Stonehearts 7: Ruby

Fourteen

Hindi ko na nabilang ang araw simula ng huli kong nakita, huling naka-text, huling nakausap si Bryce.

Nang una parang sobrang hirap. But Aly was there to smack my face with the truth whenever I felt like succumbing back to my feelings for Bryce.

Hanggang sa kaya ko na siyang tanggihan, kaya ko na siyang sabihan ng hindi, kaya ko ng iuna ang ibang bagay bago siya. His texts and calls soon vanished after a while. When I told Aly about this, she just shrugged her shoulders and said, "Kasi wala na siyang mapapala sa'yo kaya tumigil na siya."

I'm not gonna deny it. Her words cut me deep, but however I put it. It is the truth. Since, I refused to give him a shoulder to rely on about him and Aya, I was deemed useless.

Besides, nang una pa lang naman, alam ko nang 'yon lang ang magiging papel ko sa buhay niya.

"Hoy, ba't ka nakasimangot diyan?"

Nagulat na lang ako dahil nasa harap ko na si Sage. I shook my head, clearing my thoughts.

"It's nothing." I sighed.

He looked at me worriedly before he nodded his head and went inside his office. I know he took my reply as a sign that I'm still not ready to talk about it. Saka ayaw ko rin na nag-uusap kami ng caswal sa harap ng iba pa niyang empleyado.

At lunch time, I received a text from Sage to meet me at a bistro near his building. Wala rin naman akong baon gawa ng nasa US si mommy kaya pumayag na lang din ako.

"Bakit ka nga nakasimangot? Ibinilin ka pa man din ni Tita sa'kin tapos ganiyan ka. Baka sabihin niya pinabayaan kita."

The waiter just took our order and I'm stuck looking at my empty plate.

"Kasi nga, hindi ako masasamahan ni Aly sa Baguio. Matagal na naming plinano 'to kaso something came up so she can't go with me."

"Bakit? Hindi siya pinayagan mag-leave sa trabaho niya?"

I laughed at the thought of Aly working, "Hindi naman nagtratrabaho 'yon. Her dad doesn't allow her to work, he's very. . . hmm. . . old-fashioned when it comes to his daughters."

"So? Bakit hindi siya pwedeng sumama sa'yo?"

I mentally thanked God because he decided not to pry about Aly's life. Ayaw ko kasing may nagtatanong sa'kin tungkol sa buhay niya, because it's not my story to tell.

"Her boyfriend got invited to a gala in Singapore and she needs to go with him. Okay lang naman sana, but her boyfriend opted to fly early para raw may panahon pa silang magpasyal bago 'yong event. Ang kaso nasagasaan 'yong lakad namin."

"And she chose her boyfriend over you?"

I scowled at him, "Aly's not like that! Basta, hindi mo kayang intindihin kaya shut up ka na lang."

The waiter arrived and started to place our orders. I was silent, choosing not to talk to Sage because it irritated me when he thought of Aly that way.

"'Wag ka na ngang sumimangot diyan. Ako na lang sasama sa'yo sa Baguio."

Napatigil ako sa paghati sa manok sa plato ko at napatingin sa kanya. "Sus! Sinasabi mo lang 'yan kasi napikon ako sa'yo."

"Malamang. Shinut up mo kaya ako."

"Kasi napaka-judgemental mo!" I countered.

Inirapan niya ako saka patuloy na kumain, "Ano? Gusto mo bang samahan kita sa Baguio o magpapaka-loner ka dahil ayaw mong patalo?"