Chapter 16: Tell Me About You

But the thing about this woman Tristeen just kept on bothering me. Hindi na lang muna ako nagsalita tungkol dito hanggang sa makabalik lang kami ni Noah ng Dumaguete. I also just want to spend time with Noah's family in those few days that we were in Palawan. Kaya naman nang makauwi na kami sa apartment namin ay doon ko pa lang siya kinausap.

"I didn't mean to, but I think I've heard more about Tristeen..." Nagkatinginan kami ni Noah. "Who is she, Noah? Really, who is she to you?" I confronted him.

I told him about Zach. I didn't want to force him to talk about Tristeen now, but I just wanted us to be honest with each other...

Ayaw ko na naglilihim siya sa akin o may hindi siya sinasabi sa akin.

I didn't want to misunderstand him.

"Tell me about you, too... I want to know, Noah... I want to know you more." I said to him.

Tumingin ako sa mga mata niya. At sa huli ay tumango na rin siya sa akin. Bahagya akong nakahinga nang pumayag na siyang pag-usapan namin ito.

"I'm sorry about Chloe bringing it up when we were in Palawan." He said.

Umiling naman ako. "No, it's okay. I think it's all right..."

Nagkatinginan kami muli bago siya bumuntong-hininga at nagsabi na nga sa akin. "Tristeen was my childhood friend. We grew up together and my twin sister. We became close to each other. And since our parents were close friends, too. Tristeen's mom and my mom are best friends..."

"And then, what happened?" I can't help it but to anticipate that there's more to it. Dahil pakiramdam ko talaga ay may kung ano pa ang nangyari sa kanila. Base na rin sa reaksyon at narinig kong usapan sa pamilya ni Noah.

Tumingin muli si Noah sa akin. Pagkatapos ay nagbuntong-hinga siya at tumingin naman sa harapan namin. Nakaupo na kami ngayon dito sa sofa sa living room ng apartment niya. "You might think that I'm a bad person for doing that to my friend, and even ruining their relationship..." He said.

Hindi ko pa naintindihan si Noah noong una sa sinasabi niya. I just patiently waited for what he has to tell me now.

Tumingin na siya muli sa akin at nagpatuloy. "I... liked Tristeen when we were young..." Nakatingin kaming dalawa sa isa't isa. "But she likes someone else..." He said.

Napakurap na ako. Tingin ko ay nakukuha ko na ang ibig-sabihin ni Noah... But I still zipped my lips and just continued to listen to him first.

"She was in a relationship when... I tried to steal her..." aniya.

Hindi ko na inalis ang tingin ko kay Noah. Nakatingin din siya sa akin na para bang binabasa ang mga mata ko o ang nasa isip ko ngayon. Parang tinitingnan niya at nag-aabang siya sa magiging reaksyon ko sa kwento niya. But I stayed quiet and he continued.

And I learned that he and Tristeen kind of had an affair in the past while she was also in a relationship. Pero nang mabuking na sila ay hinabol din ni Tristeen iyong boyfriend niya... And just leaving Noah...

"Do you still like her now?" I asked him. I think it's just what I want to know now. It's what important to me.

Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa at unti-unti naman siyang umiling. "I have you now, Zeph..." He said.

Unti-unti naman akong tumango lang at tahimik na yumakap sa kaniya. At naramdaman ko rin ang yakap pabalik ni Noah sa akin. I think it's enough for now...

"You're invited to their wedding. Will you go?" I asked him after a while when I remembered. I stopped hugging him to better see his face.

Tumingin din naman siya sa akin. "I don't know yet..." He said.

"Bakit hindi?"

Umiling siya. "Depends if we're not busy, Zeph." aniya.

Tumango ako kay Noah. "I can come with you, Noah." I said, looking into his eyes that stared back at me. "Kailan ba ang kasal?" I asked.

"You still have classes, Zeph—"

Umiling ako. "It's fine. Kung ilang araw lang naman tayo sa Manila... Then I think it's okay." I said.

Nakatingin kaming dalawa sa isa't isa.

At hindi ko mapigilan na mag-isip na parang wala sigurong balak si Noah na um-attend sa kasal nina Tristeen. But when I asked him ay pumayag naman siya na pumunta kaming dalawa at dalhin niya ako.

I was so curious of meeting this girl. And even if I didn't want to think about it, naisip ko pa rin that she may be Noah's first love...

Ayaw kong magselos... Pero naisip ko rin na pumayag si Noah noon na parang maging kabit lang siya ni Tristeen. She gave him less—or even just used him, pero pumayag pa rin siya... Just to be with her... And even just for a while...

He did things with her... He did things for her. And even if it's in the past now, at hindi pa naman kami magkakilala ni Noah noon, I still can't help it but have this awful feeling about it...

I sighed and continued packing in my luggage what I would bring to Manila. We're attending the wedding. Sabi naman sa akin ni Noah ay siya na raw ang bahala pati na sa susuotin ko sa kasal pagdating namin ng Manila.

"Will you go to your family after we arrive in Manila?" He asked me.

Bumaling ako sa kaniya at umiling. "Where will you be staying? Sa bahay pa ba ng parents mo?"

Umiling siya. "I have my own condo in Manila."

"Doon na lang din ako." sabi ko.

Tiningnan pa niya ako bago siya tumango.

I didn't have any plans of going home and seeing Kiah and Mommy. Dahil baka hanggang ngayon ay galit pa rin sila sa akin. And I don't have time for them now. I just came back here with Noah and to meet Tristeen...

Alam na rin ng family ni Noah that we are also attending Tristeen's wedding. Pinuntahan nga rin ako ni Chloe sa condo ng kambal niya nang dumating na kami ng Manila.

Noah's condo was huge. And it's located in a luxury tower in Metro Manila. At kahit matagal din siyang hindi umuwi rito ay maintained at malinis pa rin ang bahay niya. Sigurado ako na may nag-aasikaso rin dito.

"Zeph! You came!" Chloe hugged me matapos ko siyang pagbuksan ng pintuan ng condo ni Noah.

Ngumiti naman ako sa kambal ng boyfriend ko. "Hi, Chloe. Yes, nag-usap kami ni Noah na um-attend ng wedding..." I said.

Tumingin sa akin si Chloe. "That's good! Anyway, I came here to also check on you. May susuotin ka na ba para sa wedding tomorrow?" She asked me.

I nodded. "Yes. Noah said siya na daw ang bahala." sabi ko naman.

"Is he sure? Where is he, by the way?"

"Nagpaalam lang siya sa'kin na magkikita raw sila ngayon ng Dad n'yo sa company ninyo?"

"Oh, yes. Probably some business thing. Anyway, instead of waiting for Noah why don't you just come with me now at tayo na lang ang maghanap ng mga susuotin at gagamitin mo bukas sa kasal? How's that?" Chloe smiled at me.

Ngumiti rin naman ako sa kaniya. And after calling Noah para magpaalam sa kaniya ay sumama na rin ako kay Chloe.

And the next day on the day of the wedding I was wearing all the dress, heels and accessories Chloe chose for me. And I must say that I love Chloe's taste, too. So I feel confident to attend the wedding with my looks that day.

Kaya nga lang nang makita ko na si Tristeen—even if it was her wedding day and natural naman siguro to look the most beautiful on your wedding day, pero hindi ko pa rin mapigilan ang naramdaman ko nang makita ko na siya.

She's beautiful. And I think that she was the most beautiful bride I've ever seen...

Napatingin ako kay Noah sa tabi ko habang nakikita namin si Tristeen na dumadaan na sa aisle sa harapan namin. And I saw the his eyes were like glued on the bride, Tristeen...

I slightly gritted my teeth as I returned my eyes to Tristeen who just continued walking down the aisle on the day of her wedding.

She's definitely beautiful. And I've never felt this insecure towards anyone before...