Dear Sandro

CHAPTER 25

"DEAR SANDRO,

Salamat naman at naalala mo na ako.

Kapagod kaya magtago ng sekreto sayo.

I'm just happy that we can be good friends again.

From,

Isabela, your boyfriend is here.

-------------------

"So, Tito Vince had you hypnotized?" Simon asked habang nasa cafe kami malapit sa Capitol.

I nodded habang kumakain ng burger.

I was beside Sandro and kaharap namin si Simon.

"Ano ba kasing nangyari sa inyo that day?" He asked.

Nagtinginan naman kami ni Sandro.

"I actually... don't have that distinct memory of it." I answered.

"Ikaw bro?"

Nag-isip naman si Sandro habang umiinom ng kape nya.

"I only remember the parts na naglalaro tayo habang may event sa labas ng Capitol."

"Tapos biglang may kumuha sa akin and you tried to stop them pero kinuha ka din."

I was listening eagerly.

"And then your mom... she saw us... and she was shot." He said habang nakayuko.

Medyo naiyak naman ako.

"I'm so sorry, Clarion." Simon said at hinawakan ang kamay ko.

Dahan-dahan naman tinanggal ni Sandro ang kamay nito sa pagkakahawak sa akin and Simon frowned.

Natawa naman ako sa kanilang dalawa.

He cleared his throat at ngumiti sa akin.

"Bro, someone is calling you. Hindi mo ba yan sasagutin?" Simon asked him dahil kanina pa nagri-ring ang cellphone nya.

"Ugh." He rolled his eyes at him and nagpatuloy naman ako sa pagkain ng burger.

"Oh.. it's Libby." He said.

He looked at me and parang nanghihingi ng permiso kung dapat nya bang sagutin.

I nodded yes.

"Hello?"

"Um.. Hi... tuloy ba tayo sa dinner mamaya?"

I can hear her voice thru the phone.

"Uh.. I'm sorry Libby but something came up... I'll just text you if may vacant ako." He answered.

"Ow.. I-- um... okay.." Sagot naman ni Libby.

"I'll see you. Bye." Sandro said bago pinatay ang tawag.

"Can we have dinner mamaya?" Sandro asked me.

"Oh.. - - -"

"Sama ako." Sumingit naman si Simon.

"Wag na... kami na lang ni Clarion."

"Sge na please." Parang bata na nagmamakaawa si Simon sa kuya nya.

"Please, Clarion. Convince him." Bigla naman ulit hinawakan ni Simon ang kamay ko na agad tinanggal ni Sandro.

"Bro... come on." He said.

"It will be fun to catch up with you guys. Isama din natin si Vinny." I said.

"No!"

"Oh no."

Sabay silang sumagot.

"What why?"

"You don't wanna know." Simon answered.

We decided to go to a bar and Vinny was non-stop talking to me.

"You, my brothers Sandro, wanted to be a politician kahit noong mga kids pa kami."

"While Simon is a free spirited person. He just wanted to travel and find new things."

"Me, on the other hand.. mas gusto ko to meet new people and spread my handsomeness." He said habang umiinom ng beer.

Napalunok naman ako ng laway ko.

"So.. what are--"

"What are my plans in the future--"

"Okay that is enough." Pinigilan naman ni Sandro si Vinny kakasalita.

"Bro..come on. I am just happy to meet the love of your life." He continued habang nakasandal sa kuya nya.

"Vinny!" Saway ulit ni Sandro.

"Shut up."

"What..."

"I remember when we were kids sa London, you keep on saying to your friends that you are getting married to your girlfriend Clarion---"

"Vinny!" Si Simon naman ang pumigil sa kanya.

"Oh ikaw din... sabi mo dati sa akin na crush mo din si Clarion but sabi mo secret lang natin 'yon kay kuya---"

"VINCENT!" Simon covered Vinny's mouth.

"What?!" Sandro raised his voice sa gulat.

"You like Clarion too?" He asked.

"What... bro.. no... alam mo naman si Vinny kapag nalalasing kahit anong sinasabi--"

"No--- you told me.. to keep it a secret--" Sumingit ulit si Vinny sa kanya.

"Oh my God." I gasped.

Natatawa na ako sa kanila.

"SIMON?" Sandro exclaimed.

"What?" Nagpatay malisya naman sya.

"She's cute back then." Simon continued.

"Bakit ngayon hindi na ba?" I protested.

Cute ko kaya.

"Of course, you are." Simon answered and I smirked at him.

"See bro... they're flirting." Sumingit ulit si Vinny.

Nakakanganga naman si Sandro habang nakatingin sa amin and I winked at him.

He smiled back at me.

"Sandro?" We looked back and it was Libby.

"Libby." Sandro stood up and Libby glared at me.

"So.. this is the reason why you couldn't have dinner with me?" She asked.