FRIEND OF MINE (2nd Generation HUGS)

Chapter 18 -One Tough Lady

Chapter 18 -One Tough Lady

Ilang araw rin akong hindi kinibo ni Phoebe. Although we live in the same house ay parang bigla akong naging anino sa sarili kong pamamahay. But after almost a week of trying to settle things with her, pinatawad niya rin ako sa nagawa ko to her. It felt somehow relieving dahil kahit paano ay ayos na ulit kami. She promised to me that she will stop cursing when she is mad at nangako rin ako na hinding-hindi ko na siya sasaktan physically. Everything is back to normal sa bahay namin, naging mas close pa kami because of our son whom we exert much of our time dahil ang bilis niyang lumaki. At dahil na rin dun ay nag-decide ako to get a nanny for Third para may kasama rin sila ni Phoebe when I am not around at the same time ay may katulong siya in taking care of him.

It came to my knowledge na nagkita pala ang kapatid ko and my best friend the other day. Pinuntahan ni Bella si Zinnie at the hotel where she is staying and they have bonded the whole day. I am happy with that pero medyo malungkot rin ako dahil hindi ako kasama sa bonding nila. Yesterday ay sinabihan ako ni Zinnie that Bella offered her to stay with her in San Francisco para may kasama rin daw ito sa tinitirahan at para na rin daw mas makapag-bonding pa sila while she is at the country. I see nothing wrong with my best friend’s offer, in fact I am in favor also dahil mas safe ang kapatid ko knowing that she is with her. Pinaalam ko rin kila Mama ang nalaman ko and just like me ay mas sumang-ayon sila na nag-magandang loob ni Bella kay Zinnie. Today ay lilipad si Zinnie papuntang San Francisco. Sinabihan ko siya na dumaan muna ng bahay to say farewell kay Third but she declined it dahil na rin siguro sa last time na nasa bahay siya and what had happened with her and Phoebe. Kaya hindi ko na rin siya pinilit pa. 

I am now at work pero halos pauwi na rin ako. I am just checking what I need to accomplish tomorrow then lalabas na ako. When I reach home ay hawak ng nanny ang anak ko so I head to our room. Inabutan ko si Phoebe na kakalabas lang ng bathroom. I head towards the bathroom to have a quick shower after ko kumuha ng pamalit sa closet. Paglabas ko ay nakita ko si Phoebe na may kausap sa phone niya, nakatalikod siya. 

‘I told you not to call me anymore. Stop pestering me.’ my forehead creased upon hearing her words. Her tone is firm but she says those words almost in a whisper. Then she placed her phone at the side table before turning around. Nagulat pa siya upon seeing me standing and gazing at her. ‘ZG! Mmm! That’s… That’s a real estate broker I’ve met at the mall before na kinukulit ako to invest at one of his condominiums.’ Then she shrugs her shoulders before walking away. 

‘You can block his number if he is starting to annoy you.’

‘Yeah I’ll do that later. Let’s eat, I bet you are hungry already. I’m famished too.’

A week has passed by, I am at home since I’ve decided to take a break from work and just bond with my son. Nasa nursery room ako playing with him when I heard a phone ringing. Hinanap ng mga mata ko ang tunog and saw Phoebe’s phone which is at the top of my son’s drawer. Binaba ko muna si Third bago nilapitan ang tumutunog pa rin na aparato. It is an unregistered number. Hayaan ko na sana at hindi sagutin but it keeps on ringing several times kaya naisipan kong sagutin na rin. It might be an important call based on the times the caller was calling so I held her phone and pressed the answer button. 

‘Catherine.’ 

‘This is not her, may I know who is calling please?’ saglit akong naghihintay dahil hindi kaagad sumagot ang nasa kabilang linya. ‘This is Nicolas, Nicolas Priestley.’

‘I am sorry but Phoebe is not around. She left her phone. May I know the purpose of your call? I can relay your message to her and she’ll get back to you after.’ muli ay bumilang ng ilang segundo bago ito sumagot. 

‘Mmm… I will just call back later. It’s not that important anyway.’ 

‘Alright. I will just tell her that you have called.’

‘May I know whom I am talking to?’ 

‘This is Genesis, her boyfriend.’ mabilis na nag-end ang tawag na pinag-taka ko. I glance at my son before looking again at the phone I am still holding. I reminded myself na tanungin mamaya si Phoebe regarding the caller. I think it was a personal matter since the male caller addressed Phoebe in a personal manner. Binaba ko na ang phone kung saan ko ito kinuha saka nagbalik sa anak ko. 

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Masaya ako that Zinnie is staying with me temporarily while she is here at the country. At least may nakakausap ako after a tiring day at work. Aside kay Ziggy and Triton whom I am close at, si Zinnie ang next na close sa akin sa mga friends namin. She is easy to get along with although given na mataray talaga siya at may pagka-maldita. But nonetheless, I like her attitude kahit pa magkaiba kaming dalawa ng personalities. 

Tapos na halos ang preparations namin ni Troy for our wedding. Ilang months pa ay birthday ko na and so is my wedding. But just months from now naman ay kasal na ng best friend ko with Phoebe. I am having hesitations if I will attend his wedding, hindi naman kasi madaling tanggapin ang lahat. Pero alam ko rin that I should be present on that very important day of his life. Alam ko na malamang magtampo si Ziggy kung wala ako kaya ngayon pa lang ay hinahanda ko na ang sarili ko dahil alam na alam kong hindi magiging maganda ang araw na yun para sa akin. While everybody is rejoicing, may isang puso ang nagluluksa sa araw na yun and that is mine. Hindi na madaling bawiin ang lahat. May kanya-kanya na kaming responsibilities that we have to deal with and we also gave way already para sa ikabubuti ng marami. Nag-decide na si Ziggy at ganun rin ako. And as adults just like what my father has said before, we must be held responsible with our decision making. 

Nasa room ko ako and reading when Zinnie barged in and lazily slumped on top of my bed. Then she exhaled heavily and that made me look at her intently. 

‘Ang lalim naman nun. Anong meron?’ 

‘Malapit na kasi akong bumalik ng Philippines and yet hindi ko pa rin nagawa ang main reason why I am here.’ umangat ang isang kilay ko sa sinabi niya. 

‘And what was that? Maybe I could help you.’ sinara ko ang book na binabasa ko then head towards my bed and sit on the edge. 

‘Ate Bella, do you really plan to pursue your wedding with Troy?’ nagulat ako sa tinanong niya. I wasn’t expecting that since noong last na magka-video chat kami ay napag-usapan na namin ang tungkol dito. So I am really caught unattended with her query. 

‘Where’s your question leading to, Zinnie? As far as I have remembered ay napag-usapan na natin ang tungkol jan and you already knew what my answer was.’ She heaved another anxious breath. Umayos ako ng upo, crossing both of my legs on top of my bed and face her. ‘Umamin ka nga sa akin, Zerene Genvely Reiz. What is your problem with the thought of me marrying Troy? Is there something that you know about him that I must know? Because you have been consistent with this question of yours ever since na nalaman mo ang tungkol sa pagpapakasal ko sa kanya.’ I stared at her intently as I analyzed her motions.

This is starting to bother me. Nung una ay hindi ko masyadong binibigyan ng pansin ang pagtatanong niya sa akin dahil naisip ko na baka curious lang siya and she is playing Cupid sa amin ng kuya niya. But now that this same question arises again, it somehow boggles me. May kailangan ba akong malaman about Troy na hindi ko pa alam at dapat kong malaman na alam ni Zinnie? 

‘I don’t know anything about Troy, Ate Bella. I believe that you know him more than I do.’ 

‘Then what’s with the repetition of this very same question?’ She shrugs her shoulders before grabbing a pillow and hugging it. ‘Zinnie. What?’ 

‘Mahal ka ng Kuya ko, Ate Bella. And I knew for a fact that you also love him at alam mo rin na mahal ka niya.’ napa-buntong hininga ako. All along ang akala ko ay tungkol kay Troy ang pag-uusapan namin, but here we go again with this very same topic na gustong-gusto ko ng ibaon sa limot because the more I think about it ay mas nahihirapan akong mag-move forward and get on with my life. 

‘Zinnie… I really appreciate your effort regarding our feelings ng Kuya Ziggy mo, believe me I really do. But you see, hindi kasi ganun kadali ang lahat ng mga sinasabi mo eh. You know me right? I am not a selfish person at ayoko ng may naaapakan akong tao at nasasaktan as much as possible.’

‘So you rather hurt yourself na lang, ganun ba?’ tinitigan niya ako ng diretso. 

‘Yes!’ I also stared straight in her eyes. 

‘Which is not right, Ate Bella! Can’t you see it? Kayo ang bagay dalawa ni Kuya Ziggy! You both blend well together! Kabisado nyo na ang mga ayaw at gusto ng isa’t-isa! Magkasundo kayo sa maraming bagay! Even our parents wishes na sana ay kayo na lang ang magkatuluyan someday! Bakit pinapahirapan nyo pa ang isa’t-isa kung alam nyo naman na mahal nyo ang bawat isa!’ She exhaled a frustrated breath which I also did afterwards. 

‘Bata ka pa Zinnie, that’s why you don’t understand us ng Kuya mo.’ 

‘Hindi na ako bata, Ate Bella! I am 18 already for Christ sake! I am old enough to marry someone I wish! So don’t you dare tell me na bata pa ako dahil alam mong tama ang mga sinasabi ko sayo!’ I shake my head in disbelief. Kahit kailan talaga ay hindi papatalo ang babaeng ito. Bagay nga lang sa kanya ang course na kinuha niya dahil she will stand and fight for what she believes in and will defend it until the very end. 

‘Bagay nga sayo maging lawyer, Zinnie. Your course suits you well.’ 

‘Don’t try to divert the topic, Ate. All I am reasoning out here sayo at kay Kuya Ziggy is that, why not give yourselves chances. Chances na maging kayo!’ I chuckled a bit because this lady is hoping for the stars to fall down from the sky and fishes to walk on land. 

‘Hindi nga pwede Zinnie ang sinasabi mo. Stop pushing it dahil hinding-hindi mangyayari ang gusto mong mangyari.’ I stood up and stepped away from my bed before looking again at her with my hands at my waist. 

‘Anong hindi pwede dun? Tell me! What’s impossible with what I am saying? All you have to do is don’t pursue your wedding with Troy at ganun rin si Kuya Ziggy!’ 

‘Are you hearing yourself, Zinnie? Gusto mong huwag ko ng ituloy ang kasal ko with Troy at ganun rin ang Kuya mo kay Phoebe?’

‘Exactly! Precisely on mark! That’s what I am pointing out here, Ate.’ 

‘Hahahahaha! That’s the funniest thing I have heard, Zinnie. Lumabas na lang tayo and shop. That way ay mawala ang mga cobwebs jan sa utak mo. Kung anu-ano ang iniisip mo, tara! My treat.’ 

‘Ate Bella naman kasi! Come back here! Please naman, hear me out!’ napahinto ako sa paglakad and look at her again. Parang pasan niya ang buong mundo sa itsura ng mukha niya ngayon. She looks so stressed and burdened. Wala akong choice but to return to my bed and sit. 

‘Ano ba kasi ang ayaw mo kay Phoebe at ganyan na lang ang determination mo na huwag matuloy ang kasal ng Kuya mo sa kanya? Sige nga! Why do you distaste her so much?’ 

‘Because I know that she’s a fake! I don’t have proof yet but I know that she is a fake!’ 

‘That’s a bad accusation, Attorney. Pwede kang kasuhan jan once not proven.’

‘Then I will prove it to you!’ my eyebrow suddenly arch. 

‘How?’

‘Just give me time, Ate Bella. Believe me! That b***h is a fake! At ayokong mapunta si Kuya sa kanya! Ayoko dahil alam kong ikaw ang mahal ng Kuya ko at mahal ko si Kuya Ziggy!’ 

‘Your unbelievable Zinnie!’

‘Unbelievable na kung unbelievable! Please Ate Bella, give me a chance to prove it to you at sa lahat na fake talaga ang babaeng yun! Huwag kang magpakasal kay Troy dahil you are not meant for him! Kay Kuya Ziggy ka nababagay! It should be the two of you at wala ng iba pa!’ 

‘Kung may fans club siguro kami ng Kuya mo, for sure ikaw ang presidente ng fans club namin. Hahahahaha! Get up and let’s just shop. Let’s go.’

‘Nakakainis ka naman Ate Bella eh! Hindi mo ako sineseryoso!’

‘Dahil hindi naman talaga dapat seryosohin ang mga sinasabi mo!’

‘Give me a chance at patutunayan ko sayo kung bakit kayo ng Kuya ko ang dapat na dalawa!’ muli akong napahinto sa akmang pagtayo ko. 

‘Hindi mo talaga ako titigilan ano?’

‘Never!’ she even smirks at me before raising an eyebrow. Tinitigan ko siya ng maigi. She is really a one tough lady who knows what she wants. 

‘Sige para matapos na itong kakulitan mo. I will give you a chance. Kapag napabago mo ang decision ng Kuya mo not to marry Phoebe, then sige! Hindi ako ikakasal kay Troy. Uurong ako sa kasal namin!’ 

‘YES!’ she stumbles at her feet para makatayo atsaka tumalon sa ibabaw ng kama ko. ‘You’ll see Ate, you will thank me for this!’ 

‘Let’s see!’ bumaba na ako ng bed. ‘Now let’s go shopping, I want brownies also. Hurry up brat!’ 

‘Your treat sabi mo ha! Wala ng bawian yan!’ 

‘Oo na!’ 

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