Read up to Chapter 19 now on my Patreon creator page Rej Martinez or Facebook VIP group message Facebook Rej Martinez to join. Thank you!

Chapter Five

Change

"Don't mind her. She's just being the bitch that she really is." Ava said.

After Aaron left our friends had their own conclusions of our relationship. Kahit wala naman kaming ibang pinagsabihan ni Aaron ng tungkol sa nangyari sa amin.

"Ava... Sierra is still our friend..." si Rica naman.

But Ava just snorted. Rica's been my friend since high school. While both Sierra and Ava I met in college. Mas nauna ko rin nakilala si Sierra actually bago pa magpasukan noon and during summer. And I don't quite understand why she seemed so affected by my relationship with Aaron. She's even telling our friends that I was the one who probably did something for Aaron to leave.

"I told you. That plastic friend likes your boyfriend, Teen. Noon ko pa nahahalata sa kaniya. The way she looks at Aaron every time we're all together and I caught her. Kaya ganiyan nalang siya makareact ngayon. The bitch is so unnecessarily affected."

"Ava..." Rica looked worried.

"Ano ka ba, Rica? You're Tristeen's longest friend. Bakit parang kinakampihan mo pa ang unreasonable bitch na iyon?"

Tumingin sa akin si Rica bago muling binalik ang tingin kay Ava. "Hindi naman sa ganoon, Ava."

Ava just said whatever and asked me if I want to go shopping with her. Among my three close friends, si Ava ang hindi ko madalas nakakabonding dahil abala siya sa pagpalit-palit din niya ng boyfriends. Which Rica did not really like about her. Maybe that's why Rica became closer with Sierra than Ava. While I liked Ava because she's easy and fun to be with, too.

Simula noong umalis si Aaron ay parang hindi na rin kami naging magkaibigan ni Sierra. Which I still don't quite understand. "Well, the bitch just probably befriend you because of your boyfriend, Teen. Who knows naghihintay lang pala noon pa ng pagkakataon para mang-agaw." Ava told me once.

Hindi ko naman iyon lubusang maisip sa kaibigan ko. Sierra was my sweetest friend. She wasn't a classmate in college but we happened to meet and later on became friends because her ex-boyfriend was also Aaron's friend. Si Ava naman ay kaklase ko at business partner din ni daddy ang dad niya sa medical field. Noon pa rin kami nagkakilala sa mga events dahil family friends din. Pero nitong college pa lang talaga naging magkaibigan at napalapit sa isa't isa because we became classmates.

Okay naman si Sierra at Rica. Kahit nga kay Ava ay mukhang wala naman siyang problema pero si Ava rin ang umiiwas sa kaniya. At the end Ava was the only one who remained my friend. Because I can't anymore trust both Sierra and Rica. It was saddening especially with Rica. Because between the three girls siya ang naging pinakamatagal kong kaibigan. I did not really earn a lot of friends. Back when I was younger naging kaibigan ko na si Aaron at siya na ang palagi kong kasama and I didn't feel the need to have more friends than I need. For Aaron was also my best friend. Pero nakakalungkot pa rin ang sa amin ni Rica because I trusted her for a long time, too.

I'd like to think that she's got really close to Sierra kaya ganoon. Pero nalaman ko rin na sinabi niyang matagal na rin talaga siyang hindi natutuwa sa mga naging decisions ko simula pa lang noong una. That before Aaron left she already noticed that it may have something to do with Noah... Sana ay sinabi niya sa akin. Sana ay kinausap niya rin ako. Because I think if she's really my friend and she truly cared for me, siguro naman ay may sasabihin din siya sa akin. Just like what I'd probably do with her if she's in my shoes. But instead different had happened. Even Aaron's friends, iniwasan na rin ako simula noon.

I just lost my best friend which was Aaron... And then some or almost all of our friends, too.

But as years passed by I realized that I also became fine with just Ava as my only friend that I trusted after all. I think it's really the quality over quantity.

***

"Were you crying?" My brother asked me as soon as pinagbuksan ko siya ng pinto ng kwarto ko nang katukin niya ako.

"What is it?"

His forehead creased. He's wearing his school uniform and he's now a high school student. "I thought you're done crying years ago..."

Months up to a year or years even after Aaron left palagi pa rin akong umiiyak because I was missing him terribly and I regret so much what I did which I know the reason why he left. My family, my parents and my brother saw that kahit ayaw ko naman talaga sanang ipakita pa sa kanila. Pero halata pa rin iyon sa halos araw-araw na ayos ko simula noong umalis si Aaron.

"Or," he sighed like he's older than his age now. "Is it because Kuya Aaron has returned?"

Sandali akong natigilan habang nasa harap ko ang kapatid ko. And then I sighed. "What is it, Lance?"

He sighed a heavy one. "Tawag ka ni mommy sa baba. Kain ka na raw ng breakfast mo."

I just nodded and closed my door after my brother left.

Pero kinagabihan nasa loob ng kwarto ko na talaga ang makulit na si Lance. I sighed loudly for my brother. "What is it, Lance? May homework ka ba at magpapatulong ka sa 'kin? Where's your tutor? Dahil may mga kailangan din akong gawin ngayon for med school." I explained it to him that I'm busy, too. Baka kasi manggugulo lang ang makulit na 'to.

I remember when I was young I prayed for a little sibling. Lalo at medyo matagal din akong nasundan. And I was happy when Lance came to our family. Pero lumaki rin siyang makulit at matigas pa ang ulo minsan. And he also likes annoying me. Maybe it's also the age difference or our gap I don't know. Or maybe natural lang din kasi bata pa siya.

"What tutor?" His forehead really creased. "I don't do tutor anymore. You forgot, ate?"

Oh. Oo nga pala... Parang hindi ko na kasi namalayan ang panahon. Dati kasi may tutor siya. My brother's not weak in his academics pero may tutor lang din siya noong mas bata siya para may tumulong sa kaniya like if he has homework kasi pareho rin busy sina mommy at daddy sa hospital. At nag-aaral din ako. Now I he can perfectly do his schoolwork alone.

"Oo nga pala..."

"Ate... What happened after the dinner? Doon ka natulog kanila Tita Eris, 'di ba?"

I nodded. After I slapped Aaron that morning ay mabilis na rin akong nagpaalam kanila Tita Eris at umalis sa bahay ng mga Ledesma.

"You and Kuya Aaron talked?"

Why was my brother a little too talkative like this? Hindi naman ganito si daddy, ah. Tahimik nga lang iyon kung hindi naman talaga kailangan magsalita. My dad was the quiet and mysterious type of a guy according to my mom.

"Why are you asking?"

"Why? Just answer. I'm just asking." He even shrugged his shoulders.

I sighed. Hindi rin ako nito titigilan. "We did..."

"And?"

Marahan akong umiling at nagbaba ng tingin.

"Tsk. Stop crying, Tristeen."

"Hey! Where's the 'ate'?!"

Lance shook his head like he's a grown-up. "What did he said? Ayaw na niya talaga? Then just move on! It's been years. It's tiring."

My eyes widened at my brother. "What? Ano ba'ng mga pinagsasabi mo..."

"I'm not a child anymore. Stop treating me like I'm still seven or five years old, ate. I know what happened. I know."

Hindi ko alam kung matatawa ba ako sa kapatid ko o...

"You can't be like this forever. I know that you... love Kuya Aaron." Ngumiwi pa siya sa sinabi. "But if it's done... then... let go... It might not be easy but you are my sister." He showed me a brave face. "You are Tristeen Dela Cuesta. You are smart and pretty. You are strong. You deserve the best things." And then he shrugged his shoulders.

I didn't know where my brother got his words now and these thoughts. But it actually touched my heart. What my brother just said. I breathed and took him in my arms and hugged him kahit medyo nahirapan din ako dahil malaki na nga siya. "Ah. You're so sweet my little brother. Kaya mo naman pala! Bakit 'di ka nalang maging sweet sa akin palagi, ha. Kaysa inaasar mo pa ako 'pag trip mo."

"Stop hugging me!" He groaned. "I hope I'm the one who's older between us two so that I can punch and beat guys who tries to hurt you."

I feel like crying but right now because of my brother. I just hugged him more. Kahit nagrereklamo na siya.

***

"He's back?" Ava asked me as soon as she saw me.

Magkasama pa rin kaming dalawa sa med school after we graduated from college. Noong una ay sinabi niyang ayaw naman talaga niya sa course namin noon at nahihirapan din siya but her dad wants her to take after him who's also a doctor who already made a name for himself. Pero kalaunan ay nagustuhan na rin ni Ava ang medicine. She even said na anak nga raw talaga siya ng daddy niya like it was a confirmation and she had doubt at first. May kabaliwan din talaga minsan.

I nodded and just continued what I was doing for our anatomy class.

"Hmm. And what happened?"

I looked up to Ava. I shook my head. "Wala naman..." Halos wala na ako sa sarili sa ginagawa.

"Hmm. Nakita ko sa social media. May girlfriend na siya?"

I gulped and I nodded while my eyes remained down. I heard Ava sighing. "I already told you before, Teen. Mag-move on ka nalang. Wala na kayong communication simula noong umalis siya. And now he just returned and you knew that he's already with someone else. Now that you've confirmed it, isn't this the right time to just really let go already?"

Yumuko lang muli ako.

"Teen," Ava held both my shoulders and made me looked at her. "I'm just worried about you. Kahit hindi ka naman talaga nagsasabi, I know that you've been hurting for years now... Kaya... kung wala na talaga... Just let it go, please? Para rin naman sa 'yo. I missed the old Tristeen. Who's just fun and easy." Malungkot na ani Ava.

Maybe I really did change. Simula noong umalis si Aaron nagbago nga ako. I don't go to parties anymore. I became quiet and I only talk to my family and Ava. Nag-focus nalang ako sa pag-aaral ko.

I gave Ava a small smile. Despite everything that had happened to my life... The changes... The people, the friends I lost... I think I'm still blessed because I was left with the people who's real and true to me.