Chapter 15
2214 Words
“BABE?” tanong ni Wyatt at pagak na natawa habang harap niya ang manubela. Ang akala niya ba ay awkward ito para kay Madison? Was Zacharias calling her babe is not awkward? f**k it. Kapag siya ang tumatawag ay awkward tapos kay Zacharias ay okay lang dito? That's f**k.
Naikuyom ni Wyatt ang kamao bago siya napapikit. He's jealous as her best friend, he knew. What he didn't right now know is the reason why. Even before back when they were in college, he was always fine with Zacharias hanging out with Madison. Noon pa nga ay inaasar niya ang dalaga sa kaibigan. At ngayong nagbabago na ang pananaw niya kay Zacharias ay hindi niya matuklasan ang rason kung bakit ganoon na lamang kumukulo ang dugo niya sa presensya nito.
Is he jealous?
Of course, platonically. He is jealous as a friend.
He was always been possesive when it comes to Madison. But when it comes to Zacharias, he has his vote. He knew Zacharias’s feelings for Madison and he affirmed it. Kung mayroon mang lalaki na karapatdapat na makasama ni Madison ay si Zacharias lamang iyon. Zacharias is a good guy and he knew he would really take good care of her. Kampante din siya noon kapag ito ang kasama ni Madison.
But why? Why can’t he settle himself?
Hindi niya maintindihan. Hindi niya mapuna ang sariling nararamdaman. That somehow he wants Madison to be with him right now and not Zacharias. And it’s insane. A total bummer. He's never been this f*****g indecisive and he is damn questioning himself.
“Damn...” anas ni Wyatt at ipinatong ang noo sa manubela. “Why do I feel like I’m being jealous as in jealous jealous out of a sudden?”
Kung tutuusin ay may karapatan naman siyang magselos. They have been best of friends for almost two decades now. Madison has always been on his side and Zacharias has take his place when he left. But now that he’s back, there's a tiny voice that's been whispering to his ears that he should take his place back. Nasanay siya laging na siya ang kasama ni Madison at hindi si Zacharias.
“Jealous?”
Napalingon si Wyatt at natuklasan na si Annie iyon habang nakatayo sa labas ng kanyang sasakyan.
He shook his head. “No, I’m not.”
“Yes, you are...” pagmamatigas ni Annie.
Wyatt snickered. ”I am not.”
“You are,” pagmamatigas ni Annie at seryoso na tumingin sa kanya. “You are jealous, admit it.”
“I am not jealous,” mariing wika ni Wyatt at umiling-iling. “Not at all. Not even a little.”
“Why are you still here when you're not?” tanong ni Annie at nanunukat na humalukipkip. “You’re still here because you are.”
“Well, maybe I am jealous. But only as a friend,” giit ni Wyatt at pinaikot ang mga mata. “Madison and I are best friend. Hanggang doon na lang iyon.”
“Best friends don't know each other's flavor, you know...” ani Annie at umiling-iling.
“Should I say Oh Na Na Na now?” sarkastikong tanong ni Wyatt. “Because that’s Cain and Saya's song.”
“I know. And they broke up,” malat na wika ni Annie bago napatingin sa kanya. “Don't you like Madison at all? I mean, she's gorgeous. Is she not? If I'm a man, I would like her. Too bad, you are not that so much of a man.”
Napatingin na lamang si Wyatt dito bilang tugon. Ayaw niyang makipag-away sa isang babae kahit pa man na nagsisimula na siyang mainis dito. He doesn't understand her. She hates him for Madison but here she is, pushing him to like Madison. Annie's words doesn't corresponds to her action.
“You like her, you just don't want to admit it,” sagot ni Annie sa sariling tanong. “Ha! This is so cliché. Siguro nga, hindi mo pa siya gusto ngayon. But months from now, you are going to like her and you are going to regret why you didn't realize your feelings towards her sooner. It would be your loss.”
“I don’t,” sagot ni Wyatt. “And you are being weird. I thought you don't like me but now you are talking to me.”
Naningkit ang mga mata ni Annie bago nagkibit-balikat. “You look so devastated. Kailangan mo ng sagot sa mga tanong na tumatakbo sa isip mo.”
“At sa tingin mo ba ay umepekto ang payo mo sa akin?” nanunukat na tanong ni Wyatt at nang-aasar na ngumisi. “You thought you know how to read minds, huh? Dapat hindi ka na lang pala nag-secretary.”
“You’re such a jerk, I didn't know why Madi likes you so much,” nanggagalaiting wika ni Annie at inambahan siya ng kamao.
“Before... she likes me before,” pagtatama ni Wyatt at umismid. “She doesn't like me now.”
Natigilan si Annie kaya napatingin siya dito. He doesn't know is she's spacing or there's something in his face that seem funny. Natahimik na lamang siya sa harap ng sekretarya ni Madison na para bang may napagtanto ito dahil sa kanyang nasabi.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?” tanong ni Wyatt, nagtataka na nabahala.
Naningkit ang mga mata ni Annie bago pumalatak. “Zacharias's Suite. Doon sila lalagi nagtatanghalian tuwing Lunes.”
“Tuwing lunes?” natatawang wika ni Wyatt. “I didn't know that they have a schedule like that.”
“It’s because you’re far. They do it for six years now,” pagbibigay-alam ni Annie at napangisi. “Zach has been rejected once but he didn't give up. Now, that is a real man.”
“Why are you telling me this stuff?” tanong ni Wyatt at pagak na natawa. “Do you think I want to know this kind of s**t?”
“Oh, don’t me. I know you want to know this kind of s**t because you didn't know which Zacharias Suite they are in right now,” wika ni Annie at inamabahan siya ng kamao dahilan para agad siyang mapalayo dito. “Ang sama ng ugali mo punyeta.”
Umingos si Wyatt at tipid na umismid. “I know. I get that a lot. People tend to make advantages from peiple. Kapag masyado kang mabait, aabusahin ka. You need not to let your barrier down.”
“Suite number one,” ani Annie para mapatingin siya dito. “They take lunch in suite number one every Monday.”
“What makes you think I would go there?” tanong ni Wyatt.
“I don’t,” sagot ni Annie at pinaliit ang mga mata upang mang-asar. “Just in case you want, you can.”
Naiwan na kunot ang noo ni Wyatt bago siya napailing-iling sa kinauupuan. Nang bumalik si Annie para kunin ang binili niyang tanghalian ay hinayaan niya na lamang ito. Annie is so weird. Ngayon lang siya nakasalamuha ng taong hindi maintindihan ang ugali. She's like good but bad. Bad but good. Kahit siya ay hindi niya rin matiyak.
“Thanks for this,” ani Annie at itinaas ang paper bag na kinuha nito ng walang paalam. “I still don't like you, don’t worry. I’m just hungry.”
Sa pangalawang beses ay naiwan na naman si Wyat na kunot ang noo. Suite number one, huh?
ABALA si Madison sa pagkain ng tanghalian habang patuloy sa pagkuwento si Zacharias sa naging araw nito kahapon sa Batangas. She was nodding at his words as a sign of affirmation and smiling to pretend she's interested but her mind is floating. Wala siya sa huwisyo at ang mga pinagsasabi ni Zacharias ay hindi pumapasok sa kanyang isipan. At iyon ang laging ginagawa nilang tuwing lunes, ang magkuwento na nangyari sa isang linggo.
And she needs to lie to Zacharias even if she’s not good at lying. Sa buong linggo ay ang pinakakahihintay na pagtatalik ang nasa isip ni Madison. She couldn't share that to Zacharias knowing his feelings for her. Tiyak na masasaktan niya itong muli. Zacharias has been that gentleman and loyal to her. Naging malapit ito sa kanya sapagkat hindi niya talaga masuklian ang nararamdaman nito. She couldn't see herself liking Zacharias back even though he is a fine responsible man.
“Madison?” pagtawag ni Zacharias para mapatuwid siya sa kinauupuan.
“Yes?” sagot niya dito at pilit na tumawa. “Where were we again? In the new bar counter of the resort? That must be so nice, Z.”
Nawala ang ngiti nito at seryoso na tingin sa kanya. “I was sharing the new building in the resort.”
“Oh, right. My bad. Forgive me for that,” pagpapaumanhin ni Madison at napangiti. “Puyat kasi ako. Alam mo naman kapag puyat ako, hindi gumagana utak ko. Lutang kumbaga.”
“Are you okay?” nag-aalalang tanong ni Zacharias.
Tinapik niya ang kamay nito. “Yeah, yeah. I am. The food is exceptional, Z.”
“But babe, you haven't touch your food yet,” ani Zacharias at napakurap-kurap sa kanyang harap.
“I did,” pagtatama ni Madison dito. “I just eat a little because I’m still stuffed.”
“But this is your favorite food. An exact recipe of steak for the liking of your pallette,” wika ni Zacharias habang nakatingin sa kanyang pagkain. “No matter how stuffed you are, you still eat because it’s your favorite.”
“Kumain kasi kami ng cake ni Annie kanina.” pagsisinungaling ni Madison. “I can take it out and eat it later. Sa meryenda. Sure akong magugutom ako mamaya.”
“Okay, let's give Annie a take-out steak as well,” pagsang-ayon ni Zacharias at tumingin sa relong-pambisig. “Why do an hour and a half pass so quickly when I’m with you?”
“It’s because you like my company so much,” natatawang pagmamayabang ni Madison at ngumiti dito. “I’m glad we have our Monday lunch, let's invite Wyatt sometimes just like the good old days.”
“Yeah. Let's invite him next time,” pagsang-ayon ni Zacharias. “Tell me if you are ready to go, I’m going to drive you back to the clinic.”
“Now is the right time actually. Let's go back and I have a lot of things to do,” pagbibigay-alam ni Madison dahilan para lumabi ito. “I know, but Monday is a busy day. It’s hell. Babawi ako next monday.”
Tumango si Zacharias at pinabalot nito ang kanyang tira at ang isang order para kay Annie. It took Zacharias twenty minutes to arrive back in the clinic. Nang busina ito senyas bilang muling pagpapaalam ay kumaway siya dito. Pumasok siya sa clinic at inabot kay Annie ang kanilang pasalubong.
Kumikinang ang mga mata na tinanggap ni Annie ang paperbag at niyakap pa iyon. “As always, free foods! Zacharias is really the best.”
“I could agree on that,” pagsang-ayon ni Madison at kumunot ang noo nang makita niya ang dalang pagkain kanina ni Wyatt. “Is that Wyatt’s?”
Sasagot na sana si Annie nang tumunog ang kanyang cell phone. Nang makita na si Wyatt ang tumatawag ay agad na sinagot niya ito.
“Oh, I got lost in my way. I hope it's not too late. Where are you and Zach? I’m in his suite number one...” bugad ni Wyatt para mapakunot ang kanyang noo. “I was told you and Zach always take lunch in number one. I change my mind. I want to eat with you.”
“Zach and I always take lunch in his suite number two, Wy,” sagot ni Madison, hindi na napigilan ang pagtataka. “Kasi malayo ang number two, Pero I’m back in the clinic now.”
“What?!” hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Wyatt mula sa kabilang linya.
“Yes, I am,” sagot ni Madison. “Who told you this?”
“That secretary of yours play dirty tricks on me! Damn!” asik ni Wyatt. “Now, I’m lost. I barely even get here because I’m bad at the direction. Hindi ko na alam ang daan pauwi.”
“Stay there and I’ll come and get you,” wika ni Madison at dinampot ang bag. Pinatay niya ang tawag at tiningnan nang masama si Annie. “Annie, what you did to Wyatt was rude.”
“It was just a test. Hindi ko naman akalain na susunod pala talaga siya,” katuwiran nito at maarte na umirap. “Sabi niya kasi hindi siya susunod.”
“Don't manipulate people, Annie. Siguro sa lugar ninyo, ikaw ang nasusunod at lahat ng ginagawa mo ay tama. Pero iyong manloko ka dahil ayaw mo sa isang tao ay hindi makatarungan na gawain,” sagot ni Madison at dismayado na tumingin dito. “I thought you've changed, Annie. Wyatt is prohibited to go out without his bodyguards because his life is threatened the moment he went outside. And he's bad at direction because he always got lost. Kapag may nangyaring masama kay Wyatt, hinding-hindi kita mapapatawad.”
- Writer
