C6 Chapter 6

NAHAMPAS KO ang table to get Vyra’s attention.

First, it’s Kuya Liam. And now, si Kuya Nico.

I can imagine na walang katapusan ang pangungulit niya sa akin.

“Who’s that guy? He is the complete opposite of the love of my life, yet they have the same face. I hate him for ruining my husband’s image in front of me.”

Her words made me cringe.

“How can you tell that he’s the opposite of Kuya Liam?” I asked instead. I will let go muna iyong love of her life niya raw. Maybe she really fell in love with Kuya Liam to hate Kuya Nico.

“The way he looks at the girl. That is the look of a womanizer. I can tell because my father is one hell of a womanizer.” For a moment, I think I saw irritation in her eyes.

At hindi pa rin naalis ang ngiti sa mukha niya which is nakaka-mislead.

“Why are you smiling?”

“I am thinking of teaching him a lesson na hindi ko magawa sa tatay ko. Is he also your brother? What’s his name?”

“Nico,” tipid na sagot ko at uminom ng iced tea. Nasamid pa ako nang ma-realize ang mga sinabi niya. “Wait, what?!”

Tumayo siya. “Watch and learn, Young Lady,” she said with a grin on her face and walked towards them.

I feel like I have to worry about my brother than Vyra who is now walking straight to him.

“Hey, pretty boy.”

I can hear Vyra from here. I saw Kuya Nico gawked. I laughed at the back of my mind.

So she really has the guts, huh?

“How can I help you, Miss?” Kuya Nico asked. Halata sa mukha niya that he’s so confused.

“Miss? Oh, come on Nico. Don’t play dumb and ignore me just because of this girl you are with.”

“B-Babe, who is she?” finally, the girl asked.

“I don’t know her, Babe. Ignore her.” Pag-aalo ni Kuya sa kasama niya.

“You don’t know me?” Vyra said in a disappointed tone. She must be an actress.

“Nico, did you really forget about me? We were just together last night. Do you want me to remind you of every detail of last night? How you made me scream-“ Vyra was cut by a slap in her face.

The girl with Kuya is now crying.

Vyra went too far.

Nagsisimula na rin akong makarinig ng mga bulung-bulungan. Nakita ko pa ang isang employee na tila nahihiyang lumapit para patigilin sila.

“You wench!” Hawak ni Vyra ang pisngi niya.

Somehow, I’m rooting for Vyra to not lose, even though she shouldn’t be doing this.

She stand up straight, composed.

“Do you have any idea what consequences you are facing for slapping my beautiful face by that filthy hand of yours? You just cheat with my guy and now, you think you have the guts to mess with me?” Vyra said in a calm voice.

“He is my boyfriend. We are dating for a month now. And you, you’re saying he is your guy? That’s bullshit!” The girl is starting to be hysterical.

“Oh shut up bitch! You know nothing about this guy. Do you know that I am the best friend of his little sister?”

Fuvk you Vyra! My brother never involved me in his affairs. You’re going to pay for this, bitch.

Natigilan ang babae at lumingon kay Kuya. “Sister? You have a sister?”

Ngayon ko lang napansin, Kuya is not trying to stop Vyra nor explain to his girl. Siguro naghahanap na lang ng reason si Kuya to break up with the girl and Vyra just walked in.

Yup, iyon na lang ang iisipin ko. Kasi for sure, pagagalitan niya ako for not making things clear with Vyra.

“It is an important thing for me, you know? To know you more since we are in a relationship. You even told me that you are the only heir in your family but…” sabi ng babae at tumakbo palayo.

Sinundan ko ng tingin ang babae until she got out of the place, crying.

Gold digger. She even emphasized the word heir.

“Come with me.”

Muli kong naibaling ang mata kay Kuya at Vyra.

Hawak ni Kuya ang braso ni Vyra at pinipilit hilahin papunta sa kung saan.

“No! I’m not coming with you,” sabi ni Vyra at binawi ang braso.

“But I’m your guy, remember? That means you’re my girl.”

Nanlalaki ang mga mata ni Vyra na tila hindi makapaniwala sa narinig.

Have a taste of your own medicine, if I might say.

“Well, not anymore.”

Dahil sa sagot ni Vyra, lumakas ang bulung-bulungan at karamihan ay against kay Kuya ang mga sinasabi.

Tumayo na ako at pasimpleng aalis sa lugar. Hindi ko pa ubos ang iced tea ko but I have to go. I can feel a storm coming.

“Bitch! Don’t leave me here, you wretch!”

Mabilis akong tumakbo palabas ng food court. I don’t want to be associated with her any longer. Bukod sa out of this world ang mga teachings niya, kung ano-ano pa ang tinatawag niya sa akin.

Ayaw ko na!

We are not that close, for me to accept whatever she is calling me, and think of her as a friend.

Sa katatakbo ko, nakapunta ako sa pinakadulong parte ng parking lot, malapit na sa road. At ang bruha, from the start I know about her stamina but to this extent, she’s unbelievable.

To think na nakadress pa siya.

Pumara ako ng sasakyan. Akma akong sasakay nang marinig kong sumigaw si Vyra. Lumingon ako only to see her living her dreams. Buhat-buhat siya ni Kuya Liam– a bridal carry. Nag-sorry ako sa driver at hinayaan na umalis saka ako lumapit sa kanila.

Akala ko kikiligin si Vyra. Her face is so red at mukha siyang takot at naiiyak.

“What happened?” I asked.

“Anong kalokohan itong ginagawa mo, Lei. Nasa public kayo. At isa pa, hindi na kayo mga bata para maghabulan. Muntik ko pa mabangga ang kaibigan mo. Sa susunod, mag-iingat na kayo,” panenermon sa akin ni Kuya.

Napatingin ako sa likod nila at nakita ko roon ang kotse ni Kuya.

Dahan-dahan niyang binaba si Vyra. “Miss, I’m sorry. Gusto mo ba dalhin kita sa ospital? Para makasiguro tayo na wala kang bali o sugat. You fell after all.”

“I-I’m fine. Thanks. But Ash and I have some business to attend to. You can put me down na. Baka ma-fall ako lalo.”

In fairness naman sa babaeng ito. Composed na composed sa harap ni Kuya. Pero natawa pa rin ako. Put her down daw eh siya na lang hinihintay na bumitaw sa yakap niya sa leeg ni Kuya.

At ito namang si Kuya, hinahayaan lang si Vyra. Hindi ba siya nangangalay?

“Again, I’m sorry.”

Hindi ko na pinansin ang sinasabi ni Kuya. I am busy separating Vyra from him.

“If you need anything, feel free to tell Lei.”

“Bakit ako?” asik ko nang marinig ang pangalan ko kahit hindi ko naman naintindihan ang mga sinabi niya.

“So you can tell me afterwards.” Hawak-hawak na ngayon ni Kuya ang mga kamay ni Vyra.

“Bakit hindi na lang direkta sa iyo?”

Napatigil ako sa pagsasalita. Tumingin ako kay Vyra. And she looks back at me as if she’s saying “go girl, I owe you this.”

“Ok, ako na ang bahala sa kanya. Don’t worry. Kung may pilay man siya, pipilayan ko siya lalo. You can go na, Kuya. Pasensya na sa abala. Why are you here anyways?” Bawi ko sa sinabi ko at sinimulang itaboy si Kuya Liam.

Tinulak-tulak ko pa siya palayo kay Vyra pero hindi man lang siya natinag.

“Tsk. I feel like I can’t trust you about this,” sabi ni Kuya. Kumuha siya ng calling card sa inside pocket ng suit niya at binigay iyon kay Vyra.

What the heck?!

“Call me if ever you need anything. I got to go. Take care.”

Hinintay ko na makaalis nang tuluyan si Kuya bago hinarap si Vyra.

“What happened?”

“Bitch! Ang lakas ng loob mo magtanong kung anong nangyari? Muntik lang naman ako mamatay kaya ok lang.”

Nagsimula na siyang maglakad palayo.

I feel guilty for something I don’t know kaya hinabol ko siya at hinirap sa akin.

“What?!”

“I’m concer-“

“Wow ha? Ang galing mo, sobra. Well let me make things clear for this small head of yours, Ashene Lei Castro. Uuulitin ko, muntik na ako mamatay. Bakit ka ba kasi biglang tumakbo? Hinabol kita because I’m afraid na baka mapano ka. At ako lang naman pala ang madidisgrasya. Satisfied?”

Napamaang ako sa mga sinabi niya. And before I realized everything, I was left alone in the middle of the road.