Iyong mas galit pa mga kaibigan mo sa gago mong ex-boyfriend kaysa sa iyo.

That was what I thought of why Uno said that. He couldn't be serious. Baka nadala lang ng inis kaya nang naunawaan ito, natawa na lang tuloy ako sa isip-isip ko.

Nahalata ko rin kina Stance at Ulrich na curious sila sa nangyari kaya hindi ko na rin ipinagdamot. Hindi na rin naman sila iba sa akin. Besides, apart from I chose to put my trust on them, they just really seemed trustworthy.

Katunayan nga, akala ko ay kinuwento na ni Uno sa kanila nang hindi ko alam. Pero hindi. Kaya naramdaman kong mapagkakatiwalaan naman silang tatlo.

The two almost cursed Zeo after hearing some of the truth from me. They completely and intentionally threw what they had with Zeo as their former friend and classmate into the trash.

I felt terrible because it was like I ruined Zeo's image and friendship with these guys.

But I just expressed the truth and it was the expected reaction of the listeners. Ano'ng magagawa ko? That was how he actually treated me. It was on him if it appeared so wrong in the ears of others.

"Sasamaan namin ng tingin 'pag nakita namin," Stance earnestly promised me.

"Papakyuhin ko," dagdag ni Ulrich.

I scoffed a laugh, not taking their words seriously. Pinagagaan lang siguro nila ang loob ko o ikinainis lang din talaga nila ang totoo. Either way, I didn't think that they had to involve themselves. Their concern was already too much for me.

Hindi pala makadadalo sa training namin si Uno kasi kailangan niya nang umalis. There was a family eat out for his 21st birthday of course.

Pinasasama nga raw ako ni Ate Kajina, e. Since Uno still didn't have the heart to confess our lies to his beloved sister. Meanwhile, I also didn't take it back since I had my full heart to let Zeo believe shit.

Pero kay Ate Kajina, kinakain ako ng konsensya. Kaso si Uno naman ang may gusto na huwag munang sabihin sa kapatid niya kaya kargo niya na iyon. I sighed deeply. 

Ito tuloy at tinitingnan ko lang sa preview ng notification ang chats ni Ate Kajina sa akin sa Instagram. She didn't unfollow me unlike what I wished and expected before.

kajinazorca
Hi, Rivi! Please join us later for our baby's 21st birthday, huh? Mommy is expecting you later din. See you later. 🥰

kajinazorca
Ohhh may important activity ka raw na need gawin? Sad but we understand. Next time na lang. I really wanna hangout with Uno's girlfriend kasi 😟 See you again someday!

Uno already gave me a heads-up about this, so the notification didn't catch me off guard. Nasabihan na rin ako ni Uno na magdadahilan siya para sa akin.

rivithymiasio
Hi ate! Sayang nga huhu

rivithymiasio
Next time po 🥰

Saka ko lang napakawalan ang kinagat kong ibabang labi nang sent na ang replies ko. I pressed the lock button so hard because I hated lying like that. I didn't have the guts to unlock my cellphone to check if she replied.

Naisip ko, ayos lang naman sa akin ang sumama sa eat out nila bilang good friend ni Uno. Nakilala at nakasama ko na rin naman sila noong Pasko at mabubuting tao naman sila.

Kaso baka durugin na ako ng konsensya ko kung ganoon... Kasi hindi naman as a good friend ang alam nila sa akin...

I was with my roommates at dinner after the training. Hapo na naman ako pagkauwi sa dorm kaso sanayan na lang. Ganito rin naman noong senior high school. It was just more intense this time.

I just slid into my comfortable sleepwear when Uno sent me a link that redirected me to Spotify. My Playlist #6 ang nakalagay at wala namang laman na kanta kahit isa.

Magta-type pa lang ako ng tanong na hindi na rin kinailangan. He rang my cellphone and I immediately answered it.

"It's a collaborative playlist by only you and me," he explained without being told.

"Ohhh. Pero bakit ang random?" I asked in amusement.

Narinig ko ang ngiti niya sa kabilang linya. "Kasama si Yzl kanina... Nothing... Nakuwento niya lang na may collaborative playlist sila ng boyfriend niya. They add songs anytime, songs that they want the other to listen to. Then I thought, hmm, that's cool and nice."

Umarko ang isang kilay ko sa narinig. Because like him, I found it nice indeed. I was not particularly a music-is-life kind of person, but I could appreciate music and its effect that not only ended in one's ears. It could reach depth.

"Ikaw, ha, copy-cat ka sa kanila."

"Hey. It's the thought that counts," depensa niya, natatawa rin. "Admit it, the concept is nice. Sorry na lang kung wala akong originality, okay?"

"Baliw," sambit ko. "Pero okay, sige. Show me what you got in terms of music taste!" hamon ko.

I heard him chuckle. "I don't know what to title the playlist. Ikaw na riyan. Saka wala pa akong malagay kasi wala pa akong maisip na kanta."

Natawa ako. "Hoy, ako rin. Shocking ka naman kasi. Hindi ako handa."

"It's fine. 'Di naman kailangang meron na agad. Take your time. But... I'm also excited to see the first song you'll add."

"Thanks for pressuring me, ha," I stated, faking sarcasm.

He chuckled in a carefree way before shifting the topic. "Ate Ka liked the cake from you. Mas marami siyang nakain sa 'kin. An' duga," tunong nagsusumbong siya bigla.

Humagalpak ako. "Sorry ka, hindi na kita ibibili ulit," I teased, earning groans from him. "Pero happy birthday ulit, ha?"

"Yeah," he cleared his throat, "Thanks again, Vi..."

Pagkatapos naming mag-usap, matutulog na sana ako kaso may naisipan na gawin.

Hinanap ko agad sa camera roll ko iyong kuha ko sa kaniya sa gitna ng training namin isang beses. I was out of the court so I was able to watch his turn from the other side. I chose the one where he gripped a racket in a defensive badminton stance.

I typed a greeting for my good friend again and published it as my Instagram story.

May isang viewer na agad kahit thirty-six seconds ago lang. It was obviously a dummy account. I know whose it was, while the owner was unaware of my knowledge about it. Si Zeo, sigurado ako.

Isang beses na hawak ko ang cellphone niya noong kami pa, nakita ko iyon sa registered accounts sa device. I didn't open it. It was why he might have also cheated on me, according to my instincts.

Pero wala naman akong matibay na pruweba kaya ayokong magkumpirma ng mga ganoon. I didn't mean to collect evidences or to prove it even to myself only. I just honestly didn't care anymore this time.

Makailang beses ko na rin itong nakita sa viewers ko. Maybe I didn't have the energy to face it. But tonight, I finally blocked that account, giving it the same fate as his real accounts.

Sana ay tigilan niya na ako. Please. Peace. Peace lang, Zeo, ang gusto ko.

That happening, I needed a distraction to prevent Zeo from invading my head before I sleep. Buti na lang at naalala ko iyong collaborative playlist namin ni Uno.

Lights off na kami sa kuwarto at kami na lang ang natira ni Jenica na nanonood sa kaniyang iPad ang gising. Pero naunahan niya rin akong matulog dahil ako ang nahuli.

Natagalan kasi akong mag-isip ng ipapangalan sa playlist. I also tried raking my mind and my account for a song that I could add, but for some reasons, I had a hard time. Ayaw ko naman kasi nang basta may malagay lang ngayong gabi.

Pangalan lang tuloy ang nagawa ko—tunes of two souls.

🧁 🧁 🧁

Ahia fetched me and sent me home for the weekend. 

Nakatutuwa nga kasi ipinagluluto ako ni Mommy ng pagkain kahit na may trabaho siya. Nalanghap ko ang lutong-bahay at agad nang nasabi sa sarili na walang tatalo rito. More so when I tasted it.

Hinatid din ulit ako ni Ahia sa dorm ko pagkatapos ng weekend. Siya nga kasi ay uwian naman. Hindi kami tubong probinsya, kaya sa lapit, sayang lang kung kukunin niya ang condo unit na inaalok ng ahente na kaibigan ng daddy namin.

He also didn't want to break our mom's heart. Itong akin naman kasi ay for being a student athlete lang kaya suportado. Iba iyong konsepto kapag bubukod na talaga si Ahia. Kaya naiintindihan ko si Mommy tungkol doon.

As soon as I stepped out of our dorm building for my Monday classes, I attempted to step back inside. Kaso lang ay nakita na ako ni Zeo.

Binitiwan niya iyong vape na ginagamit kaya lumaylay na lang ito sa lace. Bumuga siya bago humakbang palapit sa akin. He didn't look mad, but he didn't look great either. He looked grave, that was it.

Ginusto ko talaga ang bumalik na lamang sa loob kaso naisip ko, hindi naman puwedeng lagi na lang ganito. Maybe I could completely end things with Lizeo now, even though I believed that I already did long before.

"Mag-usap tayo," he said through gritted teeth upon stopping in front of me.

"Nag-uusap na tayo," I answered in monotone.

Umismid siya at madilim na nginisian ako. "Isa si Zorca sa mga lalaki mo noon, 'no? Nilandi mo kaibigan ko? And he let you, you fucking whore?"

Dumiretso siya sa paratang niyang hindi ko alam kung saan ba talaga nanggagaling. Honestly, I got used to the words he associated to me. Naaapektuhan pa rin naman ako, pero napapalabas ko na rin sa kabilang tainga kalaunan.

I forced myself to learn that, and it felt awful that I had to.

"Now that the coast is clear, you announced your disgusting relationship? Tapang n'yo rin, ano? Sinabi mo na mahal mo 'ko ta's ginagago mo pala 'ko?"

Sinabi ko na mahal kita, tapos ginago mo ako. I mentally corrected his statement.

I loudly released a sigh right in front of his face. Suko na talaga ako. If he would just be like this, our talk would lead us to nowhere.

"Let's talk some other time," I stalled, because I wasn't sure if I could still bring myself to talk to him. It was just all too much at this point.

Mariin niyang iniling ang ulo. "Mag-uusap tayo ngayon. Hindi pa ako tapos."

"Bakit ba, Zeo? Break na tayo! Bakit ba hindi mo na lang tanggapin 'yon?!" bulong-sigaw ko, ayaw gumawa ng eksena sa tapat ng dorm.

"Fuck, what? Ano'ng akala mo?" aniya, gulat at hindi makapaniwala. "I've moved on. Napakadali mo lang kalimutan, Rivithymia, ano'ng akala mo?"

Awtomatiko ang sarkastiko kong ngiti at mukha siyang nainsulto.

"Then let this go. Leave me alone," I retorted.

Hindi ko na siya hinintay sumagot o kahit makaakto. I walked past him, but who was I kidding to believe that I could escape him with nothing but ease?

"'Tang ina mo talagang babae ka," I heard him. Pagkatapos ay hinigit niya ako sa may siko at pilit na ipinaharap muli sa kaniya. "Sinabi nang mag-uusap nga tayo, eh!"

I stiffened in horror because his voice went loud as if I already zeroed his patience. Natataranta akong lumingon sa paligid at agad tinubuan ng hiya nang napatingin sa amin ang ibang dormers na kalalabas lang din ng building.

I couldn't voice out my protest and just silently tried to peel his hand off me. Pero wala ang lakas ko dahil mas hinigpitan niya lang hanggang sa nasasaktan na ako.

"Hindi ko naging lalaki si Uno. Never akong nanlalaki. I didn't fool you nor cheat on you, Zeo," I explained hopelessly. "Break na tayo nang nakilala ko siya. Please, let me go..."

His orbs darkened even more. "Akala mo maniniwala ako?!"

"Zeo, may mga nakatingin na..."

Gratefully, it seemed like he was awoken from a trance. Napatingin din siya sa paligid namin at nakita ko ang pagdaplis ng hiya sa buong mukha niya. Pero agad bumalik ang inis nang bumaling ulit sa akin.

"We're not done," he said in a cruel tone. "Tara, sa iba tayo mag-usap ngayon."

"May klase ako—" I was cut off when he forcefully dragged me with him.

Mukhang nahiya na nga siya na pumalahaw kaya hindi na nagsasalita. But he was firmly dragging me while I exerted a lot to stay on my ground. Kaso naluha na lang ako sa kaba dahil nagagawa niyang pahakbangin ang mga paa ko sa simpleng paghila lang.

I could see the other dormers getting confused and worried about what they were witnessing. Kung bakit ba kasi bihira ko lang makasabay sa schedule ang mga roommates ko?! Shit!

I was about to mouth how I was in dire need of help when somebody shoved Zeo away from me with the greatest force.

Tuloy-tuloy napaatras si Zeo at napasandal sa garbage area sa tabi. Muntik na siyang mapaupo sa basura kung hindi lang niya nabalanse ang sarili.

He quickly rescued himself by standing straight and eyed the newcomer... who was... Uno. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang mabilis na nakilala ang likod ng kaibigan.

"Kakausapin ko lang si Rivi!" iginiit ni Zeo.

"Hahayaan kita kaso pinipilit mo. It's clear that the girl doesn't want to talk with you," ani Uno.

May kumibot sa panga ni Zeo bago dinuro si Uno. "Magkaibigan tayo! Traydor ka!" he growled.

"Huh?" maang-maangan ni Uno. "Magkaibigan tayo? Sigurado kang magkaibigan pa tayo?"

"Puta, ano?" Litong-lito si Zeo.

He advanced a step to confront Uno more and the latter automatically held my arm to get me close to his body. Kumapit naman din ako sa braso niya habang ang isang kamay ay ipinangpunas ng luha.

"Hindi ako kumakaibigan ng gago," Uno replied in the flattest but most ruthless sound.

"Napakasahol mo, Zorca! Where's the fucking bro code?"

I wasn't looking at Uno but I heard his smirk. "We're not fucking friends, Acerbo. There's no bro code between the two of us. But even if we are, bro code my ass. I will still snatch her away from someone like you."

Namilog ang mga mata ni Zeo sa gulat sa pinagsasabi ni Uno. Sinakop din ng galit ang mga mata niya at akmang susugurin si Uno nang may nagsalita.

"Ano'ng nangyayari rito?"

As we turned our heads, I saw the brighter light. Two of the dorm building's security guards came to us. Mas napagtinginan tuloy kami kaso hindi ko na iyon inisip pa. I just wanted to be out of here, and Zeo to be out of my sight.

"He's harassing the girl, Sir," Uno reported without looking at the guards because he was still trying to pierce Zeo through his glare.

"I am not harassing that girl!" singhal ni Zeo. "I just want us to talk!"

He immediately spun his heels and hopped in his car just a few meters away. Ipinaharurot niya iyon paalis.

"Iba-ban namin sa area, Miss... Hindi naman 'yon atleta at tagarito, 'no?" anang lady guard ng building namin.

"No po," si Uno ang sumagot.

"Oo. I-check na lang namin sa CCTV ang mukha. Pasensya na at mukhang medyo nahuli kami."

"T-thank you po, Ma'am and Sir," sabi ko, bahagyang nanginginig ang boses.

Tumango sila at iniwan na rin kami ni Uno. Hinatid ko sila ng tingin habang si Uno, hindi na inalis sa akin ang nag-aalalang mga mata.

I had no tears already but my eyelashes sticking to each other hinted how I cried a little a while ago. Maybe it was what concerned him more.

Sunod ko na lang naramdaman ay ang kamay ni Uno na kumapit sa kaliwang baywang ko, tapos ang braso niyang pumalibot sa may leeg ko at marahan akong iginiya sa dibdib niya. In an instant, I forgot everything Zeo made me feel.

Pumikit ako at dinamdam ang may katigasan niyang dibdib, taliwas sa lambot na ng pakiramdam ko. I sniffed his perfume like it would also help me calm, and surprisingly, it did.

"Are there important agendas in your classes today?" he asked, voice was soothing. "I'd like to take you far away from him."

Pinalibot ko ang mga braso ko sa baywang ni Uno. "Take me," sabi ko.