Kabanata 13

Hindi ko pinalampas na ikwento ang mga kalokohan ni Etienne kay Yna. She didn't side with me though, she even laughed humorously. Hawak-hawak pa ang kan'yang tiyan sa sobrang tuwa. I couldn't understand why I was friends with her in the first place as I begrudgingly sipped on my coffee.

Nasa isa kaming malapit na coffee shop. Namili rin kasi ako ng mga kailangan ko para sa school. I could order online or ask some of the helpers to buy it for me but I couldn't let go of the chance that I could go out. Gusto ko rin naman huminga malayo sa mga Reverio.

"Alam mo, that's actually nice. He might be playing tricks on you but at least he's not showing his hatred directly. Mabuti nga at hindi ka lang n'ya pinapansin at inaasar ka lang n'ya. If we drifted apart, I'll cut you off, Solstice. I have no time for bullshits." Yna exclaimed as she slipped her hand on the surface of the table. Kinuha n'ya ang isang tissue at pinunasan ang kan'yang kamay.

I get it, what I did was wrong and it's not easy to forgive someone who blamed you for being a victim. Parang nilusaw ang puso ko nang maalala 'yong araw na nalaman ko ang totoo. Damn my impulsive mouth. I should have at least ask him about it. I was too clouded that day. Hindi ko na lang sana pinatulan pa.

"Sol —" Yna wasn't able to finished her sentence off. Nanatili ang kan'yang tingin sa likod ko.

Yna is always stoic or she mostly doesn't express her thoughts whenever she feels bad because she thinks it might be use against her. I don't know why her guards are always up but I respect that. Subalit ngayon, kitang-kita ko ang sakit sa kan'yang mga mata.

I decided to tilt my head to the direction of where her eyesight are attached. I saw two people walking, fingers intertwining, holding hands as they strutted their way to the main mall.

The guy was familiar. . .

Umawang ang labi ko.

It was Yna's boyfriend.

"Alis na tayo, Sol."

"Yna, 'yong boyfriend mo -"

"Ex," she corrected harshly. "Wala akong boyfriend na tanga. Partida kaka-text ko lang na nasa isang mall ako. Dinala n'ya pa talaga ang babae n'ya sa mall na malapit sa akin. Walang utak, ampota."

She brushed it off as if it was nothing. Subalit hindi 'yon nakalampas sa akin. I grabbed my clutch bag and followed them inside the mall. Walang nagawa si Katryna kundi sundan ako.

"Solstice, let's go. It's not worth it."

"Tapos ano? Let him get away with it?" Kumunot ang noo ko.

"I was only dating him for fun. I'll break up with him, okay? Tara na. Pabayaan mo na 'yang mga 'yan."

No.

When you let a mistake go and never held them accountable for it. . . It's bound to be repeated over and over again until it becomes a routine and normal thing for them to do. Until it is normalized. Until a vice becomes a norm.

Sinalubong ko ang ex-boyfriend ni Yna na si Terrence, if I recall his name. Napaigtad siya at gulantang ito nang maabutan ako na nakakrus ang mga braso. The girl beside him was also shock to see me because I purposely trapped them in the middle of the mall.

"Tabi," malamig kong utos.

Tumabi si Terrence. "Huwag mong sasaktan si -"

He wasn't able to continue his phrase because my fists met his disgusting face. Natumba si Terrence sa sobrang lakas ng pagsapak ko sa kan'ya. Yna, who was behind me, gasped upon seeing the current situation.

A girl in a black floral dress just punched someone who is double her size. Sa gitna ng maraming tao. Sa harap ng mga tao nang walang pangamba.

"What the -" Tinungkod ni Terrence ang kan'yang mga braso sa tiles subalit hindi ko siya hinayaan makatayo. Umamba muli ako ng isang suntok at hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko.

Inulap ang aking mga mata. His face was slowly emerging with Ernesto, Alfos and those who belittle me because I'm a girl.

"Solstice! Huwag mo siya sapakin!" awat ni Yna. My fist stopped mid air and my head slanted her way.

She was smirking. "Bayagan mo! 'Wag mo hahayaan na magamit n'ya pa 'yan!"

"Huwag ka mag-alala! Mukha naman siyang bayag!" I materialized a thumbs up before going back to business. Tinadtad ko sa bugbog si Terrence habang tumatakbo 'yong babae n'ya sa customer service na malapit upang humingi ng tulong.

Ilang minuto lamang ay may mga dumating na security. I turn my hands upward as I slowly remove myself from the unconscious Terrence who's still laying on the ground. Si Yna naman ay pumapalakpak pa sa gilid at sumisipol.

"Bestfriend ko 'yan!" she shouted.

That is something that you shouldn't be proud of because your bestfriend is going to jail.

Dinala kami sa office ng mall para pag-usapan ang nangyari na kaguluhan. The staff was kind enough to treat him infront of me. Kitang-kita ko ang pagkuyom ng kan'yang kamao.

"Pasalamat ka, babae ka!" he spat out despite his face gradually becoming purple-ish.

"Thank you!" I cheerfully smiled at him. I even clapped my hands. Not.

I don't use the power of the Reverios often but when I do - I make sure it's worth the scolding. And this matter is definitely worth it.

"Ma'am, bakit mo kasi siya sinapak?"

"He was caught with another girl. He's dating my friend!"

"Bakit ikaw ang nanakit? Hindi ba't dapat si Yna?! At bakit ako?!" Terrence shrieked.

"Bakit hindi ikaw?!"

"May galos ba 'yong babae?" tanong ng isa sa mga staff.

"Wala po. Itong lalaki lang ang napuruhan. Tumawag na rin kami ng pulis pero minor kasi itong babae kaya. . ."

"Oo nga, Ma'am. Kadalasan taalga ang unang nasasaktan sa mga ganito ay 'yong babae na kasama. Bakit hindi siya?"

"Bakit siya?" I rose an eyebrow. "Hindi naman siya ang nakipag-relasyon sa bestfriend ko! Syempre itong mokong na ito ang uunahin kong sapakin dahil ang bobo n'ya!"

My Reverio facade is slowly unmasking. Yet, I couldn't keep quiet. True, the girl is partly to be blamed if she knew that the guy was in a relationship. But, the guy is definitely the one who shoulders the blame. He could always choose to be loyal. Scratch that, It is his duty to be loyal to his partner.

It is always the woman's fault. I could never understand why the guy could get away from it with a slap in the wrist.

"Hindi mo naman kailangan mag-eskandalo." sita sa akin ng isang ginang. I get it, that's true too. Pero nadala lang ako ng damdamin ko at hindi rin nakatulong na naalala ko si Ernesto at Alfos sa kan'ya.

I checked my phone for messages because it kept on beeping and my eyes deliberately went wide upon seeing the texts.

Dayamonyo:

We're having dinner with the Soteiros.

Ipapasundo ka namin kay Etienne. You should at least make sure the two of you patched up before the dinner.

Yna:

TE ANYARE SAYO HAHAHA

uuwi na ba ako kasi dumating na si Etienne????

bye te, see you tomorrow. salamat so much. yare yan si terrence sa keyboard warriors choz.

Etienne is coming? Bigla akong napatuwid ng upo. Terrence gradually frowned upon seeing my current expression. I was sweating bullets and I kept wetting my lips.

"Ano natauhan ka na? Maka-sapak ka parang hindi ka babae!" aniya.

I ignored that. I have a bigger asshole problem than him right now. Mas masahol si Etienne kay Terrence kung birahan lang naman ang usapan.

"Wala ka sigurong boyfriend, huh?! At sigurado akong wala ka ring magiging asawa! Sino ba naman papatol sa isang tulad mo na maton?!" Terrence snickered, hitting the table with his fist in frustration. Hindi ko kasi siya pinapansin. Hinahayaan na matuyo ang kan'yang laway.

In cue, like how the fates woven the destinies of mortals, Etienne came inside the office with a lopsided grin upon seeing my distress state. Most of the people inside look at him sith awestruck expressions. Parang nakakita ng artista. I can't blame them. Etienne was gifted with looks blessed by the gods.

Umirap ako at agad na naka-isip nang paraan para tumigil na sa kaka-putak itong si Terrence.

"Kita mo 'yan?" Dinuro ko si Etienne. "Boyfriend ko 'yan."

Terrence tilted his head. Agad na nanglaki ang kan'yang mga mata. Etienne lifted the side of his lips while gazing at me intently, a glint of mischief blending with his eyes. Agad na natawa si Etienne.

"Sinong walang boyfriend?!" mayabang kong saad.

"Papatulan ka ba n'yan?! Halatang napikot mo lang!" angil ni Terrence na ayaw magpatalo.

"Boyfriend kita 'di ba?" I asked Etienne, giving him a small nudge to agree.

"Ayoko," nilabi ni Etienne ngunit agad binawi.

"Sabihin mo asawa mo ako."

"Gago ka ba?" I mouthed back. Imbis na sakyan na lang n'ya, mukhang balak n'ya pang panindigan! At saka wala pa kami sa tamang edad!

Bakit ba napaka-impulsive ko?!

"Soulmates, final. Huling tawad." Etienne grinned mischievously. "Sabihin mo soulmates tayo."

"Bakit ba napaka-putangina mo?" bulong ko sa kan'ya.

Humarap muli ako kay Terrence na kahit bugbog sarado na nga, nagagawan pa ako'ng bigyan ng ngising mapangasar.

"Soulmates kami," I almost gagged. Kahit si Terrence ay tumaas ang kilay sa sinabi ko.

"That's right," Etienne agreed, smiling. And when his eyes met Terrence, it immediately turned into slits. "Now, fuck off."

I got out of there, unscatched. On the other hand, Terrence is badly bruised and he gets every blame for the commotion. Ang depensa sa akin ay natural na reaksyon lamang ang galit ko, he should have been more careful. I badly cringed at that; it isn't about him being careful, it's supposed to be him not cheating at all. Ano'ng careful ang ibig nilang sabihin?

"Etienne," I called him as we were heading to our family dinner. Nakapatong ang kan'yang braso sa lalagyanan ng door lock controls habang sinusuportahan nito ang kan'yang baba. He looked bored.

"What?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For being there." I replied.

I appreciated that. Kanina ay alam ko naman na kasalanan ko 'yon at maswerte lang na nakalusot ako.

"Control your temper, Solstice." bilin ni Etienne. "You always resort to violence."

"I know. . ." I sighed. "Are we good?"

Ang totoo n'yan ay kanina pa ako umaasa na baka sakaling kaya na n'ya akong kausapin tungkol dito. I wanted to apologized to him sincerely and even if I need to do things for him to forgive me - I would.

Ikiling n'ya ang kan'yang ulo patungo sa akin. A smirk gradually formed in his lips.

"No," he answered and he gently grabbed my hand. "I don't like it though, that you have to get hurt because of others."

My heart feels warm. I thought he cared for me. Yet, that was too good to be true.

"Because, I would like to be the one who will hurt you the most. The way you hurted me." madilim n'yang ani. His hands softly grazed my cheeks as he lifted my face to meet his sight.

"Can you break your own heart for me, Lavy?" malambing n'yang sabi. The same tone he uses whenever he called me before. However, this time, it was full of hostility at the end of the sugary tone.

Umiling ako. Yet, I didn't cry. I didn't want him to see that I felt hopeless during that moment. I still believe that Etienne has an innate goodness in him and he would learn to forgive me one of these days.

"That's right." He smirked, darkly. "So let me be the one to do that for you, alright? I'll make sure that whatever you made me feel during that day, I'll return it as fresh as the emotional wounds that you inflicted on me."

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