Mich POV
Zzzzzzzzz.
Ang aga-aga pa, 4pm pa lang naman but my eyes feel heavy already. Paudyok-udyok ang ulo ko dahil sinusubukan kong manatiling gising pero mistulang nakakatulog ako minu-minuto. Ayokong umidlip dahil sasakit lang ang ulo ko. Mabuti nga't narito na kami sa kotse pauwi matapos ang walang katapusang handshake, beso, o yakap sa conference room ng building namin kanina. Hindi ko na rin nakausap doon si Anntonia. Nauna na ata siyang umalis kasama si Ivan. I still don't understand why she was there, I thought she'll be waiting for us back home lang.
"Are you awake, anak?" hinilamos ko ang mukha ko nang kunin ni Mom ang atensyon ko. Inalis ko muna ang airpods ko at pinasok sa lalagyan.
"Yes po."
"We're near home na. Do you want to join me with Ann later? So you two can talk already. Although, I was expecting for her to approach me again kanina since she was already there."
Inisip ko muna kung gusto ko bang sumama sa kanila. Mas mabuti siguro na kaming dalawa lang ni Ann ang mag-usap. Pero, may parte sa'kin na ayaw ko muna. She's been mean lately.
I mean, valid.
She was pretty shaken up by what happened for sure because if it affected me to the point that I passed out, I'm now wondering what she felt during that moment, and the following days. But that doesn't give her the right to treat me like this. Throughout the years that we've known each other, we promised that we will always dive into confrontations, may it be an easy or difficult one, because we wouldn't want to hold grudges and keep up with misunderstandings.
"Why was she there, by the way? I thought we were meeting partners and investors lang po like you said." I asked my Mom who was just waiting for me to speak.
"Based on her boyfriend's surname, I realized that Ivan is the only nephew of one of our shareholders. Mister Pandi does not have a family, his brother, Ivan's father, is not into any media industries. He's a professional football manager. Ivan is a football player as well, but he is diving into their family's businesses, so he was also invited to that conference for him to have a glimpse of what he's entering."
Sometimes, I am amazed of how my mother handle our business. It takes a lot for someone to be knowledgeable enough of the works, as well as the people involved.
"So, pati pala po sa conference puwede ang plus one kaya dinala niya rin doon si Ann?" natatawa kong tanong sa kaniya na siyang ikinahagikgik din niya.
"Well, kahit naman walang boyfriend ngayon si Ann, she would still be invited to that conference. Remember, she's one step away in handling Tara and Martin's business?"
Ah oo nga pala.
"So, do you want to join us?" tanong niyang muli sa'kin.
"Melody, let her take her own pace. I am sure she would want to talk with Ann alone." singit ni Mamita, nakikinig pala siya sa usapan namin.
Napabaling sa akin si Mom para ramdamin kung tama ang sinabi ni Mamita. I gave her a knowing smile, she just slightly nodded to let me know that she understands.
But I won't ever be ready to face her. I mean, not anytime sooner. Maybe in a few days pa. I think it's valid na magalit din muna sa kaniya as she's acting like a child simula nang magkita kami ulit. Sabi namin ------
Biglang tumunog ang phone ko.
🩷Sister Bestie 4ever My Rock🩷 is calling...
*End* *Accept*
Kaninang umaga dinabugan ako ng pinto, tapos kanina tinulakan ako ng pinto. E kung ipitin ko kaya 'to sa pinto? Bakit naman 'to tumatawag?
I decided to ignore her call hanggang sa tumigil ang pag-ring ng phone ko. Ngunit nag-ring ulit at siya pa rin ang tumatawag.
🩷Sister Bestie 4ever My Rock🩷 is calling...
*End* *Accept*
Sigh.
Pinindot ko ang berdeng icon at nilapat ang phone sa tainga ko.
"........"
Hinintay ko itong magsalita ngunit ni paghinga ay hindi ko marinig.
"Hel------" anong trip n'on? Binabaan ako bigla.
"Madam, ipapasok ko po ba ang sasakyan?" tanong ni Manong kay Mom.
"Not necessary, Ma and Michelle will just go down. Pakitawag na lang si Anntonia, Manong." utos ni Mom. Saan sila pupunta? Binuksan ko ang pintuan sa side ko at sinara ito bago ako umikot papunta sa side ni Mamita para alalayan siyang bumaba. Pagkasarado ko ng pintuan ng sasakyan, sakto ay bumalik na si Manong kasama si Anntonia. Suot pa rin niya ang black tube dress niya, natandaan ko na naman kung paano nakapulupot ang braso ni Ivan sa kaniya kanina.
Nang makalapit siya sa akin, malinaw agad sa mukha niya ang pagkainis. Pero kahit galit ako sa kaniya, gentlewoman pa rin ako kaya pagbubuksan ko sana siya ng pinto ngunit hinawakan din niya ang door handle na nagpadaloy ng kuryente mula sa kamay ko hanggang sa batok.
I miss holding her soft hands.
"Get your hands off." Okay, nevermind, hindi ko na pala miss.
"Edi huwag, pagbubuksan na nga e." I murmured to myself.
"What?"
I just chose to ignore her and proceeded to enter the house. Napatigil ako sa tapat ng pintuan dahil tumunog na naman ang phone ko.
🩷Sister Bestie 4ever My Rock🩷 is calling...
*End* *Accept*
Hindi ako nagdalawang isip na sagutin ito para bangayan siya.
"What's your problem?"
"Why are you not with us?"
Sabay pa kaming nagsalita, at ngayon naman ay walang umiimik sa amin. Kaya naisipan kong asarin ito.
"Did you miss me that much, Porsild?"
"Absolutely not, Dee."
"What's your problem, woman?"
"You."
Sasagutin ko sana siya ng you're my problem too nang bigla niya na naman akong babaan. That girl is so confusing. Tsaka, what did she expect ba? After being a mean girl, did she think I can bear her presence for too long in an enclosed space? I still need time to process everything I want to tell her, I also need for her to calm down and reduce her anger towards me. She has been treating me like an enemy instead of being mature enough to confront me.
I can tell that to myself too, to be honest. Argh! Gulong-gulo na ako. Siguro kailangan ko lang ng isang relaxing bath.
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"Michelle, I just don't understand why you did that. Do you know how it affected me? I couldn't sleep, I couldn't eat properly, I almost lost all my energy thinking of you. I was worried if you were even taking care of yourself while you were gone. Heck, it was wrong of me to contact Ivan after I rejected him multiple times before. But I needed someone to distract me from these feelings. Hirap na hirap na ako, Mich."
Just stop talking already, my chest is starting to sting. It's a mistake we're having this conversation.
"Tapos malaman-laman ko, kasama mo pala si Rain buong buwan. Wala ka bang awa sa sarili mo? Kita mong may boyfriend na 'yung tao, at hindi lang 'yun. Nandoon ako para sa'yo noong mga gabing umiiyak ka sa'kin. Sinabi ko naman sa'yo na walang magagawa 'yung pag-confess mo sa kaniya. Hindi ka niya magugustuhan dahil hindi naman 'yon papatol sa kapwa babae."
Tangina, oo na alam ko na tanga ako.
"But then what happened, isang sorry niya lang kuhang-kuha ka na niya na naman agad. You keep on hurting yourself by treating her so special. Have you lost your mind already? Is that the main reason why you suddenly kissed me? Nasiraan ka na ng bait kaya mabilis kang madala ng damdamin mo. I'm telling you, what you are doing to me does not do good for you and for me."
What are you trying to tell me? Please. Please enlighten me.
"Do not mask your love for her through me, Mich. You're hurting yourself more, and you're hurting me too. I don't like you that way, you're my best friend. I love you, but not in that way. I don't want to lose you just because of your stupidity."
Naiintindihan ko na. Itigil na natin 'to.
"Mich? Mich. Michelle. Michelle!"
Napaltan ang pagbigkas niya sa pangalan ko ng matinding pag-alarm ng phone ko. My head throbbed immediately. I reached for my phone from the small chair beside my bathtub to turn off the alarm. Nakaidlip pala ako habang nakalusong sa mainit na tubig. Ano bang klaseng panaginip 'yon? Is my consciousness trying to tell me something? Is everything Antonnia said in my dream somehow...true? Because it does make sense. My stupidity sometimes gets ahold of me stronger than I could take it.
Whether I like it or not, I totally need to swallow my pride and fear so I can try to talk to Anntonia already.
Naputol ang pag-iisip ko nang tumunog ang phone ko. Alam ko si Rain na ang tumatawag dahil iba ang ringtone na sinetup ko.
"Hi Wifey, wait. I'm in my tub, ahon lang ako then I'll get back right at 'ya. But you can already talk, I'll put you on speaker."
"I broke up with Ram. It turns out he's been sleeping with one of his editors."
Napatigil ako sa pagpulupot ng towel sa katawan ko. Sabi na e, may kutob talaga ako sa kumag na 'yon.
"Really? I'm sorry, Rain. I must say, I'm not surprised though. Sorry if I've thought of it din, akala ko nga secretary niya e dahil iyon 'yung madalas na tumatawag sa kaniya kapag may night meeting siya. So, who was the woman?" I blurted to her while pat drying my hair with another towel.
"You'll never guess this, honey. It's not a woman." oh. my. god.
"Shutakels, was it his male editor?" wild guess but we'll see.
"Oh my god how did you know?" there's a hint of amusement in her voice mixed with confusion.
Tama nga ang gaydar ko.
"Because....uhm, well whenever he has night meetings, kasama niya editor niya na 'yon. I just figured, the last time kasi, when I picked you up drunk on your anniversary, remember? He called you so I called him back. Tapos he stated he was helping his editor that's why he needed to be there. Wait....how did you know?"
"This calls for an emergency chika minute. Are you free tonight?" kakaligo ko lang e, but sige, sa penthouse na lang siguro kami.
"Yeah sure I'm alway free for you, wifey. I'll pick you up and let's stay at the penthouse? Or you want to stay at your house na lang?" I walked towards my walk-in closet and grabbed an oversized shirt and yoga shorts.
"I'm actually at the penthouse. I figured he'll come over e, but since he can't just barge in here, I decided to stay here. Is that okay, honey?"
"Wifey, you know you have direct access there. Of course you can. Want me to stay with you for the night?" binilisan ko na ang pagbihis. Gusto ko sanang magsuot din ng cap pero basa pa kasi ang buhok ko kaya I just grabbed my staple black sunglasses.
"That'll be great, honey. I'll see you here, okay? I love you! Mwa!"
"Mwa! I love you too, wifey." she ended the call as I grab my shoes.
I opened my bedroom door and a figure suddenly leaned quickly towards me. Nahagip ko naman ito kaya nakayakap ako sa balikat niya at napasubsob siya sa dibdib ko.
"What the hell are you doing, woman?" tinayo ko ito nang maayos at agad naman niyang hinawi ang mga kamay ko sa balikat niya.
"I was gonna knock at your door to get the thing that I left here." she stated plainly so I rolled my eyes at her.
"Just get it na lang, I gotta go." hindi naman na siya umimik kaya pumanhik na ako pababa. Ano ba 'yung naiwan niya sa kwarto ko? Akala ko nakuha na niya noong umalis kami kanina.
"Hey, where are you going?" nadatnan ko si Dad na umiinom ng kape.
"Penthouse, I'll spend the night there po. Busy?" I informed him and kissed him on the cheek.
"Edits. Is Rain up there?" tinanguan ko lamang ito at tinuro na ang pintuan gamit ang thumb ko as a way of telling him na mauuna na ako.
Bago pa ako makalabas, narinig ko ang isang malakas na pagsara ng pinto sa third floor. Nagkatitigan kami ni Dad and he just gave me a playful shrug with a comedic expression on his face.
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A/N ------ 1k+ reads? 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹
is this true? not a scam? swear?
thank you por the sufforth <3 it will get better i promise 😭
- blue