"GIANNA, when are you going back here in New York? I need you here! I just talked to Vogue's representative and they want to feature you on their next magazine issue. No way we are going to turn down this offer!"
Nakatingin lang sa labas ng bintana si Gianna habang pinapakinggan ang voicemail ng manager niya. It's been a week since her manager, Milo, kept on sending her voice messages asking her to go back in New York. She already lost count of how many times he had sent her voice messages. Maybe 20? Or 30? She had no idea as she just ignored all of those voice mail. She bet he's already fuming or probably cursing her.
"You really don't have any plans of looking for your own place to stay?"
Napalingon siya sa may pintuan. Standing at the door is her childhood friend, Sage. She had known him since she was five. And even though she and her mom moved to New York, they never lost contact with each other. She was nine when she got separated from him. But thankfully, nothing had changed between them even after all those years they were separated.
"Why, have you had enough of me at ngayo'y pinagtatabuyan mo na ako?"
Dumiretso ng pasok sa loob ng kwarto si Sage at naupo sa may paanan ng higaan. "Come on," he started. Napakamot ito ng ulo. "I've been sleeping on the sofa for a week. Why don't you try sleeping there for once so you'll know how uncomfortable it is sleeping on there?"
Lumapit siya at naupo sa tabi ni Sage. Ipinulupot niya ang braso sa braso nito. "If you're uncomfortable sleeping there then why don't we share this bed? It's too big for me anyway and it's kinda lonely sleeping here alone. What do you think?" she asked with a grin on her face like a Cheshire cat.
Sage looked at her with a horrified expression on his face. "Stop it, Gianna. You're scaring me," ang sabi nito. Inalis ni Sage ang pagkakapulupot ng braso niya sa braso nito.
"Then why don't you try to make up with your parents? Nang sa ganun ay dun na tayo sa inyo matutulog. You'll have your room again and I'll be sleeping in your guest room. That way, I'd still be living under the same room with you."
A low chuckle escaped his lips. "Nagpapatawa ka yata, Gianna. Easier said than done. You know that's not going to be easy."
She shrugged her shoulders. "I know it's not. I never said it would be easy. But I know one day, you and your parents will soon mend," she said, giving him a reassuring smile.
Sage smiled at her. It was a genuinely sweet one. The kind of smile that was simply enough to send butterflies in her stomach.
"By the way, aalis pala ako. Sasamahan ko si Rainee na bumili ng damit na susuotin niya sa birthday ni Ate Kyline."
Ang ngiti sa mga labi niya ay naglaho bigla ng marinig ang pangalan ng kasintahan nito. "Ah, ganun ba."
"You're coming to my sister's birthday?"
"Why, of course yes. Ngayon na lang ako ulit makaka-attend ng birthday niya, papalagpasin ko pa ba?"
"Then you should come with us. Wala ka bang balak bumili ng susuotin mo?"
"No need to. Madami na akong damit dyan na pagpipilian. Some I've only worn once. I don't need to buy a new one." Tumayo siya at tinungo ang nightstand sa gilid ng kama. Mula sa drawer ay kinuha niya ang sketchbook na nakatago dun. "I'd rather stay here and draw."
"Ever since we were kids and until now, you still love to draw. I still remember I was making fun of your drawings back then because they were ugly."
Pinandilatan niya ito ng mata. "Hey! What do you think you're calling ugly?" she asked, her cheeks reddened.
But he ignored her question. "So, how is it? Is there any improvement?" natatawa nitong tanong.
She glared at him who was laughing so hard. She should be annoyed at him for making fun of her drawing but she couldn't. And instead found herself smiling. She missed his laugh and had always wanted to hear it again. It's a sound she would love to hear everyday.
"Let me see it." Tumayo si Sage at lumapit sa kanya. Nang akmang kukunin nito sa kamay niya ang hawak niyang sketchbook ay awtomatiko niyang itinago ang sketchbook sa likuran niya.
"No, Sage!" ang sabi niya, bahagyang tumaas ang boses. Maski si Sage ay nagulat din. "I-I'm sorry. Anything but this."
"You're still short-tempered as ever, Gianna," Sage said, amusement in his voice. "Don't you know you look really scary when you get mad? Yan siguro ang dahilan kung bakit hindi nagtatagal ang mga boyfriend mo. They are probably scared of you."
'Is that what you think so?' sa isip-isip niya. A soft chuckle escaped her lips. "Yeah, I guess so," ang sabi niya na lang.
"Well anyway, I need to get ready. Susunduin ko pa si Rainee. Are you sure you're not coming with us?"
"No, thanks. I don't want to be a third wheel," she answered with a snort.
"Come on, Gianna. Hindi ka naman magiging third wheel. I was hoping you and Rainee could get together—be friends. You're both girls so I thought you two would have fun together looking for clothes."
Tinitigan niya lang si Sage. Did he honestly think she can be friends with that girl? "I'm not a masochist, Sage."
"A what?"
"Nothing." Kinuha niya ang unan sa gilid at binato sa mukha nito. Nasalo naman nito ang unan. "Umalis ka na nga!" she annoyingly said.
Napakamot na lang ng ulo si Sage. Ibinato nito sa kama ang nasalo niyang unan. "Fine, then. Do you want me to buy you something? Like food?"
"Pasta, maybe? Won't that take long? I mean Rainee looking for a dress? If so, magpapadeliver na lang ako."
He shook his head. "No worries. I'll make sure I'll come back right away. And besides, Rainee still looks beautiful no matter what she wears. It won't be that hard to find a nice dress for her."
Nakagat niya ang labi. She felt as if thousands of knives pierced her heart. 'Bragging your girlfriend in front of me, don't you think you're being too harsh on me Sage?'
"Okay, I'll wait for you then," she said, forcing a smile on her lips. She hoped he didn't notice it. "And oh, if it is not too much, can you buy me pizza as well?"
"Yeah, sure. I'll be back later."
Hindi na siya kumibo. She watched his back as he walked out of the room. Saka lang siya nakahinga ng maluwag nang isarado na nito ang pinto. Sa nanghihinang tuhod ay napaupo siya sa gilid ng kama.
"You really don't have any idea, do you, Sage?"
Had she gone crazy? She only wanted to see the guy she had always loved. She thought she would be happy once she saw him again. But no. She couldn't bring herself to. How could she when all she could see is him being head over heels in love with that girl.
She envied her, hated her. All because she had something she didn't have—Sage's heart. She wanted his love, him and only him. But then someone came and stole it from her. Ganun na lang ang gulat niya ng malaman mula kay Sage na may kasintahan na ito. Of course she told him how happy she was for him but that was all a lie. Deep inside she was hurt. She was brokenhearted.
But that was not enough to stop her. When she decided to go back here, she was determined to take back what was taken from her. Gagawin niya ang lahat. If there would be, even just one way to make him waver, then she would grab it.