JADE'S POV
"Bianca"
tawag ko sa best friend ko nang balikan ko sya sa lobby
"We'll go ahead Ms. Higgins"
paalam ko kay Kathleen at ngumiti lamang sya. Nagmadali akong pumunta sa elevator
"Hey bestie, what's the rush? May hinahabol?"
I ignored her as I step inside the elevator. Sumunod lang si Bianca sakin hanggang marating namin ang room ko.
Nahiga si Bianca sa kama at nanood ng TV habang ako naman ay nag busy busyhan sa pag aayos ng gamit ko
"Same old boring stuff"
sambit nya sabay patay ng TV. Kita ko sa peripheral view ko na pinagmamasdan nya ako habang paikot ikot sa pagliligpit
"You're not gonna tell me what's going on between you and Althea?"
Natigilan ako saglit at napahawak sa sentido ko. Pinagpatuloy ko ang pag iimpake
"When you're ready, I'm just here, I'm willing to listen"
at binuksan nya uli ang TV. I was trying to make myself preoccupied para ibaling ang worries ko. This is the best for both of us. She need to forget me and move forward. I know Kathleen had Althea's back at wala akong laban sa kanya. Palagi na silang magkasama ever since at alam ko noon pa man ay lovestruck na sya. Althea said that she loves me, and I wanna give in. Pero bakit pag andyan si Kathleen, di sya makapagdecide.
"Bestie, tara, dinner tayo sa labas"
tumigil ako saglit sa pagtitiklop ng mga damit ko at lumingon kay Bianca. Tumingin sya sakin at ngumiti.
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Nagprepare na kami ni Bianca para sa aming night out. Kelangan kong libangin ang sarili ko at sabihin sa best friend ko ang nangyari samin ni Althea. Light make up at comfy casual lang ang attire ko para relaxed and look
"Bestie, let's go vegan ha"
habang nag aapply ng mascara si Bianca
"I want some rice and pork belly and a glass of cold beer"
Natigilan si Bianca at tumingin sakin
"Well, can't blame you. The feeling seems so intense"
sabay apply uli ng mascara
"For me, I will not ruin my diet dahil lang sa pag ibig. Hello, andami kayang naghahabol sayo. But I know lakas ng tama mo dun sa isang yon"
Tumayo si Bianca at dinampot ang hand bag. Nauna syang lumabas ng room.
"Bestie, wag masyadong iinom ha, di kita kaya iuwe"
sigaw ni Bianca mula sa hallway. Kinuha ko ang purse ko at lumabas ng pinto. Nakita ko si Bianca na tila naging kawayan gaya ni gladangorhichan at nakatingin sa malayo
"O, anong nangyari sayo?"
natawa pako at lumingon kung saan nakatingin si Bianca-- it's Kathleen. Akay si Althea na lasing na lasing papasok sa suite nya.
Para akong nabuhusan ng malamig na tubig, natauhan. Di ako makagalaw sa kinatatayuan ko hanggang makapasok sila. Gusto ko sila sugurin pero nanlumo ako sa nakita ko. Wala akong karapatang mamagitan. Nilabanan ko na wag madaig ng nararamdaman ko at maiyak
"Bestie, are you alright? We can stay inside and order room service nalang if you want"
Humugot ako ng pagkalalim lalim na abot hanggang 17th floor para ayusin ang sarili ko
"Tara na bestie, alis na tayo, gutom na ako"
at dumiretso nako sa elevator at naramdaman kong humabol si Bianca sakin.
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xxx
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"Daming gutom?"
Bianca while staring on my rice bowl, actually, my second rice bowl. I wasn't so serious slaying 2 sinful rice bowls and couple of beers
"Okay bestie, eat your pain"
at hinarap ang chicken kebab nya
"Bestie, pangit ba ako?"
tinignan ako ni Bianca
"Ano naman ang naisip mo at bigla mong naitanong yan?"
"Is it me? Is it my looks? Mabaho ba ako? Bakit hindi kayang maiwanan ni Althea yung babae na yun"
Ibinaba ni Bianca ang kebab nya at ngumisi
"Bestie, hindi sa pinagtatanggol ko si Althea. I've seen her change. She's dedicated in anything she wants. Yes, there's a lot of girls, I will say. But I never seen her so serious pagdating sayo"
"You mean nasa akin ang problema?"
sabay subo ko ng kanin at pork belly
"How many times Althea told you how much she loves you? Anong ginawa mo? Diba lagi mong dine decline? Kahit nga akong best friend mo nagsasawa na sa tantrums mo pero ano, andito parin kami para sayo. Kasi mahal ka namin, mahal ka ni Althea"
I chewed the meat like a kid while listening to Bianca's advice
"Now they're together in one room at lasing si Althea. I suppose it's because of you. What do you think they'll do next?"
"Oh please Bianca, stop with the details!"
"I'm just saying Jade. You can't hold onto things once it's gone"
I pondered on those words coming from my best friend. I drank my beer, as if it'll wash away my pains.
KATHLEEN'S POV
"Althea, I told you to stop drinking. Now what, hindi mo na kayang bumalik sa room mo"
Me talking to Althea habang akay ko sya papunta sa room ko. She's so wasted and I can't blame her. Masyado nyang mahal yung babae na yon. Na minsan, hinihiling ko na sana ako nalang si Jade, ako nalang ang pagtuunan nya ng pagtingin. Muntik pa kami matumba habang binubuksan ko ang door
"Hey, keep still, andito na tayo"
inihiga ko sya sa kama ko at hinubad ang sapatos nya. Kumuha ako ng towel sa CR at binasa ito. Paglabas ko ay nabungaran ko si Althea
"I need to go to the bathroom"
I heard her throw up the moment she closed the door. I leaned beside the bathroom door and crossed my arms while waiting for her to come out.
15 minutes have passed and still, she's inside the bathroom. I decided to knock
"Althea, what are you doing in there? Kanina kapa andyan"
Nilapat ko ang tenga ko sa pinto para pakinggan kung may kaluskos sa loob, pero tahimik si Althea
"Althea, please open the door"
I was knocking when she suddenly opens up. Lumakad sya palabas at sumalampak sa couch
"I'm starting to get a heart attack from you Althea. You really made me feel nervous"
Well, Im talking to myself na naman coz Althea just fell asleep. Kumuha ako ng kumot para sa kanya. I sat beside her and watched her sleep. She made me fall for her as I ran my fingers through her cheeks, down to her lips
"I wish you could see me that way"
I muttered. It's been a competition since then. I fought for Althea and now the EX haunts me. Kahit anong gawin ko, they still find each other and it hurts so bad. I fix her blanket and was about to stand up ng marinig ko syang mag sleep talk
"Come back...please come back...Jade...I love you..."
Those words that she said made my heart fell on the ground. Hindi ko namalayan na tumulo ang luha ko
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Thank you for all of you guys who are so patient and understanding. It feels so great every time I post an update coz I know I didn't fail you. Again, I'm sorry if I don't post that early as I said. My goodie bag is waiting just to send you my gratitude.
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