FRIEND OF MINE (2nd Generation HUGS)

Chapter 2 -Just A Third Wheel

Chapter 2 -Just A Third Wheel

Days pass by so quickly, nagising na lang ako that today is the day where Phoebe will arrive in the country. I am in the car with Ziggy as we head at REIZ AIRLINES. Yes! I am with him to fetch his girlfriend. How ironic, right? It's like putting rock salt in a much opened and new wound. But I don't have the strength to decline him even if I wanted to because my best friend wanted me to meet his girl first bago pa siya makita ng iba. Isa pa sa main reasons why he wanted me to be with him ay para malaman niya kung ano ang first impression ko kay Phoebe. If she will pass my great standard and if bagay daw ba sila in a physical perspective. So here I am as a loyal and good best friend even if in the deepest part of me, I feel pain. 

'Why so quiet best friend?'

'Hmm.'

'Bet you are nervous to meet her. Don't be princess. You don't have to worry, Phoebe is nice as I've told you before. You two will get along perfectly.' he smile with assurance at me. Ngumiti na lang ako sa kanya kahit na ang gusto ko talagang gawin ay umiyak at sumigaw. 

How can he be so cruel to me? Hindi ba niya talaga nararamdaman ang totoong damdamin ko for him? Bakit parang pagdating sa akin ay hindi niya makita that I have a very special feelings for him? Bakit si Triton napansin ang bagay na yun? Why does Ziggy doesn't? It's a sad realization that maybe he just saw me as me, as Pretty Bella who is his long time best friend and his childhood companion and not Pretty Bella as a woman. 

I exhaled deeply which made him turn his head at me. 

'Why?' he gazed long at me, analyzing me perhaps. 

'Medyo masama lang ang pakiramdam ko.'

'Hay. Sana you have told me earlier para hindi na kita pinilit pa na sumama sa akin now.' he even touch my forehead to check on my condition. 

'Baka gutom lang ito. I haven't had breakfast yet because I was early kanina at SIG Tower for an early morning meeting.' I have to lie. That's the only way for me to hide everything. Ayoko man gawin sa kanya na magsinungaling ako but I have no choice. It's the only way for me to mask what I really feel at this very moment. 

Sa totoo lang ay ayaw ko naman talagang sumama sa kanya to fetch his girlfriend. Who would want that if you will meet the woman ng lalaking mahal na mahal mo right? Sinong gugustuhin ang ganoon at sinong hindi masasaktan? Call me a masochist or what, pero hindi ko lang kasi talaga mahindian si Ziggy. Kahit pa it will cost my heart a lot of aches and even if it will break me greatly seeing them together, basta for him, I think there is nothing that I can't do. 

'Let's eat first before we fetch her, maaga pa naman. Kailangan siguro ay mag-boyfriend ka na ulit best friend, so someone will look after you lalo na kapag wala ako sa tabi mo. Someone who will take care after you at siguraduhin na kumakain ka sa oras at hindi puro trabaho ang inaatupag mo. Puro ka na lang work Bella, baka magkasakit ka na niyan. I thought you were here on a vacation? Bakit nagpunta ka pa sa SIG Tower kanina for that meeting?' he breathed harshly. That's what I love about this man, him being so caring and so concern about my welfare. 

'I don't want to be left behind at the latest about the company Ziggy.'

'But you are the boss Bella. Boss ka sa SIG, not just an ordinary employee. Let me remind you of that. Malalaman at malalaman mo ang lahat about sa company niyo even if you are not present sa mga meetings nila. You don't have to be there always, you are not mandated to be around always.' napa-buntong hininga ako ulit. Here he is again with his undying sermons at me. 'Look at you best friend. Are you still eating well? You are too skinny, buto-buto ka na. What do Tito Poseidon said about your appearance lately huh? Baka liparin ka na lang ng malakas na hangin one time Bella.' 

'Oh stop grumbling Ziggy. Will you mind your own business and not my personal life?'

'But you are one of my business Bella. The moment we became close and the moment we became best of friends, naging business na kita. Besides, I've made a promise to Tito Poseidon and to Tita Coreen that I will look after you always even if malayo tayo sa isa't-isa. Can't you see it Bella?' bigla akong napatingin sa kanya. He is so serious and is looking at me without blinking. 'I care about you Bella. I cared about my best friend.' he pressed my hand as a much deeper dismay filled my heart. 'And I will be the first one to feel sad if something bad happens to you.'

'Oo na nga Zeus Genesis Reiz Jr.! Ang aga-aga nanenermon ka na naman! It's not even Sunday para sa sermon Ziggy! Tss!' 

After we satisfy our stomachs, pumunta na kami to the arrival area and wait. Ziggy already described his girl to me and based on my imaginations of her inside my mind, Phoebe is quite a charm.  

'There she is! There's Phoebe!' Ziggy's voice is loud and laced with excitement. I watch him as he walks straight ahead, leaving me where I am standing. 

A tall lady, maybe an inch taller than me with long straight blonde hair smiles widely at him. I stare at her intently. Well she's pretty alright and she has curves. Bigla naman akong na-conscious sa katawan ko all of a sudden. I looked at myself, and Ziggy was right, I am too skinny. I saw them hug each other after my best friend gave her a kiss on her lips. She wraps her hand in my best friend's arm and he helps her with her luggage. They look perfect together. Something that I definitely hate to admit to myself pero bagay nga silang dalawa. Although Phoebe looks a little bit too stylish and fashionable but nonetheless, they look perfect together and I damn hate that fact. 

Mabilis akong yumuko when they are about to look my way. Kunwari ay inaayos ko ang shoe laces ko. I heard him calling for my name but I didn't dare to look at them. Kunwari ay hindi ko siya narinig, kunwari ay abala ako with what I am doing with my rubber shoes that I didn't hear him. Jealousy is eating me, the whole of me. Dapat pala talaga ay nag-create na lang ako ng alibi kanina kay Ziggy. Ang sakit nila sa mata, ang sakit tingnan. I stopped pretending to fix my shoe laces when two pairs of shoes stopped right in front of me. Slowly I lift my gaze up and there they are. It's like an in-your-face kind of a thing that slaps me hard. 

Mas maganda siya sa malapitan. Actually, beautiful is an understatement. She is more than beautiful. She is like a human barbie doll with long thick eyelashes, perfectly trimmed eyebrows, a cat-like eyes, narrow chiseled nose, slightly thin pinkish lips, high cheekbones and her eyes are the same colors as Ziggy's. They have the same eye color so she must have a foreign blood as well. Her lips automatically spread the moment I stood up. 

'Hi!' her voice is a bit small, not the one that I have expected. 

'Bella, I'd like you to meet my girlfriend Phoebe Catherine Sinclair.' I don't want to be rude or to look like a bitter best friend so I smile cheerfully at her. 'Babe, this is Pretty Bella Smith... My ever dearest best friend.' my inner self frowned at his introduction of me. He calls her Babe while he calls me his ever dearest best friend. 

Now you know where your place is Bella. You are just his ever dearest best friend. Stick that to your brain, will you please. My bitter mind repeatedly said. 

'Hi Pretty Bella, I am honored to finally meet you. ZG told me so much about you. And he is right, you are pretty. I hope we can be friends as well.' It shocked me when she immediately threw her arms around me and gave me a welcoming hug. Napilitan akong ngumiti pabalik dahil nakatingin sa amin si Ziggy. 

'It's nice to know you too, Phoebe Catherine.'

'Oh call me Phoebe!'

'Alright, call me Bella then. Welcome to the Philippines.' I need to act great in front of them kahit pa nga gusto ko nang umalis at iwan silang dalawa. 'How was your flight? I hope you'll have the time of your life during your stay here.' I uttered politely. I hope I didn't sound too robotic dahil sa totoo lang ay napilitan lang akong sabihin sa kanya ang mga yun.

'Oh that's so sweet of you Bella.' She smiles gingerly then looks at Ziggy. 'You know Babe, I think I like her already.' She clung to Ziggy's arm again that slightly soured my face pero kaagad ko rin binalik sa normal.

'Ano bang sabi ko sa'yo Babe? You will like her because my best friend is the best.' He even bumped my shoulder before clasping his hand at Phoebe's. 

Alam niyo yung feeling na extra ka lang sa isang scene? That you are just a third wheel sa isang scenario? Effin s**t! That's what I feel right this very moment. I feel like I am just a third wheel and I freaking hate it. I hate myself even more for being at this place with them right now. 

Papunta na kami sa parking lot, binagalan ko talagang maglakad that I am behind them. Nagpahuli talaga ako because I am texting Triton to give me a call right this instant, as in now na. Sakto naman paglingon ni Ziggy ay tumunog ang phone ko. I gestured my hand at him and stand on my ground as they also stop walking and stares at me. 

'Triton! Napatawag ka! Why?'

'Anong why ka jan Bella! You've texted me to call you now right!'

'Ganon Ba? I am with Ziggy right now and we fetched his girlfriend here at REIZ AIRLINES. She just arrived in the country.'

'Ah kaya pala pinapatawag mo ako sayo now dahil ang ultimate crush mong si Ziggy ay kasa-kasama ngayon ang girlfriend niya. Such an ugly sight for you to bear siguro ano? Hahahahaha!' I force a smile dahil nakatingin parin ang dalawa sa akin. 'Ano na naman alibi ang gusto mong sabihin ko this time Bella?' 

'You tell Ziggy. You tell him, Triton. Nakakahiya naman kasi that I will leave them both just to accompany you now. I'm really sorry that I have forgotten yung lakad natin today.' sana lang na-gets niya ang alibi na gusto kong sabihin niya kay Ziggy. 

'I got it. Hand the phone to him para makaalis ka na jan.' I smile widely. 'Malaki ang kapalit na payment nito Bella ha! Let me remind you of that!'

'Oo na. Wait, here's Ziggy.' I hand my phone to him when he walk towards me. 'Talk to Triton, he wants to talk to you daw.' they talk while I keep on smiling at Phoebe na hindi maalis ang tingin sa akin. Maya-maya pa ay binalik na sa akin ni Ziggy ang phone ko but when I look at the screen ay wala na si Triton sa other line. 

'Why haven't you told me na may usapan pala kayo ngayon nila Triton and Arzel? Kanina pa daw sila naghihintay sayo sa inyo. You should have told me para sana hindi na kita kinulit pa today, Bella.' I just smile apologetically at him. 

'Sorry. It did slipped my mind. Nawala sa isip ko na ngayon na pala yung usapan namin. Saka hindi rin kasi kita mahindian best friend.' I look innocently at him that made him exhaled deeply.

'Hatid ka na namin sa inyo best friend. Is it fine Babe that we drive Bella first?'

'Naku huwag na! I'll take a cab home. You guys go ahead to where you are going. I'll be fine.' maagap kong sabi kay Ziggy. 

'Are you sure?'

'Yes I'm positive best friend. Besides, baka medyo napagod rin si Phoebe sa travel niya.' I heard Ziggy exhaled deeply again.

'Alright, if you say so. But please do take care okay? Send me the cab's plate number.' 

'Aye aye captain!' saludo ko pa then burst into laughter. 'Bye Phoebe. It's nice knowing you. I'm sorry that I will leave you both behind.'

'That's fine. Matagal pa naman ako here so we can bond some other time. Do take care.' mas lumapit pa sa akin si Ziggy saka niyakap ako ng mahigpit, he even kiss my forehead pero hindi nakaligtas sa akin ang ibang tingin ni Phoebe sa ikinilos ni Ziggy sa akin. 

'Umuwi ka kaagad after ng lakad niyo ha. I'll check on you later. Don't go home late.' mas lalong kumunot ang noo ni Phoebe sa narinig from her boyfriend pero hindi ko na lang ito pinansin pa. 

'Opo Sir.' I wave my hand first at them before walking away para makapunta na sa sakayan ng cab. 

On my way home where my destination is talaga from the airport ay naalala ko na naman ang sweetness nila Ziggy and Phoebe. Well in fairness, she looks nice naman and decent. Mukha naman maganda rin ang vibes nilang dalawa. I lean back and close my eyes as I massage my aching temple. 

Until when will you bear this heartache Bella? Until when will you suffer? Hanggang saan mo kakayanin ang magtiis? I've already warned you before but you didn't seem to listen. Can you endure this growing agony of loving him from the dark? Why not stop this s**t and go on with your life without him? Kaya mo naman yan because you know so well that what you feel for him ay walang in return. There can't be a Bella and Ziggy upgraded version. You will always remain as his dear trusted best friend so better wake up already and shape up. Walang patutunguhan ang lahat ng feelings mo for him. Masasaktan at masasaktan ka lang Bella. My inner self once again castigated me.

'Mam Bella, andito na po ang Daddy at ang Tita Coreen niyo.' I look at one of our housemaid pagpasok ko ng mansion. 

'Does he know I am here?'

'Of course I knew Princess.' my eyes darted at the staircase where my Dad stood looking lovingly at me. 

'Dad!' I rushed towards him and gave him a warm hug.

'How's my ever gorgeous and smart Princess?'

'I'm fine Daddy. How's your trip? Where's Tita Coreen by the way?'

'She's taking a nap. Napagod sa byahe. Where have you been?' We walked towards the living room. 

'I've been at REIZ AIRLINES Dad. Nagpasama kasi si Ziggy to fetch his girlfriend, she's here at the country for a vacation.' I saw him raise an eyebrow bago pa ito maupo sa couch.

'And?'

'And what Dad?' I sat beside him and leaned against his chest.

'Masyado kang secretive Bella, even to your own father. But I know, don't think I won't be Princess.' I gaze up at him with a mocking stare. He shrugs his shoulders then smiles wider. 'I just knew. Maybe a father's instinct.'

'You're imagining things Dad. Ziggy and I are fine. Wala naman kaming problem with each other, we still get along well. And there's nothing going on between the two of us. We are just friends.' he chuckled loudly and made my brow arch.

'You may hide it from others, but not from your old man. I've known you since you were a baby, kilalang-kilala kita from head to toe. You can't hide anything from me Princess. Not to me. Baka sa mga kapatid mo or to your Tita Coreen pa pwede, but not to the great Poseidon Israel Smith.' He raised his eyebrow and then looked straight at me. He is staring at me like a scientist stares at one of his precious specimens. 'Tell me Princess. Anything that you want to share with me, I am here and I will always be here.'

'Wala nga Dad!' iniwas ko ang mga mata ko from him because he looks at me like he is seeing through my soul. 

'The time you became close to him when you were just kids, I already sense something is odd Bella. Especially the time both of you grew up and seeing how close you are with him. Akala nga namin ng Tito Zeus mo ay magkaroon kayo ng much deeper relationship ni Ziggy because of your closeness with each other. It's fine with us though. Ziggy is a good man, he was raised by Catherine Lovely as a perfect gentleman. I have nothing against that boy.'

'Ano ang pinagsasabi mo jan Daddy? Magkaibigan lang kami ni Ziggy. And besides, he already has a girlfriend now. She's okay naman, I've met her kanina.'

'You sound like a jealous lover Princess. Hahahahaha!'

'Daddy! I am not jealous!' I pound his chest lightly.

'Just don't show it to him.' He embraced me tight and I can feel his deep love for me. 'I don't want my princess getting hurt over a man she loves but can't have.' na-touch naman ako sa sinabi niya and my tears start to build up. 'I was once a coward Princess, you knew that right? Natakot akong sabihin ang totoong feelings ko sa Tita Coreen mo that I have regretted it for a long time. Don't make the same mistake that I have made. Life is too short Bella, we don't know when our time will be up. Live your life the way you want it to be. Live it happily and regret-free. So habang buhay pa tayo, say it. Tell him what you truly feel. What's important ay nasabi mo, it is up to him if he will face it and how will he deal with it.' I secretly wipe my tears away. Hindi ko kaya ang mga sinabi ni daddy, hindi ko kayang gawin ang mga sinabi niya. Although he has a point, I just can't do it. I am not as tough as he is. 'I love you Bella, you are my first born. And I don't want you being hurt, kayo ng mga kapatid mo. I will be the first one to be devastated by kapag nalaman kong nasasaktan kayo.'

'Daddy naman eh! You're making me cry already! Quit it! Hahahaha!'

'You are crying because what I've said is true right?' I sit straight then look at him.

'Hindi kaya!' 

'Deny it if you want Princess but alam kong may iba kang pagtingin to Reiz's son. It's a sad reality especially if he saw you in a different perspective.' He smiled once again then gently stroked my hair. 'Think about what I've said alright. Either tell it to him or forget that feelings you have for him and just let go of it.  There are many fishes in our ocean Princess, hindi ka mawawalan. I highly doubt that.' he stood up and left me alone in the living room. 

Can I tell him? Can I tell it straight to his face? Can I tell him that I love him? What if he doesn't believe me? What if he takes it lightly na parang wala lang? Can I bear the shame if ever? Can I bear the consequences after telling him the truth? 

'Ah s**t. You've just made my mind even more jumbled Dad.' I get up and head upstairs. 

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