DV Series: decoding the boys (under revision) ??

41 | akala ko

On the second day nang hindi niya pamamansin, kinausap na ako ng girls. They opened the topic over lunch habang kumakain kami sa UP Town.

"Okay, talk. Anong problema n'yong dalawa?" Anjo started, arms crossed.

"Wala. Simpleng tampuhan lang."

"Tologo? Parang hindi, e."

"Nakakapanibago kayo. Last n'yong ganitong away nung kay kupal pa," Maxxie said with a frown.

By kupal, she meant my ex.

'Di ako umimik. Siniko ni Hiro si Maxxie dahil do'n. Nagkatinginan kami ni Ahron. She raised a brow. Somehow, I knew that she knew. I nodded my affirmation.

Yes, babe. He found out.

Ahron simply shook her head, sighing.

"What? Totoo naman. Lhyle is a jerk pero para tiisin ka for two days? Something is up. What's wrong?"

I sighed, feeling tired of it all.

"'Wag na muna tayong magtanong," Hiro said in her sweet voice. "'Pag ready na si Jan, magsasalita naman 'yan."

Maxxie and Anjo looked reluctant but they eventually let it slide.

Sa mga lumipas na araw, sunud-sunod pa rin ang pasok sa 'kin ng mga text messages ni Racel. Parang dinudurog ang puso ko habang binabasa ang mga 'yon. How many days had it been? Three? Four? Hindi ko na rin alam. Each day felt like forever. Paano ko siya natitiis na hindi sagutin ay hindi ko na rin alam.

I'm getting desperate.

I need to know how you are.

You're making me crazy.

Javee, please answer the phone.

Napapikit ako nang makita ang tawag niya. I gave him a single text to tell him na maayos ako. 'Yon lang. I turned off my phone afterward.

I was unfair. Sinasaktan ko siya. I was hurting, too. Hindi pa ako handang kausapin siya. To burst our bubble. It would hurt us more. Ayoko pang harapin.

"Couz. Cheers," said Kuya Onyx, momentarily taking my attention. I spied the Jack Daniels shot he was giving me. Kinuha ko 'yon at dali-daling ininom.

"Whoa, whoa. Easy there," natatawang komento ni Gian na nakaupo sa tabi ng nakangiting si Zoey. "Birthday mo ba? Mas malakas ka pa tumirada kaysa sa 'kin, a? May pinagdaraanan?"

Right. It was Gian's birthday today. Nandito kami sa bahay nila sa Eton, Laguna para mag-celebrate. Our family and Zoey's. Kanina pa kami nandito pero ngayon pa lang nagsimula ang inuman.

"Look at you. Bibigyan n'yo ng shot, 'pag ininom, pupunahin n'yo? 'Wag gano'n," depensa para sa 'kin ni Kuya Nick. He stepped up beside me and placed a protective arm around my shoulder. He smiled when I looked up at him. "Ano, shot pa?"

Ngumisi ako. I shouldn't let them think na may mali sa 'kin. The last thing I want ay magtanong pa sila.

Hindi pa masyadong malalim ang gabi pero may tama na kaagad ang mga 'to. Mahirap man but I gave my best to act normal para hindi nila ako mapansin. So far so good naman.

"Hoy bata. Nakita mo ba ang tweet nitong utol mong kupal? Someone's fucking whipped," Mathev informed with a snicker.

"Hindi, e."

"Check mo dali."

I was reluctant. That meant I had to turn on my phone. Pero wala akong maidahilan gayong nakatingin sa 'kin si Mathev. I had no choice but to do as he told.