargain. Siguro kung sobrang galit pa rin ako at hindi kami nag-usap ni Care kanina, baka diretso ko na siyang pinaalis.

Tsk.

I thought hard about it before nodding. Osige na nga. Para kay kare-kare.

Tresh looked relieved.

"Okay, unang-una sa lahat, I'm sorry. What I did back then was out of the line."

"Hindi lang out of the line. Talagang lumagpas pa ng iilang kilometro," mataray kong giit. I saw his jaw clenched. This is probably so hard for him to do, lalo na dahil hindi siya sanay humihingi nang patawad.

Pinigilan ko ang pagngisi at hinintay siyang magpatuloy.

"Yes, I went beyond the line. Kaya sorry. I never should've done that. Napaka-insensitive no'n. At gusto ko lang klaruhin na labas si Ike do'n, okay? I was the one who made the bet with Bea. I was the one who lost. Ike just got dragged in, that's all."

At ipinagtatanggol niya pa talaga ang bestfriend niya! Grabe.

"I'm sorry about the recent challenge, too. Tama ka. Gago nga ako at selfish. I've learned my lesson. Simula ngayon, quit na 'ko sa mga laro-laro at mga challenges." aniya. "Trust me, Gal. I value you as my friend. Hindi kita tinuturing na kaibigan dahil lang girlfriend ko si Care. I genuinely care about you because you are my friend. You're part of my main circle. Truth is, pinagawa ko lang naman sa inyo ang challenge dahil deep inside, I'm still rooting for the both of you."

Wala na 'kong panahon makapag-react sa mga una niyang sinabi dahil mabilis na napukaw noong panghuli ang atensyon ko.

"I think you and Ike deserves to be happy," he said as the look on his face softened. "Pero looking at it now, siguro... mas mainam talaga na in separate ways kayong maging masaya. Hindi together."

I swallowed the lump in my throat. Hindi ako makasagot. Why did his last statement seem to hurt a little?

"Anyways," sabi niya matapos ang medyo emosyonal na apology. "I... brought this with me. Just in case."

My forehead creased as my eyes fell down on the object in his hand. Dala-dala niya pala 'yan? Ba't 'di ko napansin?

Bahagya nanamang umusbong ang kaunting galit sa buong sistema ko. My voice went cold as I stared at the cam-corder.

"I don't wan't anything to do with that."

"Come on, Gal. At least watch a few snippets," he convinced me. Pero hindi tumatalab.

"Tresh, ibinalik ko nga 'yan sa'yo dahil ayoko 'di ba?"

"Just give it a try."

I shook my head.

"Ayoko. Talagang ipapanood mo 'yang mga videos sa'kin? Pa'no pa 'ko magiging okay nyan?"

Ubod ng sungit ang pagkakasabi ko sa mga salita. Kasi naman! Nagmo-move on nga ulit ako tapos papanoorin ko pa 'yung mga 'yon? Parang tanga lang?

Tresh sighed. Halatang nauubusan na siya nang pasensya. Wow. Hindi niya talaga forte ang panunuyo nang ibang tao, 'no? Talagang kay Care lang siya sweet.