Shamelessly Yours

Chapter 11: Bitter Dessert

Chapter 11: Bitter Dessert

Edward and Agatha despised each other. It was established on the first time the three of us met at a common friend's party in the city. Agatha got so drunk that I had to take care of her. And Edward didn't approve of women who couldn't control themselves. Or maybe, he just didn't like me being friends with Agatha because I, too, admit that I had no self-control sometimes.

And Agatha, being my closest friend, didn't like the idea of me falling in love with a man I just met in a party. She was too skeptical of Edward saying that despite being a handsome man, he was too old-fashioned, too formal for a free-spirited woman like me. And she was probably right. But then, maybe I liked things that are wrong.

Ipinagpalipat-lipat ko ang tingin sa kanilang dalawa. Pareho nilang pinupukol ng matalim na titig ang isa't isa. Nagpakawala ako ng malalim na paghinga.

"You didn't tell me you're going to visit, Agatha," pukaw ko sa atensyon ng aking kaibigan.

Agad na bumaling sa akin si Agatha at dagling ngumiti. "Visit? Sera, darling, you're a visitor as well remember?"

Nakaramdam ako ng iritasyon sa sinabi niya. Agatha was a nice friend but she could really be a bitch when she wanted.

"And I don't remember inviting anyone in my house. I don't understand why suddenly, the both of you are welcoming yourselves here," saad naman ni Edward.

They were getting meaner and I knew that I had to control the hatred. Edward would tolerate me ngunit hindi ako nakasisiguro sa kaibigan ko. Baka pareho kaming mapabiyahe nang wala sa oras.

"Calm down, guys," pigil ko sa napipinto nilang pagtatalo. Hinawakan ko sa braso si Agatha. "Halika sa garden." At saka ko siya hinila sa direksyon niyon. Nararamdaman kong nakasunod ng tingin sa amin si Edward hanggang sa makalabas kami.

"What do you think you're doing, Agatha? You are making a mess!" kumpronta ko sa kaniya nang kami na lang dalawa ang magkaharap.

"This couldn't be messier, Sera. Why are you with him? Nakalimutan mo na ba ang dahilan kung bakit ka umalis three years ago?" sagot naman ni Agatha.

Hinubad ko ang suot na shades at inilapag sa mesita. Napapagod na isinuklay ko ang mga daliri sa aking buhok. "I didn't forget, okay?"

"Kung ganoon ay bakit bumalik ka pa rito?"

"Because this is where I felt safe, Agatha. I hate this place, okay? It's caging and boring... but I'm safe here."

Naiiling na pinagmasdan ako ni Agatha. Hindi ko alam kung maiinis o maiiyak sa simpatyang nasa mga mata niya. Lumapit siya sa akin at niyakap ako.

"Okay, okay. I understand," aniya nang bitiwan ako. "But things are better now. Hindi mo na kailangan na manatili rito. This place caged you from chasing your dreams. And you've already freed yourself from here. Hindi mo na kailangan pa na bumalik sa kaniya."

"Alam ko..." ang tangi kong nausal. Ngunit may mga bagay na hindi maiintindihan si Agatha. At hindi ko naman kayang ipaliwanag sa kaniya lalo at sangkot ang damdamin ko rito na kahit ako ay hindi ko maintindihan.

"Birthday ni Edward sa isang araw," I murmured.

Inikot niya ang kaniyang mga mata at humalukipkip. Alam kong para sa kaniya ay wala iyong halaga. "Bakit? May pa-twenty-something candles and roses ba siya at kasali ka?"

I sighed. "I have to stay here. I'll be baking cupcakes for his birthday." Kahit ako ay nagulat sa eksaytment sa tinig ko nang sabihin iyon. I looked at Agatha and she was gaping at me. Mataman niya akong tinitigan.