Magkakasama kaming tatlo nang umuwi sa bahay, at tanging si Arjuna lamang ulit ang nahiwalay. I think this time he'll really be with his precious Melody.
"My god, I can't believe this!" sigaw ni Ramona habang hawak ang sentido.
Padarag kong initsa ang susi sa ibabaw ng tokador. Hindi ko matingnan si Ramona na puputok na yata ang lahat ng litid sa katawan. Tumungo ako sa pintuan ng kwarto para siguraduhing nakakandado iyon.
Nobody should hear this. Baka ibulgar nanaman ako ng Tigris na iyon kay Papa ngayong wala pa akong susunod na hakbang.
"That's why he's so familiar. I saw him when we're in Manila..." ani Beth na nakaupo sa gilid ng aking kama.
My head whipped so fast towards her. Hell...
"You saw him? Where?" Hindi makapaniwala kong tanong kahit na alam ko na yata kung saan.
"Nakasabay ko siya sa lift," she explained. "But I didn't go to Chrissy's floor. I got bored so I went to the gym..."
"Is he with that asshat Judah?" asked Ramona.
"I don't think so. He's on the phone, he says he's alone in pursuit."
"Fuck! Chrissy, did you know about this?" Hinarap ako ni Ramona. Ramdam ko ang panlalabo ng kulay sa aking mukha.
No, I didn't know the part when Beth saw him, or yes, I did know that he's already in the vicinity?
"Chrissy!" pinandilatan ako ni Ramona.
Oh, fuck this.
"I didn't! Hindi naman kilala sa mukha ni Beth si Ram, okay? But...but we've already encountered each other..."
"Oh god, Chrissy. What did you do? Why didn't you tell us?!" Ramona's face contorted into rage. Umuusok ang kaniyang tainga sa inis at galit.
"I've already handled him, Ramona. I thought that it'll be enough. That its just a coincidence that he's there!"
Alam kong kasinungalingang sabihin na hindi iyon sadya dahil kilala ko si Ram. Kung may gusto iyan, hindi niya tatantanan hangga't hindi niya nakukuha. Hindi ko pa man alam kung gaano kalaki ang sakop ng kapangyarihan niya'y alam kong gagamitin niya ito ng walang atubili.
"Well, its definitely not a coincidence now. Arjuna is doing business with them!"
That is just my point. Whether its a coincidence or not that we've made contact, its a mistake to let Arjuna play with the big guns because he's still an amateur for this.
"What did he say to you back in Manila?" tanong ni Beth.
"What he's trying to accomplish now..." I answered truthfully. His words had already made a mark and sooner, it'll be the rules.
"What the fuck does your ex want? Why are all exes like Clarence?" Halos hampasin ni Ramona ang aking headboard.
That is what I don't know, and I wouldn't want to know because we're already done!
"We can still pull out. Tell Arjuna to decline and find another real estate."
"Its not that easy, Beth. Did you see that numbers we're dealing with? At ang malala ay malakas ang kakumpitensya natin that's why Arjuna probably chose an outsider partner."
