FRIEND OF MINE (2nd Generation HUGS)

Chapter 7 -Barrier Between Us

Chapter 7 -Barrier Between Us

After we ate ice cream ni Ziggy ay tumambay muna siya sa mansion. We play scrabble na paborito rin namin laruin when we were younger while we listen to random musics sa entertainment room. Pero nahinto ako sa pag-iisip ng word when he suddenly open up a topic. 

'Do you think I should break up with Phoebe princess?' my gaze instantly locked on him. He wasn't looking at me, nakatingin siya sa mga tiled letters niya.

'Why would you do that?' taka kong tanong. 

Did they have another fight dahil sa pag-confront sa akin kanina ni Phoebe at the coffee shop? Was that the reason why he suddenly came up with that question?

'I was thinking about kanina when she called me and told me what had happened between you two at the coffee shop.'

'And?'

'And I thought that maybe I should break up with her para hindi ka na niya guluhin pa. And also para wala ng reasons for her to act that way towards you.' 

Ano daw? He will break up with his girlfriend para hindi ako guluhin nito? Is that even the right thing to do? Will he do that for me? Ganon ba ako ka-special sa kanya for him to choose me over his girlfriend? Well, part of me is honored kung ganon nga but part of me also is against it dahil I think it is not right na makipaghiwalay ka sa partner mo just for the sake of your best friend. 

Eh bakit ikaw nakipaghiwalay ka kay Troy because of Ziggy? my inner self reacted.

'Do you think that it is even the proper thing to do Ziggy? I mean, Phoebe is your girlfriend. And I am just your best friend.' 

'Ayoko lang kasi na may nag-aaway sayo Bella. You knew that right? Even before when we were kids ay ganito na ako ka-protective to you.'

'I knew that Ziggy pero iba na ngayon. What will Phoebe feels if she will know na kaya mo siya hihiwalayan ay dahil sa akin? Dahil sa ayaw mo akong masaktan emotionally? Would you think she will accept that? Baka lalo lang siyang magalit sa akin. And I don't like that perception.' he exhaled deeply before looking up at the ceiling. I can see that he is torn between me and his girlfriend. I don't want to see him like this, na nahihirapan siya dahil mas nahihirapan ako. 'Ziggy.' He didn't look at me. 'Hey, look at me.' saka lang siya tumingin sa akin after I pat his leg. 'Don't mind me. I will be fine. Hindi na ako batang maliit for you to protect me from harm. You love her right? Mahal mo si Phoebe hindi ba?' as I say those words ay para kong sinaksak ang sarili ko. I am near shedding tears when he nod at me and smile. Mabilis kong pinunasan ang mga mata ko bago pa tumulo ang mga tears ko. 'I thought so. So why break up with her then?'

'Ayoko lang kasi na nasasaktan ka and nadadamay ka with things na hindi naman dapat.' 

'Thank you for that concern of yours Ziggy pero hindi tama na makipaghiwalay ka sa girlfriend mo just because of that reason. There can be other ways para hindi ako masaktan Ziggy, there are many ways. And one of those ay ang pag-alis ko ng country. Tutal ay talaga naman na paalis na ako so don't screw up your relationship with the woman you love just because of me. She loves you Ziggy, hindi naman siya magre-react ng ganon if not. I don't want you to regret it one day na ako ang pinili mo and our friendship than her and your love for her.' hindi ko na napigilan ang pagpatak ng luha ko, but before I can wipe it off ay siya na ang kusang nagpunas nito off my cheek.

'Don't cry princess. I hate seeing you cry, alam mo yan matagal na.' He caresses my cheek as he smiles at me. 

'Ayoko lang rin kasi na magkamali ka ng decision Ziggy. Iba siya at iba rin ako. You should know your limits pagdating sa akin. I know you care for me and my welfare, and I am so grateful of that. But you see, iba na kasi ang situation mo right now. It is not like before na single ka, hindi ka na single ngayon Ziggy kaya you should know your limits.'

'What are you saying Bella?' He stared at me confusedly.

Napag-isipan ko na ito kanina while heading home. Maybe it is right that I distance myself muna sa best friend ko, especially now that he is into a relationship. Ganyan na medyo may pagka-jealous type pa si Phoebe, it is better if ako ang lumayo at umiwas. Several relationships are ruined dahil may third party involved, lover man or not. I don't want to be the cause of their fights lalo pa na ngayon that I knew na ako pala ang dahilan sa mga recent na away nilang dalawa. It will be painful for me to do such a decision but I need to do this for my best friend's sake. That's how much I love him. That's how much I care for him.

'Tutal naman that I will be leaving the country narin soon enough, so naisip ko to distance muna from you para hindi na magselos pa sa akin si Phoebe.'

'What! That's crazy Bella!'

'What's crazy about that Ziggy? I am literally distancing myself from you dahil babalik na ako sa work ko kaya parang ganun lang rin yun right?'

'Huwag kang mamilosopo Bella. You know I won't allow that! We've been best friends for what? More than a decade Bella! Tapos ngayon sasabihin mo sa akin that you'll distance yourself from me? Kalokohan yan Bella!'

'That's the only thing I've think of para matapos na ang pagseselos sa akin ng girlfriend mo Ziggy! Ayokong ako ang nagiging dahilan ng mga fights niyo at ng mga arguments niyo! Where in fact ay dapat labas ako sa issues niyo at hindi ako kasali! But since your girlfriend is already jealous of me kaya ko naisip to put a barrier between us for the meantime. Para lang matapos na ang insecurities niya sa akin. Because hindi ito matatapos not until I do something about this! Not until I make a way to stop this!'

'That's absurd Bella! What you're thinking is ridiculously unreasonable, it's irrational!' He immediately stood up and headed to the fridge. I watch him emptied a bottle of water and twist his head sideways as if abstracting stress.

'Ziggy... Digest what I've said, please.'

'Matalino ka Bella but what you've said is the silliest thing I have ever heard from you.' he slouch at the couch and exasperatedly massage his temple. 

'Akin pa ang silliest thing you've ever heard? Then what about sa sinabi mong you will break up with your girlfriend just because ayaw mo akong masaktan? Which is sillier? Mine or yours?' tumayo narin ako then sit at the other couch. 

Then silence filled our atmosphere. None of us talk. Sana naman ay maisip niya that I will be doing this is because of him, na ayokong magka-problem pa sila ng girlfriend niya in the future. Dapat nga ay matuwa pa siya dahil I am making an effort here, pero bakit parang instead na matuwa siya ay galit pa siya now? Several deep exhales muna ang ginawa niya before he utters a word.

'Hindi ko kaya na mawala ka Bella. You were with me since our childhood years.'

'Who says I'll be gone? Distansya lang po ako ng pansamantala Mr. Reiz, hindi ako mawawala po.' He look at me as if seizing what I've said.

'But promise me that we will still be best friends.'

'Of course yes! Ano bang klase ng tanong yan you silly cow!' 

'Come here princess.' He widely opens his arms for me as I gently look at him with a smile on my face. Mabilis akong lumapit sa kanya and sat beside him. He cage me inside his arms and I felt his warm embrace after. Yumakap rin ako sa kanya as joy fills my heart but sadness envelopes me as well.

Sinong hindi mainlove sa taong kagaya niya? Sinong hindi mahuhulog sa isang lalaking kagaya ni Ziggy? He is so caring and thoughtful plus funny at hindi nagtatagal ang galit. He is one of a kind, a rare treasure to have. Ang swerte lang talaga ni Phoebe to have him. She is one lucky human being to have Ziggy's love and affection. Sayang lang that he's not destined for me as a lover, but only as his friend. 

Matagal na panahon before we can be this close again, I don't know when but I knew na matagal-tagal bago ko ulit siya mayayakap ng ganito. Ang lahat ng gagawin kong sacrifices starting this day on ay para lahat sa kanya. I will do everything just for him to be happy, kahit ano pa yan basta maging masaya lang siya. Even if it will take away my personal happiness as long as I know that he is happy. Masaya na ako para sa kanya. And I perfectly knew that Phoebe is one of his happiness. I don't want to deprive him from that kahit pa alam ko na kaya kong gawin yun. I will never do that, not to the man I truly love. 

---

Ngayon ang araw ng alis ni Bella. Even if Tito Poseidon insisted on paying for her fare ay hindi ako pumayag na magbayad pa sila. Her family is here now at the departure area and syempre I am here also minus Phoebe. Although we have reconciled, two days after me and Bella have a serious conversation at their entertainment room, I have decided not to bring my girlfriend along dito sa airport today. I don't want to spoil any thing with Bella now and her family. Matagal-tagal din bago niya ulit makakasama ang mga ito dito sa country and this is their final moment with her for now. 

Malungkot ako that she have to leave pero ganun talaga. We all have our different lives to live and I guess hindi na namin maiiwasan na magkahiwalay. I smile as I watch her kissing her dad's cheek and so is Tita Coreen. Ezra is slightly teary eyed na tinawanan lang ni Bella while Core remained neutral. Right after niyang magpaalam ay lumapit siya sa akin. 

'So I guess this is goodbye for now, best friend.' She said with a shaky tone. 

'Huwag mong sabihin na iiyak ka pa ngayon in front of your family Bella.' I chuckled while slowly placing some of her loose hair at the back of her ear.

'Ikaw nga itong iyakin jan Ziggy. Hahahaha!' mabilis ko siyang niyakap as I secretly wipe the fluid building inside my eyes. 

'You take care there okay. Stay away from bad companies. Balitaan mo ako from time to time even if sinabi mong you will distance yourself from me.'

'I won't make a promise but I will try.' I hugged her tighter when I heard her sniff. 

What I feel now is mere sadness pero pilit kong tinatago ito and not to show her any sad emotions dahil ayokong mahirapan siya sa pag-alis niya. There is no happy goodbyes naman talaga, lahat ng goodbyes are sad. I saw Tito Poseidon smiling at me as he held Tita Coreen's hand. 

'I love you best friend, always remember that okay? Mag-ingat ka dun. Don't overkill yourself with all your shitty workloads, kumain ka sa oras and eat plenty. Gusto ko kapag nagkita ulit tayo ay mataba-taba ka na.'

'Opo.' niyakap niya ako ng mas mahigpit when we heard her flight being called. 'I will miss you dearly Ziggy. I hope Phoebe will take good care of you.' 

'She will. And I will miss you as well Princess. Go now, bago ka pa umiyak ng tons dito. Hahahahaha!' She punched my arm first before releasing herself from my embrace. Natawa ako when I saw her eyes and nose both reddish in color. 'Sige na. Bye Bella.' 

'Bye Ziggy.' She sadly smiled before turning her back away from me. 

We watch her walk palayo sa amin hanggang sa nakapasok na siya sa loob. Core, Ezra and Tita Coreen started to walk away but Tito Poseidon remained standing beside me. 

'I hope you made the right choice young man, because my daughter has chosen to make a choice for herself as well.' I wonder about kung ano ang tinutukoy niya. But before I could even speak up, he patted my shoulder and walked away. 'See you around Ziggy!' 

Pabalik na ako sa car ko but what Tito Poseidon said still lingers inside my head. Ano kaya ang tinutukoy niya? What is that choice that Bella had taken? At ano ang sinasabi niya that he hope I made the right choice? 

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