Dangerous Gentlemen II: The Damned

BESTFRIEND

"T-The father of my child, i-it was Tyler's."

I felt my mind went blank nang narinig ko ang pangalan na binigkas ni Paige. Napaisip pa ako kung sinong Tyler ang tinutukoy niya dahil wala naman akong maalalang Tyler na pinakilala sa akin ni Paige noon. Then I realized, isang Tyler lang ang parehong kilala namin ni Paige.

Muntik na akong mawalan ng balanse kung hindi lang ako nakahawak kaagad sa mesa sa tabi ko. Ramdam na ramdam ko ang panghihina ng tuhod ko at ng buo kong katawan. I am so lost of words habang sinusubukan kong pagdugtong-dugtungin ang lahat ng pangyayari.

Naalala ko pa noon nung kinausap ako ni Paige. Kakapakilala ko pa lang sa kaniya si Tyler nun and she immediately told me in private that she doesn't like him.

FLASHBACK

"So where is he?" bagot na tanong ni Paige na sunod-sunod ang subo ng pasta na in-order namin. Plano sana namin na hintayin ang boyfriend ko but it has been almost 20 minutes since our order arrived pero hindi pa rin siya dumadating.

'Maybe he's stuck in his class?' I thought. My Tyler is taking a master's degree kasi that's why he's always been busy. Which of course I understand very well. I am glad that he is pursuing his dream and doesn't settle.

"Kumain ka na ngalang diyan, matatagalan pa siguro iyon kasi busy." Natatawang sabi ko at nilagyan ang pinggan ni Paige ng pasta at manok para manahimik na siya. Napailing na lang ako nang hindi na siya ulit na nagsalita at tinutok na nga ang buong atensyon niya sa pagkain.

Malalim akong napabuntong hininga at muling nilingon ang entrance ng restaurant kung nasaan kami. I understand Tyler, but I also can't help but feel sad. Malaki kasi ang posibilidad na baka hindi na siya makakarating.

Nasa ganoon akong sitwasyon nang maramdaman kong nag-vibrate nag phone ko sa bulsa ko. Nagmamadaling nilabas ko iyon, hoping that it is Tyler that messaged me. Excitement filled my heart nang makita ko ang pangalan niya sa screen ng cellphone ko. I immediately unlocked my phone and read his message.

Why do you look so sad, Love? Kumabog ang puso ko nang mabasa ko ang text niya. Agad akong nagtaas ng tingin at inikot ang tingin ko sa paligid. Ganoon na lang ang saya ko nang makita ko si Tyler na nakatayo sa mismong entrance ng restaurant at may hawak na dalawang bouquet ng bulaklak.

I felt like my heart melted when he gave me a wide smile at kumaway pa sa direksyon ko. Parang bata tuloy ako na kumaway rin pabalik sa kaniya. Everyone's eyes turned towards Tyler, especially girls when he started to walk towards me. I must say he is tall and gorgeous. He's well built and walks like a damn model. No wonder he can easily captivate women. At isa na ako doon.

Pasimple akong lumapit kay Paige at bumulong. "That's my boyfriend right there," mayabang na sabi ko. Akala ko ay babarahin niya ako ng 'Weeeh? Isang ganiyang lalaki papatol sa iyo? ano naman ang nakita niyan sa iyo? Bulag ba iyan?' But to my surprise, I didn't heard anything from her.

Takang niligon ko siya at nakita na mukha siyang gulat na gulat habang nakatingin kay Tyler na deretso lang ang tingin sa akin. 'Teka, don't tell me type niya si Tyler?!'

"Hoy! Type mo boyfriend ko?" sita ko sa kaniya. Ilang beses na napakurap si Paige bago umiwas ng tingin.

"H-Huh? H-Hindi ah!" defensive na sagot niya. Nangunot ang noo ko when I noticed that she suddenly looks uncomfortable. Hindi nga niya kayang salubungin ang tingin ko sa kaniya.

"What's wrong, Paige?" I asked when I noticed that she started to look pale and sweaty. "Natatae ka ba?" I can't help but comment. Mukha kasi talaga siyang natatae.

Paige was about to answer nang tuluyan nang nakalapit si Tyler sa upuan namin. "Hey, Love!" masayang bati nito sa akin at hinalikan ang pisngi ko. I stood up and gave Tyler a quick hug na mabilis na hinalikan ang pisngi ko.

"How are you? I thought hindi ka na makakarating!" nagtatampo ang boses na sabi ko. Tyler boop my nose and chuckled lightly nang mas lalong nanghaba ang nguso ko.

"I am fine, Love. I'm sorry for making you wait. I just have something to finish before I come over. But I am here now, right? That's what matters and I'll make sure to make it up to you," malambing na sabi niya at inabot sa akin ang bouquet. This one is much bigger and prettier than the other one which I guess is for Paige.

'Hayy, I'm really so lucky to have my boyfriend. Ang bait na nga, sweet tapos gwapo. Pati sa kaibigan ko ay mabait rin.' I felt so proud at that moment.

"Alright, alright. I'm so happy you came!" expressive na sabi ko at muling yumakap sa kaniya.

Tyle snaked his hand on my back at sabay namin na hinarap si Paige na hindi nakatingin sa amin. "Paige, this is Tyler my boyfriend. Love, this is my friend, Paige." Pakilala ko sa kanila sa isa't-isa.

I can't help but notice how Tyler suddenly stiffened pero hindi ko iyon binigyan ng lubos na pansin. Akala ko ay bigla lang siyang kinabahan nang makita niya na mukhang hindi interesado si Paige na makilala siya. Akala ko ay normal na reaksyon lang iyon for the pressure that he feels to get the acceptance of my friend, of him being my boyfriend. I thought it was part of it all, but little did I know they have their own reason. A much deeper and darker reason that I never imagined.

"For you," Tyler said nang una siyang maka-recover at inabot ang isang bouquet na binili niya kay Paige. Hindi manlang iyon tinapunan ng tingin ni Paige.

"I-I'm going to the bathroom," before I could even react ay agad na siyang tumayo and raced to the bathroom. Hindi makapaniwalang napasunod na lamang ako ng tingin sa kaniya. I felt embarrassed in behalf of Tyler dahil sa ginawa niya.

'How could she be so rude! Ni hindi manlang niya pinansin si Tyler!' I thought.

Kagat labing hinarap ko si Tyler na parang wala lang sa kaniya ang nangyari. "I'm sorry, she-she must have been shocked on how gorgeous you are. Baka hindi siya makapaniwala na isang katulad mo ang magiging boyfriend ko," I reasoned out pero sa loob ko ay unti-unti na akong nakakaramdam ng inis kay Paige for acting up.

"It's alright, Love. Don't sweat about it," kalmadong sabi ni Tyler at inalis ang ilang hibla na tumatakip sa mukha ko at nilagay iyon sa likod ng labi ko.

I noticed the look of worry on his face. Inabot ko ang noo niya at hinimas iyon. "Are you worried that my friend won't approve our relationship?" takang tanong ko because that is the only reason that I thought on why he looks like this.

Tyler let out a heavy sigh and nodded. "Yeah. I don't want you to be torn between me and your friend," he said honestly which made me smile. I love how considerate Tyler is with my relationship with my friend.

"She will learn to accept you. For now, let's give her some time. Ikaw pa naman ang first boyfriend ko. Siguro ay hindi lang talaga makapaniwala si Paige na may boyfriend na ako," pabirong sabi ko to lighten the mood. Tyler chuckled. Nagulat ako nang bigla niya akong hinila at mahigpit na niyakap.

"I hope everything will still be fine," malalim na sabi niya. I thought it was about how Paige's reaction would affect our relationship. Akala ko ay dahil iniisip niya na ayaw na ni Paige na makita ko siya ulit. But it was something else. Deep down, I didn't know that he was having a hard time not because of me but because of his past with my very own best friend.

"It will be. Trust me." I assured him. I pulled away from him and gave him my big smile.

"Alright, I trust you." tumatangong sabi niya and hugged me one more time. I pat his back and waited for him to pull away from me.

"I have to go and talk to my friend," paalam ko sa kaniya. Tyler sighed at mabigat sa loob na binitawan ang bewang ko. Lihim naman akong napangiti dahil kinilig ako sa kaniya. Tyler has always been so clingy with me. Minsan nga ay kung pwede lang na hindi na niya ako bitawan.

"Alright," he said and sat on the chair. "I'll be waiting her while hoping that you guys will be able to make it out." I smiled and nodded to him. Agad na akong pumunta sa direksyon ng banyo kung saan ko nakitang pumunta si Paige. Kakapasok ko pa lang ay nakita ko na siyang nakatayo sa harap ng salamin.

"My gosh, Paige! What happened to you?!" bulalas ko nang makita ang sitwasyon niya. She looks so miserable! Her eye make up smudged! Her eyes are puffy due to crying!

"Nothing," malamig na sagot niya at naghilamos ng mukha.

Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga to calm myself down. I should calm down even though I am upset because of how rude she treated my boyfriend. "Why are you being like this, Paige? hindi ka ba masaya para sa akin? that finally I have a boyfriend now?"

"I don't like him for you!" Nagulat ako sa biglang pagtaas ng boses ni Paige.

"Why? didn't you see he was sweet to me? he even got a flowers for you Paige! Minsan ka lang makakita ng lalaking binibigyan ng halaga ang kaibigan ng girlfriend niya!" I tried to explain.

I saw from the mirror that Paige closed her eyes. I thought it was because she wanted to clear her mind pero nagulat ako nang makita ko na sunpd-sunod na tumulo ang luha sa mga mata niya.

"I-I'm just happy for you, Krystina. We are so close that I never thought you would finally be having a boyfriend. Siguro ay nag-aalala lang ako na baka ibuhos mo ang lahat ng atensyon mo sa boyfriend mo and you would have a less time with me." I felt warmth in my heart when I heard what she said.

Agad akong lumapit kay Paige and hugged her from the back. "You know that I won't do that, Paige. He's my boyfriend but you are my bestfriend! I love him but I love you even more because you have been there in the moments of my life where some people chose to leave." Naluluhang sabi ko.

I entirely thought iyon lang ang dahilan. That she really is afraid of losing our friendship.

Hinarap ako ng Paige at naiiyak na niyakap. "I love you, Tina. You know your happiness is what I always prayed for you." Makahulugang sabi niya. Hindi ko napigilan at napaiyak na lang rin because of how genuine Paige sounded.

"I love you too, Tina!"

END OF FLASHBACK

"I-Is that the reason why you have been cold towards Tyler? Why you said you don't like him for me? Is that the real reason, Paige?" paos ang boses na tanong ko sa kaniya na walang ginawa kundi umiyak lang ng umiyak sa harap ko.

"ANSWER ME PAIGE!" I screamed nang hindi niya ako sinagot. Paige walked towards me and knelt in front of me. If it would be in any other time and reason ay baka nataranta ako at hinila siya patayo. But I felt nothing.

"K-Krystina. Please hear me out!" Paige pleaded at sinubukang hawakan ang mga kamay ko but I slapped her hand and went away from her.

"I thought you are my bestfriend. " puno ng hinanakit na sabi ko at tuluyan nang tumalikod. I heard Paige tried to run after me pero sinarado ko na ang pinto. I heard her loud cries while calling for me to comeback but I didn't dared to look back at her.

Deretso lang ako sa paglalakad hanggang sa tuluyan na akong makalabas ng bahay ko at akmang sasakay sa sasakyan ko nang marinig ko na may tumawag sa akin.

"Krystina!" lumingon ako sa gate at nakita si Elijah na nandoon at malapad na ngumiti nang makita niyang tumingin ako sa kaniya.

"Krystina!" hindi na ako nag abala pang lingunin si Paige na nakahabol sa amin. Inilang hakbang ko lang ang daan papunta sa gate at lumabas. I immediately grabbed Elijah's arm. I didn't even flinched when I felt that burninig pain again. I pulled him towards his car.

"What's wrong, Krystina?" naguguluhang tanong ni Elijah.

"Drive." Malamig na sagot ko. I saw Paige went out of the gate and tried to run after us. "I SAID DRIVE!" sigaw ko when Paige tried to open the door of the car.

Walang nagawa si Elijah kundi sundin ang sinabi ko kahit nag-aalangan siya at nag-aalala kay Paige.