Kabanata 15
1051 Words
"So..." bungad ni Lexi sakin. "How's life?"
"Stressful." I smirked. "Wala namang bago doon."
"And the operations?" she handed me another shot of tequila.
"Mahirap," I shrugged before taking the shot. "Sanayan na lang talaga."
"Ano-ano na bang nasanay mo?" sumulpot sa harapan namin si Ishtel.
"Nasanay na rin yatang maging single." tugon ni Keziah para sakin. She took a one straight shot of whiskey.
"Or maybe... nasanay nang umasa sa taong malabo nang bumalik sakaniya." Jana appeared and placed another bucket of drinks on our table.
It has been a year since Jana opened this club. She asked us out tonight para icelebrate ang first anniversary nito.
"It's not like that..." I disagreed. Malinaw sa paningin ko ang pag-alon ng likido na nasa shot glass na hawak ko.
"Ah, really?" Lexi acted disappointed. "Then what is it like?"
I almost delayed my dreams because of love. It wasn't supposed to be that way, but I've been too stupid and immature during those times. Masiyado akong umasa na baka sakaling maisalba ko pa kung ano 'yong meron samin. Pero siguro nga ay hindi pa 'yon ang tamang panahon para saming dalawa.
Maraming taon na ang nakalipas, at bawat taon na 'yon ay hindi naging madali. I almost lost myself completely when I lost him.
Kahit kailan ay hindi ako naging handa para sa araw na haharapin ko knowing na wala na siya, wala na kami. Hindi naging madali ang pag-ahon. Sa bawat ginagawa ko, sa bawat lugar na napupuntahan ko, sa bawat bagay na nakikita ko ay siya 'yong naaalala ko. How could I forget him? When everything's just reminding me of him. Damn!
"Hindi ako umaasa sa wala," I uttered, almost a whisper. "Naghihintay ako ng timing."
"Maybe this is the timing you've been saying..." mabagal na sambit ni Lexi at napatitig sa entrance ng club.
I raised my right brow as I turned my gaze at the entrance. Natigilan ako nang makita kong pumasok mula doon si Josh. Ilang taon na ang lumipas mula noong huling beses ko siyang nakita. Familiar faces welcomed him. I dropped my jaw when I realized kung sino sila.
Tropa....
"No," I smirked. "Just a right time to find a perfect timing."
I stood up and left the shot glass on our table. Napangisi sila nang maunawaan ang sinabi ko. I let my heels touch the ground as I took every little steps towards them. Mula rito ay tanaw na tanaw ko ang bawat pagtawa nila sa isa't isa. They didn't change even a bit. Well, physically they did...
"Hey," I uttered as soon as I reached their place. "I believe I'm still part of this squad, right?"
Natigilan silang lahat, 'yong iba sakanila ay naiwan pang nakaawang ang mga labi. I bit my lower lip as its corner rose up. Animo'y sinusuri nila akong mabuti mula sa mga tingin nila.
"Who—" I cutted off Nika's words right away.
"Want some egg?" I clicked my tongue.
Sabay-sabay na nanlaki ang mga mata nila na animo'y hindi makapaniwala sa kanilang nakikita. Uh, babe... ako lang 'to.
"M-Makayla?" nauutal na sambit ni Janella.
"Sino pa bang kulang sa inyo bukod sakin?" I joked, more likely asking a fact.
"s**t!" napaiwas ng tingin si Warren. He even leaned on his seat while playing with his lips.
"Potcha!" hiyaw ni Dylan. "Seryoso ka ba?"
"Mukha ba akong nagbibiro?" I made a sad face, more likely pang-asar lang.
"You changed... a lot!" hindi makapaniwalang pagpuna ni Nika.
"Ask me to sit, will you?" I pouted. "Hindi na ba ako welcome rito?"
"Tangina! Ikaw ba talaga 'yan, Makayla?" naguguluhang tanong ni Jed.
"Hindi kita pipiliting maniwala kung ayaw mo." I shrugged and take a sit. "It's up to you."
They were so busy asking me the same questions again and again when Jana came to our place. She placed a glass filled with wine on our table before leaning on my side.
"We're watching, babe...." she whispered, just enough for me to understand her words. "We got you."
I know how much they care. Sinundan ko na lang siya ng tingin hanggang sa makabalik na siya sa puwesto nila Lexi. Tama nga si Jana, pasimple silang sumusulyap sa puwesto ko.
"I can handle it...." I mouthed at them.
I wrapped my fingers around the wine glass and let my nails tap it. Diretso akong tumingin sa gawi ni Josh. I gritted when he didn't even mind my presence at all. Nagagawa niyang tumawa at makipagusap sa boys na ngayon ay mediyo nakarecover na mula sa gulat.
"Ikaw... Makayla?" baling ni Warren sakin. "Are you dating someone?"
My brow raised when Josh finally glanced at me. He looked at me as if he doesn't care about me anymore. I tried to meet his eyes but I couldn't. Nag-iwas agad siya ng tingin.
"Soon enough." tugon ko.
Bumalik sa akin ang tingin ni Josh. So he's still affected, huh? I smirked and took a straight sip on my wine.
"Single ka pa rin?!" gulat na tanong ni Zette.
"Obviously." I shrugged.
"Josh?" they turned their gaze at him. "May dina-date ka ba ngayon, pre?"
"Itlog." he smirked and locked his eyes on mine, halatang nang-aasar.
"Kayo na ulit?!" gulat na tanong ng tropa. Nagpabalik-balik ang tingin nila sa aming dalawa ni Josh.
"Itlog..." I uttered. "Wala raw."
"Ah..." patango-tangong tugon ng tropa.
"Or maybe.... he wants to date me again." I smirked.
Napasinghap sila bago umiwas ng tingin. Tanging si Josh lang ang naiwang nakatitig sakin. I can see an amusement all over his eyes. I bit my lips when he suddenly leaned on his seat and played his lips with his fingers.
"So..." pagbasag ni Angel sa katahimikan. "Is it because of work kung bakit hindi niyo pa rin naiisipang makipagdate sa ngayon?"
Napaayos ako ng upo noong bahagyang lumapit sa table si Josh. The corner of his lips rose up as he locked his eyes on me deeper than before.
"7 years relationship," his eyes turned into a cold one. "Hindi sapat ang dalawang taon para umusad."
Parang tinambol ang puso ko, hindi mawari ang dapat na maramdaman. We've been together for 7 years long at dalawang taon na ang lumipas mula nong nagbreak kami.
He was my man... for 7 years straight.
******
a/n: dedicated to BarbieTish09
- Writer
