"Meron na ba sa inyong naka contact kay seul?" 

    "Paano eh iniwan nya yung phone nya?" 

    "Anything from her relatives here???" 

    Umaga na, Hindi sila nakakuha ng sapat na tulog dahil sa pag alis ni seulgi kagabi. And hindi rin nila makausap yung taong huling kausap ni seulgi bago sya umalis dahil hindi naman sila nito pinapansin at pinagbubuksan ng pinto ng kwarto nya.

    Kaya naman nabigla ang lahat ng bigla itong sumingit.

    "I've talked to her tita." Napatingin ang lahat sa nagsalita mula sa may hallway papunta sa mga kwarto nila.

     It was irene.. Na ngayon lang lumabas sa kwarto nya. Some of them were surprised, some of them were upset.

    "and they said hindi naman daw sya bumibisita don ulit." Sabi nito bago lumakad papunta sa kusina para uminom ng tubig. 

    Some of them released a disappointed sigh. They were expecting something good, lalo na't si Irene na ang nag inform sa kanila. 

     "How are you being so calm about this? Its seulgi, irene. Nawawala si seulgi." Wendy's actually pissed because she knew about the fact na ang huling kausap ni seulgi after nitong mawala eh si Irene. So she thinks na something triggered seulgi after talking to irene kaya ito umalis.

     "What the hell did you say to her?! Ano bang nangyayari sayo?!"

     "Sky.." Pag kalma ni Joy kay wendy.

     Humigpit ang hawak ni irene sa basong hawak nya at saka sumagot ng mahinang "Nothing.." just enough for wendy to hear.         

     "nothing?" wendy scoffs. "As far as i know irene, seulgi won't do something like this kung hindi nasaktan ng sobra yung tao."      

     "I didn't know that you'll do this to her. Kung ano man yung mga sinabi mo kay seulgi bago sya umalis, sana panindigan mo lahat ng yon." 

      Lumabas na si wendy after nyang sabihin yun.. Wendy is the closest friend of seulgi next to irene ofcourse and understandable naman talaga para kay irene na magalit ito sa kanya. Aware naman sya na a lot of her friends would be upset because of her stupidity.             

     Mabigat sa pakiramdam, super. Parang pinirapiraso yung puso nya tapos inapak apakan. Well, What to expect when she just lost her soulmate? Ang masama pa non, sya na mismo ang nag taboy rito. How ing stupid of her.  

     When she talked to seulgi's aunt she felt embarrassed. She still had the courage to ask if seulgi's okay after all that she said to her. And nung nalaman nyang hindi pala doon nagpunta si seulgi mas lalo syang pinatay ng konsensya nya. Double kill, ika nga nila.        

     She's still at the kitchen sink, Pinunasan nya ang luha nyang muling tumulo mula sa mata nya bago humarap sa mga kaibigan nya. 

     "I.." she cleared before she continued napatingin naman sa kanya ang mga kaibigan nya. 

     "Sorry." The only word she left then lumakad na sya ulit papunta sa kwarto nya. 

     She knows it wasn't enough. It wasn't the right word to say to her friends. But she's having a hard time right now too. Atleast she had the courage to tell her friends something.        

     Well, for the mean time hinayaan nalang muna ng lahat si irene. No one wanted to talk to her because some of them are upset and they are still worried about seulgi. 

     And some of them thinks na Irene should be alone muna. Gave her some time to gather her thoughts and feelings dahil halata naman sa mukha ni irene na buong gabi rin syang umiyak.

     "Hey, you." Tawag ni Joy kay wendy na nasa garden, still fondling at her phone. Trying to find a way to contact seulgi.

     Wendy's face soften as she sees her Joy, but joy can still see the that she's still worried and upset.. "Hey.." 

    Lumapit si Joy kay wendy at saka ito niyakap. "She's gonna be okay.." 

    "I hope so.." Sagot ni wendy saka humiwalay kay joy para umupo sa bench. 

    Tumabi naman agad sa kanya si Joy putting her arms around wendy's shoulder for wendy to lean on hers.

    Joy and wendy? They've been good these past few days simula noong gabi nung birthday ni Irene. They aren't back in a relationship yet, Joy wanted to, but wendy insisted. Hindi sa ayaw nya, pero kasi nirequest rin naman daw ni joy noong gabing yon na bigyan sya ng time to heal so, nirerespect nya lang yung desisyon ni Joy. 

    Saka, She's taking her time to prove to joy rin naman na mas magiging better na sya para kay joy.     

    So the real thing between them right now is, unknown? Charot, Walang label pero nag lalandian. Yun lang yon. Uso naman daw yun ngayon eh nakikisabay lang sila sa trend.

    Bumuntong hininga si wendy, "Where do you think she is?" tanong nito kay Joy. 

    "Well, I literally have no idea too wends.." medyo natawang sagot ni Joy. 

     "I mean, Hindi naman ako tumira dito nung bata ako so.. I have no idea how big batangas is." 

     Napaismid naman ng ngiti si Wendy. "Oo nga naman." Sabi nito.      

    "She's probably just wandering around.. Laking batangas naman si seul, she probably came to some of her childhood friends here kung wala sya sa bahay nila dito." 

    "Well that's one of the reasons why im upset." 

    "Huh?" takang tanong ni Joy. 

    Umangat ang ulo ni wendy mula sa balikat ni joy saka umayos ng upo. 

    "Yung fact na lumayo pa sya eh nandito naman kaming mga kaibigan nya, tayo.." Sabi nito saka bumuntong hininga.     

    "Seungwan, baka kasi ginusto talaga ni seul na lumayo muna.. I mean, Oo she have you, she have us.. Pero it would still remind her of Irene because we are all friends here. Maybe she really wanted to take a breather away from Irene and away from something or someone that will remind her of why she left here in the first place." Paliwanag ni Joy na ikinakunot naman ng noo ni Wendy.   

    "I still hate her for doing that. If she really consider me as her 'other' bestfriend she would atleast tell me where she is right now."

    "She wont.."

    "Huh?" 

    "She knows you Wends, and knowing you too, hindi mo mapipigilan ang sarili mong puntahan sya kung nasan man sya ngayon kung sasabihin nya yun sayo.. Remember nung umalis ako without updating you back when we were still.. You know.. Together.." Joy cleared bago may simula ulit. 

    "Kinulit mo ng kinulit si Yeri until she gave up and told you where i am.. Where in fact para talaga yun sa anniv natin kaya hindi ko sinabi? Pero dahil makulit ka sumunod ka kahit hindi pa tapos yung plano ko."   

    "Well that was because i am worried!! Halos buong araw akong lutang at hindi makafocus sa klase non, for your information!!" Reklamo ni Wendy sa kwento ni Joy.       

    "Dapat pala madaling araw ko ginawa." Biro ni Joy. Sinamaan nalang sya ng tingin ni Wendy at tinawanan lang sya ni Joy.   

    "But anyways, I dont know if its partly my fault kasi pinush ko pa si seulgi na i comfort yung kaibigan nyo bago nangyari lahat ng to.." Simula ulit ni Wendy

    "Hey, anong kasalanan mo.. Walang may kasalanan dito.. i know you're thinking na si irene, pero im sure she have her reasons why she did it." Sagot ni Joy.    

    Wendy just sighed. "Hindi ko maintindihan.. I mean, Okay naman sila right? They surely like each other. I just dont understand why Irene pushed Seulgi away." Frustrated nitong sabi.    

    "Something happened kasi that night of irene's birthday.. Hindi mo pa ba alam?" Joy asked.    

    "Aside from seulgi's confession? Hindi ko alam tho, i was so focused on how i'm gonna explain to you and win you back again that night.."     

    Natawa naman ng bahagya si Joy bago magsalita. "Well we kinda had our own drama that night.. Hindi kona rin alam kung anong nangyari sa iba.. But jennie told us what happened way before seulgi confessed."    

    "Ano daw?" Takang tanong ni wendy. Medyo may tama rin kasi sya nung gabing yon and the only thing she knew was she was with joy the whole night after nilang mag usap. 

    Kinuwento ni Joy kay wendy kung ano yung nangyari between bogum and irene and after nung confession ni seulgi.. and wendy realized why irene were so triggered these days and why seulgi and irene ended up in this way. 

    "Irene is an overthinker wends.. She overthinks a lot.. and i guess Bogum's words triggered her.. Plus this thing with yeri yesterday, Isa siguro yun sa dahilan lalo na't napatunayan pa nito na tama yung sinabi ni bogum about kay yeri.. Kaya siguro si Seul yung napag abutan ng galit ni Irene since natrigger rin sya ni yeri by invading her own feelings.." Kwento pa ni Joy.     

    "Well.. I feel bad about irene.. But im still upset.." Sagot ni Wendy. 

    "Okay lang naman yun, you have the right to be upset because seulgi is your buddy.. Maybe your group of friends feel the same way too."           

    "What about you?" 

    "Ako?" Joy let out a chuckle, "Hindi ko rin alam, I am worried about seul too and as a friend of irene i am upset about what she did and ayokong maging bias. They both need to clear their heads." Joy explained.     

    Ngumiti nalang si wendy kay Joy saka bumalik sa pagkakadantay ng ulo nya sa balikat ni Joy while Joy automatically wrapped her arms around wendy. 

    "Seul really likes to run away and be alone to be honest.. I just hope na maging okay kaagad sya and umuwi na.. I hope someone's there to comfort her atleast.." Huling sabi ni Wendy bago bumuntong hininga. 

~~~

   "Open the door!" 

   "Open it Irene for gods sake!!" 

   "Bubuksan mo to o pupwersahin ko tong pinto?!" Diretsong tagalog na sabi ni Ruby jane.    

   Napatingin sila byul at lisa dito, "Grabe, crush kona ata yung tagalog accent nya.." Biro ni Lisa.    

   "Gagi first time ko rin marinig mag tagalog ng diretso yan.. Akalain mo yun? Nakakaganda pala lalo??" Sagot naman ni Byul. 

   "You, two!" Tawag ni jennie kila byul na ikinagulat naman ng dalawa. 

   "Yes mam!" sabay salute kay jennie. 

   "Mga buang.. Help me here, Titibagin natin tong door." Sagot ni jennie saka kinatok ulit yung pinto ng kwarto ni Irene.      

   Pero bago pa man makaalis sila byul para kumuha ng magagamit eh binuksan na ni Irene yung pintuan.   

   "Okay! thanks byul and lisa!" Sabi ni Jennie saka agad na pumasok sa kwarto ni Irene.  

   "I only let you in because you're too loud. Ngayon pwede bang manahimik kana?" Walang ganang sabi ni Irene saka isinara ulit ang pinto saka nahiga sa kama.   

   "HAH! Bold of you to assume na mananahimik ako." Sagot naman ni Jennie saka tumayo sa may dulo ng kama ni Irene. 

   A lot of questions have come from jen pero ni isang sagot wala itong nakuha mula kay Irene dahil nagtalukbong lang ito ng comforter.

   "What did you do?"

   "What the hell is going on with you?!"

   "Pinagisipan moba lahat ng ginawa mo?"

   And other blah blah blah na hindi naman iniinda ni Irene. Pero not until she heard a bothering question.

   "What if naaksidente si seulgi nung gabing umalis-" 

   "JEN CAN YOU PLEASE STOP." Medyo napalakas na sabi ni Irene saka naupo mula sa pagkakahiga at hinarap si Jennie.   

   A moment of silence for the two have come. Na ikinalugod naman ni Irene.    

   A lot of thoughts has been running around her head ever since umalis si seulgi.. She only had a break nung nakatulog sya ng slight pero ngayon bumalik nanaman lahat. It feels like her head and her chest is going to burst..    

   What if that's what really happened kaya wala sya sa bahay ng lola nya? What if hindi nila alam kung sinong kokontakin kasi walang dalang kahit anong info si seul about sa kanya? What if-    

   Irene started to cry.. Agad namang lumapit si jennie para yakapin si Irene.  

   "Ang tanga ko.. Jen.. Ang tanga tanga ko.. S- Seulgi.. she.. What if.." Irene said, sobbing while punching her chest. She's starting to feel suffocated.  

   "Rene.. Irene, oh my god.. No.. Calm down.. Come on.." Inalis ni Jennie yung comforter na nakabalot sa lower body ni Irene. "Joohyun, inhale.." Sabi nito.. 

    Hearing her birth name reminds her of seulgi which helped to somewhat calm down and listen to jennie.    

    Jennie helped her to calm her breathing for a moment.. Thankfully may pitsel ng tubig at baso sa may bedside table ni Irene.. 

    Nang makakalma si Irene tumayo si Jen para ikuha ito ng tubig. 

    "Sorry.. Im so sorry.. Its just that im so frustrated right now.. We're all worried about her.. And you too." Sabi nito habang pinapainom ng tubig si Irene.         

     Irene just sobbed again after nyang uminom. She leaned her head against jennie's shoulder and cried. 

     "Shh... its okay, Joo.." Jennie said while rubbing Irene's back trying to calm her aagain..      

     Jennie suddenly heard the door open.. And nakita nito si Jisoo. Irene calmed down and saw her too. 

     "Uy uhmm. si ano, uh.. Seul- Seulgi left me a message.." Agad namang tumayo si jennie para puntahan si Jisoo at papasukin sa loob.           

     "What?! What did she say??? Alam naba nila? Where is she?" Jennie asked and talking about the others.         

     Irene on the other hand felt somewhat lighter than what she feels before.      

     "Oo uhm, we kinda talk before going to the both of you so.. And we agreed na she.. She deserves to know too.." Sabi ni Jisoo kay Jennie not directly talking to Irene too.           

     "Of course she do! She's still her bestfriend after all!" Sagot naman ni Jennie.      

     "Oo nga but.." Jisoo sighed bago magpatuloy. "Tinaboy nya si seulgi.." Jisoo said. Not too loud but irene still heard it tho.      

     "Well she have her reaso-"      

     "Jen." Irene called out. Napatingin naman si jen at jisoo dito. 

     Irene wiped her tears, let out a sigh and cleared . Hinarap nito si Jennie at Jisoo. 

     "Jen, This is all my fault. Thankyou for defending me but wag mo akong depensahan by saying i have my reasons because.. i am sorry to say this but.. you doesn't even know if i really have a valid reason." Kalmadong sabi nito kay jennie. 

     "And Jisoo. Thank you.. Thanks for still considering me.. I know you hate me because of what i did.. And tanggap ko naman yun.. I am sorry.. i am going to apologize but its okay if you guys wont forgive me. I clearly understand that." Sabi nito kay Jisoo.      

     "But uhm.. Can you please uhm.. Tell me? Where is she?" huling sabi ni Irene.           

     "Hindi nya sinabi kung nasaan sya actually.. She just said not to worry and gave her some time.. Uuwi sya when she's ready to face you again and when she find a way para makabalik na tayo ng manila. And she will contact us kapag may nahanap na syang paraan." 

      Hindi naman na nagsalita si Irene after nitong sabihin yung message ni seulgi. 

     Is it good? is it bad? Hindi nya alam ang mararamdaman sa nalaman nya. gusto nyang makausap si seulgi at mag sorry but at the same time gusto nyang panindigan yung ginawa nya for her and seulgi's sake.

     "And hey.. I dont hate you.. we're just upset because of what you did.. seulgi doesn't have anyone to run to, except you kapag may problema sya. Yes we are her friends too, but she still chose to run to you whenever she's having a hard time." Tawag naman ni jisoo kay Irene na nag space out saglit saka napatingin kay Jisoo.          

     "And ngayon, ewan ko na Irene.. Sa tingin ko mas okay nga kung you both take time not to see each other for a while. She needs to heal rene.. She hid her feelings for you ever since we were in highschool tapos ganito lang pala ang matatanggap nya mula sayo. You're very lucky to have seulgi who value your friendship more than her true feelings..."

     Irene knew. Irene knew that she does not deserve to have seulgi in her life. Irene knew what seulgi can offer and sacrifice para lang hindi masira ang relasyon nila. And realizing all of that really, really hurt. 

     Maybe their friends are right. She needs to stay away from seulgi para hindi nya na ito masaktan pa.. 

     Maybe bogum was right. What she feels for seul in the first place shouldn't even happen because it was wrong and it would only make things complicated.

     Maybe they weren't soulmates.. Siguro pinagtagpo lang talaga sila pero hindi sila itinadhana. 

~~~

     "Alam mo ikaw, may topak ka rin eh no?"    

     "Huh?"     

     "Di kaba natatakot ha? Kita mong may virus ngayon tapos magpapagala gala ka."    

     Napaismid nalang ako ng ngiti saka pumwersa para igalaw yung swing na inuupuan ko.     

     "Bakit ikaw? Tanod kana ba dito kaya pwede kang gumala ng ganitong oras?" Balik na asar ko kay tzuyu.    

     "Buang" Sagot ni Tzuyu saka sinipa yung tagiliran ng swing na inuupuan ko.  

     Nasa playground kami ngayon ng subdivision nila Tzuyu.. Since hindi naman masyadong mahigpit sa subd nila, inaya ako ni Tzuyu na tumambay sa may playground.     

     Nagkita kami accidentally sa may 7/11 sa labas ng subd nila tzuyu. Medyo matagal rin kasi akong nakatigil don para ikalma ang sarili ko.. Sakto lang na pagbaba ko ng sasakyan para bumili ng maiinom eh saktong labas rin ni Tzuyu ng convenience store. 

     "So, anong ginagawa mo? Anong pumasok sa utak mo't ganitong oras na eh nasa labas ka pa?" Tanong ni Tzuyu.     

     "Nag iistroll lang?" Sagot ko.    

     "Asa.. Halata naman sa mukha mo na may dinadamdam ka."

      Sobrang tagal na pala simula nung huli kaming nagkaron ng bonding nitong si Tzuyu.. Simula nung umalis ako pa maynila eh malimit na rin naman akong umuwi dito sa batangas kaya malimit ko narin syang makasama.. I missed hanging out with her tho. 

      She's like my Irene here sa batangas, but except the feelings.. Well i did kinda have a small crush on her siguro noon pero ngayon iba na yung tingin ko sa kanya..

    "So ano ngang meron? naghiwalay kayo ng jowa mo?" Tanong ni Tzuyu ulit.    

    Nagtatakang tinignan ko si tzuyu "Hindi naman ako ganon ka sensitive para umalis dahil lang sa naghiwalay kami ng jowa ko?"     

    "So may jowa ka nga?" Tanong agad ni Tzuyu.    

    "Ha?! Wala! What i mean is, kung ganon yung scenario."    

    "Weh? Hindi mo jowa yung kasama mo sa grocery nung nakaraan?"    

    "Anong..?" Naalala ko naman agad yung huling nagkita kami sa grocery store. Natawa ako ng bahagya "Ahh.. Hindi." pagtanggi ko.    

    "Di nga? Kasi naalala ko parin kung gano katalas yung tingin nya sakin eh. Para akong nasa bitay nung araw na yun seulgi kung alam mo lang." Kwento ni Tzuyu.     

    Natawa naman ako sa kwento ni Tzuyu. "Hindi nga. Kaibigan ko lang din yun." mapait na sabi ko.     

    "Kaibigan na may gusto sayo." Sagot nito.    

    "Sinasabi mo dyan?" Kunwaring sagot ko.     

    "Sige nga seul, magpangalan ka nga ng kaibigan mo na ganon makatingin kapag may iba kang nakakausap na babae or someone??"     

    Napaisip naman ako.. Well.. Wala naman.. Aside from her?? Wala namang pake sila byul.. So..    

    "Uh..??"     

    "Oh diba wala. Unang kita ko palang talaga sa kanya may kutob nako!"     

    "Huh? Pano mo naman nasabi?"     

    "Kasi ganon rin ako tumingin sa mga nakakalaro natin noon." 

    Napatingin naman ako agad kay tzuyu. Tinaasan ko sya ng kilay at confused na tinignan. "Gago? Kaya pala kapag nag tatagutaguan tayo hindi na nagpapakita mga kalaro natin kapag ako yung taya? Kasi inaaway mo tas umuuwi na pala sila?!"     

    "Tanga." Matigas na sabi ni Tzuyu saka bumuntong hininga. "Ang panget mo talaga ka bonding! Kaya ko ginagawa yun sa mga kalaro nating laging dumidikit sayo kasi crush kita!"     

     Napatigil ako sa pag suswing ng bahagya.. Nagulat naman ako sa sinabi nya. Mag sasalita na sana ako ulit pero inunahan nya ako.

    "NOON.. Noon seulgi. Dati." pag linaw nya.

    Tinawanan ko naman sya. Ewan pero feeling ko simula kanina, ngayon nalang ulit ako tumawa ng ganito.. Hindi ko naman iniisip na hanggang ngayon nandyan parin yung feelings nya, pero dahil inunahan nya ako.. Natawa ako sa pagiging defensive ni gaga. 

     "Hay nako chew, Ako lang to.. Okay lang naman kung hanggang ngayon crush mo parin ako.. Nakakalungkot nga lang kasi di mo ako lagi nasisilayan tulad dati.." Mayabang na sabi ko.    

     Sinipa nya naman ulit yung tagiliran nung inuupuan kong swing. "Ang kapal talaga, Tigilan mo nga! Kung hindi kopa sinabi sayo ngayon never mong malalaman kasi never mo rin namang naramdaman." 

          "Malay ko ba? I was just a little girl back then! Saka akala ko si young crush mo kasi crush ka rin nya!" Depensa ko. 

          "You still think like a little girl now, slowgi. Kahit si jinyoung alam nya! Nauna pa nyang mapansin kesa sayo teh!" Asar nya. 

          Oh god, what kind of love triangle is this!! Hay nako!! Namiss ko talaga sila parehas!! Nga pala, nabanggit ni tzu na umalis na raw si jinyoung pa korea para don mag college noong nag kita kami sa grocery.   

          "Eh kung umamin ka kasi agad nung umalis ako.. Malay mo i might consider???" 

          "Ang yabang mong burikat ka! Ano namang mapapala ng isang trese anyos sa ganyong confession ha? Eh yung utak mo non mukhang naiwan sa 7 years old seulgi!"      

     Natawa naman ako sa sagot nya. "Malay mo pa! Eh naging crush din kita!"         

     "Aba'y gago?!" Sagot nito with her batangeña accent.Tumayo sya mula sa swing na inuupuan nya saka tumayo sa harap ko.     

     "ARAY!" Sinipa ba naman ako ni gaga???? "Para san yon buang???"      

     "Malay ko?! Ako'y binabarino mo!" Sabi nito habang nakapamewang still with her cute batangeña accent. Ewan ko pero lumaki rin naman ako dito pero nakalimutan ko na yung ganoong accent siguro dahil tagal ko naring di umuuwi dito.     

     "Alam ko nasa isip mo." sabi ko, napatingin naman sya sakin at tinaasan ako ng kilay. "Sayang?" 

     "Ika'y abno!" sagot naman nya at inirapan ako saka bumalik sa inuupuan nyang swing kanina. 

     Tinawanan ko sya ng bahagya. Hay nako tzu, kung alam mo lang kung gaano ako ka confused sa nararamdaman ko noon.. A 12 years old who's having a romantic feelings towards a girl. Yeah.. Weird for me back then.      

      But what if i figured it out earlier? Paano nga kung we both confessed our feelings to each other back then? Kami parin kaya hanggang ngayon? Makikilala ko parin kaya si Irene? Masasaktan parin ba ako katulad nang nangyayari sakin ngayon? 

      "But, hey chew.. What if?" Tanong ko kay Tzuyu.. Seryoso nya naman akong tinignan.     

      "What if?"       

      "You know.. What if i figured it out earlier?"     

      "Yung feelings?" Tanong nya saka naglabas ng mahinang tawa. "We were young back then seul.. We never knew what was the real concept of love. Saka feeling ko it won't work. Naka plano na yung buhay mo noon seul. Which is the life you're living right now.. Na after ng grade school talagang lilipat na kayo ng manila." Sincere na sabi nya. "So maybe, hanggang grade school lang talaga ako sa buhay mo." natatawang sabi nya. 

      Well yeah, she's right though.. My life has been planned. Siguro nasa plano rin talaga itong nararanasan ko ngayon. 

       "Ang arte. Kung hanggang grade school lang eh bakit nagkita parin tayo ngayon?" Sagot ko.        

       "Aba malay ko! Siguro para magbigay lesson sa pagtakas mo sa mga kaibigan mo ngayon."       

       "At paano mo naman nalaman aber?!"        

       "Hula lang. Oh diba tama ako. Tinetesting lang kita eh. Hindi ka naman talaga lalabas ng ganitong oras sa ganyang sitwasyon kung walang problema sa resort eh. Saka alam kong mahilig kang tumakas sa mga ganyan kasi noon lagi kang pumupunta sa bahay kapag may ginawa kang kasalanan sa inyo." Kantyaw nya. 

     I smiled and I blew an air through my nose as a form of a small laugh. She knew, i guess she really did liked me.. because she noticed those kind of things back when we were kids. 

     "Well im sure it's not my fault this time, chew." Malungkot na sabi ko saka bumuntong hininga.       

       "Tell me." Sagot nito habang nakatingin saakin.       

       I cleared my throat bago mag salita ulit. The feelings, the emotions i was feeling earlier went back. I tried to speak.. But it makes me feel so uncomfortable..       

       "Oh.. Huy.. Okay lang kung ayaw mong pag-usapan gagi!" Agad na sabi ni tzuyu nang mahalata nyang medyo hindi ako komportable.       

       A lot of things were running through my head.. A lot of questions rather.. Kaya siguro hindi ko alam kung anong una kong sasabihin kay tzuyu. But at the same time gusto ko ring maglabas ng sama ng loob. 

       "I.. I got dumped." Simula ko.. "And i think i lost a friend.. My best.. My bestfriend." bumuntong hininga ako. "and she's the one who dumped me." Tinignan ko si tzuyu pagkasabi ko noon at nginitian sya.     

       A tear escaped my eyes pero agad ko naman yung pinunasan. Tumayo naman si Tzuyu para yakapin ako. 

       "Im sorry.. It's okay, we doesn't need to talk about her.. About what happened." Sabi nito habang hinihimas ang likod ko. "Kaya ka nga umalis para makalayo sa mga bagay na makakapag paalala sayo, right?"             

     "Well uhm, she wanted me to leave... I mean stay away from her.. so.. I.. I did. Pero oo tama ka naman sa sinabi mo.." 

     "Ang masasabi ko lang dyan.. Ang tanga mo. hindi ka dapat umalis dahil lang sinabi nya! You just risked your life seul! Alam mo namang may sakit na kumakalat ngayon." Sabi nya pagkahiwalay nya sa pagkakayakap sakin.       

     "Alam ko naman yun.. Pero hindi ko kasi alam chew, Galit ako nasasaktan ako.. Ang alam ko lang ayoko nang makita sya ulit after nung nangyari." Malungkot na sabi ko. "I want to focus on myself muna siguro. Without anything or someone na makakapagpaalala sakin sa kanya. Pero at the same time may nararamdaman parin akong guilt chew.. Is it really my fault kung bakit napunta sa ganito yung pagkakaibigan namin? Dapat ba hindi ko nalang tinuloy yung pag amin ko?? Dapat ba pinigilan ko nalang yung sarili ko simula palang na magkaroon ng feelings para sa kanya??" sunod sunod na tanong ko.               

     "Okay kalma seulgi.. Naintindihan ko.." sabi nya saka ako hinawakan sa balikat. "Its never your fault seul.. Wag na wag mong iisipin na kasalanan mo dahil hindi mo kasalanan na dumating kayo sa ganitong point at lalong hindi mo kasalanan kung may nararamdaman ka para sa kanya.. You just did what you have to do para hindi kana mahirapan seul.. At least naging matapang ka para umamin.. Hindi magiging isang regret yun para sayo in future." Huling sabi ni Tzuyu saka ako niyakap ulit. Niyakap ko naman sya pabalik.           

      Nginitian ko sya. "Thankyou, Chew.." Huling sabi ko habang nakayakap.

      This was unexpected pero, It was great to have her by my side right now.. I still feel emotional pero nalessen naman ng konti kahit papaano because of her.       

      And i was also thinking of what she said.. Maybe it was a regret for her.. That time when she didn't conveyed her true feelings for me.. 

      "You know what? Just stay at our place! Sure ako namiss kana rin nila mama! Saka let's just do what we used to do kapag tumatakas ka sa lola mo dati!!"       

      Nginitian ko naman sya saka tumango. "Gameboy? Buhay pa ba yung cd nyo?"       

      "Hah excuse me, nag upgrade na dahil pinadalhan ako ng aking butihing ama ng ps5" Mayabang na sabi nito.       

      Tumayo naman ako. "Ohhh.. Okay!! Mahuli may tae sa pwet!" Sabi ko saka tumakbo. Gladly i still knew kung saan yung way papunta sa bahay nila.       

      "Bungol! Dito na kami sa kanan! Bobo talaga." Sigaw ni tzuyu na ikinatigil ko naman at sinunod yung direksyon nya.       

      Narinig ko namang natawa pa sya bago ako sundan kaya natawa narin ako at inintay sya. 

      It was nice to hang out with her like this again..