Chapter 11

I was wondering...

To all the times that I have something to do with Caleb, Griffin would be there. Napapaisip ako kung nagkataon nga lang ba o masyado lang akong nag-iisip ng mga bagay-bagay at kung ano-ano nang tumatakbo sa isipan ko.

Though I believe that it was just all a coincidence.  Hell would lose kung hindi.

I'm still not considering that. Baka nagkataon lang talaga, because why would Griffin do that when he's in a relationship, right? Nakakaloka lang kapag nangyari nga iyon.

I haven't tell anything yet to Krisa and I don't think she should know about it dahil wala namang kabuluhan iyong nangyayari.

While I was lying down on the couch, someone knock on the door. Naisip kong si Krisa na iyon dahil nag-text siya kanina sa akin na pupunta siya rito sa apartment ko. But then someone who dropped in my house isn't the person I wasn't expecting to see.

"Anong ginagawa mo rito?" mataray kong tanong kay Griffin.

Napangisi naman ito. "We need to talk."

"No, thanks." I was about to shut the door on his face when he immediately stopped me from doing it. "Ano ba! Nanggugulo ka na naman, e. You could've just turned around and leave me alone. 'Wag mo nang guluhin ang buhay ko, alright? You're just a trouble, Griffin. Leave me alone."

"Nope," mabilis nitong tugon sa akin. "You're the one who puts me in trouble so we really need to talk."

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay saka ako napasinghal.

"Hindi ko na talaga alam kung anong gagawin ko sa 'yo. Bahala ka sa buhay mo."

I left him on the doorstep and he just followed me inside kahit na hindi ko naman siya inimbitahang pumasok. Sitting pretty itong umupo sa couch na para bang nasa sarili siyang bahay niya.

Muli ko siyang hinarap at humalukipkip.

"So, anong ginagawa mo rito? Darating ang best friend ko so you have to do this quickly. Ayokong maabutan ka niya na nandito ka."

He laughed. "Ano naman ngayon kung maabutan niya ako rito? May tinatago ka ba? Wala naman tayong tinatago, 'di ba? And I'm here becauseof the thing you said to Chienna. And I noticed it there..."

Tinuro niya iyong damit na nakapatong sa upuan. At sa puntong iyon, wala siyang ibang dahilan kung anong ginagawa niya rito.

Napasinghal ako. "Ikaw ang gumawa ng paraan."

"And this is how I am doing it," sagot nito sa akin. "I'm buying the sweatshirt from you whether you like it or not."

Mabilis siyang tumayo sa pagkakaupo niya saka niya pinuntahan iyong kinalalagyan ng sweatshirt ko. Inunahan ko rin siya ro'n, pero mas nauna niyang nahawak iyon. Hinahablot ko naman sa kamay niya, pero hindi niya rin talaga binibitawan.

Nang naisipin kong kurutin siya sa braso ay ginawa ko. Napa-aray siya ro'n at binitawan niya ang pagkakahawak sa swearshirt kaya mabilis ko itong nirolyo at sinuksok sa loob ng damit ko kaya hindi na niya pwede 'yon kunin sa akin.

"You're making this hard for both of us," he said, shaking his head. "I could pay you twice for that."

"That's... that's a good offer, pero hindi mo ako mauuto."

"What do you want, Aneesa?" he asked.

Naningkit ang mata ko sa tanong niya. "Ang gusto ko ay ang umalis ka. Sinabi ko na kanina kapag naabutan ka ng best friend ko, magtataka talaga 'yon kung anong ginagawa mo rito! Dali na! Umalis ka na! Pahamak ka talaga sa buhay, e, no!"

He chuckled. "You're cute."

I glared at him. "Hindi ako nakikipagbiruan, 'no?! Anong tingin mo sa akin, joker?"

He shrugged off. "Maybe..."

I grunted. Halos maihilamos ko na sa mukha ko ang palad ko nang paulit-ulit.

"Bwisit ka talaga. Alam kong hindi ko dapat sinasayang ang oras ko sa 'yo, e."

"You could've just give it to me and I'll be gone," aniya.

Sa pagbanggit niya no'n ay nagkaroon ako ng idea. "Alright... wait, I would let you buy this sweatshirt, but with one condition."

He crossed his arms, give me a nod. "Go on."

"Just like what you said, you'll buy this sweatshirt twice from its original price and comes with it is that you will stop bothering me. You cannot talk to me again. Don't mess with me. Don't do anything that you're gonna put in trouble. This would be the last thing I would do for you."

"Deal," mabilis nitong sagot sa akin.

Walang kahirap-hirap. Hindi naman ako nagtataka. Iyon din naman ang gusto kong mangyari at para matapos na itong pag-uusap naming dalawa at makalayas na siya ng bahay ko.

As we're trying to settle everything, nagulat na lang ako nang biglang may pumasok sa apartment ko and just shout at me and Griffin on my side. Krisa has her mouth wide open on what she was seeing.

"Anong meron dito?"

Nilingon ko si Griffin at nakangisi lang ito. Binalik ko ang tingin ko kay Krisa na gulong-gulo ang ekspresyon ng mukha. Mabilis akong lumapit sa kanya at nagpaliwanag na 'wag niyang intindihin iyong nakita niya.

The next thing we knew, Griffin announced his departure and that's when I only realize that he just left with my sweatshirt and without even paying me. Nang habulin ko sa labas si Griffin ay hindi ko na ito nakita.

Padabog akong bumalik sa loob nang masama ang loob, pero hindi naman ako makakawala kay Krisa dahil nagsimula na rin itong magtanong kung anong ginagawa ni Griffin dito sa apartment ko.

Napalunok ako ng laway bago ko siya sagutin.

"Let me explain..." panimula ko. "This would be a long story, but I'll keep it short."

"No, no," aniya. "Don't keep it short. Tell me all the things that I've missed. What the hell is happening here, Aneesa? What's with you and Griffin? Are you dating him secretly?"

Umiling ako. "No. That's not what it's look like."

"Hmm..." she hummed. "So, what's the truth, Aneesa?"

And I guess... after all, my best friend will know it, but then... my world won't tear me apart. Well, hopefully.