Athaliah's Redemption (Ortega Series 1)

Kabanata 9

____________________

IX - Hypothetical

____________________

Why would he do that? Baka siguro inisip niyang may masamang ginawa si Benjamin sa akin? Iyon lang ang alam kong dahilan kung bakit.

About Addessa and Benjamin, I was really shocked. Lalo na dahil kitang-kita ko mismong ang kaibigan ko ang humalik kay Benjamin.

That night, I received a text from Addessa.

Addessa:

Let's talk tomorrow please. I'll explain.

My eyebrows arched as I read her text. Hindi ako nagreply kaya may sumunod pa siyang mga text sa akin. Pati si Benjamin ay tinitext ako pero hindi ko rin ginawaran ng reply.

Surprsingly, I don't feel angry about what I saw. I am sure of it. Nagulat lang ako. And well, I feel a bit hurt but for another reason.

Hindi ko pinansin si Addessa sa sumunod na araw. Kung papansinin ko man ay tuwing kailangan lang. But if we do not have anything to talk about, I kept mum. It was good that our friends did not notice it. Hindi naman obvious na may problema kami dahil nagsasalita pa rin talaga kami sa isa't isa kapag kasama sila.

Benjamin did not come near us. But he constantly glances our way. Iyon ang napansin ng mga kaibigan.

"May LQ ba kayo?" tanong agad ni Akierah. "Masama ang tingin ni Benj sa banda natin."

Nagkibit ako ng balikat. "Malay ko kung anong problema niyan."

I saw Addessa sink into her chair and she looked very guilty.

Umirap ako sa kanya nang nakita niyang napansin ko siya.

I would not talk to her. I promised myself that. It might seem petty but I have to make her feel that what she did is not good. It is totally wrong. Kahit pa sabihin nating may kasalanan din ako ay mali pa rin ang ginawa niya.

I made sure we're always with Jemima so we cannot have the talk. Ilang araw rin ang lumipas na ganoon. She tried calling me but I blocked her number.

Natapos ang finals na hindi na rin kami nagkakausap. Ngayon ay final requirements nalang ang dahilan ng pagpasok namin sa school at para lang sa pag-eensayo.

Isang araw ay hindi na yata nakatiis si Addessa dahil nang pauwi na kaming tatlo nina Jemima ay bigla siyang naluha sa harap naming dalawa. Nasa parking lot na kami noon.

"I'm sorry," mahinang saad niya nang inalo siya ni Jemima.

We found our way sitting on one of the shaded benches.

"Bakit ka ba umiiyak?" tanong ni Jemima bago tumingin sa akin. Ang mga mata niya ay kuryoso.

"What are you sorry for?" I asked, feeling a bit guilty for making her cry.

"F-for kissing Benj."

Suminghap si Jemima, hindi inaasahan ang pag-amin ni Addessa. Napatingin siya sa akin bago ulit bumaling kay Addessa.

"Iyon lang ba?"

Tumango siya. I guess she did not realize the real reason I did not talk to her for the past days.

"I thought you did not like him so I just made my way. I did not know you were in the locker room when I kissed him. I'm sorry Athaliah. Sorry for hurting you."

Umiling ako bago nagbuntong-hininga. "So when you know I am in the locker room, you will not do it?"

Hindi agad siya nakasagot.