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𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘉𝘦𝘴𝘩! 𝘋𝘶𝘵𝘺 𝘬𝘢 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺?
It was a text message sent by Edmalyn, Carla's long-time best friend. Kabisado na niya ang kaibigan, at alam niyang gusto nitong magkita silang dalawa. Alam din niyang may problema ito kaya gusto nitong magkita silang dalawa ngayon. Yes, Carla knows Edmalyn all too well.
𝘕𝘰𝘱𝘦. 𝘒𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘴 𝘬𝘰 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘢.
Six AM natapos ang shift niya kanina. It's now eight in the morning and she's about to sleep nang ma-receive nga ang text message ng kaibigan.
𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵! 𝘒𝘪𝘵𝘢 𝘵𝘢𝘺𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘢? 𝘚𝘢 𝘊𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘢 𝘯𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨. 6𝘗𝘔.
𝘚𝘢𝘣𝘪 𝘯𝘢 𝘯𝘨𝘢 𝘣𝘢. Nag-confirm na lang si Carla upang matapos na ang usapan. Anyway, they surely will talk a lot later. 𝘔𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘢 𝘯𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘢𝘺𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘵𝘶𝘰𝘴, 𝘉𝘦𝘴𝘩, she thought. Matutulog muna siya at siguradong mahaba-habang usapan ang mangyayari mamayang gabi.
Five minutes before six ay nasa 𝘊𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘢 𝘯𝘪 𝘐𝘬𝘢𝘺 na si Carla. Isa itong native Filipino restaurant na ang setting ay sa gitna ng bukid. Ang bawat table ay napapaloob sa individual bamboo huts kaya naman may privacy ang mga kumakain doon, something that Carla and Edmalyn like.
At dahil doon ang tagpuan nila, alam na nga ni Carla na seryosong usapan ang mangyayari ngayong gabi. Hindi na rin siya nagulat nang madatnan na doon si Edmalyn.
"Besh!" anito pagkakita sa kanya. Tumayo ito at nagbeso silang dalawa.
Naupo si Carla sa may harapan ni Edmalyn pagkatapos. Their table is for six, kaya naman aalog-alog silang dalawa sa loob ng kubo.
"Kumusta ang TGH?" tanong ni Edmalyn.
"Okay naman. Marami pa ring pasyente."
Tumango lamang si Edmalyn, saka ito napaiwas ng tingin. Carla looked at her friend, trying to decipher what might have caused her friend to rendezvous with her tonight.
"Order na tayo."
Edmalyn was smiling at her, but Carla knows it was fake. Ramdam din niya na may dinaramdam ang kanyang kaibigan. It's in her eyes. Her smile didn't reach her dark-brown eyes.
Nag-order sila ng makakain and Edmalyn ordered a lot. Another proof that she's going through something right now. Hindi naman sa nagsi-stress eating ito. Gusto lang nitong ipakitang magana siyang kumain dahil masaya siya sa buhay niya ganoon.
Na hindi naman totoo.
Carla just kept quiet as Edmalyn continued telling her stories about work, her workmates, her parents and siblings. Katulad niya ay nanggaling din sa maalwang pamilya si Edmalyn. Hindi nga siguro sila kasing-yaman ng ibang mga kaklase nila noong high school, pero masasabing may kaya din ang pamilya nila. Edmalyn's parents are both highly paid professionals. Her father is the former Vice President for Administration of CPRU, while her mother used to be the HR Director of 𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘰𝘵 𝘏𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘭.
Sa ngayon, Edmalyn is the Head of Procurement of 𝘜𝘳𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘱. Truth is, suki kasi siya nito at favorite stress reliever nito iyon simula pa noong high school sila – ang mag-shopping sa nasabing mall. Kaya naman noong maka-graduate sila ay doon kaagad ito nag-apply ng trabaho, aside from 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘦 𝘊𝘭𝘶𝘣 na favorite naman nilang tambayan before.
Dumating na ang order nila, nagsimula na silang kumain at nakarami na rin ng kwento si Edmalyn, pero hindi pa rin niya sinasabi ang talagang dahilan ng pagkikita nila ngayon. Nakapag-kwento na rin si Carla tungkol sa trabaho at buhay niya in general, pero hindi pa din siya nagtatanong. She knows it won't take long till her best friend divulge what's bothering her.
And she was right. Nakakalahati na sila sa pinagsasaluhang hapunan nang magsimulang magkwento si Edmalyn.
"May girlfriend na si Red."
𝘚𝘰... 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘵.
"Isang buwan na daw. Taga-Pampanga. Nakilala niya minsang mag-bakasyon sila sa Bohol… How fascinating, right?"
Edmalyn is not fascinated at all. Carla saw that her eyes are watery. Dinala na lamang nito sa pagkain ang sama ng loob.
"This Kare-Kare is really the best! Hindi talaga kumukupas ang 𝘊𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘢, ano? Well, your mom's Kare-Kare is still better but this is also a contender."
𝘖𝘩 𝘯𝘰, 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘥. Carla knows that they have to talk about it right now because if she will let it pass, matetengga na naman ang issue na iyon at mas lalong matatagalan bago maka-move on ang kaibigan niya.
"How did you know about the girlfriend?"
Edmalyn stuffed more food on her mouth, obviously trying to avoid answering her question. But Carla didn't give up. She waited for her to answer, and she knows Edmalyn is aware that she won't just let it pass like that. Kung hindi nito sasagutin iyon ay kukulitin at kukulitin talaga niya ito.
"I saw his Facebook post," Edmalyn answered after she finished chewing. Hindi na ulit siya nakasubo pa dahil sa sama ng loob.
"He said she's his girlfriend?"
"He said it's their monthsary." Edmalyn looked at her. "Is it possible that she's just his friend?"
It was an irony, especially because Edmalyn's eyes are glistening with tears already. Naawa naman si Carla sa kaibigan.
"Hayaan mo na lang, Besh." Ano bang pwede niyang sabihin dito?
"Akalain mo iyon? He just went to Bohol three months ago for a vacation, then he met this girl and now, she's his girlfriend. Samantalang ako, we work in the same company for three years now. Araw-araw halos kaming nagkikita. Why didn't he fall in love with me like that?"
Carla doesn't know the answer. Her expertise as a doctor does not include human emotions.
Tuluyan nang hindi nakakain si Edmalyn. Pati si Carla ay nawalan na rin ng gana. Sayang nga lang dahil halos kalahati pa lang ang nakakain nila sa inorder nila. Well, Edmalyn ordered a lot, so maybe they already ate enough?
"Lagi na lang ganoon. Lahat ng nagugustuhan ko, hindi naman ako gusto. Una si Ace, tapos si Benj. Ngayon naman si Red. Besh, pangit ba ako?"
Carla understood that reference. "You're not Liza Soberano, Besh."
Edmalyn scowled.
"But you're not ugly. You are beautiful, and I'm not saying that because I'm your best friend. I'm saying that because that's the truth."
"Eh bakit hindi nila ko magustuhan?" Edmalyn's voice cracked.
Honestly, Carla doesn't know the answer. But she knows she has to say something, and she knows something that might answer Edmalyn's question.
"Siguro kasi hindi sila iyong para sa iyo."
"Eh sino pala? Nasaan pala siya? Bakit hindi pa siya dumarating? Besh, I'm tired of falling in love with the wrong person. What's taking my Mr. Right so long?"
Hindi na nakasagot pa si Carla. Wala na kasi siyang maisip na cliché. Wala rin naman siyang gaanong experience sa ganyang bagay because she stopped doing that thing when her heart was broken by her first love.
Mabuti nga at naging doktor siya. At least, she has diversion, and it's a good one.
Pinunasan ni Edmalyn ang mga luha niya bago pa man tumulo ang mga iyon. "Let's go somewhere else, Besh."
Parang alam na niya ang gusto nitong gawin. "𝘚𝘢𝘮'𝘴 𝘛𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘯?"
"You know I can't go back there."
The last time that they were there, it was that time when Edmalyn found out that Benj is engaged to be married. Sobrang sama ng loob ni Edmalyn noon dahil akala niya ay maghihiwalay na ito at ang girlfriend nito. Their relationship was on the rocks that time, but instead of giving up, Benj and his girlfriend was able to turn the tables around. They decided to get married, and Edmalyn was so hurt she drank too much. At dahil sa sobrang kalasingan ay hindi niya naiwasang masuka sa mismong bar counter ng 𝘚𝘢𝘮'𝘴 𝘛𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘯.
It was the most embarrassing moment for Edmalyn, and she vowed to never set foot on that bar again.
"Saan pa ba may maayos na bar?" tanong ni Carla.
Edmalyn looked at her. "I know."
Carla was able to guess what Edmalyn is thinking. "And you know I can't go there."
"Besh naman! Hindi naman tayo sigurado na nandoon si Joshua, di ba?"
"At hindi tayo sigurado na wala siya doon."
"Okay, you're right… You have a point. Pero, ano naman ngayon kung nandoon siya? Don't tell me you're still affected by him?"
"Of course not!" Gimbal siya sa sinabi ni Edmalyn. "Bakit naman ako maaapektuhan nung lalaking iyon?"
Edmalyn smirked. "Ewan ko sa'yo? Bakit ayaw mo siyang makita?"
"You know why."
"Besh, Joshua might have been obsessed with you, but that was in high school. He's very happy with Caitlyn Soriano right now. Hindi ka na hahabul-habulin noon."
Sabagay. May point nga naman si Edmalyn. Bakit ba siya magwo-worry masyado kay Joshua Socorro? Matagal na mula nung huli niya itong makita – personally, at least. Siguro naman hindi na ito ang dating Joshua na hahabol-habol sa kanya noong high school?
"Fine! Let's go there!"
After paying the bill ay tumuloy na sila sa 𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘈𝘤𝘵 𝘊𝘢𝘧𝘦́. Medyo nag-aalangan pa rin si Carla na magtungo doon, pero hinayaan na rin niya ang kaibigan na manduhin siya ngayon. Siguro kasi alam niyang masama ang pakiramdam nito, na kailangan niyang damayan ito sa ngayon at kahit papaano i-spoil ito ng konti.
Sa bar counter sila dumiretso, at nadatnan nila doon ang dating kaklase na si James de Vera.
"Wow! What a surprise!" bati nito sa dalawa. "Welcome to 𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘈𝘤𝘵 𝘊𝘢𝘧𝘦́!"
"Thank you," sagot ni Edmalyn dito. She smiled at him. "Ang ganda ng place ninyo."
"Salamat naman at nagustuhan ninyo," ani James.
Saka ito tumingin kay Carla. "Long time no see, ah."
Carla smiled. "I didn't know you're a bartender now."
"Minsan," ani James. "Hobby lang. Pampaalis ng stress."
"So, Mr. Bartender, what could you suggest for us?" tanong ni Edmalyn dito.
"What do you prefer ba?" tanong naman ni James.
"Gusto ko yung kakaiba. Yung matapang. Yung tatamaan ka talaga," sagot naman ni Edmalyn.
Carla tried so hard not to grimace. Medyo desperado na kasi ang dating ng kaibigan niya.
"Wow! Mukhang gusto nating mag-all out tonight, ah?" ani James.
"Pwede rin," ani Edmalyn. "So, what can you suggest?"
"How about a Martini? How about a 6 to 1 ratio? That is about 40% alcohol content."
"I don't know what you're talking about, but that sounds great!"
Not for Carla. She's preparing herself mentally for the upcoming trouble.
Mabilis namang nagawa ni James ang nasabing cocktail drink. Edmalyn immediately took a sip of her Martini once it was served.
"Ooh! This is good!" ang sabi niya.
"I'm glad you liked it," ani James. Saka ito bumaling kay Carla. "How about you?"
"I'm not drinking," tanggi niya. "Someone needs to be sober so that we both could go home later."
"Hayaan mo na siya, James," ani Edmalyn. "Hindi talaga mahilig uminom iyan."
𝘏𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪 𝘬𝘢 𝘳𝘪𝘯 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘨 𝘶𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘮, ani Carla sa loob-loob niya. Kung wala lang naman itong problema, hindi ito iinom. And even so, puro beer lang naman ang iniinom nito lagi. Carla is very sure Edmalyn is not even familiar with what she's drinking right now. More reason for her to stay sober beside her.
"How about something that does not contain alcohol?" tanong ulit ni James kay Carla. "Come on, it's on the house."
"Wow! Libre talaga?" ani Edmalyn.
"Yup. Minsan-minsan lang kasi kayo magawi dito."
"Iyan kasi, o," ani Edmalyn sabay tingin kay Carla.
Who almost rolled her eyes on them. Naka-isang inom pa lang sa Martini ay parang lasing na itong kasama niya.
"Madalang lang magpunta dito si Joshua," ang sabi naman ni James. "Kapag wala siyang ginagawang pelikula o teleserye, which is quite rare nowadays. Masyado na kasing sikat iyong isang iyon."
Hindi na nagulat si Carla na alam ni James ang rason ng hindi niya pagpunta doon. He had been friends with Joshua since first year high school kaya alam nito ang kalokohan ng kaibigan.
"Though, he's here tonight," ani James.
Na biglang ikinaalarma ni Carla. Kung hindi niya napigilan ang sarili ay baka bigla niyang nayaya si Edmalyn na umalis na.
"I just thought maybe, you should know," ang sabi pa ni James.
Wala nang nasabi pa si Carla, lalo na at dumating na rin sina Mark at Jeralhd. Natuwa naman ang dalawang lalaki pagkakita kina Edmalyn at Carla.
"Grabe, ang saya naman nito," ani Edmalyn. "Ang tagal na nating hindi nagkikita-kita, ah!"
Medyo ikinatuwa naman iyon ni Carla. At least nalilibang ang kaibigan niya at medyo nakalimutan nito kahit papaano iyong tungkol sa pagkawasak ng puso nito. And besides, may punto din naman si Edmalyn. Natuwa din siya na makita ang mga dating kaklase.
"Dumalaw kasi kayo lagi dito," ani Mark. "Promise, may discount kayo lagi sa amin."
"O Besh, narinig mo iyon? May discount daw tayo," ani Edmalyn sabay tingin sa katabi.
"Well, medyo busy din kasi," ang sabi na lamang niya.
"Oo nga pala," ani Jeralhd. "You're a doctor sa TGH, right?"
Tumango si Carla. "Twenty-four hours or more per day ang shift ko, so wala na talaga akong time para diyan."
"Grabe naman pala maging doktor," ani Mark.
"Si Mark kasi walang masyadong ginagawa sa buhay iyan," biro ni James.
"Kaya kung sino-sino ang nakikilalang babae niyan, eh," ang sabi pa ni Jeralhd.
"Ako na naman talaga ang nakita ninyo, ano?" ani Mark.
"Nagsasabi lang kami ng totoo," ani James.
"Teka, si Joshua nga pala?"
Natigilan ang lahat sa tanong ni Mark. Saka lang niya na-realize kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng sinabi niya. Napatingin siya kay Carla.
"I mean… kasi, dapat drinking session namin ngayon. Kaya nga kami nandito ni Jeralhd," paliwanag ni Mark.
"It's okay," ani Carla, though deep inside, she knows it's not. Medyo kumabog nga ang dibdib niya pagkarinig pa lamang sa pangalan ni Joshua.
"Oo nga naman," ani Jeralhd. "Ilang taon na ba? Ten? Eleven?"
"Twelve years," ani James. "Actually, we're thinking of having a reunion nga."
"That's good," ani Edmalyn sabay tingin kay Carla. "Para na rin makita natin iyong mga dati nating mga kaklase."
Tumango si Carla. "Oo nga. That's… nice."
"Hey! Don't tell me you're starting already!"
Natigilan si Carla nang marinig ang tinig na iyon. It came from someone behind her, and she can sense that he is moving closer to her. Bigla ang pagbilis ng tibok ng puso niya.
Napatingin naman ang ibang naroon sa nagsalita. Tsaka parang naging awkward ang lahat lalo na noong makalapit na ang lalaki sa kanila, partikular na kay Carla.
Joshua frowned as he felt something strange with his friends. Then he saw Edmalyn.
"Uy!" aniya, then realizing what seeing Edmalyn meant. He looked at the woman who is sitting in a bar stool in front of him. He has a good guess who that woman might be.
At hindi nga siya nagkamali. The woman turned to face him, and Joshua knows that Carla was as shocked as he was as they both laid their eyes on each other.