When We Collide

Chapter 6

Jacky’s P.O.V

Ilang floors din ang nilinis namin kagabi kaya medyo pagod ako ngayon dito sa school. Tama lang at wala kami masyadong ginagawa kundi self-study lang dahil wala ang prof namin.

“Oh, kamusta ang paghatid mo ng damit sa iyong boyfie na pwede naman niyang gawin after ng mall tour niya,” tanong ni Marian na nagkukulay ng kuko niya. Napabuntong hininga na lang ako. Although, confident naman ako na mahal pa rin ako ni Martin pero meron pa rin sa part ko na disappointed sa pag ignore niya sakin kahapon.

“Ayun, nadala ko naman sa kaniya,” sagot ko sa tanong ni Marian sakin. Nakita ko ang pagtingin niya sakin at pagtaas ng kilay niyang kaka-pluck lang daw niya kagabi.

“Oh, nakausap mo na?” Tanong niya ulit. Napayuko ako at umiling. “Iyan na nga ang sinasabi ko e! Bakit hindi ka niya kinausap? Actually, you have all the rights to talk to him! Kilala ka naman ng manager niya, girlfriend ka niya! Aba’y di dapat ganyan ‘te! Magisip-isip ka na!” Tila tumaas ang presyon ni Marian habang sinasabi ang mga linya na yan. Natawa ako kasi nanlalaki ang butas ng ilong nito. Tinignan niya ako ng masama. “Wag mo akong tawanan! Alam mo ba ang bali-balita sa showbiz? May something-something daw sila ng manager niya!”

“Bali-balita lang ‘yan! Atsaka hindi naman magagawa ni Martin sakin ‘yun! Kilala ko si Martin!” Protective na sabi ko. Inirapan niya lang ako.

“Hindi na uso ang magpauto ngayon, Jacky! Baka akala mo mabait ang manager ni Martin sayo, ‘yun pala tina-tridor ka na!” Inis na sabi ni Marian. Napayuko ako. Mabait si Maya at naniniwala ako sa kaniya.

“Hindi ‘yan, Marian. Napa-praning ka lang. Mag relax ka nga,” sabi ko sa kaniya. Kumuha ako ng pencil mula sa case na dala ko at nagsimulang mag-drawing. Siguro kung wala si Sir Ralph kahapon baka hanggang ngayon umiiyak pa rin ako. Kasi hindi ko talaga inaasahan na hindi ako papansinin ni Martin kahit na medyo nalulungkot ako sa inaasta niya sakin nung mga nakaraan kasi nanaig pa rin ang pagmamahal ko sa kaniya.

When you’re in love, you are selfless…

Mas iintindihin mo ang ang iba hanggang sa wala ka ng itira para sa sarili mo.

“JACKY!” Napatingin ako kay Marian na umuusok na lalo ang ilong at masama ang tingin sakin. Teka, may ginawa ba akong masama?

“B-bakit?” Tanong ko sa kaniya. Humalukipkip siya at napabuntong hininga.

“Kanina pa ako nagsasalita pero eto at sumasalipadpad ang utak mo!” Inis na sabi niya. Napakamot ako ng ulo ko. Nakakatakot pa naman magalit si Marian.

“Sorry. Ano palang sinasabi mo?” Tanong ko sa kaniya. Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay at inirapan ako.

“Pasalamat ka talagang babae ka at mahal kita as my bestfriend! Some of my friends asked me to come to a bar near Taguig, sumama ka!” Sabi niya. Napakurap ako at agad na umiling.

“May trabaho ako mamaya! Kaya hindi ako makakasama!” Sabi ko sa kaniya. Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay.

“Girl, puro trabaho naman ang nasa isip mo. Baka naman pwede magkaroon ng fun sa buhay mo! Also, ask your boyfriend to pay the rent of the house! Hindi ‘yung ikaw lang! Aba dun din siya tumitira ah!” Umiling ako. It’s fine na ako ang magbayad dahil naniniwala ako na nagiipon si Martin para sa pamilya niya. Dahil malaki din ang sweldo ko sa part time job ko ay pinapadalhan ko rin ang parents ko kahit na sabi nila ay wag na dahil mas kailangan ko pa ‘yon dahil nasa maynila ako.

“Pero hindi talaga, atsaka hindi naman ako umiinom e!” Sabi ko. Umiling siya at hinawakan ang dalawang kamay ko.

“You don’t need to drink, girl! Ako ang bahala sayo. You should call your supervisor! Dali na!” sabi ni Marian at paulit-ulit siya na parang parrot. Napabuntong hininga ako at wala na akong nagawa kundi ang pumayag. Siguro naman wala namang masama diba?

Diiiibaaaa?

Ralph’s P.O.V

Rafael called me after I finished working that he wants me to come to the bar near Taguig. I don’t know why they choose this place but since this is a new bar, maybe I can use this time to get a new woman to play with. It’s been a while since I held a woman, maybe this night I can bring home one tonight. I reached the place and went inside. The place is full but not that crowded. But you can see that this place is above not a simple bar and not high end as well. The interior design is good and relaxing but I hope that this place is not that bad like other bars I’ve been to.

“You’re here!” I felt a pat on my shoulders and saw Rafael with a smile on his face. As I remember before, he’s always glaring at me when we see each other. Well, now that he knows that the one, he loves love him back, there is no reason for him to be sad. He was very fortunate to have a wife like her.

Anyways, it doesn’t matter. I am happy with Althea’s decision. If she’s happy, then so am I.

“Where is that three? Where is Alvin, Jan and Mike?” I asked. He shrugged his shoulders and sighed.

“Alvin said that he will be late, so as Jan. Kakalabas lang ni Mike mula sa trabaho niya. Alam ko na mauuna ka kaya inagahan ko rin ang pagpunta,” he said. He ordered a drink for us. I just stood there and looked around the place. Why do I feel like he wants to talk to me about something?

“If you’re going to tell me something, tell me already. I am looking for a girl to take a date with,” I said. He sighed and pat my shoulders.

“I hope na tigilan mo na ang pagiging ganyan mo, Ralph.” I smirked.

“I will stop until I already die,” I said. I saw him pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Wag mong intayin na pagsisihan mo ‘yang sinasabi mo, Ralph. I’m still aware that you like my wife but you’ll be happy once you found the one you want to spend your life with. The one who will make you feel like home,” he said. I smirked at his words.

“Wow, what are you now? Love guru?” I said and laugh. He rolled his eyes and shook his head.

“I just want to thank you for doing us a favor. For taking care of my wife while I’m still and a****** before,” he said. I shook my head.

“I did that because… ya’ know, I like your wife. But even though I like your wife, you’re still my friend. Even though I am really ready to screw over the friendship we had but… At least you came up with the right decision to come back to your wife and believed her.” He looked at me and nodded.

“Yeah, I know. You are capable of doing that. Pero anyways, Tita set you a date again, right?” I nodded and get the drink that Rafael ordered for me and drink with slowly.

“Yeah, she was like in the edge for sometime already. She wants me to settle already! It’s not like I am that old! Well, she’s the one getting old and wants to see her grandchildren before she passed.” I saw him shook his head.

“You’re too harsh on your mother. Well, I can’t blame you for that. I just hope that you will be happy,” he said. I don’t know if I will be happy or not in the future. I don’t even feel satisfaction-

“Sir Rafael! Salamat po!” her smile is so bright that I feel like I was graced by a beautiful goddess under the moonlight.

Damn! I shook my head. Why did I think of her right now? I drank the alcohol I am holding right now until something caught my attention. My eyes squinted as I see her. Jacky Domingo. Why she’s here? And someone is holding her wrist and pulling her towards the- BATHROOMS?!

“Uyy! Anong mer-“ I cut Rafael’s words.

“I think I saw someone familiar, I gotta go.” I left him after saying that. According to what I saw on Jacky’s face, she was red and her eyes are starting to drop like she’s not herself. She’s here to drink her sorrows away? And she finally saw that her ‘boyfriend’ is someone not worthy to love? I’ll find out once I saw her and ask her. Where is she.

“Bitiwan mo nga ako! Sino ka ba?” that’s Jacky’s voice. I immediately went towards the area where I heard her voice. I found her near to the bathrooms and then I saw him touching her to a place that he shouldn’t touch. I don’t know the next thing happened but I saw him unconscious on the ground and Jacky was behind me gripping my clothes. I was full of rage that I want to kill this bastard immediately. I looked at Jacky that is quite shaken but also in a drunk state. Her eyes are starting to drop because of drowsiness.

“Let’s get you home,” I said and picked her up bridal style and went out the place after informing the bouncer what happened near at the bathroom and told him to help that bastard to send him at the police station instead of the hospital.

“Sir… Ralph?” I heard her soft voice. I looked at her, she was looking at me like a lost puppy. Damn it! This will be going to be a torture for me.