Bygone Memories of Yesterday (Affliction Series #2) ✔

Chapter 23

“Anj,” pabulong akong tinawag ni Shania. Tinabihan niya ako ng upo sa sofa. Inabot niya sa ‘kin ang telepono. Nagtatanong ang mga matang tumingin ako sa kaniya. 

“I tried contacting Mica, hoping that she could give you some advice.” Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. “I know what I told you isn’t enough to clear your mind so I thought, why not let you talk to Mica? Maybe her certainty and confidence could rub on you.”

I remained gaping at her. Alam kong hindi madali sa kaniya ang mag-reach out kay Mica.

“I still have her old number and luckily, iyon pa rin ang gamit niya. She said to call her anytime you want.” 

I hugged her. “Thank you.” Shania smiled before tapping my lap and stood up. Ako naman ay nagpokus sa cellphone. 

I did not hesitate to dial the number. Wala akong balak na magkuwento dahil gusto kong makumusta siya. I wanted to catch up with her but my plan was spoiled when Mica answered.

“Okay, let’s not waste time. I want every detail of the story magmula nang bigla kang hindi nagparamdam hanggang sa rebelasyong natuklasan mo noong nakaraan lang,” she talked fast and demandingly. She did not even bother asking how I was. 

And because of that, I unconsciously opened my mouth to explain. 

“For me, dapat lumayo ka na lang. It’s better that way. Lilipas din ‘yan. Mawawala rin ‘yang sakit lalo na kapag hindi mo sila nakikita. Eventually, you’ll forget about them,” kumento niya matapos kong magkuwento. 

“But—”

“No buts, Anj. There are things that you need to persuade but this is clearly not one of them. Lalaki lang si Neus, makakahanap ka pa ng iba. You’re smart, beautiful, hardworking — hindi mahirap para sa ‘yo ang makahanap ng ibang lalaki. Sa ‘yo na nga mismo galing, ‘di ba? If he truly loved you, why didn’t he notice any difference between you and that woman? ‘Di mo man lang ba naisip na baka alibi niya lang ‘yon?” 

Napa-angat ako ng tingin nang ilapag ni Shania ang tray na may lamang dalawang plato ng cake at dalawang baso ng juice. She sat again beside me. 

“Bakit niya naman kailangang gumawa ng alibi?” tanong ko.

“Duh? Wala kayong proper breakup. He must be thinking na kaya ka bumalik at nagpakita sa kaniya ay dahil iniisip mong kayo pa rin.”

“I don’t think Neus is the kind of person to do that,” Shania interrupted. Dining niya ang pag-uusap namin dahil ni-loud speaker ko. 

Mica was silent for a few seconds then she spoke, “How can you be so sure?” 

“Because I’ve seen how much he suffered without Anj—”

“Precisely. He’s hurt so he wanted to divert his attention by looking for another woman.”

“Pero bakit kailangang kamukha pa ni Angelique ang ‘another woman’? Hindi ba mas sinaktan niya lang ang sarili niya ‘pag gano’n?” Shania argued.

“Can you shut up? I’m talking to Angelique here,” iritadong tugon ni Mica. I suddenly felt tense even though it was just a call. Somehow, I can imagine Mica in front of us, giving a heated look on Shania. 

“I’m just trying to contradict your assumption since obvious na sinasabi mo ‘yan dahil sa galit mo.”

Pagak na natawa si Mica. “You mean to say, hindi ka galit kay Neus? Okay lang sa ‘yo na balikan siya ni Anj after what he has done?”

“Galit ako, siyempre. But we can’t judge someone because of a mere mistake. Saksi tayo sa kung gaano niya kamahal si Anj—”

“Dati ‘yon—”