Wild Deception

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

"UNTIL when will you drown yourself, dude? Nami-miss ko nang tumugtog."

Sinamaan ng tingin ni Theo si Levi. Araw-araw na lang siya nitong kinukulit na tumugtog. Hindi niya alam kung wala lang ba itong magawa sa buhay o sadyang trip lang siya nitong alaskahin siya.

Theo did not utter a single word. Nilagok niya ang alak mula sa hawak na kopita. Diretso ang kanyang tingin, malalim ang iniisip.

"How about a heartbreaking song for tonight?" Elliot suggested out of the sudden. They're obviously annoying their friend. Ilang linggo na itong gano'n. Hindi makausap nang matino. He will just throw himself inside the bar and drink himself to death. They knew for a fact that their friend is not outspoken, so it's really difficult for them to dig information about what happened to him in the past few weeks.

"Bro, baka may balak ka namang i-share?" 'Di na rin nakatiis si Sid. Tinapik nito sa balikat si Theo.

"Uy, bago 'yon, ah. Interesado ka sa love life ng kaibigan natin," Levi blurted out, referring to Sid.

Sid and Theo have similar attitude. Pareho silang laging tahimik pero nagkakaintindihan naman.

Isang malalim na buntonghininga ang itinugon ni Theo at saka patuloy na uminom. Nagkatinginan ang tatlo, sabay-sabay rin silang napailing.

May mabigat na problema ang kanilang kaibigan.

"Dude, nalulugi ka na ba? Magsabi ka lang, puwede naman kitang pautangin muna," sansala pa ni Levi. Alam nilang hindi magtatagal ay bibigay rin si Theo at magkukuwento na ito tungkol sa kung anuman ang dinadalang problema.

"Bro, kahit ubusin mo pa ang lahat ng alak ngayong gabi rito sa bar, hindi masu-solusyunan ang problema mo kung hindi mo sasabihin sa'min."

Sumeryoso na si Elliot nang makitang namumula na si Theo. Ngayon lang nila ulit nakitang nagkakaganito ang kanilang kaibigan. Lagi rin itong nawawala. Sa kanilang apat ay siya ang pinakamalihim. He never put his shoulders on someone else's'

Sid once again patted Theo's shoulder.

"Dude, you are very much aware that every problem comes with a solution, but if it doesn't have any solution, that means, it's a girl."

Doon na napatigil si Theo at sandali niyang tinapunan ng tingin ang mga kaibigan.

"Fuck!" mahinang mura ni Theo.

Kanya-kanya na silang nagsalin ng alak sa kanilang mga baso.

"I lost her again."

The three tsked in unison. Hindi nga sila nagkakamali. Arianne might have planted another bullet on their friend's heart again.

"I thought everything's going smooth between the two of you. The last time I checked, magkasama kayong pumunta ng Negros," ani Levi.

"She found out everything," Theo plainly said.

Kung maibabalik niya lang sana ang oras ngunit ayaw naman niyang mapahamak si Arianne. He has to move ahead of time. Not that he was underestimating his girlfriend's capability, he just didn't like the idea that she's putting herself to danger.

"Then why not chase her again? That's your mantra eversince you became couple, remember?" Elliot said as a matter of fact.

"She still blames me about Aries' death."

The three sighed exasperatedly. Alam nila kung gaano kahirap ang pinagdaanan ng kanilang kaibigan. Theo has dodged shower of bullets several times just to save Arriane's life.