The pain he now know (TPHNK Book 2)

#20

Chapter 20

Van was nowhere to be found, kaya natagalan pa kami dahil hinanap pa siya namin. We found him on the beach alone. He asked sumner kung anong nangyari ang she gladly explained naman habang ako ay walang imik lang, minsan natutulala.

Iniwan na kami ng pinsan at inalalayan na ako ni van para umakyat sa hotel room namin to get my medicine. This is why i needed a therapist and further medication, because aside from my panic attacks during night time, i also have anxiety when someone or something triggers it. It's exhausting really.

Kage's POV

My forehead creased when i saw zephyrine's cousin, sumner, getting back. I waited for a few second for her dahil akala ko ay nakasunod lang siya but still no signs of her. I didn't want to approach and ask sumner for her because she was already with grant. And for sure, they will tease me non stop again if i open it up.

I got up from my seat at nagsuot na ng shirt. I needed to find her. Paano kung may nangyari na namang masama doon? I was confused when i noticed her shaking earlier, and i wasn't fully convinced that she was just cold. Something was off. So i have to find and ask her again myself.

The first thing that popped up on my head that she may be on her hotel room. That's the only place she can be. So i went there. Papasok pa lang ako ng hotel ay nakita ko na siya. But she wasn't alone, she was with her guy friend, van.

She looks off. Like she wasn't in her right mind. Bumaba ang tingin ko sa kamay niyang nakapulupot sa beywang ng sinasabi niyang kaibigan. It made me smile bitterly. It was obvious, on the way she clung her arms on the boy's waist, it was like it was her only support, her lifeline.

I shouldn't be here, my alter ego told me. But instead of listening, i still decided to f*****g follow them. I took the second batch of lift since I didn't want to be caught sneaking around.

Good thing when i arrived at their room, the door wasn't shut closed. I hid myself and i saw zephyrine sitting on the bed while her hands are clasped together, nakababa ang kaniyang ulo. While her guy was kneeling on the floor, trying to level their gaze.

"Okay ka na?"

"Thank you" i whispered, looking down.

"You should be careful"

"I know"

I clenched my teeth when i saw the guy kissing her on the nape before getting up. I wanted to f*****g enter the room and punch him in his f*****g face. But my feet was glued on the floor, I can't move and just looked at my girl being treated nicely by another guy.

Zephyrine's POV

"Nasaan si kage?" Tanong ko sa pinsan nang makabalik na sa baba.

Sumner shrugged. "I don't know. Nandito lang 'yon kanina e"

"I saw him left minutes ago'' tavis said.

"Alam mo ba kung saan pumunta?"

Umiling siya. "I was busy."

Hindi ko na sila kinulit pa. I just sat down while roaming my eyes, nagbabaka sakali na makita ko siya. But i was waiting for almost an hour already pero hindi pa rin siya dumating. I just thought that something came up, so i didn't came to check for him in his cabin.

Dinner came, and almost all of us were in the restaurant, except for him. Tinanong ko sila chase kung nasaan ang kaibigan nila at ang tanging sabi lang nila ay tulog at ayaw magpaistorbo. I let him be. Maybe he was exhausted.

Morning came, i cannot wait no more for him to show his face to me. Ako na mismo ang pupunta sa cabin niya.

I was walking on the shore when i saw a familiar built facing back from me. I knew who it was. Kaya napangiti ako at aakmang tatakbo papunta sa kaniya nang makitang may nakasabay sa kaniya sa paglalakad. It was a girl and to my surprise, when the girl faced sideways, umawang ang aking mga labi.

What the f**k is she doing here!?

I though mia mislead her already?

Napaatras ako. I didn't want them to see me. I didn't want to face them. Wala akong ganang makipagbangayan kay charm ngayon because i know na nalaman na niyang ako ang nag-utos sa sekretarya ng sinasabi niyang boyfriend niya.

The whole day, hindi ako lumabas ng hotel room. Even 'till dinner came, i just called for room service. I wanted to talk to kage. I wanted to see him. Pero ayokong makita si charm. For sure ay magkakasagutan lang kami.

Morning came, i woke up by van saying that cali was waiting for the both of us kanina pa. He said he doesn't know yet why cali called for us. We met her outside.

"Bakit ba palagi na lang kayong late na dalawa?" Halukipkip ni cali.

"I waited for her. She woke up late" turo ni van sa akin. Pinandilatan ko lang siya.

"What are we doing here?" Tanong ko.

"Well, i'm here to ask you both a favor?" Ngiwi niya.

"Ano 'yon?" Kunot noo ni van.

"Well van, you first. Kasi 'yong banda, na hinire namin? Nagkaproblema e. 'Yong vocalist nila, nagkapulmonya daw—"

Hinapit siya ng kasintahan sa beywang. "Babe, the poor guy just had a sore throat" bulong nito sa kaniya.

"Ay oo! Sorry. Namaos lang pala" baliw na tawa ni cali. "So ayun nga. Hindi siya pwedeng kumanta. Hindi kinaya ng strepsils. Kaya kung sana, pwede ikaw ang kumanta para sa wedding ceremony tsaka sa reception?"

"Oo naman! Walang problema" ani van na nagpatili kay cali.

"Great! Thank you you so much vasilius!" she said gleefully then turned to me. "As for you, my genius gown designer, i want you to be a part of my wedding entourage" aniya ng nakangiti.

Natigilan ako saglit at nagkatinginan kami ni van. I wanted to turn down the offer, I wasn't expecting that, my friends, especially van, they know that I'm really not into this whole wedding thing, it maybe ironic to hear because My work includes weddings but...

I looked back at cali who was smiling ear to ear. I didn't want to sadden her. But she's a client zeph, and also a friend.

"Okay..sure! N-no problem"

"Really? Oh my god! Thank you zeph! For a second i thought you were gonna decline" tawa niya at niyakap ako ng mahigpit. "And i also invited the twins by the way" she referring to tas and yassy.

I forced a smile. "Nice"

"What is happening here?" Ani ng bagong dating lang na si sumner. "Mabuti naman at lumabas ka na ng kwarto mo ano?" Sita niya sa'kin. But i was too occupied to say a thing.

"Guess what sumny?" Ani cali.

"What?"

"Zeph's gonna be a part of my entourage tomorrow! Yey!"

Nabibiglang bumaling sa'kin ang pinsan.

"Pumayag ka?" She asked in a concerned tone.

Tumango ako.

"Why?"

"Anong why? Grabe ka naman sumn! Syempre pumayag siya. I bet you're excited din, diba zeph?"

"Ah—oo"

"Great! Then I'll be leaving now. Hahanapan pa kita ng partner" aniya.

"Partner?"

"Oo. You wouldn't want to walk on the aisle alone tomorrow right?"

"S-si kage? Hindi ba siya kasali sa entourage?" I was hoping he would be since the groom and him are good friends.

"Syempre kasali! Pero may partner na siya e. Bakit? Siya ba yung gusto mong maging partner?"

"May partner na siya?" Tanong ni van. "Who? Baka naman pwede mong magawan ng paraan?" Napatingin ako sa kaibigan. He just nodded at me.

"I'm sorry pero mukhang final na 'yon e. If the wedding's not tomorrow di sana nagawan ko pa ng paraan. Pero to answer your question, yes, 'yon yung girl na kasama niya kahapon?"

"Yung bagong dating? Siya yung partner niya?" Tanong ni sumner.

"Yeah, she claims to be his girlfriend. At first, hindi pa sana ako papayag kasi akala ko ikaw ang girlfriend niya. But when i asked kage about it, he didn't say anything nor nod, hindi niya din ikinaila kaya i took it as yes." Bumaling siya sa'kin. "Mali ba ako zeph?"

Napapahiya naman akong yumuko. Ayoko nang sumagot. Now in cali's thoughts, mukhang ako pa yung third party. That charm was the real girlfriend, while i was the fling. This is embarassing on my side dahil nakikita talaga nila na naglalandian kami ni kage, nung nasa pool kami. And we even talked about the guy while in the resto!

"Ah, i forgot to mention, your gown. Uh..nasa hotel room pa namin. Ihahatid ko na lang mamaya sa'yo" i changed the topic.

"Oh right! I completely forgot about that." Tawa niya at mukhang nawala naman na sa isip ang pinag-usapan namin.

"Why is she even here! At bakit niya sinabi iyon kay cali! Ako pa 'yong lumabas na third party!" I yelled nang nasa kwarto na kami. Van was just sitting on his bed at tinitingnan lang akong pabalik-balik na naglalakad.

"What if she's right? I mean, paano kung nagsasalita siya ng totoo? That kage and her are already a couple?"

"I know she's lying van! She just wants to get back on me kaya niya sinasabi iyon!"

"Okay! Hindi kung hindi. I was just stating possibilities. Kumalma ka muna at umupo ka na dito" aniya.

Hindi ko siya pinakinggan at kinuha ang cellphone galing sa bulsa. It took seconds before the other line answered the call.

"Hello? This is from ZLA phar—"

"Mia"

"M-ma'am zeph?"

"Yes, it's me. Care to explain how that charmaine got here?"

"M-ma'am sorry po."

"How mia?" Mariin kong pinikit ang mga mata. I was growing impatient. I was so eager to know how the pest found us.

"Ang totoo po niyan. Hindi ko talaga sinabi sa kaniya, kahit halos araw-araw na siyang pumunta dito para magpumilit. P-pero, hindi ko kasi alam na nakaakyat na siya nung nag-cr po ako. Nakita ko na lang siya na pinapakialaman ang computer ko ho"

Bumuga ako ng marahas na hininga. "It's okay mia. It's not your fault. You did a great job. Thank you"

"S-sige po"

I ended the call at nilingon si van na nakaupo pa din sa higaan.

"So? What's your plan?" Aniya.

"Wala na akong magagawa. If she wants to be seen with kage tomorrow at the wedding then so be it" irap ko. "She just likes the attention so much" I murmured.

"That guy is a total jerk if you ask me. Akala ko nga ay unti-unti na kayong nagkakamatubihan ulit. And then days after, he just left you hanging."

"It's not his fault"

"Pinagtatanggol mo pa talaga huh? If you look back on carolina had said earlier, when the girl charm said that she is kage's girlfriend. He didn't deny it. So ngayon mo siya ipagtanggol. Ano?" He challenged.

Hindi naman ako nakaimik. Napatulala na lang ako at napaisip na tama nga ang kaibigan. Did kage really played me for a fool? Was it for revenge? To get back at me?

And then i remembered yung sinabi niya noong nasa restaurant kami sa manila. When he initiated the talk and walked out at me afterwards.

You abandoned me once, this time, I'm the one abandoning you.

Did he really?