Belated happy birthday to :
Jhazzie30 and ayangnepomuceno__09 ❤ -- Dyosa
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ASHLEY
NAPATINGIN AKO SA wristwatch ko. It was thirteen minutes past eleven in the morning. She was already thirteen minutes late.
Was she going to stood me up because at the very last minute she thought this meeting was not a good idea?
I hoped not.
Kailangan ko siyang makausap.
I slowly sipped my lemon juice at muling tumingin sa wristwatch ko. A minute had passed.
Denzelle Zia Suarez was late.
I sighed again, more of frustration. Kinakailangan ko talaga siyang makausap ngayon.
Denzelle Zia Suarez. Siya lang naman ang blogger na unang nag-post ng picture namin ni Rome sa blog niya kaya na-pick up ng mga celebrity reporters. Ito ang impormasyong nakuha ni Ravino Calma o Mang Vino, a tough and serious-looking private investigator introduced to me by Lance Villarosa.
Apparently, Denzelle Zia or Dezi to her friends was a famous-in-her-own right blogger. She was a writer and self-proclaimed film and food blogger-critic. She has half a million followers in all her social media account because she was effortlessly witty and funny.
Libangan lang niya ang pagiging blogger. She was fresh out of college and worked full time in a bank as a Corporate Planning Associate.
When I contacted her thru private message and ask for a meeting, she easily agreed to meet me.
Bukod-tanging si Miranda lang ang nakakaalam ng meeting ko kay Dezi ngayon. That when I told Miranda I needed it for my peace of mind, she easily gave her support.
It was a woman's intuition. Parang may connections whatsoever si Dezi to whomever.
Huwag lang may kinalaman si Patty sa pagpapakalat ng pictures ko with Rome kung hindi pagbubuhulin ko ang mga bituka nila.
Tiningnan ko ang picture na s-in-end sa akin ni Mang Vino. Dezi was dark-haired, charming and beautiful in exotic way. I did not know pero bigla kong naalala sa kanya si Kendall Jenner. A petite Kendall Jenner.
I impatiently drummed my fingers on the table and looked at my wristwatch. Sixteen minutes had passed. Damn her!
Maybe she really did stand me up. Fuck her
.
I pressed Miranda’s number.
“I think she stood me up--“ agad kong sabi kay Miranda pagka-hello pa lang niya. “I’m thinking of leaving now--“
“Fifteen minutes pa lang--“
“Sixteen minutes, Miranda. Going seventeen,” I interrupted her, a little pissed.
‘Wag lang mag-iinarte ang Dezi na ‘yan sa akin. Tatalakan ko talaga siya sa private message ko sa kanya mamaya.
Natawa si Miranda sa kabilang linya. “Ash, you’re already there. Nag-effort ka ng magbigay ng oras. Sayang naman kung aalis ka. At saka, seventeen minutes pa lang naman ang nakalipas. For all we know baka on the way na siya at na-traffic lang--“
Napatingin ako sa pinto nang biglang bumukas at iluwa ang isang babaeng petite, wearing a pair of butterfly sunglass, denim shorts and off-shoulder purple blouse and beige thong sandals. She had a Marc Jacobs camera sling bag.
And I guessed she was Dezi Suarez.
She was exotically beautiful.
I rolled my eyeballs. I was not insecure. I was pissed because she let me wait.
She removed her sunglass and scanned the whole area.
“She’s here na,” sabi ko kay Miranda. Hinayaan kong hanapin ako ni Dezi. Titingnan ko kung makikilala niya ako.
I am so fucking sure. Inilabas niya ang picture ko nang walang paalam.
“See?” I heard the smile in Miranda’s voice. “Call me as soon as the meeting is finished, okay? Good luck. ‘Wag masyadong mainit ang ulo, ha? Pakinggan mo muna ang paliwanag niya,” malambing niyang paalala. “I love you.”
“Love you, too,” I said and averted my eyes from Dezi. I looked at the different direction. Then I ended the call.
“Ashley Lim?” said a girl’s voice.
I met her gaze. She was smiling. It was friendly, like she was really happy to see me.
She extended her hand to me. “I’m Dezi Suarez--“
“You’re late,” matabang kong sabi, one eyebrow cocked. Hindi ako dapat magpasindak sa babaeng ito.
Insecure much, Ashley? Because she really had some resemblance to Kendall Jenner.
Oh, fuck shit. Hindi ko kailangang ma-insecure.
Kung dati na puno pa ng bitterness ang buhay ko, baka pa. Pero ngayon? With my Robert Aldus and the whole gang? Not to mention my friendship with the famous Rome del Mundo? Naman.
Pinagdikit niya ang mga palad at inilagay sa labi. “Yeah, I’m so sorry. I was caught in a traffic d’yan sa Fernando Santelices Street. May slight banggaan,” hingi niya ng paumanhin. It was a sincere one.
May kaartehan magsalita. A coño . Pero endearing at hindi nakakainis.
“Please sit down,” sabi ko at bahagyang ngumiti. “I didn’t know what to order for you--“
We were in a casual dining restaurant owned by Jacob’s family.
“It’s okay. I’ll order myself,” aniya at kinawayan ang isang naka-standby na waiter. “Is it okay if I order a lot of food? I’m hungry, eh. Galing ako sa Nihongo class ko and sobrang--“ maarte siyang nag-roll ng eyes at hinawakan ang noo. “My, God, na-stress ako.” Then she giggled.
Lumapit sa amin ang waiter at nag-order siya. “Cheesy ravioli, fried calamari, classic carbonara and ceasar’s salad. Then, calamansi juice with honey.” Bumaling siya sa akin at ngumiti. “You?”
Saglit ko lang tiningnan ang menu at itiniklop iyon at inabot sa waiter. “Sicilian salad and iced tea.”
Pagkatapos ay magalang na nagpaalam ang waiter.
“I like this restaurant. The food is really good and the ambience is cool,” she commented, while her eyes roamed around the restaurant.
Hindi ako kumibo. Kung makipag-usap siya sa akin akala mo ay matagal na kaming magkaibigan. Like fucking duh.
Maybe she was friends with the bruhang Patty at hindi ko siya mapapatawad dahil lang doon.
She sighed. “So, first of all, I want to apologize for everything that happened.” She was full of remorse.
A sarcastic smile curved my lips. “You should be. You almost ruined everything for me. Alam mo naman kung paano akong kinatay sa social media ng ilang araw, ‘di ba? Calling me names. Branding me as a two-timer.” I narrowed my eyes on her. “Ano bang alam mo sa buhay ko? Ni hindi mo nga ako kilala personally, eh,” sunud-sunod kong sabi sa galit na tinig.
She bit her lower lip. “I know. And I am so, so sorry for that.” Isang nahihiyang pagso-sorry.
Pakinggan mo muna ang paliwanag niya… I heard Miranda say in my head.
I calmed myself by letting out a long sigh. I crossed my arms over my chest. “Explain.”
It was a demand.
Fuck shit, she owed it to me.
Naglabas muna siya ng isang malalim na buntong-hininga bago nagsalita. “Rome’s my huge celebrity crush. Like as in big--huge--“ She was waving her hands in the air. “So, when I saw the two of you chumy-chummy--“
“Because we’re good friends,” hindi ngumingiti kong sabi.
“I initially didn’t know that,” she retorted back. “So naturally, ang una kaagad na pumasok sa isip ko, may something ba kayo? Ang daming na-link na babae kay Rome pero iba ‘yung sa inyo, eh. I mean…” She shrugged her bare shoulders. “Siguro kasi sabi niya, special ka to him,” she said in her cute coño way of speaking.
Surely, napanood niya ang interview ni Rome del Mundo.
I felt a little smug. Crush niya si Rome. Si Rome na binasted ko. I felt a little superior to her.
Magsasalita sana siya nang dumating ang mga in-order naming pagkain. Nagpaalam siyang kakain muna. Tumango naman ako.
“So, I took a picture of him,” aniya, speaking even if her mouth was with pasta in it. “And you... Together.”
“And then posted it immediately on Twitter?” I remarked, full of sarcasm.
She wiggled a finger at me. “Na-ah,” she said. “I just posted it first in our high school batch group chat. Then I posted it on my blog na. Not on Twitter.”
“Nabasa naman ng hundreds of thousands followers mo.”
She wrinkled her nose. “’Yun lang. Because they knew I like Rome. Nakikisimpatiya sila sa akin. But I never posted it on Twitter like you’re claiming. I never did,” she reiterated.
Inismiran ko siya. “Just the same kumalat pa rin. By the way, from which high school did you gradute?”
“Saint Agnes High School-Makati.”
It was also an exclusive for girls high school just like my alma mater Santa Cecilia College.
“So, I posted it there nga because my batchmates know that I like Rome so much, giving a caption : ‘Is she Rome’s New Girl?’ with lots of lots of lots of crying emojis. Like three lines of crying emojis.” Inilagay niya ang kamay sa dibdib. “My heart was broken. Huhuhu…” Maarte niyang sabi.
A faint smile escaped my lips. Para kasing katulad lang namin siya ni Stasha.
“And then a classmate replied immediately. Like saan ko raw nakuha ang picture because she told us she knows the girl--she knows you.”
Kumunot ang noo ko. Hindi ko alam pero may biglang bumundol sa dibdib ko. Pero bago pa ako nakapagtanong, nagsalita na agad siya.
“And I said that it was real time picture because we were all still in the coffee shop and that you and Rome were laughing and smiling at each other. That same classmate told me to take more pictures of you and Rome, which I did kahit na…” Suminghot siya at nag-iyak-iyakan. “Nasasaktan ako.” Then she sighed and her eyes went dreamy. “But Rome’s really so angas and manly. I like his flaming arrow tattoo so much. Like it’s so flaming hot and sexy.” She pursed her lips. Halatang kinikilig. Pumipikit-pikit pa ang mga mata niya.
Pagkatapos ay sumubo ng salad na may ngiti pa sa labi. Siguro ay naiisip si Rome.
Rome. He was a good memory. Pagkatapos naming mag-usap almost a week ago ay hindi na siya nakipag-communicate pa sa akin. It was better this way.
“I was meaning to take one picture of you kasi nga it was like, invasion of privacy. But I discreetly took pictures of you because of my classmate’s utos,” Dezi continued matapos sumisip sa calamansi juice niya. Ako naman ay hindi ko magalaw-galaw ang pagkain ko. “She’s like gan’un kasi, eh. Like, mautos and domineering. So para wala ng maraming sinasabi, I did na.”
May bumabagabag sa damdamin ko sa tinatakbo ng usapan namin ni Dezi.
A woman’s intuition. At sabi raw, kapag ang babae kinutuban, mataas ang porsyentong totoo ang kutob niya. Na dapat niya iyong paniwalaan. At patulan.
“Especially when you’re done having coffee and already went out from the coffee shop. I took a picture of Rome opening the door for you and his hand was at your back kasi inaalalayan ka niya. Then posted it in our GC. My heart was bleeding…” She pouted her lips exaggeratedly.
I leaned towards the table and rested my elbows on the table while my fingers were link. I directly met Dezi’s eyes. Pinagtaasan ko siya ng isang kilay. “So, you took pictures of us together because a high school classmate told you to… Inutusan ka niyang kuhanan pa kami ng maraming litrato…” I said in controlled and calculated manner.
Kahit na nanggigigil na ako.
“Yes,” mabilis niyang sagot. Binitiwan niya ang tinidor at napasandal sa back rest ng couch. Siguro ay natakot siya sa reaksyon ko.
“Kasi kilala raw niya ako?” Alam kong mataray ang ekspresyon ng mukha ko.
“Yes. You’re her--“
I raised my hand para patigilin siya sa pagsasalita. I narrowed my eyes on her.
Mukhang may bituka nga yata akong pagbubuhulin.
“Pwede ko bang malaman ang pangalan ng classmate mo?” I narrowed my eyes on her. “Kung kilala niya ako, baka kilala ko rin siya. Kilalang-kilala…” I added in a menacing tone.
Dezi touched her forehead, feeling uncomfortable.
“Sino s’ya, Dezi?” hindi ngumingiting tanong ko.
Dezi closed her eyes, like she was praying. At nang dumilat siya, a new found courage was written on her face. “Patty Rivera…”
I clenched my fist at hearing the bitch’s name.
Bingo!
‘Tang ‘na, tama ang hinala ko.
“That bitch…” I muttered in gritted teeth.
Putang ina! Paghaharapin ko si Patty at Dezi at pagbubuhulin ko ang mga bituka nilang dalawa. Mga walang magawa sa buhay.
“Yeah… That bitch…” Dezi agreed, her eyes narrowing.
Nagulat ako. I thought they were friends.
Ngumisi ako. “You are friends with her,” sarkastiko kong sabi.
She rolled her eyeballs. “Yeah. ‘N’ung high school lang. And lately umiiwas na rin ako sa kanila. A lot of my high school classmates are toxic people already. Like saan sila nag-travel, anong branded bags and clothes ang nabili nila. Whereas me, simple lang.” She smiled. “Si Rome lang sapat na. And food and good films are my comfort zone. And nasa GC lang kasi ‘yung favorite kong teacher na adviser namin kaya active ako d’un.”
“If you were feeling guilty of taking a picture of us, why did post in on your blog? Alam mong maraming makakabasa,” akusa ko sa kanya.
“Because Patty was making me kulit,” she replied exasperatedly.
Mataray ko siyang pinagtaasan ng kilay. “Eh, wala ka palang sariling pag-iisip,” nandidilat ang mga matang sabi ko sa kanya. “Alam mong invasion of privacy, ginawa mo pa.”
She inhaled sharply. “I know. And I’m sorry. Hindi naman ako pumayag n’ung una, eh. Even if she said that it wasn’t invasion of privacy because Rome is a celebrity and the public is curious about his personal life--“
“At, ako?” putol ko sa nanggigigil na tinig sabay turo sa sarili ko. “Anong tingin mo sa akin? Pribado akong tao, Dezi. Nananahimik ako at ginulo ng picture mo ang mundo ko--“
Dezi touched her forehead. “I know. I’m really, really sorry. Hindi nga ako pumayag n’ung una. But when I declined, kung anu-ano ng panunumbat ang ginawa ni Patty. Like, ‘yung tulong na nagawa niya sa daddy ko.” Bumuntong-hininga siya. “You see, naipit sa isang pyramid scam ang daddy ko years ago. Pero, wala siyang kasalanan, really. Naging biktima lang din s’ya,” she refuted immediately. “And yung lawyer dad ni Patty ang tumulong sa daddy ko. So, she started making sumbat all the help her dad extended to my dad. In fairness, nalinis ang pangalan ng daddy ko because of her dad’s help.”
“So, you posted it kahit na alam mong maraming makakabasa,” walang emosyon kong sabi, going back to the most important topic.
“Patty told me to--“
I rolled my eyeballs. Telling by my expression that she has no mind of her own. Na nagpauto siya sa bruhang si Patty.
“She reasoned out that it’s my blog. I have all the right to my blog--“
“Pero may responsibilidad ka rin bilang blogger. Hindi ‘yung sulat ka nang sulat ng kasinungalingan.”
“It was not a lie,” she refuted. “I wrote the blog and posted the picture without any malice. ‘Yung iba lang ang nagbigay ng malisya. It was not about you. It was all about Rome del Mundo. My Rome.”
Tinitigan ko siya. “Bullshit.”
That was enough for her to swallow hard.
Napahawak siya sa magkabilang-pisngi. Nag-init siguro iyon dahil sa takot. Nakalimutan na naming pareho ang pagkain.
“Look, I am so sorry. Hindi mo lang alam kung paano akong pinagalitan ng parents ko dahil sa nangyari na kahit hindi ka nila kilala, their hearts went out to you. Ako rin naman ay binulabog ako ng konsensya ko because a lot of netizens were angry with you.”
“Pero mabuti na lang at matibay kami ng Bobby ko.”
Hindi ko na kailangan pang ikwento ang naging away naming ni Bobby dahil doon. Basta nalampasan namin iyon dahil mahal namin ang isa’t-isa. That was enough. Period.
Napahawak siya sa dibdib. “Thank God at hindi kayo nagpasira sa picture na ‘yun. I really prayed hard. Sabi ko kay God, malusutan ko lang ito, babawi ako. And it was so gallant of my Rome to come out and clear your name.” Ngumiti siya, staring dreamily at nowhere. Maybe thinking of Rome.
Paiyakin ko kaya siya at sabihing ako ang babaeng mahal ni Rome? mayabang kong sabi sa isip.
“And when you private messaged me,” she continued. “Hindi ako nagdalawang-isip na makipag-meet sa ‘yo. I really feel that I owe you and apology and explanation. Sabi ko babawi ako sa 'yo.” Tumingin siya sa akin. Nasa mga mata niya ang pagsisisi. “Ako rin naman na-bash nang slight. Like I was cancelled--with a t--cancelledt--" She pronounced it giving emphasis to the ‘t’ sound at the end of the word. “Nabawasan ng konti ang followers ko. Siguro mga fans ‘yun ni Bobby na nagtanggol sa inyo. Hay naku, pati nga ‘yung boss ko ay affected at pinagsabihan ako, eh.”
Sinimangutan ko siya. “Nagpauto ka kasi!” naiinis kong sabi sabay ang pandidilat ng mga mata.
Hindi naman ako naiinis sa kanya nang marinig ko na ang paliwanag niya. Naiinis ako sa mastermind ng lahat ng ito.
“I know,” she admitted. “Nagso-sorry at nage-expalain na nga ako, ‘di ba?” Naglalambing ang tono niya. Then she tsked. “Hindi mo kasi kilala si Patty, eh… She can be--“
“Anong hindi kilala?” I cut her off in anger. “Kilalang-kilala ko siya dahil kaklase siya ng boyfriend ko sa med school.”
“Yeah…” Dezi immediately agreed na para bang nakahanap ng kakampi sa akin. Tumayo at lumipat ng upuan. Tumabi siya sa akin “And I think she has this huge crush on your Bobby.”
“Anong crush? Hindi crush lang, Dezi. Amoy na amoy ko ang kalandian niya at ang hangarin niyang maagaw sa akin si Bobby ko,” mariin kong sabi na para bang matagal na kaming magkaibigan ni Dezi kung pag-usapan namin si Patty.
“Yeah…” Agree na agree si Dezi. “Wait, I have something to show you.” Kinalikot niya ang cellphone at inilagay sa batch group chat nila. ‘4th Year-Respect’ ang name ng group chat.
Yeah, fucking right. A girl in this section did not know the word ‘respect’.
Wala siyang ka-respeto-respeto sa feelings ng kapwa niya. How ironic.
She scrolled it from the start at pinabasa sa akin ang pabirong pambubuyo ni Patty sa kanya para i-post niya ang picture namin ni Rome na sinang-ayunan ng ibang chuawariwariwap niya. Ng mga minions niya.
Nabasa ko pang sinaway sila ng mg teacher nilang si Mrs. Sagum na huwag gawin iyon.
“I am keeping a file of screenshot of the convos just in case, you know…” She shrugged her shoulders. “Balikan ako ni Patty dahil nakipag-meet ako sa ‘yo at sinabi sa ‘yo ang totoo. She would threaten us with legalities and her dad’s connection to some high-profile politicians. Sino lang ba kami ng family ko? We’re just simple citizens of this country. May maliit na coffee shop lang ang mom and dad ko sa province that allows me and my brother to live comfortably. Wala kaming connections.”
“Hindi ako natatakot sa kanya--“
“Of course. Why would you, in the first place? You have your Bobby. Ako, wala. Boyfriend-boyfriend-an ko mga anime characters.” Napangiti siya. “Saka si Rome.”
Nahawa ako sa ngiti niya. It would be best na huwag niyang malaman na nagtapat ng pag-ibig sa akin si Rome at binasted ko.
She scrolled her cellphone again. Pagkatapos ay ipinakita sa akin ang isang picture na s-in-end ni Patty sa GC nila.
It was a picture of Bobby. He was sitting in a chair inside a classroom. Matamang nakikinig sa kung sino man ang nasa harapan.
Patty Rivera : Look who’s my classmate in med school? The Robert Aldus Gallego, NUAP heartthrob and from a family of doctors. #InterestingFirstDayOfSchool
Napakuyom ako ng palad.
Bumangon ang inis puso ko. First day of school ay lumalandi na agad ang Patty na ito at si Bobby ko pa ang napagtuunan niya ng naguumapaw niyang kalandian.
‘Tang ‘na! Bruha talaga siya.
“I did not mind that picture at first,” komento ni Dezi. “I was not into basketball and basketball players. I am into animes and rockstars. But some of our classmates ‘hearted’ this picture. Cute naman kasi, ‘di ba?” Binangga niya ang balikat ko at nag-wiggle ng eyebrows niya.
Gusto kong mapangiti pero nag-uumapaw ang inis ko kay Patty.
Inilayo ni Dezi ang cellphone niya sa akin. “Okay ka pa ba? Baka mainis ka sa iba mo pang makikita at sa akin pa mabaling ang inis mo,” she joked.
“Mababaling talaga ang inis ko sa ‘yo kapag hindi mo ipinakita ang iba pa. Akina ‘yan,” agaw ko sa cellphone niya.
She giggled heartily. “You know, I like you.” There was still laughter in her eyes. “You’re a little scary when pissed but I like your spunk. Parang it’s nice to be your friend.”
Nawala ang inis ko at napatingin kay Dezi. Bibihira ang mga taong nagsasabing gusto nila akong kaibigan sa kabila ng pagpapakita ng kasupladahan.
“Gusto mo lang akong maging kaibigan kasi kaibigan ko si Rome…”
She angled her head and smiled sheepishly. “Pa’no mo nalaman? Kainis ka…” biro niya.
“Sampalin kita d’yan, eh,” mataray kong sabi.
Natawa siya nang malakas. “I really like you,” she said, still laughing. “But no, seriously, gusto kitang maging kaibigan--Rome or no Rome. Sus, hindi naman ako mapapansin ni Rome ko ‘no. In my dreams. Just in my dreams…” malungkot ang pagkakasabi niya sa huling sentence.
Gusto ko tuloy siyang ipakilala kay Rome. Pwede. Baka. Malay natin.
Ipinakita niya ang isa na namang picture na s-in-end ni Patty sa GC nila. Ibinigay niya ang cellphone niya sa akin at ipinagpatuloy niya ang pagkain sa salad niya.
Mukhang ang lakas niyang kumain pero ang liit niya at ang payat naman.
A picture of Bobby in his white uniform. So good looking. This time, he was smiling. Medyo blurred ang picture. Halatang minadali ang pagkuha.
Patty Rivera : Tall and handsome in white uniform. #HandsomeFutureDoctor
Nagtangis ang bagang ko. Parang stalker na ang dating ni Patty.
Makalipas ang ilang araw ay nag-send muli si Patty ng picture ng isang natutulog na Bobby. Siguro isa sa mga group study nila na inaabot sila ng gabi at nakakatulog si Bobby.
“This is getting creepier… Putang ina…” galit kong bulong.
Sinilip ni Dezi ang picture na tinitingnan ko. “I know…” she agreed at sumubo ng gulay mula sa salad. “And she has the audacity to post that in our GC. But I am not interested. Sana kung si Rome pa ‘yan or si Daichi Sawamura. Pero kasi ang laman lang ng GC namin, mga pictures ng bags, damit, cute guys… Ang sarap nga mag-leave d’yan, eh. Pero may mga chismis din naman kasing nasasagap d’yan.” She giggled.
“Ang landi…” naiirita kong sabi.
“Kaya nga. Kung makaasta siya parang s’ya ‘yung girlfriend.”
I angrily punched the table. Napatingin sa amin ang ibang kumakain.
“My God, Ashley… Just chill, okay?” natatakot na sabi ni Dezi. Kinuha niya ang cellphone niya sa akin. “Akina na nga ‘yan. Kumain ka muna--“
Para naman akong napahiya. Napainom tuloy ako ng tubig.
“Parang gusto kong mang-away ng boyfriend,” I managed to say calmly after.
“Oh, my gosh, no!” saway niya. “Walang kasalanan ang boyfriend mo. I am sure, hindi niya alam ‘yang mga ‘yan. Galawang stalker ‘yan, eh. Galawang mga malalandi. Galawang Patty Rivera.” Umikot ang mga mata niya at napailing.
“Pati ito?” nandidilat ang mga matang sabi ko at ipinakita kay Dezi ang isang picture na p-in-ost ni Patty.
Selfie nila ni Robert Aldus sa sasakyan ni Bobby. Nakahawak si Bobby sa manibela at nasa passenger seat si Patty. It looked like silang dalawa lang ni Patty sa loob ng sasakyan.
Isinakay niya si Patty sa sasakyan niya nang sila lang dalawa?
Parang gusto ko na talagang manggiyera ng boyfriend ngayon.
At manabunot ng malanding babaeng umaaligid sa boyfriend ko!