Nilingon ko sila Bada at tinignan lang ako ni Marella na parang nahihiya dahil mas gusto pa syang samahan ng 'girlfriend' ko. Nginitian ko nalang sya saka pumasok sa kwarto ko.
Maybe she was just excited to see another mutual friend from the past that's why she reacted that way. Tama, tsaka isa pa wala naman kaming label so why should I be jealous?
Humiga nalang ako sa bed at naghanap ng makakausap, baka mamaya pumasok na din yun dito.
Magrereply palang ako kay Kali when Bada entered the room.
"You're still awake, sinong kausap mo?" sabi nito saka humiga sa kabilang side ng kama at pumikit.
"Patulog na din, si Kali kausap ko she is asking where we are" sagot ko naman.
"Don't tell her our location, manggugulo lang yan" Oopsie nasabi ko na.
"You did? Grabe talaga trust mo kay Kali hindi natitinag." may halong inis pa yung sabi ni Bada.
Luh si attitude yan sya, humarap pa sya sakin at inagaw yung phone ko to read mine and Kali's conversations.
"Wow you even told her about Vera, she'll mess with me tomorrow if she ever comes here" sabi nito sabay balik ng phone ko sakin.
"Kilala nya naman yun, tsaka ikaw nga kanina mo pa ako di pinapansin mind you, pinsan ko na yung kausap mo ha, not the person you met years ago" sagot ko sa kanya, she got quiet after that and ignored me. Bahala ka na talaga!
Hindi talaga ako nakatulog kagabi kaya late na akong nagising ngayon. Pagmulat ko wala na si Bada sa kama namin, asan na naman yun? I just washed my face and went out too, paglabas ko nakita ko si Mama and Papa na nakaupo lang sa sala.
"Anak hindi ka ba natutulog ng maaga? Ginigising ka daw ni Brynn hindi ka nagising, naglakad sila ni Marella papuntang bilihan"
Wala naman akong naramdamang gumising sakin, galing talaga nun magdahilan.
"Para na silang matagal na magkakilala ng pinsan mo nak, mas close pa ata silang dalawa ngayon di din matanggihan ni Marella yung girlfriend mo" dagdag pa ni Mom habang binibigyan ako ng almusal.
"Friendly lang si Brynn, Ma. Hayaan mo na baka nauumay na sa mukha ko si Marella hahaha wala kasi yung matinong kaibigan" sabi ko nalang para di na magtanong pa si Mama.
Pagkatapos ko kumain ay walang energy akong bumalik sa kwarto ko at magmumukmok na naman. Iniwan ako? Talaga ba Bada ganyan mo kamiss si Vera na hinihila-hila mo kung saan yung pinsan ko?
"Bakit mo kasi hinayaan umalis?"
Nagulat naman ako nung may nagsalita.
"Bilis mo naman makalimot binigay mo talaga address mo sakin kagabi" sabi nito sabay ayos ng higa sa kama.
"Oo nga pero bat dito ka dumeretso sa kwarto baliw! Makita ka ng mama at tita ko magtaka yun" reklamo ko sa kanya.
"Edi sabihin mo kathreesome joke lang HAHAHA" Ah talaga ba magandang biro yun? :)
Napansin ko naman na hawak nya yung phone ko at nagkakalikot ng kung ano.
"More than that hahaha that's funny" sabi nito at agad kong hinablot yung phone ko sa kanya.
"Hoy! Bakit ba kasi hawak mo yan?!" Reklamo ko at umupo sa kama. Umayos ng upo si Kali and opened her arms wide na parang gusto akong yakapin.
Tinignan ko lang sya.
"Dali na I know you need one" pagpupumilit nya kaya naman lumapit na ako and hugged her. I don't know why but I suddenly felt sad even when I'm being comforted by her.
"Bada's powers weakened in here, I can read your mind and easily know where you are kahit subject ka nya. I'm sorry my sister is narrow minded sometimes" Kali said while slowly caressing my back.
"Weakened? Why would that happen?" Nagtataka kong tanong sa kanya.
"Di nya sinabi sayo? Our powers become weak when we focus on a human we are attached to. And here I am thinking she finally surrendered herself to you hahaha." Lumayo naman ako bigla, imbis na comfort gawin nitong isa parang lalo pa akong sinaktan, nakakainis talaga demonyo talaga!
"Bihis ka na hindi ako titingin promise! Sundan naten sila Bada hehe you want chaos? I will bring chaos" nakangising sabi ni Kali sabay takip ng mata.
BADA'S POV:
"Huy Brynn! Nakakaguilty iniwan mo talaga si Naomi eh dapat nga kasama naten sa bonding yun. Kokotongan ako nun mamaya" Marella said as we walk in the market.
"Magmemessage naman yun when she wakes up, balik nalang tayo para isama sya" sagot ko sa kanya, it's 10am but I haven't received anything from Naomi naman, tulog pa din ba to?
I wanted to bond with Vera today, try to give a solution in her problem. I promised that I will help her if she falls in the same fate when she's reborn. And Marella's stories are no different to what she experienced in her past life.
She said she tried multiple times to have a boyfriend but most of them cheated on her or broke up with her cause she was 'too much to handle' How can you guys not love this genuine girl? Men are crazy
"Try this one out, bagay sayo yan" Inabot ko sa kanya yung damit na nakita ko lang dito sa isa sa mga tindahan.
"Weh ba? Parehas talaga kayo ni Naomi alam mo meant to be kayong dalawa. She lets me try anything first e bago sya, ang cute nyo siguro together sa university." Nakangiting sabi nya sakin, now I regret na di kasama yung isa. Naomi will understand naman siguro, I'll just explain everything to her later.
NAOMI'S POV:
Nakasunod na kami kila Bada at nakita na din namin sila, naglalakad-lakad lang naman sila sa mga tindahan at nagtitingin ng kung anu-ano.
Kahit nasasaktan ako char! Nagseselos ako kasi di nila ako sinama 🥲 Pero hindi naman ako nagagalit sa pinsan ko, she's a very genuine and loveable girl malay mo naman nagustuhan lang din ni Bada ugali nya kasi magaan talaga kasama si Marella.
"Gaslight mo pa sarili mo, magalit ka dapat Naomi! Sugudin mo sila awayin mo pinsan mo" bulong ni Kali sa gilid ko at minasahe pa yung balikat ko.
"Ano ba! Gulo mo naman, alam mo instead of following them maggala nalang din tayo tutal andito ka naman na" pag-iba ko ng topic, hayaan ko muna si Bada maybe she needs time with Marella / Vera.
"Hina ng bata ko hindi marunong magalit" bulong ni Kali kaya pinalo ko sya sa braso.
BADA'S POV:
"Tara na kaya uwi na tayo, baka nagtampo na si Naomi" Marella said with an uneasy face, kanina pa nya ako kinukulit pero nakaupo lang din naman sya dito sa bench malapit sa seaside.
"She replied to me may ginagawa daw siya, chill haha ayaw mo ba akong kasama? Am I too uncomfortable to be with?" I asked her, nag-iba naman yung mukha nya and waved her hand signing No.
"Hindi naman huy, masaya ka din kasama pero mas masaya sana if andito si Naomi" sabi nya sabay tingin sa malayo.
"May afternoon pa naman we can still go out later. Are you happy these days naman ba?" I asked her, I wanted to check on whatever situation she's in.
"Oo naman Ate Brynn, may times na malungkot ako but those are because I cram at school hahaha, naiinis ako sa sarili ko hindi ako makagala kasi ngayon ko lang tinatapos school works ko" sagot nya na nakahawak na sa ulo nya at parang naiiyak na.
"Ayun lang? Hindi ka ba malungkot na naghost ka na naman ng kafling mo?" I teased her lightly.
"Ay naman! Pinaalala pa hahaha, pero hindi naman Ate. Siguro it's time to rest on that for now, narealize ko lang kasi I was so desperate for a man's love and attention dahil nga wala si Papa sa bahay nung naghiwalay sila ni Mama, nakalimutan ko na yung mga tao sa paligid ko. I should focus on myself and take care of Mom, self love nalang and enjoy life?" bigla namang naging seryoso yung mood nya while saying that.
I smiled at what she said, kung ganto lang sana mag-isip si Vera dati she could have saved herself from being miserable. Hindi sana sya kinain ng lungkot and maybe lived long and enjoyed life as well.
Being with Marella, I also realized one thing that the person in front of me just looks like Vera but she is a different soul, she's not the same woman I knew before, that she can now take care of herself and be happy with what she have.
"Thank you Bada for keeping me in your memories, I learned a lot from you." I was taken aback when I heard Marella said that and held my hand.
"V-vera? Is that you?" She nodded at me and cupped my cheeks.
"Yes but I need to go now, you're missing me so much I had to check on you. Oh and anyway, you should confess to Naomi na baka maunahan ka pa" Marella replied bearing the same smile and tone Vera had before.
"Wait! I wanted to say something" pagpigil ko sa kanya, she stared again and waited for me.
"I admired you for being strong despite your problems Vera, that personality of yours made an impact to me so I will keep remembering you. Thank you for being a good friend to me" I said with all sincerity. Her smile faded away giving me a sign she's gone and Marella quickly took her hands away from me.
"Gagi sorry bat ko ginawa yun? Hala di ako mang-aagaw ng jowa ha baka isipin mo desperada ako kakasabi ko lang self love muna!" Marella defended herself, natawa nalang ako causing for her to laugh too.
Nagsama-sama na kaming apat when Bada found us, I was worried about her kasi naghagilap din talaga sya making it more obvious she somehow lost her power.
*Phone rings*
"Hello Ma pauwi na kami"
"Anak! Nasunog yung kusina ng Tita mo buti nalang may fire extinguisher dito naapula namin agad. Kaso walang kuryente maghanap muna kayo ng pagsstayan dyan" bungad ni Mama sakin, napatingin din yung apat sakin dahil nakaloudspeaker ako.
"Are you guys ok? Walang nasaktan Ma? Uuwi na kami muna dyan!" Sagot ko kay Mama, lumapit naman sakin si Ella at Bada.
"Oo anak, di namin alam pano nagsimula yung sunog. Sige na bye na dyan muna kayo wag kayong mag-alala may tumulong na samin" sabi ni Mama sabay nag-end call.
"Orion's here" sabi ni Kali na tumitingin sa paligid at parang may hinahanap. He's getting this far just to sabotage Bada?