Chapter 19
2047 Words
“I CAN’T...” sagot ni Annie para matindint mapakunot ang kanyang noo. “I am toxic. I am not good for Madison. You are here now so she doesn't need me anymore. Madison is better off without me.”
Tumitig lamang si Wyatt dito at nag-isip ng itutugon. Gusto niya itong bulyawan. Pagsalitaan ng mga masasamang bagay. Sumang-ayon sa gusto nitong mangyari na umalis na lamang para hindi na siya maagrabyado. Para wala ng sagabal sa kanila ni Madison. Pero, sino ba siya para husgahan ang pagkakaibigan ng dalawa. He wasn't there when the two starts being friend. He wasn't there when Annie was on Madison’s side. He wasn't there when Madison needed him the most. And he knows nothing about the two. Their struggle together. Their happy moments. But he knew something that he was certain this time. The two meet in the lack of his presence... meaning the two are meant to meet for a purpose. He may not know it but he knew there is.
”How can you say that? You’re not even Madison to begin with,” pagtutol niya sa sinabi nito para mapatingin ito sa kanya at mapaismid. “And even if you are, Madison wouldn't think that way. Madison didn't have a lot of friends, you know... that makes us two fortunate because Madison is our friend. Madison always chooses whom she should be friends with. Madison chose me because she found something in me and so are you. You are important to Madison as I am to her.”
”She's important to me, too...” pagsang-ayon ni Annie at napayuko. “But what I did is unforgivable. You should be mad at me right now, not pleading with me to come back. You don't have to act so kind on me. You don't have to pretend.”
“Maybe I should... like get mad at you for what you did. But I’m not that shallow of a person, Annie,” ani Wyatt para mapatingin ito sa kanya. “And I know you wouldn't feel the animosity for nothing. I know that you're mad at me for leaving Madison behind and making her cry. Siguro para sa iyo ay mali ang ginawa ko pero para sa akin, tama lang ang ginawa ko. Hate me all you want but I have a reason for leaving and choosing my career over my friends. Over for Madison.”
“That wasn't a friend should do,” nanunukat na sambit ni Annie.
”I know,” pagsang-ayon ni Wyatt.
“You know then you still left?” pagak na tanong ni Annie. “Worst is you left without letting Madison know.”
“I left because Madison is planning to come with me and leave everything behind she work so hard ever since college,” paliwanag ni Wyatt at mariin na tiningnan ang dalaga. “She chose her career over me.”
Gulat na napatingin sa kanya si Annie at sa reaksyon na iyon ay nabatid niya na agad na hindi nito alam ang tungkol doon. It makes sense because Annie would not have hate him if she knew. But he has a hunched that Madison didn't tell her. And he’s glad that Madison didn't.
“S-She did that?” tila hindi pa rin makapaniwalang tanong ni Annie.
“Yes. Believe it or not, she did. I have no other choice but to leave when everyone is still sleeping, Annie,” sagot ni Wyatt at nag-igtingan ang kanyang mga panga. “Madison is in her rebellion phase with his father forcing her to take over their business and was told to help Alejandro with their family business which Madison totally abhors. And I was with my selfish self when she offered to come with me. And damn, God knew how much I want her to come with me. Us leaving together everything behind as long as with each other...”
Wyatt sadly grimaced and massage his temple. Annie stay silent, bewildered was drawn all over her face.
“Having her gives me tranquility. I couldn't even see myself doing fine without her. And I was tempted by the offer. To take her with me because that would make me happy. Because I knew it would cast all my worries away,” malalam ang mga mata na napangiti si Wyatt habang inaalala niya ang engkuwentro na iyon. ”But I came to my senses and what Madison wants to happen would lead her to the wrong path, I couldn't let that happen...”
“Okay, Wyatt... It's okay with me if you will represent the Philippines for men's individual archery,” nakangiting wika ni Madison nang mapagbuksan niya ito ng pinto. Nang ilaglag nito ang duffel bag sa gilid ay doon niya pa napagtanto ang gusto nitong mangyari.
Pumasok si Wyatt sa loob at umiling-iling. “No, Madison. You're ruining your life for me.”
“That’s what best friend’s do, Wy... be there for each other,” ani Madison at nagsusumamo na tumingin sa kanya. “I want to come with you. Please... home suppose to be haven but mine is hell. No one supports me. You are the only one who supported me and I need in my life.”
Wyatt looked at Madison and for a moment, she wants to grant her wish. Make her tag along and together they will spend the rest of their lives having each other's back. It was a nice offer but it was a bad decision. It was a decision out of impulse.
Iiling na sana si Wyatt sa pagtutol nang lumapit si Madison at lumuhod sa kanyabg harapan. Desperation was all over her face. She saw how her knees dropped on the floor and how her tears crawled on her cheeks... begging him.
Dali-daling lumapit si Wyatt at niyakap ito. “Okay, you can come. Stand up, Madison. And stop crying. I am here. Okay, let’s flee together.”
Inalalayan niya si Madison patayo at niyakap ito nang mahigpit. They became dependent on each other, sometimes the unnecessary became needs. And what Madison wants to happen is something he couldn't tolerate even if a part of him likes the idea of having her around him. He knew it's not just.
The day passed quickly and the first thing he did in the morning was left Madison on his bed sleeping because he needed to leave in order for her to stay. He can't take Madison's dreams away from her. He believes that Madison will be fine without him as much as he will.
“Madison never tell me that,” wika ni Annie at nag-aalala na tumimgin sa kanya. “And your right what you did was right.”
“That is the best decision I ever made even if that breaks our hearts. Madison is a fine woman now who manages to be on top for what she's good at,” ani Wyatt at marilag na ngumiti. “We both chase our dreams without having each other's backs. And we are that proof that one hand is sometimes better without the other.”
“I-I’m sorry,” nakayuko na wika ni Annie. “I didn't know. I thought...”
“Apology accepted,” tugon ni Wyatt at bumaling kay Annie. He smiled at her making her smile, too. “Now, let’s get you back. Madison is worrying sick.”
“I still can’t...” ani Annie at ngumiwi.
Natigilan si Wyatt at kumupas ang kanyang mga ngiti. Hindi niya maintindihan ang reaksyon na iyon. Annie's face doesn't seem to have animosity anymore but it's telling him that she needs to somehow stay.
“Oh, don't get me wrong. I wasn't actually flying away. I’m still waiting for our friend, Sabrina, who came from Paris,” biglang pagbawi ni Annie para mapakunot ang kanyang noo sa sobrang pagkalito.
Nang maintindihan ang gusto nitong ipahiwatig ay bumakas ang kaginhawaan sa kanyang mukha. That's right. Annie wasn't leaving because she must have already departed thirty minutes from now. The thing she's holding is not hers. It is from their friend Sabrina Elizalde, the famous ballerina from the Philippines who won in Ballet Grand Prix 2022 in Paris, France.
“Oh, god, Annie. You really know how to manipulate people into saying something they shouldn't have, don’t you?” namamanghang wika ni Wyatt at huminga nang malalim.
Ang pagod na hindi niya naramdaman kanina ay tila ba ngayon pa umatake sa kanyang sistema. His knees were tremling because he sprint driving and running. His head is drain because of what he did. And the secrets that Madison and he kept was reveal in just one snap. Masyado siyang nadala ng emosyon. Masyado nagpatangay sa alon na itinrato niyang malaking alon gayong isa lamang pala iyong marahan na pagpagaspas sa dalampasingan.
“Don’t blame me, I never said I’m flying away, you did,” katwiran nito at pinaikot ang mga mata. “Besides, I deserve to know the untold story of you leaving Madison behind. Don't worry, your secret is safe with me.”
Tumango-tango si Wyatt at huminga nang malalim. “Yeah, I know. I wouldn't disclose if it’s not. Just don't scare us like that. Especially, Madison. She lost me once. She can't bear to lose any more people again. She needs you more than she needs me.”
“That's duly noted,” nakangiting wika ni Annie at tumango pa sa kanya. “But Madison must have forgot Sabrina arrival. Dapat kasi kaming dalawa ang susundo sa kanya ngayon. Hindi ko na rin pinaalala kasi baka nakakaabala ako.”
Nagtataka na napatingin si Wyatt dito.
“Yeah, Madison tends to assume she ended the call even if she didn't. I heard you two moaning that day... it's gross,” ani Annie at ngumiwi. “But it didn't gross Madison, so I guess it's fine. Just practice calendar method if you don't want to have kids early or the pull-out practice just to make sure.”
Bumuka ang bibig ni Wyatt upang sana ay hindi magpatalo sa usapan ngunit napapikit na lamang st napatngo bilang pagsuko. “That’s duly noted,” wika ni Wyatt na ginaya pa ang tono nito.
“So...” Napalinga-linga si Wyatt habang kunot ang noo. “Where is this Sabrina now, huh?”
“I don't know. I've been waiting for almost an hour,” nakangiwi na wika ni Annie at napaismid kalaunan. “Kinain na ata ng bowl.”
THE DUSK has finally come and there's no Annie or Wyatt that came by the office. Nakahanda na ang lahat para sa pagsara niya ng opisina ng araw na iyon. She must have scared Annie to leave. God knew she didn't mean it. It was never meant to be harsh. She was never harsh.
Sumipat si Madison sa mesa ni Annie at napapikit. Her tears started crawling down on her cheeks and all she sis was sobbing the pain. She has lost a friend today. And she's never coming back. Annie might never come back. She's a bad friend, she didn't deserve Annie. If she had just told the truth about Wyatt's reason for leaving, Annie wouldn't have acted the way. And she will not respond that way.
Itinalungko ni Madison ang ulo at napahikbi. Now, that Annie is gone. She doesn't think she could have the strength to work with the same enthusiasts as Annie was on her side. Annie was the one who keeps her standing. Keeps opening her senses. And keeps her standing through the waves of obstacles. Annie became her weapon. Her hope. And now, she's gone.
“What did I say about crying alone?”
Pabigla na naitaas ni Madison ang ulo nang marinig niya ang boses na iyon. Ngunit sa halip na magulat dahil si Annie lamang ang kanyang inaakala, naroon din si Sabrina na nakangiti sa kanya, ang kanyang isang kaibigan na galing sa Paris. Tila gulat sa mga pangyayari ay tinawid ni Madison ang pagitan ng dalawa at sinalubong ito nang pabigla na yakap. She hugged them both and she sobbed louder.
“Always remember to find something to lean on,” sagot ni Madison sa tanong ni Annie at inihilig ang baba sa balikat nito. “I am so sorry.”
- Writer
