Nicole Kazaya's POV
"Sweetypie, ang sabi mo nung una kakausapin lang diba? Bat binugbog? Gago ampanget tuloy ngayon." rinig ko ang mga tawa ni CJ.
nandito ako ngayon sa kwarto ni Magui na puno ng poloroid pictures at nakahiga sa kama. Habang sila ay nakatayo lang doon at nag uusap.
"Ugguk, bobo mo kasi nakatayo lang sa gilid parang ulol."-Magui
"Puta, paano ko pa mababanatan e sinipa mo na agad."-CJ
"Heto kaya yung walang ginawa." turo ni CJ kay Adrian na may kinakalikot sa cellphone niya.
"Bakit mo sinisisi sakanya kabobohan mo?"-Magui
"Bakit mo siya kinakampihan? Nakakaselos kana sweetypie ah." parang batang sabi ni CJ.
"Gago ka e,"-Magui
"Pasalamat ka crush kita, pagnakamove on na'ko sayo humanda ka! Mumurahin kita ng malutong na malutong."-CJ
"As if, crush mo nga ako since 2nd-year high school ka tapos first year ako e, Mahilig sa bata amputa."-Magui
"Uguk, ganda mo ah?"-CJ
"Bakit hindi ba?"-Magui
"Grade 6 ka nun, second year ako, bobo ampochak di marunong magbilang. Crush lang naman, ampanget mo para jowain ko 'no." CJ fired that made Magui ran towards him and jokingly choke him.
"Ulol, mahilig sa bata."-Magui
"Taena, yucks dirt dirt, di uy. Ekis pag bata."-CJ
"Ggukk, scammer spotted. "-Magui
"Are you already ok?" tanong ni Adrian sakin ng makita niya akong gising na.
"Bakit mo siya tinatanong? Sinong bang jowa mo?" nakataas ang isang kilay na tanong ni Magui kay Adrian kaya tinaas naman ni Adrian ang dalawang kamay niya na sign na yun ng pag suko.
"Magui parang baliw," natatawa kong sabi sakanya.
"How are you?" tanong nito at umupo pa sa tabi ko.
"I'm already fine,"
"Bakit mo siya tinatanong mo? Sino ba sweetypie munchy munchy pumpkin mo" tanong ni CJ kay magui.
"Gago ka?"-Magui
"Shut up, dude."-Adrian
"Ayaw niyong lumabas muna? Nakakahiya kasi sainyo may paguusapan kaming dalawa e." Magui said sa dalawang lalaki.
"Ayoko nga, kayo nalang lumabas kayo naman nakaisip e."-CJ
"Sapak o labas?" seryosong tanong ni Magui habang iniikot ikot ang hawak niyang baril.
"Labas, sabi ko nga lalabas na e." sabay kamot sa ulong sabi ni CJ.
"Wag mong babaril yan sasapakin kita." turo ni CJ sa baril na hawak ni Magui habang dahan dahang naglalakad patalikod pero ang mga kamay at naka hi-five sign samin.
"As if you can punch me." natatawang sagot ni Magui.
"Sasapakin kita ng halik at pagmamahal. Yiee kiligin ka, tugs tugs tugs tugs."-CJ
"You can give me those sapak and halik instead." Adrian said at inakbayan si CJ.
Naawa tuloy ako kay CJ na natatawa kasi para na siyang sinasakal ni Adrian sa sobrang higpit ng pagkaka akbay nito sakanya.
"AMPUTA NAMAN PRE, MASAKIT! MASAKIT SOBRANG SAKIT NG PUSO KO HUHUHUH" rinig ko pang sabi nila CJ bago nila isara ang pinto.
"Apaka gago amputa," natatawang bulong ni Magui at tumayo para umupo ulit sa vanity chair.
"Mags," tawag ko sakanya.
"Hmm?" sagot niya habang inaayos yung mga papers na nasa desk niya.
"You didn't say anything to him, right? " malakas ang kabog ng dibdib kong tanong at pinagdadasal na sana wala siyang binanggit kay Sean.
Huminga siya ng malalim bago ako tinignan at sumagot.
"You can't say it to him, right?" balik niya ng tanong sakin.
"I... I wanted to, but...I just...I just can't, I'm scared." I said, frustratedly.
"Then I don't have any rights to say anything to him." sagot niya na medyo nagpagaan ng loob ko.
"Thank you so much," I whispered.
"Why didn't you told me? You know I'll help you," she asked.
"I know, pero natatakot ako e. Hindi lang din naman siya basta bastang tao Magui. Marami silang connections."
"What's the sense of having me then? I don't fucking know who he is, but I'll make him pay for what he did to you. In any way, I know."
"Please, don't kill him," I beg her. He ruined my life but it doesn't mean he has to die on Magui's hand.
"Dying is too easy for him, I'll make him suffer." her eyes are burning in full anger.
"Nicole, I know it's hard but Sean would understand you, you know how much he loves you right? You should trust him," she said at naglakad paupo sa tabi ko.
"I'm scared," bulong ko kasabay ng pagbuhos ng mga luha ko.
"You don't have to be scared anymore, I'll do everything I can do in order to protect you." she tapped my back.
"I just can't say it, I can't accept that it happened to me, nandidiri ako sa sarili ko."
"I don't wanna sugarcoat it, it already happened I know it's hard but always remember that it's not your fault and it will never be your fault. What happened to you doesn't make you any less of a woman."
"Thank you,"
"Anyways, about your so-called friend Sandra, what would you do with her?" seryoso niyang tanong.
Naalala ko tuloy si Sandra, I don't know her reasons why she did that pero alam kong never niyang gagawin sakin yun baka inutusan ko lang or something. Mr.Alvarez definitely threatened her. Basta isa lang ang alam ko never magagawa ni Sandra sakin yun dahil galit siya. She's my best friend since highschool alam niya lahat ng pinagdadaanan ko.
"Siguro may reason siya bakit niya ginawa 'yon, tinakot siya or something."
"You aren't mad at her?" nakataas ang isang kilay niyang tanong.
"Nope," umiling ako. "She's my best friend hindi niya magagawa sakin 'yon ng walang valid reason."
"Don't be too kind, you won't see people who stab your back."
"I trust her, she's my best friend."
"Best friends can be your biggest enemy, Nics." she said at kinuhanan ako ng poloroid picture. "Being kind can give you a bad vision of people who are not good for you."
"Magui naman ang panget ko diyan." sabay takip ko ng mukha ko.
"Sorry, I can't do anything about your usual face." she chuckled habang hinihintay magdevelop yung film.
"Isa, wag mong picturan yan!" sigaw ko sakanya at akmang kukunin na ang poloroid picture na pinipicturan niya sa cellphone niya ng itulak niya ako palayo. Hindi talaga ako makapalag sakanya dahil mas malakas pa ata siya sa lalaki.
"In 2 hours your man will arrive here," she said.
"Huh? 6 pa naman last subject namin ah."
Pinakita niya sakin ang Instagram post niya na nakacomment agad si Sean.
Caption: Your woman is here, pick her up. She's so ugly😖
@snjsprdlfnt: stupid
@Magui: @snjsprdlfnt ugguk, uso tenkyu pre.
"Hey sweety, wanna eat lunch?" Tita Lou said pagbukas niya ng pintuan ni Magui.
"Why are you here?" nakataas ang isang kilay ni Magui.
"As far as I remember, I live here my baby." Tita Lou said.
"Come here sweety, I cooked food for you." Tita you said at hinila ako palabas ng kwarto ni Magui.
"Hey! Who's your daughter?! The hell!" sigaw ni Magui samin.
"It's Nicole and Alliah, baby girl." natatawag sigaw ni Tita.
"The hell Lou!"-Magui
Maraming pagkain ang nakahanda parang magpapa-fiesta na si Tita Lou sa sobrang daming pagkain.
"Tita, why did you cook so many?" tanong ko sakanya habang tinitignan ang mga pagkain sa harapan ko.
Merong Seafoods, meat, desserts and different kind of fruits.
"I called Alliah and the boys to come here, I just missed you the two of you. Konti lang yan kasi tinawagan lang ako ni manang lucia that you guys are here so I asked them to cook a lot."
"Anak ka ng nanay ko!" batok ni Magui kay CJ na kumakain ngayon.
"Puta, nagutom ako sweetypie si tita kasi e."
"Ako nanaman ang sinisi mo, hindi nga kita inaaya pero umupo ka nalang diyan bigla." sagot ni Tita Lou.
"Bakit ang tagal ng mga kapatid mo baby girl?" Tanong ni tita Lou. Tinutukoy niya ay sila Alliah.
"Tita! Kapatid ampotcha, paano ko jojowain si Magui kung kapatid niya lang ako? Family stroke? Ekis yun."-CJ
"Don't worry CJ, hindi ka papatulan ni Magui." savage na sagot ni tita Lou sakanya at natawa naman kaming dalawa ni Magui.
Magui have 5 older brothers pero may kanya kanya na silang buhay pwera kay Akkiro and Magui na nakatira parin kila Tita Lou. Kung hindi ko nakakalimutan isa sakanila ay Architect at si Akkiro engineer na na may shared company sa New York habang yung isa ay doctor na ngayon ay owner of Del Fuente and Lalu medical, as far as I can remember pinamana iyon ni Tito Miguel na isa ding Pediatric Doctor and last yung isang brother niya seaman owner ng Lalu Shipline.
Actually, her family is all successful as well as her since she owns a bar and restaurant, not just a simple bar and resto but a big one. But still, they are all so humble. if you don't personally know them you will assume that they are not good people because of their family background pero pag nakilala mo sila sobrang bait nila.
"Parehas tayong nandito paano ko malalaman?"-Magui
"Pwede mo namang tawagan."-Tita Lou
"Why don't you call them, ikaw naman nagpapunta sakanila dito."-Magui
"Why don't you call them, mga kaibigan mo namang ang mga 'yon"-Tita Lou
Their relationship is so cute wala talagang nagpapatalo sakanila.
I'm kinda jealous but it's just friendly jealous it's not something personal. I just want my mom and me to be like them.
"HIYERZZ PEOPLE!!!" rinig kong tawag ni Alliah samin kasama si Vinzent and Axel.
"Don't say anything about what happened earlier, okay?" nanlalaki ang matang sabi ni Magui kay CJ.
"Bakit ako lang sinasabihan mo? Andun din naman Adrian kanina ah. Bias ka talaga."-CJ
"Kahit patayin ko yan he wouldn't say anything, while you, hindi ka pa tinatanong nagrarap na yang chismosa mong bunganga!"-Magui
"Chismoso, hindi chismosa. Ginawa akong babae ampotcha. " nakapout na sabi ni CJ.
"Pre, iyak. " bulong ni Adrian kay CJ at tinapik pa ito sa balikat.
" uggguuuukkk!! "-CJ
"Hi babe," Alliah greeted me binesuhan ko naman siya.
"So, why are you here? Diba hanggang later pa sched niyo? " tanong niya.
"I came here with her." Magui said at inabutan ng shot glass si Alliah na may lamang alak.
"Gosh, afternoon na afternoon alak agad." reklamo ni Alliah pero ininom din naman yung laman nung nasa shot glass.
"Arte, iinumin din naman." bulong ni Magui.
"Let's just wait for Sean, then we'll eat na okay." Tita Lou said at pumasok sa main kitchen nila.
Nakaupo kami ngayon sa long table sa may dining room nila Magui.
Naguusap usap lang sila na gusto ng kumain para makainom na sa mini bar nila Magui sa may ground floor.
"Hey," rinig kong bati ni Sean sakin at mabilis akong hinalikan sa noo halata sa kilos niya ang pagaalala.
"What happened to you?" nagaalala niyang tanong.
"We talked about something then mom told me to bring her here." sagot ni Magui.
"You should have told me first." Sean said at umupo sa tabi ko.
"Pre," tawag ni CJ kay Sean.
"Cutting," natatawa pang sabi nito.
"Aroo cutting," kantyaw pa ni Vinzent.
"Jowa goals, parehas nagcutting."-Axel
"Stupid, we don't have prof." natatawang sagot ni Sean habang nakaakbay ang isang kamay saakin.
"Asan si kenneth?" tanong ni Magui kila Vinzent.
"Hindi daw pwede, dami ginagawa."-Vinzent
"He's preparing for our future," Alliah said and gave us a wink.
"Future mo yun? Huh? Dika nga crush nun e." pang aasar ni Axel kay Alliah.
"u so epal " iritang sagot ni Alliah at inirapan pa si Axel.
"Walang nagkacrush back sa pamilyang 'to " sigaw ni CJ.
"Duh, it doesn't mean that Magui rejected you, Kenneth would also do the same," Alliah answered, in maldita tone.
"Tumigil na kayo nasa harap kayo ng hapag." tita Lou said at umupo sa pinakadulo ng dining table.
"Let's eat," nakangiting sabi ni tita Lou at nagsimula na kaming kumain.
After lunch, all of them including Sean went to the minibar of Magui's house and I excused myself to stay at the garden to think about things that happened earlier.
I'm debating whether I should open it to Sean already or wait for a few more days.
Ewan ko pero parang hindi ko na kakayanin ulit kapag nawala pa sakin si Sean. Minsan ko na siyang pinakawalan at ayoko ng maulit iyon. Pero natatakot ako, sobra yung takot ko na baka hindi niya ako matanggap kasi sino ba namang tatanggap sa isang maduming babaeng katulad ko?
"can I accompany you?" rinig kong tanong ni Sean sa likuran ko at niyakap ako matalikod.
Dahan dahan niya ring pinunasan ang mga luha ko na hindi ko man lang namalayan na tumulo na pala galing sa mga mata ko
"Are you okay, love?" malambing niyang bulong.
"I love you," he whispered again at hinawakan ang baba ko para mahalikan ako.
"I love you so much," anas niya bago ako halikan ulit.
"I love you more than anything else." wala akong nagawa kung hindi ang mapayakap nalang sakanya.
"Although, you look so beautiful crying, I don't like seeing it."
He leaned my head on his shoulders, he put his arm around my shoulders, at hinawi hawi ang buhok ko.
"Sean," anas ko sa pangalan niya at tumingala ako para tignan siya.
"Hmm," sagot niya habang nakapikit at hinahawi hawi parin ang buhok ko.
"What if, you had this past na gusto mong takbuhan at kalimutan pero lagi kang hinahabol nito, gabi gabi kang dinadalaw ni hindi ka man lang pinapatulog ng maayos. What would you do?" tanong sakanya
He looked at me for a minute before answering.
"I'll face it," he simply answered.
"What if.....you can't?"
"What if, you can? Pero takot ka. It's a matter of choice. Will you let it haunt you for the rest of your life or you would face it?"
"What if, it can make you lose the person you love?"
"Loving someone is not just about loving their perfect side of them but also accepting everything about them. Including their past. Because that's who they are."
"If you love someone by their perfect side, you never loved them. You just admire them."
"I can't,... I really can't,.... I'm sorry," humahagulgol kong sabi sakanya.
"I don't know what it is, but I'll assure you that I will stay with you through ups and downs. I already lose you once, I don't want that to happen anymore. Once is enough."
Written by Jaderubygem