I’m just watching vlogs about “How to Stop Procastination” ng biglang mapalitan yung phone screen ko ng selfie ni Cherry. She’s calling.
Pagkasagot ko ng tawag ay nakarinig na agad ako ng hikbi. Shit, parang alam ko na ano susunod na eksena. I mean, ilang beses nang nagplay ang ganitong scene. I just hope na this time, the princess has finally woken up from the nightmare, a curse casted by the evil troll.
“B-bes…” *sniffs* “Si Dayne, n-nakita ko s-sa account nung b-babae niya, s-sa ig story nung b-bitch na yun n-na nag…naghalik-kan sila.” Panimula ni Cherry habang humahagulgol. May mga words nang di ko maintindihan dahil sa hagulgol niya pero it’s okay, atleast nailalabas niya yung emosyon niya.
“Okay, I’ll be in your place in minutes. Anong flavor ng ice cream? Or our heartbreak flavor?”
Rocky road is our heartbreak flavor. Why? Sinisimbolo kasi ng masarap na rocky road yung buhay namin, tapos yung nuts at marshmallows, sila yung mga stryggles at obstacles sa life namin. May mga mabababaw na heartbreaks (marsmallows) at may mga heartbreaks na nag-iiwan talaga ng marka sa heart natin or scars (nuts). Although we’re inlove with marsmallows and nuts, gaya ng love ay may downside din. Like how the mallows and nuts always get stuck in my girlfriend’s braces; Ashleigh, and how Cherry and I are allergic to nuts (but we can’t resist not having a taste). Our guilty pleasure.
“T-tawagan ko l-lang si Ash ah, ingat sa pagpunta ditto. Lovelots” sabi niya bago putulin ang tawag.
Habang nagreready na ako sa pag-alis, tinawagan ako ng girlfriend ko.
“Hey there, hermosa” She giggled. I can’t help those butterflies in my tummy whenever she calls me that.
“Sup, belle femme” I shot back my nickname for her. I heard another giggle from her as I called her with those names.
“Tinawagan ako ni Cherry, hmmm… you up for another teary night?”
“Tinawagan din niya ako kanina, so…let’s go to 7/11?” napangiti na lang ako. Memorable ang 7/11 sa amin kasi bukod sa doon kami nagkakilala ni Ash, dun din kami nagkaaminan.
“Yeah, I’ll pick you up. Be there in a few, love you” she said as she ended the call.
Maya-maya’y dumating na si Ash at dumiretso na kami sa memorable 7/11. Nagtalo pa kami kung dapat bumili ng wine since ice cream ang lalantakan namin. We end up purchasing 2 boxes of Selecta Rocky Road, isang plain at isang 2-in-1 and a Maria Clara red wine. Plus, wipes and tissues.
After few minutes, nagdodoorbell na kami sa gate ni Cherry. Agad niya kaming sinalubong with matching hagulgol paglabukas ng gate.
“WAAAAAHHH!! JESSICAAAA!! ASHLEIGH!!!” I can’t help na di maawa kay Cheery as she gave as a bittersweet smile. I know she’s happy na nandito na kami but the pain is swallowing her. Damn.
Matapos ihanda ng mga foods na lalantakan namin, we sat in her bedroom in silence. Nakatulala lang si Cherry, di muna naming siya kinibo ni Ash to give her time to organize her thoughts. Pero nung mapansin namin ang tuloy-tuloy na pagdaloy ng luha at paghikbi niya, both Ash and I hugged her, tight.
“Ghad, ang tanga ko. Ang tanga-tanga ko. How many fucking times is it? 5? 8? 15? We’ve fucking lost count on how many times we’ve caught him cheating yet mas pinili ko pa ding magpakatanga!” her voice broke, “Mas pinili kong mag-setlle for something less and cheap and something that I don’t fucking deserve! ‘Lam niyo yun ang taas-taas ng standards ko pero nauwi din ako sa gago! Ang taas-taas ng standards ko pero pagdating sa gagong yun, pag dating sa kanya nakakalimutan ko lahat ng inilista kong standards para sa magiging boyfriend ko!”
“Ilang beses na kong sinasampal ng katotohanan pero mas pinili ko pa ding lunurin ang sarili ko sa kasinangalingan. Tangina. Umasa kasi ako noon, umaasa akong babalik yung Dayne na minahal ko, yung Dayne na mahal ako. Tsaka ganun’ naman dapat diba? If you really love someone, even the monster in them mamahalin mo. Tinanggap ko lahat ng panggagago niya kasi sabi ko sa sarili ko, “I want to love him at his worst and best”. Parang pangkasal na noh? I want to help him to be the better version of himself kaso habang nagtitiyaga ako, I’m becoming a lot worse as a person as the fucking days goes by.” I started drawing circle in her back, hoping that it will somehow soothe her. Inabutan naman siya ni Ash ng tissue at mug na may ice cream na agad siningahan at nilantakan ni Cherry.
“Mga siz, ang sakit. Lecheng sagad sa sakit talaga. May kulang ba sa akin? Pangit ba ako? Porke’t ba flat chested ako, porke’t ba-?” agad na sumingit si Ash sa kanya. “Gurl, look at me straight in the eyes,” she lifted Cherry’s chin, “You’re ENOUGH. Si Dayne? Di siya marunong maka-APPRECIATE pero pagsisisihan niyang hindi niya tinugunan ng pansin yung DIAMOND sa harap niya, instead he keep on looking for COALS.” Ash said with emphasis on some words.
